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| 1945 Version at the Freemasons Museum London |
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| 2005 Version Personally Held |
The Centenary of the Lodge in July 1832 appears to have passed without notice. As a matter of fact the Lodge did not meet for several months before and after that date. The reason for this was the cholera epidemic, which was raging in the city throughout that period. The centenary jewel was not applied for and authorised by Grand Lodge until 1863. The centenary charter was issued on 9th May 1864, when the privilege of wearing a jewel of special design was granted by Grand Lodge. On the Centenary Warrant the design of this jewel is portrayed and bears the date 1832. In October 1864 Bro. Brewster the Lodge Treasurer presented the bill of expense for the centenary jewels, unfortunately the cost is not recorded.
At
the
Bi-Centenary of the Lodge, W. Bro. S. Crosse was the W.M., he had
been granted a special dispensation from G. L. as he was also W.M. of
Union 444.
W.
Bro. John
Stocker (then aged 84) gave the address to the Master at the
Installation. The Installation banquet was cancelled as a token of
sympathy with the W. M., whose daughter had died a few days
previously.
At the meeting on the 25th February the W. M. offered the
gavel to the Deputy
P.G.M. W. Bro. John Stocker. W. Bro. Stocker took the chair and
expressed his
pleasure at again occupying this position in the Lodge into which he
had been initiated 60 years before. (He was initiated Feb 1872 and
was W.M. in 1877). The Dep. P.G.M. then initiated Mr Leonard Milliam
Wadman and also entrusted the Candidate and delivered the charge -
not bad for 84,!
At
the meeting held on the 25th May 1932, the 60th anniversary of the
initiation of W.Bro.Henry Stocker the W. M. invited him to take the
chair. W.Bro. Stocker accepted and proceeded
to initiate Charles Moores, he also entrusted the Candidate and gave
the address in the N.E. corner. W.Bro. John Stocker delivered the
charge. - (they were both in their 80s!)
The
Lodge
held a thanksgiving service at St Sidwells Church on Sunday 10th July
and a special meeting of the Lodge on Monday 11th July (the actual date
on our deputation) was held at the
Guildhall.
W.Bro. T. H. Andrew read his paper on the history of the Lodge
portions of which are included in this history. W. Bros. John and
Henry Stocker acted as Senior and Junior Wardens respectively. There
were 171 Brethren & Visitors present, the collection for
charity amounted to £6 16s 6d.
After
the meeting a banquet was held at the Rougemount Hotel at which
123
Brethren were present. The whole of the expense of the banquet (with
the exception of official guests) was borne by the Master!
At
the November meeting the W. M. presented the Secretary, Bro. Back
with a
wristwatch, subscribed for by all the Brethren, as a token of respect
for the work he had carried out in connection with the Bi-Centenary.
It was also agreed at this meeting to cease the August meeting.
At
the
meeting held on the 27th December 1932, W. Bros., John and Henry Stoker
announced that in view of the special circumstances of the
Bi-Centenary, they proposed to
present an old and valuable P.Ms jewel to W. Bro. Crosse. The jewel
was later presented to the Lodge by W.Bro. Crosse's son, it is now
worn by the W.M. at each meeting.
Strangely
enough, no attempt was made at the time of the celebration to obtain
the recognition of G. L. and in fact no action was taken until 1937,
when on the 28th February it was proposed that application to G. L.
should now be made. Permission was received on 27th May 1937 to wear a
Bi-Centenary bar on the ribbon
of the centenary jewel. The Bi-Centenary bars were first worn at the
Lodge meeting
held in September 1937 and a new block, showing the Bi-Centenary bar
was obtained for the Lodge summons.
Equally
intriguing is the fact that
no action with
regard to obtaining a warrant, in confirmation of this sanction was
taken until 1940, when
an application was made to G. L. The warrant was presented to the Lodge
by the P.G.M., on 25th April 1940. We can only come to the same
conclusion as the belated
centenary application, that our Lodge was the first to reach such a
milestone (outside of London) and therefore the procedures were
either unknown or had to be established?