Centenary: St. Michael's Lodge.

CENTENARY : ST . MICHAEL'S LODGE .

THE following is the history of this Lodge , given by Brother Alfred Green P . M . Treasurer , at the Centenary Festival , as reported elsewhere in this issue : It was established on the 11 th September 1795 by a Warrant granted under the fourth Duke of Atholl G . M ., was numbered 290 on tho roll of the

so-oalled Grand Lodge of the Ancients , and met at the Dundee Arms , Wapping . Many of the Brethren were aware probably that during the last century there were two rival Grand Lodges existing in London , indeed there were at one time as many as four separate authorities in the country ; two of them , however , collapsed before the end of the century . The senior of

these organisations , the mother of all Grand Lodges , which was established in London in 1717 , had had an unbroken , though chequered , existence from the time of its foundation to the present day . Prior to this time it was believed there was no recognised head of symbolic Masonry , although the earlier writers spoke of Grand Masters in connection with operative Masonry

or the science of architecture . The Grand Lodge of the Ancients , under which St . Michael's Lodge was founded and enrolled , was not established till 1753 , and was probably founded by several old Lodges which , through difference of opinion on fundamental points , had either seceded , or had previously never acknowledged their allegiance to the mother Grand Lodge of 1717 . Happily

for the prosperity and best interests of the Craft these rival Grand Lodges in the year 1813 saw the advisability of coming to a reconciliation , and agreed to unite , and the terms of the union were arranged by the most eminent Brethren of the day selected from both sections of the Craft , who were constituted for that purpose into a special Lodge , called " The Lodge of Reconciliation . "

The meetings of the St . Michael's Lodge were held on the 2 nd and 4 th Fridays in the month throughout the year . In 1851 the meetings were finally settled for the second Tuesday . The minutes of the Lodge of Instruction held under the Lodge Warrant showed that the Brethren met on Sundays either fortnightly or weekly at the Angel Inn , High Street , St .

Giles . The Holy Royal Arch Chapter met on Sunday , and there were good attendances . In 1814 the number of the Lodge was changed to 367 . This was after the Union , and the Lodge apparently then had its quarters at tho Coach and Horses , Compton Street , Soho . In 1820 Bro . W . Speight's name first appeared as Tyler , and this office he continued to hold till 1850 , a period

of about thirty years , when he was succeeded by his son T . C . Speight , and this Brother served the Lodge for an equally long period , and died in the last deoade . The father and son , both of whom were highly respected , and properly so , in the Craft , were associated with this Lodge successively for

something like sixty-five years . Bro . Green , continuing , said some of my Brother Past Masters will still remember " sturdy little Speight , " his dignified ways—for although short in stature , he was not short in dignity—and the hearty way in which he gave the Entered Apprentice's song until advanced age and bronchitis incapacited him .

But to return to the earlier records of the Lodge which are still preserved , we find that in 1823 its destinies were presided over by that worthy and distinguished Brother who worked so zealously in the early part of this century to promulgate the great principles of our Order and preserve its ancient landmarks—I refer to Brother Peter Gilkes , whose name , by the way ,

is first mentioned in connection with the Lodge about the year 1820 . This Brother , who was one of the greatest authorities of his day on Speculative Masonry , and who was a perfect master of the whole of its ritual and ceremonies , was not only actively associated with many of the leading Metropolitan Lodges , but was installed as W . M . of this Lodge on four

different occasions between the year 1823 and 1833 . It was while occupying that position for the last time that he passed away to the Grand Lodge above . This remarkable student of Freemasonry was perhaps the most accomplished as he was certainly the most careful and conscientious worker

of his day , and to those Brethren who are not acquainted with his history it may be interesting that they should read a short extract from his biography in the " Freemasons' Quarterly Review " of 1834 , as showing the influence which Bro . P . Gilkes exercised in St . Michael's Lodge and the great respect entertained for him by the Brethren .

About a year after Bro . Gilkes' death his old friend and pupil , Stephen Barton Wilson , the designer of the monument to his memory , was elected a joining member of St . Michael ' s , and like his illustrious predecessor he became an active leader in its affairs . He filled the chair for two successive

years in 1838-39 , and his services were so highly appreciated that the Brethren voted a costly jewel on his retirement . Although the Lodge migrated Irom the east-end of London very early in its career , the members appear to have wandered from one hostelry to another in central London for ¦ everal years , and did not find a really settled home until 1834 , when the

Lodge was removed to the George and Blue Boar , Holborn , and it was located there for twenty-six years . It was then taken to its present abode , where it has remained uninterruptedly for thirty-five years . That , I think , Speaks volumes for the good management of this renowned establishment . I may here remind the Brethren that the much-vexed question of the

admission of the fair sex to our assemblies is not of such recent date as is sometimes supposed , for I find mention made of it in Brother Blake ' s year . This Brother Blake , by the way , was installed W . M . of the Lodge by his

predecessor Bro . S . B . Wilson , and he was afterwards appointed S . G . D . of England and Deputy Prov . G . M . for Surrey . He died about the year 1875 . Another experiment was made , only in a different form , during the time I had tho honour of filling the chair of the Lodge in 1877 . On that occasion

