Report on meeting held on Tuesday 8th November

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The November meeting was held at Freemasons' Hall in London’s Great Queen Street, WC2.

Given the time of year and the fact that several of our members, including the Worshipful Master and the candidate of the evening are based abroad, the interest and passion shared by members of the Old Wellingtonian Lodge in their Freemasonry was visible in abundance, with a particularly well attended meeting.

It is customary  and encouraged to invite brethren from other masonic lodges. As such we had several guests for the evening including two of the candidate's personal friends from other Public School Lodges who came to support their friend and brother be passed to the degree of a Fellowcraft.

Our meeting in November being close to Armistice day and given Wellington's important link to the armed forces, W.Bro. T Hawley read out the names of the 16 brethren of this Lodge who had made the ultimate sacrifice, and the Chaplain led the lodge in the act of remembrance.

The main part of the meeting was a fine ceremony as the candidate was passed to the degree of Fellow Craft,  which was carried out with good humour and great flair.  This was conducted under the watchful eye of the Metropolitan Grand Inspector, Stephen Fenton, who later professed to having had a very enjoyable evening in our Lodge.

Notable mentions must be made to Bro. John Rance who confidently presented the working tools of a Fellow Craft. W.Bro. Rory Shackleton then delivered a faultless rendition of the second degree tracing board to an attentive audience.

The meeting ended with a highlighting of importance of the lodge website, (www.owl3404.org) Proving to be an important tool in educating the curious more about the Lodge, Freemasonry and the way it works closely with the college.

 Afterwards the members and guests dined at the Crown and Anchor pub in Covent Garden. Members and visitors had an enjoyable evening with plans being made for similar future events.

Report on meeting held on 13th October 2011

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The annual installation meeting was held at Freemason’s Hall in London’s Great Queen Street, WC2.

The WM, W. Bro. John Edwards thanked his officers for their support during the past year and invited W. Bro. Paul Haynes White Hill Lodge No. 8425 to assist him in bestowing the highest honour that a lodge can confer on any of its members – the Mastership of the lodge. On this occasion Bro. Count Charles-Nicolas Goblet D’Alviella received the gavel and master’s collar before being installed into the chair of King Solomon.

A fine ceremony followed as Bro. Mathew Saunders presented the working tools of a master mason; Bro. John Rance the tools of a Fellowcraft and the Director of Ceremonies, W. Bro. Tom Hawley, the tools of an Entered Apprentice. Fine style too described the presentation of the addresses to the Master, Wardens and Brethren by VW Bro. Jervis Kay, W. Bro. James Milne and W. Bro. Rory Shackleton respectively. The newly installed master presented his officers with their jewels and wands with aplomb and looked forward with optimism to the Masonic year ahead.

A ballot for two new initiates proved in their favour and notice of proposal to introduce another new member was given at the third rising.

The members were warm in their appreciation that W. Bro. Robin Tilbrook would be awarded London Grand Rank in the following November.

The power and importance of the lodge website, (www.owl3404.org) proved itself once again when the Secretary, W. Bro. James Milne reported that a former member, W. Bro. Dickon Westmoreland now living in Australia had kindly offered to return his past master’s jewel having read of the need for jewels to be passed onto younger members. A further jewel had been found by an anonymous brother from a Surrey lodge at a street market. Without seeking any remuneration or thanks he had returned it to the Chaplain, a remarkably generous act given the value that such jewels can command by collectors. The newly installed WM asked that his appreciation to both brethren be recorded.

Twenty brethren dined at the Bucks Club although rather more had been present at the meeting.

Report on meeting held on 14th May 2011

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Report for website on OWL meeting at College 14th May 2011

High-summer puts family demands on younger brethren which can limit their attendance. The OW Lodge is blessed with many younger members and several are waiting in the wings for admission. Accordingly every alternate year brethren are joined by the wives, partners and friends to enjoy ‘white-table’ masonry at College. This was not one of those years – but 2012 will be.

Twenty four brethren attended to meet in the Driver rooms. W. Bro Chris Collins acted as Junior Warden; W. Bro John Ross Barnard as Chaplain; Bro. Alex Stuart-Bamford as Junior Deacon; W. Bro. Nigel Birch as Inner Guard and W. Bro Hew Dunn as Tyler. The special dispensations to allow the meeting to be held at College were read.

The Almoner, W. Bro Jeremy Moreton-Moss presented a eulogy for W. Bro. Bill Green who had passed to the ‘Grand Lodge Above’ on 8th March. W. Bro. Bill had served as a visiting music teacher at College for many years matched by his faithful years in masonry. His pupils spoke highly of his abilities and some had turned his wise tutorage into becoming professional musicians. In addition to his teaching Bro. Bill could be heard regularly in London’s West End theatre pit orchestras, thus sadly rarely seen. It was said that he knew the scores of every one of the biggest shows by heart. He was a true professional. The brethren stood in silent tribute to him.

The Lodge saluted W. Bro. James Morgan, Grand Steward, in recognition of his new appointment.

The WM requested that W. Bro Rory Shackleton assist him by taking over the Chair of King Solomon for the duration of the Ceremony of double Initiation firstly for Mr Neil Chadda, aged 24, (Murray 99 – 04) a Client Development Manager then Mr Guy Lynch, aged 25 (Hill 99 – 02) an Asset Management Valuer both candidates proposed by W. Bro. James Milne, seconded by W. Bro. Tom Hawley. The ceremony was conducted with military precision reflecting the training the officiating brethren had received at Sandhurst and their other military disciplines.

A fine festive board followed by courtesy of College caterers.

Report on meeting held on 10th February 2011

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Raising: Bro. Jonathan Kim Rance.

Unusually for the month of February the weather, local, long distance and international transport systems all allowed for a good attendance to celebrate the raising to the sublime degree of a master mason.

The ceremony was conducted by the Worshipful Master in the Chair. However, in keeping with our policy of sharing the work in the lodge, the WM requested a past master W. Bro Rory Shackleton to assist him by taking the Chair of King Solomon for the duration of the Ceremony of Raising.  W. Bro. Richard Bradburn, a personal guest of the candidate from the Old Reptonian Lodge No 3725, delivered the exhortation in fine style. The Working Tools were explained in detail by Bro Jeffrey Smith, Whitsters Lodge No 4717, another guest and friend of Bro Jon Rance.

Bro Jon had been proposed by W. Bro. James Milne LGR and initiated on 11th November 2008. The Old Wellingtonian Lodge being blessed with an increasing number of candidates from College wishing to become freemasons Bro Jon had been passed to the 2nd degree by courtesy of the Old Cliftonian Lodge No. 3340 on 15th January 2009.

The former Secretary, W. Bro. John Ross-Barnard JP having returned from a year’s travelling around the world presented W. Bro. Cdr. Stephen Dudley RN with an ornamental china bottle of Australian Navy “Pussers” (purser’s) rum to mark Bro. Stephen’s elevation to London Grand Rank. Members warmly applauded him. 27 members enjoyed a festive board at the Pillars of Hercules.