A Continuation of our History.....................
LODGE FURNITURE AND REGALIA
The Lodge possesses a Banner presented by W.Bro. Granger on Wed. 4th May 1892, but there is no record anywhere of a Dedication Service. Perhaps in those days there was no ritual or perhaps it was considered sufficient for the Chaplain to murmur a few well chosen words!
The Lodge is also in possession of a very fine Tracing Board presented on 6th March 1889 by the artist, Bro. Richard Weston. Regrettably, there is no mention in the minutes regarding our Officers Collars and Jewels, the majority of which were presented by the individuals who held office during the first year of our existence.
VICTORIAN AND EDWARDIAN ERAS
At the fourth meeting of the Lodge the Bye-laws were approved and it was agreed, amongst other things, that the Lodge should meet six times in each year. The meetings were to be held on the first Wednesday in the months of January, March, May, July, September and November.
Increased activity was generated by Bro. R.L. Thornton who joined the Lodge on 10th Sept. 1892. He was appointed Secretary on 1st Aug. 1893 and his signature appears in the Declaration Book no less than 15 times in the two years he held that office. Only 10 new members came into the Lodge in the next 10 years and in 1904 there was a membership of only 14 brethren.
THE GEORGIAN YEARS
A perusal of the minute books covering the next 40 years (1911-1951) reveals absolutely nothing of interest. The Lodge functioned as a Lodge, meetings were held regularly, and from time to time they advanced the odd brother. The Lodge duly installed its Worshipful Master in November of each year and when there was nothing else to do, then and only then, they might have a lecture on some appropriate subject.
THE ELIZABETHAN ERA
What the Lodge really needed was a burst of energy and it required a catalyst - a man fired with enough energy who could provide the boost to a team of strong officers (or to a strong team of officers) who would and could set about the task of reviving the old spirit. R.W.Bro Thornton did the trick in the years of our infancy, and I venture to suggest that W.Bro. Harold Bracher did the same in the 1950s and 1960s. Ably backed by two stalwarts, V.W.Bros. Grantham and Hart, (one, the then senior member of the Lodge, and the other, the tireless Director of Ceremonies), he laid the foundations of our current strength.
