Lodge News

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Meeting dates

HRH Duke of Kent - Honorary member

~ 2008 ~

February 2008

~ 2007 ~
Departed Merit Alastair Shackleton

Departed Merit Arthur Crosswell

February 2007 - June 2007 - October 2007 - November 2007

~ 2006 ~
The Prestonian Lecture - 2006

February 2006 - May 2006 - September 2006 - November 2006

~ 2005 ~
February 2005 - May 2005 - October 2005 - November 2005

~ 2004 ~
Departed Merit John Underdown

October 2004 - November 2004

Such is the increasing interest among OWs in masonry that, for the first time since the 1960s, it was necessary to raise two brethren at the same time to the sublime degree of a master mason.

The WM, W. Bro. Jeremy Moss was generous in his approach to his year in the Chair of King Solomon and extended invitations to other brethren to complete the ceremonies. In a remarkable presentation W. Bro. Hew Dunn and W. Bro. Stephen Dudley elevated those present with their authority and command. The exposition of the tracing board, given by W. Bro. Eddie Bowron, was word perfect to an extent rarely heard in lodges and delivered at a pace that made the fine words both understandable and enjoyable in their reception.

Marking a return to the Kingsway Hall the brethren dined in some splendour with a wise choice of menu. The lodge has a rule that speeches at the festive board are generally frowned upon, a rule that goes back some 95+ years to a period before the First World War. But on a few occasions, a very few, exceptions are made. Such was the case when W. Bro. Hawley rose to record the Masonic career of Bro. Count Charles Goblet d’Alviella and his hopes for his future in the craft.

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Review of the October 2005 meeting.

Bro. Jeremy Moreton Moss was installed into the Chair of King Solomon with the assistance of visiting Masters from the Old Reptonian and Old Bradfield Lodges. As with so many meetings, the installation was further enriched with a number of guests including the visiting Master from Prince Leopold Lodge, Grand Officers Peter Hamel-Cooke, Robin Atkins and Russell John Race, the Deputy Metropolitan Grand Master.

The Installation was conducted by W Bro Tom Hawley, ably assisted by his officers for the year, and in particular by VW Bro Jervis Kay, W Bro James Milne and W Bro Alastair Shackleton who addressed the Master, Wardens, and Brethren respectively, in fine style. The new Worshipful Master of the Old Wellingtonian Lodge looks forward to a full year ahead including an initiation and a dinner at Wellington for members and their partners in May.

The meeting commenced with a rare event – the dedication of the new Master’s collar, and it was blessed by the Chaplain, W Bro Dudley, before the IPM, W Bro Eddie Bowron invested the Worshipful Master Tom Hawley. Not long afterwards it was on the move again, in the the hands, or should that be around the neck of the incoming Master, W Bro Jeremy Moreton Moss.

The meeting heard from the Charity Steward on plans for the Lodge’s centenary in 2009, and our drive to raise a suitable sum for charity in the intervening period. The Lodge also heard from the Almoner who reminded brethren to tell him should they hear of any brother or their dependants that had fallen on hard times.

An excellent festive board was enjoyed by the brethren at the Kingsway Hall Hotel, during which a warm welcome was extended to all and, underlining the importance of masons visiting each other’s lodges, the new Master expressed his desire to see a great many more visitors to the Lodge in his year. The board was closed appropriately enough with a toast to Admiral Lord Nelson given by one of the Lodge’s naval brethren W Bro Stephen Dudley.

If there are any OW Masons who are not members of their old school lodge, they would be most welcome to one of our meetings, at College or in London. Please do not hesitate to contact the secretary of the Lodge via the website.

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Review of the May 2005 meeting.

The lodge met at Wellington College to witness the passing to the second degree of the College Chaplain Rev'd Fr. Andrew Richards. The lodge was pleased to recommend W. Bro. Christopher Collins [Hopetoun 53-57] (PPGnd Swd B Shropshire) as a joining member. We were additionally honoured by the presence of VW Bro. Sir Richard Buckley and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Berkshire VW Bro. John Owen, who together with six reigning masters from public schools lodges met to celebrate the achievements of the retiring (head) master for Wellington College, Hugh Monro at a dinner in his honour. He was pleased to receive donations of £700.00 each to the College Bevir fund and the St George's Kidney Patients Association, this year's selected charity of the master of the lodge W. Bro. Tom Hawley. Bro. Jeremy Moreton Moss was elected master and W. Bros Nigel Birch and W. Bro. Edward Bowron treasurers for the relevant parts of the ensuing year.

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Review of the February 2005 meeting.

The lodge celebrated the completion of a third degree with the raising of Bro. John Edwards, also Secretary of the Old Wellingtonian Society. The brethren's grasp and performance of the ritual was a tribute to the aims and practices of Freemasonry.

Looking ahead to the May meeting, held annually at Wellington College, the members welcomed the acceptance by the Master of the College, Hugh Monro to be guest of honour at a white table dinner to honour his achievements during the five years of his mastership.

Members established a strategic planning team in preparation for the centenary celebrations of the Lodge in 2009 to be led by the Director of Ceremonies, W. Bro. James Milne.

A choral version of the College Song Carmen Heroidum - professionally recorded in January - was placed on the website by courtesy of the Director of Music.

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