The Lodge of Construction   No 5350  LODGE HISTORY

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1.1 An historical record of the Preliminary Meetings before the Lodge was formed.

 

Prior to the lodge consecration in 1932, the news during the previous two decades had not been good. The great ship Titanic had hit an iceberg in the April of 1912 and had sunk with much loss of life. This was followed by World War I, fought during 1914-1918, with even a greater loss of life. However, during the period 1903 to 1912 the Valley of the Kings in Egypt had become a centre of activity. An American businessman, Theodore M. Davies had financed a series of excavations while the experienced Egyptologist Howard Carter had been working for him. At that time, Carter made several important discoveries including the intact tombs of Yuya and Tuya who may have been the ‘great-grandparents’ of Tutankhamun (c1336 - c1327 BC).

 

The digging was interrupted by the 1914-1918 war and Theodore M. Davies withdrew his support. Then towards the end of the war, with the patronage of the fifth Earl of Carnarvon, further concessions were gained and digging recommenced in 1917 but unfortunately, it produced five unsuccessful seasons. Lord Carnarvon was ready to give up but Carter pleaded for one more chance and the digging resumed on the 1^st November 1921. A staircase was cleared revealing the lower part of a doorway which was stamped with the seal of Tutankhamun. Lord Carnarvon and his daughter arrived in Luxor on the 23rd November 1921 and the long sought tomb of Tutankhamun was then opened. The news of the discovery spread quickly. In the decade following the discovery mounting excitement ensued which gave rise to popular interest in Egyptian artifacts and designs. Many people took a greater interest in ancient buildings, including Greek temples.

 

In the late summer of 1931 at Church Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, a group of prominent Freemasons were considering forming a new Lodge. We seem to be left with no records as to why the original name of the Lodge was chosen but it is not surprising that with all that had been going on, the founders first chose the name "The Lodge of Archaeology"

 

The date of the first preliminary meeting is now lost but a second meeting of the proposed new lodge took place on the 31^st August 1931 at Church Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham with the Worshipful Master designate, W. Bro. H. Groves in the chair. Also present were W. Bro. Simms and Bro. C. V. G. Simpson. Arising out of the previous minutes, Bro. C.V.G. Simpson accepted the office of Secretary designate and would continue in the office for at least two years. It was proposed that Bro. R. Judge be assistant Secretary for at least two years and Bro. Scott be asked to take office as Tyler. It was also proposed that The Handsworth Masonic Rooms, Wretham Road, Soho Hill, Birmingham, being not far from the Jewellery Quarter, be the place of meeting for the new Lodge.

At a third preliminary meeting on the 19^th October 1931 held at 121 Colmore Row, Birmingham, W. Bro. Simms reported that he had agreed on behalf of the prospective founders of the newly proposed Lodge to hold meetings on the fourth Friday in the month and that the rent for the hire of the rooms would be £3/3/0 (i.e.3 guineas in pre decimal currency). It was at this meeting that it was proposed that founder member fees would be £5/5/0 (i.e. 5 guineas) and that the annual subscription be £4/14/6. The initiation fee would be £16/16/0 and that 10/6 from the subscription fee would be allocated to the building fund. It was further proposed that the Bridge Trust Lodge No. 2878, which was consecrated on 6th November 1901 (and still meets today at the Wretham Road Masonic Centre), be asked to ‘mother’ this new proposed Lodge. During this meeting a proposed provisional list of officers was established (although some changes were later made).

 

WM - W. Bro H. Groves P. Pr GD (Warks) & PM 3735

IPM - W. Bro W. D. James PM 2875

And others …………….

The fourth meeting was held in the centre of Birmingham and took place at 148 Great Charles Street on 27th November 1931, when a committee was formed to carry out negotiations with the Provincial Grand Secretary of Staffordshire. It was agreed that members would pay for their own founder jewels in addition to the founder fees. It was also agreed that a petition be placed before the Bridge Trust Lodge on Wednesday 4^th January 1932.

 

A fifth meeting at the same venue on 8th January 1932 was given a report of the interview with the Provincial Grand Secretary and the meeting discussed the pricing of a new banner.

