One of the two named brethren on our deputation
A Thomas Jeffery was
recorded as one of the Bailiffs of the city of Exeter in 1705.
A Thomas Jeffery, a
registered dissenter from the conventicle act of 1664, which
prohibited religious gatherings other than those of the established
church, owned substantial property and investments in Exeter. He was
a member of a group of five, all registered Dissenters who invested
£1199 each in South Sea Stock in 1720.
Born at Exeter in 1690 or 92 the son of a shoemaker, he was
educated
for the nonconformist ministry and was also a registered dissenter.
He was a staunch Whig, at that time the party of religious toleration.
He became a Printer, Author and Journalist. and started the Exeter
Mercury in 1714. In 1718 he was one of three printers summoned to
appear before the House of Commons for breach of privilege (printing
items from the proceedings of the House). He acknowledged his offence
and was discharged. In 1722 he published details of prisoners
grievances within the City prison, which resulted in him being
entangled in a law suit which reduced him to virtual bankruptcy.
During the next 7 years he was known to only “take the
air” on
Sundays, the only day on which Writs could not be served. In 1725 he
began publishing the newspaper Brice’s Weekly Journal which
replaced the Exeter Mercury.
Andrew
Brice was regularly
re-elected as Master of the lodge from the start of our minutes up to
1759, though the Wardens and other officers were frequently changed.
On
the 18th
October 1757 Henry Hubert was Master Pro. Temp. (the Right Worshipful
Master being then upon a journey homewards from Plymouth).
“After
the business was duly transacted, the Right Worshipful the
Master’s
Health and safe return was in right form drank, and that most
cordially by the Brethren”. This reminds us
what travelling meant in those days, compared with the present time;
for it probably took Andrew Brice the greater part of two days to
return from Plymouth to Exeter. At his death, he died on the 7th
November 1773 at the age of 83, he was reputed to be the oldest mason
in the country.
He was initiated into
St Georges Lodge in January 1820 received rapid promotion to W.M.
serving for 12 years until 1835. From 1830 to 1850 he was Deputy
Provincial Grand Master of Devonshire. At his death all Devon Lodges
were ordered to wear mourning. Until 1998 his picture hung in the
lodge room, but when it was removed during restoration work to the
lodge room, it was found to be in such a poor condition it was deemed
un-restorable and regrettably removed for good. The picture was given
to the Lodge of Union 444 Starcross.
A member of St George's Lodge Exeter 112 (then 178) who joined St John
the Baptist 39 (then 53) in 1820 as an honorary member, although his
first visit appears to have been in 1823. His profession is given as
clerk in holy orders.
It is believed we
owe him a tremendous debt as it is suggested that he probably saved
our Lodge from extinction ! He organised regular fraternal visits
from St George's at a time when St John's membership was so low as to
make the Lodge unworkable (8 & 9 at a meeting) - We believe he
"rekindled the dying embers"
He was initiated at the age of 22 into the Apollo University Lodge, Oxford on 19th February 1822. In 1841 he became Master of St John the Baptist Lodge No. 39. A member of five other Lodges, on 24th May 1866 he was installed as the 3rd Provincial Grand Master of Devonshire.
_________________________________________________________He was initiated into the East Devon Militia Lodge No 216 at Exeter on the 25th May 1803. He was the father of James and Grandfather of John and Henry - It is suggested that he could be described as the "Father of much of our ritual and practices".
He was initiated in to St John the Baptist (then 46) on the 27th March 1845 and was Master in 1856.
A builder, he was initiated into 39 in February 1872, and was installed as Master on the 27th December 1877. He was responsible for much of the rebuilding and restoration work to Gandy St following the fire in 1895.
A Tailor and brother of John, he was initiated
into 39 by their Father James in May 1872, Henry was installed as
Master in Dec
1882.
John
and Henry Stocker presented a bust of their father James to the Lodge
in 1908. The lodge celebrated the 40th
anniversary of their initiation in 1912.
The
Stockers, particularly John and Henry , had a great influence on the
Lodge and its ritual and the three generations bridged the period
from the Union in 1813 to the 1940s . It is therefore probable that
the original Exeter Ritual published in 1932, of which John and Henry
were the declared source would have been reasonably close to the
original Union ritual.
They
were both absent from the 1935 Installation due to Illness, it was
recorded as the first Installation either had missed since 1872.
At the Installation meeting held on 27th
December 1938 (The Installation of W.A. Kneel) John Stocker gave the
address to the Brethren - it was the last occasion he was present in
the Lodge and his last Masonic work, he died in 1939. His brother
Henry died in 1942.
The author of the first printed history of our lodge (published 1894) W. Bro. Andrew Hope was asked by the Lodge in 1905 to bring the Lodge History up to date. Although 150 copies of his second edition were printed by 1907, very few copies of either the first or second edition remain.
