History of Alexandra Palace Lodge Taken from the Historical Notes As
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Member”. The Worshipful Master for the Diamond Jubilee year was Bro. Percy (P. E.) Newton, the 58th Master, being installed by his blood brother Bro. F. H. Newton who Initiated him, Passed and Raised him. It is of significance that in the year that the Lodge reached its century Bro. Percy Newton was then the Father of the Lodge. History of Alexandra Palace Lodge Taken from the Historical Notes as extracted from Records covering the Sixty Years 1875 •1935 in connection with the celebration on May 25th 1935 of the Diamond Jubilee of the Lodge. Some of the information in this section is also covered in the section that follows but having the Diamond Jubilee document available allows that more details of merit or interest can be given. The first Master, Bro. J. C. Parkinson, J.G.D.Eng., D.P.G.M Middlesex, was a Past Master of History of Alexandra Palace Lodge (Continued) Lodge 181 and was installed by Bro. J. R. Stacey, Past Master Lodge 180. Extracted for the Amalgamation with the St. Bride Lodge, from the Some of the Officers of that year were: Senior Warden, Bro. G. Kelley compiled history in connection with the celebration on July 17th 1975 of King, Past Grand Steward, Past Master No 4 Lodge; Junior Warden, Bro. the Centenary of the Lodge G. J. Palmer, Past Master No 11 Lodge (Member of the Board of General In February 1875, a petition in prescribed form was signed by 29 Purposes). Masons and was presented to the Most Worshipful Grand Master, His By 1935 there had been 354 Initiates enter Royal Highness The Prince of Wales for a Warrant of Constitution for a the Lodge and at that same time the Lodge had new Lodge to be Named the “Alexandra Palace Lodge” to meet at the 61 full Members and 31 Country Members. Alexandra Palace, Muswell Hill, London N. There were also 3 honorary Members and the This petition was recommended by the Master and Wardens of the entry mentions the special agreement between Royal Somerset House and Inverness Lodge No. 4 and was approved on Alexandra Palace, St. Bride and Horus Lodges the 16th April 1875. The Lodge was Consecrated with fitting ceremonial at because two of the honorary Members qualified the Alexandra Palace on the 17th July 1875 by W. Bro John Hervey, Grand under the provision • Secretary and other Grand Lodge brethren. Bro. J. C. Parkinson was the “To commemorate the first Master. Secretaryship for many The lodge continued to meet at Alexandra Palace for some years but years of the late W. on September 20th 1882 an application was made to the Grand Master that, Bro. Charles (C. J.) W. Bro C. J. Drummond in future, the Lodge be allowed to meet in the city of London. On the 12th Drummond, P.G.D., of April the next year permission was granted to meet at the Imperial Hotel, the Alexandra Palace, St. Bride and Horus Holborn Viaduct in the City of London. Lodges, and to maintain the link thus formed, by Subsequently the meetings were held at the Gaiety Restaurant and reciprocatory resolutions of the three Lodges, the remained there until 1911. Other venues followed including the Abercorn Worshipful Master for the time being of each Rooms of the Great Eastern Hotel, the Café Monico where they met until Lodge becomes an honorary member of the other W. Bro. P. E. Newton 1940. Later still the Lodge met at the Charing Cross Hotel in the Strand two, with all the rights and privileges of a in the Centenary Year Page 1 of 7 Print Date: 22/11/07 Page 2 of 7 and the Café Royal; Colonial House, Mincing Lane; The National Liberal The centenary Master was W. Bro. Chris (D. C.) Club and now, for 22 years, at The Worshipful Company of Butchers. Evans. A very significant Freemason of this Lodge was Charles Drummond At its consecration the Lodge had 29 members who was Secretary between 1905 and 1929. Not only was he the Secretary and in the centenary year could boast 66, 4 of which of Alexandra Palace Lodge but two other London Lodges during this were Joining Members. Today (2007) we have a period. In order to recognise his stalwart work for the three Lodges the total of 32 members, 11 of which are Joining three, Alexandra Palace, Saint Bride and Horus agreed a reciprocal Members from the Saint Bride Lodge with 2 of the resolution that the Worshipful Master for the time being becomes an latter having Honorary membership. honoured guest of the other two. This has been maintained ongoing. On the 27th January 2007 the Saint Bride Lodge was The Lodge became a Hall Stone Lodge in January 1929 having raised