 

The price of the new banner was agreed at 15 guineas at a sixth meeting held on the 8^th February 1932. It was also agreed to accept two other joining members as founder members and it was hoped that the consecration ceremony would take place on the fourth Friday in April 1932 at Wretham Road, subject to instructions from the Province - but this did not transpire! Visitors would be required to pay ten shillings and sixpence for the banquet. It was resolved that the WM, the IPM, the Wardens and the Secretary form a sub-committee to draw up the by-laws.

 

W. Bro Simms nominated the first Initiate which was to be T. G. Butler of 67 Great Colmore Street, Birmingham (however, this also did not transpire).

 

At a seventh meeting held on Monday 7^th March 1932, the Secretary read out a letter from Provincial Grand Lodge advising that the Grand Lodge had not approved of the banner designs or of the name of "Archaeology." After long discussions, it was then proposed to submit new designs and a new name, the "Lodge of Construction", with "Heathfield Lodge" as an alternative for approval.

 

This new name "The Lodge of Construction No. 5350" together with the revised designs were accepted by Grand Lodge in a letter read out by the secretary at the eighth meeting on Monday 25th April 1932 which took place at 148 Great Charles Street, Birmingham. It was proposed that an offer of £2/2/0 (two guineas) per annum be made to the Bridge Trust Lodge for the hire of collars. It was also proposed that Mr. A. S. Warner be the first initiate. (Presumably the previous named first initiate had not been followed through).

 

At the ninth meeting held on Thursday 19th May 1932 the Bro. Rev. Tye was proposed as a founding member. On the 20^th July 1932 a lodge of instruction was formed for rehearsing the ceremony of initiation and a Bro. Rev. Banford Jones acted as Chaplin.

 

 

At the twelfth meeting held on 16^th September 1932, two prospective candidates were interviewed, a Mr. Joseph Woodall and Mr. James Jones. The Lodge by-laws were approved item by item and W. Bro. W. D. James was requested to arrange a meeting with W. Bro Sir T. Harris-Spencer KBE PAGDC (Eng) with reference to the founding members.

 

The thirteenth meeting was held at the Civic House, Great Charles Street, Birmingham on Friday 30^th September 1932 when it was resolved that the Provincial Grand Organist be requested to provide a choir and that invitations be sent to members of the General Purposes Committee of Provincial Grand Lodge. The consecration of the Lodge took place after it had opened at 3.00 pm on Friday 14^th October 1932 when the following officers were appointed ;

W. Bro. H. Groves P. Pr. GD (Warks) & PM 3735 (WM)

W. Bro. W. D. James PM 2875 (IPM)

Bro. R. H. Myers (SW)

Bro. F. E. Hunt (JW)

Bro. Rev. C. Harold Tye (Chaplain)

Bro. Col. R. T. Pemberton DSO (Treasurer)

Bro. C. G. Simpson (Secretary)

Bro. A. W. Bramford-Jones (DC)

Bro. Edgar Sharp (SD)

Bro. R. H. Line (JD)

Bro. G. G. Hinsley (Organist)

Bro. R. Judge (Assistant Secretary)

Bro. A. N. Holland (IG)

Bro. Cyril Perkins (Steward)

Bro. David Hill (Tyler)

 

The banner and jewels of Lodge of Construction invite the question as to why the name was chosen and why the image was adopted into the design.

 

The Lodge was originally to be called The Lodge of Archeology, presumably to commemorate the Egyptian discoveries. Even though this name was rejected by Grand Lodge, the banner was probably still designed with this in mind. In the centre is the picture of the Parthenon, the only remaining Greek temple, a symbol of the recent archeological discoveries and King Solomon’s Temple. At the top there is the Lodge name and number and below that, the Square and Compasses inside the ‘Staffordshire Knot’, signifying the Provincial Grand Lodge of Staffordshire. Underneath the image of the Parthenon are the words "whose builder and maker is God".

 

The Temples of Solomon do not exist even as ruins today but the ruins of the Parthenon do exist to this day and 8 x 17 Doric columns extend around the periphery of the entire structure. The three main types of columns used in Greek temples are Doric, Ionic and Corinthian.