_________________________________________________________A Commercial Traveller, he was made a Freeman of the City of London. He presented the Lodge with a framed engraving dated June 1802 of George Fredrick Prince of Wales Grand Master 1799-1813.
A Printer, he presented various objects to the Lodge, restored the Inner Guards sword and we believe helped Andrew Hope with his original history.
_________________________________________________________The Father of W.A. Kneel, he was Preceptor of the Exeter Lodge of Instruction from 1905 - 1952. Asst Grand Pursuivant, P.P.Sup Works. P.M. Sun Lodge 106
Former Provincial Grand .Master of Devonshire, and Past Grand Superintendent. born on 3rd December 1892,died at the age of 98 on 19th June 1991. As a young man Bill Kneel went to work for the Westminster Bank in Lombard St London, he joined the East Kent Regiment in the First World War (the Buffs) raising to Regimental Sergeant Major. After the war he returned to Exeter to manage his father’s firm Kneels Laundry (founded by his father Alec in 1910).
William's son was also a member of the Lodge.
_________________________________________________________Hamish was a keen historian and wrote and delivered several papers on our Lodge. He was Master in 1982 (our 250th celebration) sadly his early death on the 16th July 1993 at the age of 61 was a great loss. He included the following interesting instruction in one of his lectures, where he took the information from and whether it is a 39 tradition passed to him by a senior brother, we have been unable to establish.
"The firing system originated to remind brethren of the three great obligations they had made and between each set of claps, the right hand should rise to the throat. The left hand always remaining in the same position throughout the fire."
Loving Cup presented to the
Lodge in 1982 by W.Bro Hamish Palmer
Vintage Port bought from a
bequest in his will is drunk every November
Probably the longest family connection within our Lodge
Initiated in 1874 and Master in 1886, he was known
as the late brother Lisle, due to his habit of arriving late to make an
entrance. We
understand he bore a striking resemblance to the Duke of Wellington,
due to a hooked nose. He celebrated 60 years in F.M. on the 26th
July 1934. Great, Great Uncle of Bro. A. Pawson
On the 24th April 1913
Bro. W. R. Lisle raised an objection to the Lodge voting away the
charity funds without his knowledge. The W.M. suggested that in
future no sums be voted from the charity funds without the knowledge
and consent of the Charity Steward (he was C.S. from 1912-1938).
Initiated in 1901 and Master in 1920
Initiated in 1918 and Master in 1935
Initiated in 1889 and Master in 1909, the Great Grandfather of Bro. A. Pawson
Initiated in 1919 and Master in 1937, the Great Uncle of Bro. A. Pawson
At an emergency meeting called on the 8th October 1918, he was proposed, balloted for and initiated. He was billeted at Totnes hospital recovering from wounds at the time - Grandfather of Bro. A. Pawson
Initiated in 1950 and Master in 1965, The Father of Bro. A. Pawson
Initiated 1986 by his father, he was Senior Warden in 1995. On the 27th June 1996 he presented the Lodge with the gavels currently in use, in memory of his father.
_________________________________________________________Initiated into the Lodge on the 27th June 1935, celebrated 60 years in Freemasonry on 29th June 1995 when he was presented with a letter from the Grand Secretary, following an address by the P.G.M.
Father of Dick, was from Chagford and was proposed on the 30th June 1904, Balloted for 28th July and initiated 25th August 1904. In 1954 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his initiation he presented Silver Wardens Columns to the Lodge. They are surmounted by Terrestrial and Cellestrial globes the use of which several Masonic historians suggest, is surviving evidence of a Premier or Moderns Lodge.
The Exeter Freemasons Hall Company Chairman from 1994 - Assisted by W. Bro. R.S. of St Thomas Lodge, has been the guiding hand and primary driving force behind the renovations and changes to Gandy St. Under W. Bro. Alan's tireless leadership both the premises and the company's funds have improved out of all recognition.
_________________________________________________________The Artist, was initiated into the Lodge in March 1906. His pictures hang in the bar.
_________________________________________________________At a special lodge meeting on the 30th December, 1913 The Hon. Hugh Fortescue, Viscount Ebrington aged 25, then a lieutenant in the Royal Scots Guards, was initiated. The ceremony was performed by the Provincial Grand Master.
He was appointed S.W. in 1915 and W.M. in 1916 but was "unable to leave his duties" presumably he was serving with his regiment. He was installed by the PGM on the 15th February 1917 at a Lodge of emergency.
_________________________________________________________A Masonic Historian and Honorary Member of 39. At his death in 1911 he left 1/200 of the residue of his estate (payable on the death of his wife) to the Lodge. The bequest to be invested and the interest to be used obtaining votes in the name of St John the Baptist Lodge No 39 in the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
In March 1914 the Lodge received £96 5s 10d and John Stocker
proposed
this should be made up from the Lodge alms bag to 100 guineas. The
proposal was approved in April.
The list of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution showed 40 votes as credited to 39 as the "Hughan" bequest.
