82nd Festival of the Public Schools Lodges’ Council

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On Saturday 30th May 2015, the Old Wellingtonian Lodge hosted the 82nd Festival of the Public Schools Lodges’ Council at Wellington College.

Worshipful Master Alex Stuart-Bamford with his father, Eric-Stuart Bamford Provincial Grand Master of Surrey and the MW Pro Grand Master Peter Geoffrey Lowndes
Worshipful Master Alex Stuart-Bamford with his father, Eric-Stuart Bamford Provincial Grand Master of Surrey and the MW Pro Grand Master Peter Geoffrey Lowndes

The day began with a tea and coffee reception providing time for guests to enjoy the splendid surroundings of College.  For many this was their first visit and for others, it had been many years since their last. Some commented their last arrival had been via school coach when playing Wellington at sport.  The impressive buildings only adding to their nerves before the big game.

During this morning start, the Lodge was opened and business was transacted before being called off.

At 10:30 a chapel service was held.  Many favourite hymns were sung with gusto and Father Tim Novis delivered a meaningful sermon for the day. Following the service we remained in Chapel for a talk about the Battle of Waterloo. Col Giles Orpen-Smellie (OW), provided insight into the preparation for the battle with great detail of the intensity and close call of the battle itself.

Following this splendid talk, masons attended Old Hall for the remainder of our masonic business while non-masonic guests enjoyed champagne in the sunshine on Combermere Quad.

Festival lunch
Festival lunch

In our masonic meeting, we received the MW Pro Grand Master, Peter Geoffrey Lowndes.  W.Bro Stephen Dudley delivered an excellent Oration detailing the little known facts about the Duke of Wellington as a Freemason.

Once the meeting was concluded, we joined our guests for a refreshing glass or two of champagne.  We were blessed with glorious sunshine.

Lunch was held in the Dining Hall, where we enjoyed poached fillet of salmon, Beef Wellington and Wellington Mess; all accompanied with excellent wines.  After lunch we gave various toasts and listened to speeches. Amongst which the Old Wellingtonian Lodge presented two charitable cheques for £10,000 – one to Metropolitan Grand Lodge, supporting the London Air Ambulance.  The other to College, contributing to the recent purchase of Maclise’s “The meeting of Wellington and Blucher after the Battle of Waterloo“.

We then returned to the sunshine where the wine continued to flow and guests could explore College.  The day concluded with everyone having enjoyed a memorable day.  We wish Christ’s Hospital Lodge no. 2650 the very best for their festival in 2016.

Maclise's depiction of Wellington meeting Blucher
Maclise’s depiction of Wellington meeting Blucher

 

 

A report for meeting held on Thursday 13th February 2014

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The Old Wellingtonian Lodge met on Thursday 13th February 2014 at Freemasons’ Hall, London for a 2nd Degree Ceremony (Passing). However the candidate was unavoidably detained so could not attend. Our Senior Visiting Officer Edward Bottomley manfully stepped into the role.

The Worshipful Master, WBro Simon Wilson, conducted the ceremony of Passing ably assisted by Director of Ceremonies WBro Rory Shackleton, and also by WBro Derek Barrett as Senior Deacon.  The 2nd Degree is a significant and meaningful event in the journey of a Freemason following on from his Initiation.  This evening’s ceremony was conducted with usual OW style, which the candidate enjoyed immensely, sometimes even prompting the Senior Deacon!

The Master WBro Simon Wilson, also invested officers of the Lodge who had not been present at our last Installation meeting.

After the meeting some 17 members and visitors retired to the Kingsway Hotel for an enjoyable Festive Board that involved more than a little mis-firing!

We look forward to our next meeting back at College on Saturday May 17th.

A report on a 3rd Degree and Installation Ceremony

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The Old Wellingtonian Lodge met on Thursday 10th October 2013 at Freemasons’ Hall, London for a 3rd Degree ceremony (Raising), followed by the Installation of the New Master.  It is a rare opportunity to conduct two such significant ceremonies on the same day.  They both present challenges but the officers of the Lodge met these challenges with enthusiasm, benefiting all those in attendance.

The Worshipful Master, WBro Bob Bartlett, conducted the ceremony of Raising ably assisted by WBros Chris Collins, Rory Shackleton and Derek Barrett.  The 3rd Degree is a significant and meaningful event in the journey of a Freemason.  This evening’s ceremony was conducted with usual OW style, which the candidate enjoyed immensely.