 

The truest and most basic difference among the columns has to do with proportions (the Doric columns being thicker and shorter; whilst the Ionic columns are taller and slimmer.). The columns are distinguished most easily by their ‘capitals’ (the tops of columns). The Doric capital has the simplest design, while the Ionic has the curlicues called volutes, and the Corinthian has the acanthus leaves.

 

A complete history of all lodge meetings from 1932 up to 2007 is recorded in 5 lodge minute books.

2.1 Minute Book No. 1 (October 1932 to September 1947)

 

The Lodge was consecrated on 14^th October 1932. at the Masonic Hall, Wretham Road, Handsworth. There were brethren in attendance and the dining fee was £10/6d.

When the Lodge was opened, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Staffordshire

W. Bro Sir T. Harris-Spencer KBE PAGDC (Eng) took the chair and installed his officers for the Consecration ceremony as follows ;

W. Bro H Bale PSGW - SW chair

W. Bro W H Thakepeace PJGW - JW chair

W. Bro Rev M Fountain Page PG Chap - Chaplain

W. Bro Lt Col T. E. Lowe PG Sec. - Secretary

W. Bro S. J. Tonks PGDC - Director of Ceremonies

W. Bro G. H. Mercer P G Org. - Organist

W. Bro W. E. Holden PG Purs - Inner Guard

W. Bro T. W. Bennett PG Tyler - Tyler

 

 

The following Grand Lodge Officers were recorded as being present at the meeting :-

W. Bro Lt Col. T. E. Lowe PGD (Eng)

W. Bro Capt. A. J. Lodge PAG Swd. B (Eng)

W. Bro Maj. T. J. Richardson PAG Swd. B (Eng)

W. Bro F. G. Whittall PAGDC (Eng)

W. Bro H. D. Austerberry PAGDC (Eng)

W. Bro F. Luke Smethell PAG Chap (Eng)

W. Bro John Hill PSGW (Warks)

W. Bro T. B. Howse - WM Bridge Trust Lodge 2878

 

The Consecration was followed by the first meeting of the Lodge, during which the Lodge officers were invested.

A notice of motion was given at this opening meeting that, at the next regular meeting, the following brethren would be proposed as joining members (they were all duly accepted into the Lodge at the 2^nd regular meeting which was held on 28th October 1932).

Bro. Richard Judge, aged 41 of Lodge No. 3857

Bro. Reginald Horace Line, aged 31 of Lodge No. 4850

Bro. Alfred Norman Beech Holland, aged 33 of Lodge No. 3735

Bro. Cyril Perkins, aged 38 of Lodge No. 4621

Bro. Rev. Charles Harold Tye, aged 41 of Lodge No. 2352

Bro. Rev. Arthur Wilfred Bamford Jones, aged 38 of Lodge No. 960

 

A further notice of motion was given at the opening meeting that, at the next regular meeting, the following persons would be proposed as candidates for initiation (they were both duly initiated as first candidates into the Lodge at the 2^nd regular meeting held on 28th October 1932)

Mr. Arthur Sydney Warner, aged 43, a Company Director of 21 Queen Street, W’hmptn.

Mr. James Jones, aged 48, a Master Painter of 7 Westbury Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham

The first menu at the festive board (costing 10 shillings and sixpence) is shown below :-

The menu gave a choice of meats for dinner (pork or lamb). At Wretham Road at that time, it was normal for the chef to carve the meat personally at the table for each person. Drinks before the meeting and during the festive board were included within the price. It was deemed the Worshipful Masters responsibility to organise barrels of beer for the evening.

The meetings were held at Wretham Road until 1941 when the Lodge had to move to the New Inns Hotel in Handsworth due to bomb damage. In 1943 the Lodge moved again to the Edgbaston Assembly Rooms, Stirling Road, Birmingham. The reason for the second move is not clear as the minutes of the officers meetings are not recorded in the relevant minute book. The Lodge continued to meet there until October 1947 when it returned to Wretham Road.

The meetings from 1932 to 1939 were predominantly ceremonies of Initiation, Passing and Raising. At some of the meetings the lodge performed two ceremonies such as an Initiation and a Raising, or any other combination of multiple ceremonies during one meeting. There were never any ‘double ceremonies’ with two candidates at the same time. During the Second World War the meetings continued but due to the regular movement of brethren who were in the Armed Forces, some of the meetings took the form of a demonstration or lecture. Although there were a few subsequent ceremonies, this format actually continued even after the war and until the end of this minute book.

