February 2018 – 2nd degree Ceremony of Passing

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An unusually large number of members of the Old Wellingtonian Lodge and their guests met at Freemasons’ Hall on 8th February. Before the ceremony of Passing, the Lodge Almoner, Worshipful Brother Jeremy Moreton-Moss, gave a eulogy to remember Brother Ben Hodges LR, who had sadly ascended to the Grand Lodge above since our last meeting.

Worshipful Brother John Ross Barnard presented, in inimitable fashion, a Grand Lodge Certificate to a member who is a fourth generation mason.

The Worshipful Master, Worshipful Brother Peter Draper (Common Room 2001-2006) then passed a brother to the 2nd degree; Worshipful Brother Moreton-Moss stepped in at the last minute to assist in the ceremony.  Worshipful Brother Charles Goblet d’Alviella gave a first presentation of the 2nd Degree Tracing Board with confidence.

The Worshipful Master congratulated the Lodge on donating £1000 to Alzheimers UK, via Picton House at College; particularly poignant for him, as his younger sister, Wendy Mitchell, has just published the first memoir written by someone who lives with dementia, “Somebody I used to know”; Worshipful Brother Nigel Birch was also able to publicise his book, “No sideshow” about the victory in the Balkans in 1918 (available on Amazon).

After the meeting 31 visitors and guests re-assembled at the East India Club for dinner, which happily coincided with Worshipful Brother James Milne celebrating thirty years as a Mason.

The next meeting will be held at Wellington College on Saturday, 12th May, and will be an Initiation.

Centenary celebration meeting held at College on May 8th, 2010

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This meeting of the Old Wellingtonian Lodge celebrated the Centenary of the Lodge.  For 100 years the Lodge has been an important and interwoven part of College life.  Over these past 100 years, members have been and continue to be old boys, governors and masters of College.

On a glorious May day, 24 members and 32 guests attended this historic meeting, which was held in the impressive surroundings of Old Hall.  During the meeting, the Metropolitan Grand Master, the RW Bro. Russell J. Race formally presented the Lodge with a Centenary Warrant. W. Bro. James Milne LGR, W. Bro. Tom Hawley LGR and W.Bro Stephen Dudley gave a presentation on the history of the Lodge.  For many attending, one of the highlights of the meeting was the splendid and thought provoking oration delivered by W.Bro. Stephen Dudley.

After the meeting, 99 people including the partners and non-masonic guests of many members, dined extremely well in the Old Gymnasium.  During the dinner three cheques totally in excess of £10,000 were presented by W.Bro. Henry Hopking, the Master of the Lodge. Amongst these was a cheque for £5,000 to the OW Society Charitable Trust.

The lodge was very grateful to receive a donation from it's mother lodge, the Household Brigade Lodge, as a gift to mark our Centenary.

In summary this was a wonderful celebration of the Centenary  of the Old Wellingtonian Lodge.  It is especially pleasing to be able to report that 100 years after the founding of the Lodge, the size of membership is growing at a healthy pace.