amalgamated with Alexandra Palace Lodge by a £808.10s towards the building of Freemasons’ Hall, which is a memorial formal ceremony carried out by The Metropolitan to the thousands of gallant Brethren who sacrificed their lives during the W. Bro D C (Christmas) Grand Lodge of London. W. Bro Edwin Goodwin first world war. Evans PdepGSuptWks. Deputy Chairman, Strathearn Centenary Master The first Bible was presented to the Lodge at Group was the Amalgamating Officer. its Consecration on which Obligations were taken until 1946 when it was replaced by the exquisite Volume of the Sacred Law produced and presented by the late Bro. George Marshall who’s Son is our present Treasurer. A Banner was presented to the Lodge in 1907 but was superseded by a Memorial Banner which was the gift of five First World War Masters. The VSL presented in 1946 by W. Bro. G. Marshall The Tyler’s Sword was presented to the Lodge in 1955 (through W. Bro. Len Brown) by Major General A. Snelling CB; CBE. It was the surrender sword he th received from the Japanese Commander when the 19 Allied Infantry A Brief History of St. Bride Lodge Division crossed the Irrawaddy River at Kyank Myaung, Burma, in 1945. Compiled for the occasion of the Amalgamation between the St. Bride He made this one stipulation, that “the blade of this sword should never be Lodge and Alexandra Palace Lodge that took place on the 27th January cleaned as it is stained by the blood of British Soldiers”. This stipulation 2007 forms part of the ceremony on every occasion of the Tyler being invested A petition for The St Bride Lodge was submitted to the Grand at the Installation meeting. Secretary on May 2nd 1900, recommended by Grand Masters Lodge No.1, th The Lodge celebrated its Centenary on Thursday the 17 July 1975 and was consecrated on 23rd July of that year. with a dispensation of the Most Worshipful Grand Master for a meeting at The V. W. Sir Edward Letchworth, Grand Secretary, headed the Freemason’s Hall Great Queen Street, the guest of honour being Very consecration. After the ceremony W. Bro. C. J. Drummond was installed Worshipful Bother John Bradburn, Grand Registrar and other Grand Officers. The Centenary four course Banquet afterwards for 123 brethren as the first Master and it is also noteworthy that the Treasurer was Bro. was held at the Connaught Rooms. George Rowland Blade, who remained in that office for the next 50 years, later to become Lord Ebbisham Print Date: 22/11/07 Page 3 of 7 Print Date: 22/11/07 Page 4 of 7 The Lodge took its name from St. Bridget of Ireland, who became St. Memorial Fund. During 1922, St. Bride Royal Arch Chapter was proposed, Bride, the Patron Saint of Printers. Of the 26 founders, the majority were and was consecrated in October 1924. associated with the Printing and Type•founding industry, among whom A case containing ivory Gavels and a maul, was Sir Alfred Letts, who donated the magnificent VSL. Mr. Imre Kiralfy, was also presented by the brethren in memory of founder of the White City Stadium and Rev. W.C. Heaton, vicar of The W. Bro. C. J. Drummond who passed to the Saint Brides Church Fleet Street, London. Grand Lodge above in 1929, these are used During the first years the lodge held its regular meetings at The Hotel regularly still, seventy Cecil, then at the Cafe Monico in Piccadilly until 1934 and since that date eight years on. at Freemasons Hall, Great Queen Street, WC2. Deputations were At the first October meeting, congratulations were offered to W. Bro. again exchanged in The Ivory Gavels Alderman Frank Green and W. Bro. Joseph Lawrence on attaining the 1930 and 1935 with presented in memory of Offices of Lord Mayor of London and Sheriff respectively. The first of Lodge of Edinburgh C.J. Drummond, P.G.D., Founder • First Master • seven Masters later to become Lord Mayors of London. and the RW. Master of Secretary, 1900•1929 The December 1900 meeting saw five candidates initiated, five passed (*) No.1 presented to St and a further five raised. In 1901, W. Bro. Horace Brooks Marshall was Bride a set of three Mauls of great historic elected to the office of Treasurer to the Grand Lodge of England, in interest, being carved from oak from the Throne Room of Holyrood Palace, October The R. W. Bro. Ald. Frank Green was installed as Master, and at traditionally recorded as the birthplace of the Lodge of Edinburgh in 1128. the December meeting congratulations were offered to the W M upon These Mauls are used on special occasions, albeit with great care, owing to whom a Baronetcy had been conferred. In 1906 the honours continued by their fragility and antiquity.