During this period there were 54 initiates (an average of between 3 and 4 each year). Seven of these entered apprentices reached the Masters chair by the year 1947.

During this period the Lodge initiated 32 Brethren. The most likely reason for this high number was that the men being ‘de-mobbed’ were looking for other interests and friends. The majority of the work in the lodge room was taken up with ceremonies of Initiation, Passing and Raising. In some cases there were ‘double ceremonies’.

As a result of the death of King George VI on the 6^th February 1952, his daughter Elizabeth was crowned Queen Elizabeth II on 2^nd June 1953.

Prior to the Coronation of the new Queen, the Provincial Grand Master of Staffordshire sent the following communication to all Lodges in the Province.

During this period the ceremonial work within the lodge can be summarized as follows ;

Installation Ceremonies 12

Initiations Ceremonies 17 (6 of which were ‘double’ ceremonies)

Passing Ceremonies 19 (2 of which were ‘double’ ceremonies)

Raising Ceremonies 21

Meetings with no Ceremonies 8

 

Total Number of Meetings 77

 

The maximum attendance at any one meeting was 77 brethren (for the initiation of Bro. G. D. Hunter on 28^th February 1961). Installation meetings were also well attended during this period with the highest attendance being 70 brethren for the installation of Bro. A. C. Browne on 25^th September 1963.

Fees at the commencement of this period were as follows; Initiation £31/10s (£31.50) ; Joining £ 5/5s (£5.25) and Annual Subscriptions £12/12s (£12.60).

During this period there were held some 90 regular meetings of the Lodge and 2 emergency meetings. The following ceremonies took place in the Lodge during this period ;

Initiation Ceremonies 20

Passing Ceremonies 18

Raising Ceremonies 17

Installation Ceremonies 15

 

Total Ceremonies 70

 

Those regular meetings held without one of the above ceremonies amounted to 22 in number. There were, however, many lectures and demonstrations of considerable interest which took place in substitute of such ceremonies.

During this whole period, the average attendance at lodge meetings was 34 brethren consisting, on average, of 22 members and 12 visiting brethren. The highest attendance recorded during this period was 60 (the regular meeting held on 28^th November 1972).

The meeting on the 13^th October 1982 (the 329^th regular meeting) represented the actual 50th anniversary of the Lodge of Construction. However, strangely, no mention of this fact was made in the minutes of that meeting and nothing appears on the summons that makes any reference to this event. However, at the next regular meeting, which was held on 10^th November (the 330th regular meeting) there was a ‘Golden Jubilee’ celebration meeting. At this meeting the minutes of the Consecration Meeting held on 14^th October 1932 were read in open lodge for the attending brethren (which included the Provincial Grand Master, R.W. Bro Stanley Barrington TD and a strong presence form Provincial Grand Lodge) and a short history of the lodge was given by W.Bro. V. S. Cattermole P. Prov. G. Std. B, the senior Past Master of the lodge at that time. A small commerative booklet was also produced for this meeting which briefly outlined the history of the lodge.

The regular lodge meetings were all held at Wretham Road until the Installation meeting on 8^th September 1982 which was held at Aldridge under dispensation from Provincial Grand Lodge. All subsequent meetings were thereafter held at Aldridge.

 

2.5 Minute Book No. 5 (September 1987- Present)

The Masonic year 1987 commenced as usual with the Installation and various other ceremonies. However a significant event was recorded in the minutes with reference to the 9^th March 1988 meeting - the presentation of a 50-year certificate to W.Bro. V. Cattermole for service and loyalty to Freemasonry. W. Bro. J.W.Carter made the presentation of the certificate on behalf of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master. The Lodge of Construction members also marked the occasion with a presentation of a cut glass bowl suitably inscribed by W.Bro. C.R.Wallis (Senior Past Master in attendance).