After a short respite, we commenced our annual Installation Ceremony.  WBro Bob Bartlett Installed ME Bro Simon Wilson into the Chair of King Solomon in fine style, ably assisted by WBro Tom Hawley and WBro Rory Shackleton. The newly installed Master, WBro Simon Wilson, performed his first duty of investing his officers of the Lodge for the year ahead.

After the meeting some 18 members and visitors retired to Bucks Club in Mayfair where we dined famously on grouse. The more intrepid retired to The Royal Ocean Yacht Racing Club for further libations.

We look forward to our next meeting on November 12th at Freemasons’ Hall where we will be conducting another 3rd Degree Ceremony, to be followed by dinner at the Kingsway Hotel.

Report on meeting held on Thursday, 28th February 2013

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The Old Wellingtonian Lodge met at Freemasons’ Hall, London for a 2nd Degree ceremony (Passing).  The meeting was held by dispensation on a different date to usual, due to the expected lack of attendance on Valentine’s Day.

The Worshipful Master, WBro Bob Bartlett, conducted the ceremony with his customary lively style.  After obligating the candidate, he gave up the Chair of King Solomon for WBro Derek Barrett to complete the remainder of the ritual, passing the candidate as a Fellowcraft.  Bro Matthew Saunders provided excellent support and guidance to the candidate as Senior Deacon and the 2nd degree working tools were delivered in fine style by Bro Jon Rance.  The ceremony was concluded by WBro Rory Shackleton giving a faultless explanation of the tracing board of this degree.

After the meeting some 18 members and visitors retired to the Newton Arms for an informal dinner.  We look forward to our summer meeting in May back at Wellington College.

Report on meeting held on Saturday 12th May, 2012

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Our May meeting is traditionally held at Wellington College and it was with great pleasure that 25 members and guests once again met at Wellington.  It was a gloriously sunny day which made a pleasant change from the recent rains (despite the country being in a period of drought!)

The work of the day was a Ceremony of Raising, where a Fellow Craft is raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason.

The Worshipful Master, WBro Charles Goblet d'Alviella once again led the meeting with near perfect ritual.  During his year as Master, WBro Charles has had opportunity to deliver three of our main ceremonies – Initiation, Passing and Raising. It is nice for an Installed Master to have opportunity for varied ceremonies during their year as Master, but it does require effort to perfect the rituals.  WBro Charles has met this challenge enabling candidates, members and visitors to gain much enjoyment from the meetings.

In a similar fashion, Bro Alex Stuart-Bamford fulfilled his important role as Senior Deacon with much confidence and precision.  In this ceremony, a skilled Senior Deacon is important for the instruction of the candidate; Alex certainly performed his duty in this capacity.

After the meeting the Lodge members, guests and wives dined in the new Munro Pavilion.  This was our first time dining in this location and we all enjoyed the good company and excellent food as the sun set in the west over Bigside at the closing of the day.

Our next meeting will be the annual Installation ceremony in October, when we will meet at Freemasons' Hall, London. 

If anyone is interested to find out more about the Old Wellingtonian Lodge, please get in contact with the Lodge Secretary.

Report on meeting held on Thursday 9th February 2012

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

As is often for this time of year, the poor weather hampers many from attending the February meeting. However for those that managed to attend, the cold weather outside was quickly forgotten as the prospect of watching a new candidate take the first steps of his masonic career banished all winter blues.

W.Bro. Paul Haynes, whilst not a member of this lodge, has often assisted the OW lodge by standing in at the last minute for ritual or office and on this occasion he acted as Inner Guard for the meeting.

After the lodge was opened and the minutes for the last meeting approved, the Ceremony of Initiation began. It was a fine ceremony and one that will hopefully remain with the candidate for the rest of his masonic career .

Notable mentions must be made firstly to Bro Matthew Saunders, who diligently assisted the candidate during the ceremony and to WM Charles Goblet d'Alviella who delivered a faultless rendition of the Obligation. W.Bro. Rory Shackleton then confidently delivered the charge in the NE corner.  The Charge after Initiation was shared by W.Bros John Ross-Barnard and Henry Hopking. After the Ceremony of Initiation, Bro Jon Rance was presented with his Grand Lodge Certificate, again by WBro John Ross-Barnard.

After the lodge was closed, the brethren and their guests went on to dine at the Newton Arms with drinks in the bar beforehand. A wonderful evening was had by 19 members and guests that dined and it was unanimously agreed that the venue should be used again in the future.

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.