Centenary: St. Michael's Lodge.

we invited our lady friends to a summer outing which took place on the river Thames at Maidenhead . Wo spent a very enjoyable clay , tho only incident which ocourred to mar the proceedings being that our good friend Brother Ratcliffe attempted to amputate his thumb with a soda water bottle , much to the alarm of the company and his better half in particular . Other

summer outings followed with more or lesj success until about tho year 1883 . Having spoken of some of our more distinguished Masonic Masters , I must now call to mind the Brethreu of light and leading in more recent times . My memory recalls with pleasure many of the Officers who at the time of my initiation in 1871 were prominent workers in St . Michael ' s . For

example Bro . P . M . Drysdale , who fulfilled tho duties of Secretary for many years , having been W . M . of the Lodge in 1849 . Bro . Drysdale was a most efficient worker , as woll as a moss sociable companion , and he very kindly encouraged my youthful aspirations by introducing me to his Lodge of Instruction at Brixton . Contemporaneous with him was our revered old

friend Bro . P . M . Greenwood , who for some twenty-five years occupied the position to which , after his death , the Lodge did me the honour of electing me . Bro . Charles Greenwood was not only a most popular and talented Officer of this Lodge , but for many years he hold tho position of Prov . G . Seo . for Surrey . He also participated in Grand Lodge honours , having been

appointed G . Sw . B . of England . Bro . P . M . John Laver , who executed the memorial banner to Bro . Greenwood which now adorns our Lodge Room Bro . P . M . Parsons , and my Masonic fathor and valued friend Bro . P . M . T , H . Lavers , who was not only an admirable worker , but an orator whom it was delightful to listen to at the banquot table , Bro . P . M . Morgan , who ,

besides occupying the post of Secretary , compiled the history of this Lodge for publication in his journal , the FKEKMASON ' S CHKONIOLE—these good Masons of recent times have all , I regret to say , joined the great majority , but they were men of sterling character , who diligently played their parts in maintaining the best traditions of this Lodge , and upholding its prestige .

Of the Past Masters and Officers now living I refrain from passing any comment beyond this , that I believe they are all made of the same good stuff ; in fact , taking our present Officers as a body I do not think they could be surpassed for zeal and efficiency . When the history of the last

twenty-five years of St . Michael ' s Lodge is completed it will be found that the Brethren of that epoch have done good suit and service , not only as regards efficient working and good government in the Lodge , but as liberal supporters of the Masonic Charities .

There is certainly one thing to be especially proud of at this eventful time , that we have a Lodge of Instruction working under St . Michael ' s banner , which is doing valuable work and has flourished far beyond any other which has preceeded it in the history of the Mother Lodge . This is mainly due to the energy of the present W . M . and his Officers . Bro . W . H . White Grand

Secretary for upwards of fifty years often visited this Lodge and performed some of the principal ceremonies . We find mentioned in the minutes various Lodges of Instruction in connection with the Lodge . In April 1828 there was a Lodge of Instruction at the Holly Bush Tavern , Hampstead ; in January 1830 at the Three Compasses , Kensington . In 1879 , in my time , we established

one at the George Tavern , Australian Avenue , which was afterwards removed to the Moorgate , Moorgate Street . It existed a few years , and did some good work in its time , but it died a natural death , as Lodges of Instruction very often do . Therefore , Brethren , you see the working which has been handed down to us by tho St . Michael ' s Lodge has been religiously adhered to , and

it was that practised by the greatest Masters of the early part of this century , the men in fact who were entrusted by the Grand Lodge with the responsible task of correcting the faults which had arisen owing to divisions in the Craft

in . the previous century . These same men were the founders and leading lights in tho Emulation Lodge of Improvement established about the year 1823 which to the present day is acknowledged to be the greatest authority on all matters pertaining to the ancient ritual .

In thanking you , Brethren , for the patience with which you hare listened to these few remarks I will conclude by expressing the fervent hope St . Michael ' s Lodge may pursue the even tenor of its way during the next centuiy , and contribute to the prestigo of the Craft as loyally in the future as it has hitherto done .

The annual supper of the Walthamsfcow Lodge of Instruction , No . 2472 , will be held at the Masonic Hall , High Street , Walthamstow , on Monday next , the 18 th inst ., when Bro . E . A . Philbrick Deputy Provincial Grand Master Essex will take the chair at 6-30 precisely .

A Masonic Ball is announced to be held on Wednesday , 27 th inst ., under the auspices of the Staffordshire Knot Lodge , No . 726 , in the Borough Hall , Stafford . The Eight Hon . the Earl

of Dartmouth Provincial Grand Master and other distinguished Brethren are among the list of patrons . A special dispensation having been granted , Masonic clothing will be worn , and members of Her Majesty ' s forces are requested to appear in uniform .

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