The Lodge of Construction No. 5350 continued to prosper although suffering the sad loss of W.Bro A. Norton and W. Bro L. J. Banks to the Grand Lodge above - the lodge had not only lost two stalwarts of masonry but also dedicated members of the Lodge.

The Lodge of Instruction was regularly held at W.Bro L. J. Banks family home. Of the many humorous incidents that occurred, one thing that will always be remembered was the delivery of refreshments by Mrs. Banks - if the incorrect knocks were not returned then the refreshments were left outside the lounge door ! Fortunately a legacy left by W. Bro L. J. Banks was his son W. Bro David J. Banks who took over his father’s mantle and continued to support the Lodge with customary vigour and determination. Annual subscriptions increased to £55.00 for the ensuing year.

During the Masonic year 1991/2 a catastrophic series of events then followed by way of the loss of three of our most eminent members to the Grand Lodge above - W. Bro’s J.W.Carter, J.G.Carter and A.D.Haley OBE. Fortunately in keeping with Masonic tradition, the Lodge of Construction already had sound foundations and therefore continued to function as a viable unit with the help of newly initiated brethren filling various senior offices within the lodge. Annual subscriptions were increased to £80.00.

Over the next seven years the Lodge of Construction encountered a period of instability when the number of retirements and resignations exceeded initiations and joining members. This period certainly focused the members’ thoughts on the future of masonry in general and the survival of the Lodge of Construction in particular.

The next few years proved quite challenging. The regular support of visitors provided a tremendous incentive to all of the members to survive and succeed. These included W. Bro R. Gaskill, W. Bro. W. Moore, W. Bro. L. Aldritt, W. Bro. D Morris and W. Bro. A. L. Danks. By way of example, the lodge had no suitable box for the charity collection. However, W. Bro. Danks produced a fine hand crafted box for the purpose which was presented to the lodge at the March 2004 meeting.

However, it was during this time that two visitors, in particular, not only assisted with any duty asked of them, but also acted as mentors to the younger brethren. It is by way of an acknowledgement that we make mention of W.Bro. B. C. Neale and W. Bro. J. B. Edwards and thank them for their unfailing support during this difficult period. In recognition of their vast personal commitment to the Lodge of Construction, the members bestowed upon them honorary membership as a mark of their appreciation.

During 2003 the Lodge of Construction was the recipient of visiting brethren from Maney Lodge No.7630 which is somewhat unique in that it is ‘twinned’ with Lodge La Charité No. 6 of Amsterdam. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Maney Lodge No. 7630 found it impossible to function effectively within the Province of Warwickshire. Therefore, it was on the 29^th April 2004, that Maney Lodge No.7630 reluctantly returned the Lodge Warrant to a representative of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Warwickshire. A number of brethren from Maney Lodge had already visited the Lodge of Construction with the declared intention of becoming joining members. Since this was rather a unique situation, a group of Past Masters and Members of Maney Lodge were duly invited to attend the monthly meeting of Past Masters and Officers from the Lodge of Construction as a gesture of goodwill and to assist in the integration process.

In order to accommodate and maintain the ‘twining arrangement’ with the Lodge La Charité No 6, the Installation meeting was moved to a Saturday to assist the attendance of those brethren who wished to travel from Holland. The first meeting was held on Saturday 4^th September 2004. The ‘union’ of the two Lodges is now a matter of history and the future prospects for the Lodge of Construction No. 5350 was much enhanced by the influx of such a group of committed brethren from Maney Lodge.

The lodge received information during September 2006 that our appointed Grand Lodge Officer and a mason of some fortitude, W. Bro. L Jessel P.G. Std. Bearer had been called to the Grand Lodge above. The life and times of W. Bro. Jessel are well documented locally and is a testament to the humanitarian struggles that were endured prior to his settling in Walsall.

In 2006, in order to celebrate the 250^th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, W.Bro.D.W.Clay delivered a very interesting presentation to the lodge (with musical illustrations) about the composer’s life, his music and his Freemasonry.

The Lodge of Construction has now reached this momentous milestone with regard to freemasonry within the Province of Staffordshire and will as ever, maintain and continue to uphold the principals and tenets of the Craft. Annual subscriptions are currently set at £120.00.

 

The Lodge now has 30 members and we will welcome more.

 

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