The London Years 1957 to 1979

1957

No meetings were held in 1957. W. Bro. B Smith continued as Worshipful Master for 1957 and 1958, whilst the Brethren and Bulwer Lodge of Cairo found new homes in the UK.

1958

An Informal Meeting was held at 85 Lancaster Gate on 3rd February 1958. Sixteen members attended, together with three guests, including the District Grand Treasurer and District Grand Secretary (E & S). A further six members sent apologies. It was proposed and accepted unanimously that approval should be sought for the Lodge to meet in London as, in the present circumstances, it could not meet in Cairo. The place of meeting was agreed to be the Dominions Hotel, Lancaster Gate, on the first Fridays of suitable months.

A committee was formed consisting of W. Bros. Ben Smith (Chairman), H. O. Powell, S. G. Newport, A. F. E. Evans, L. S. Young and H. B. Lomas, to deal with these matters. A further informal meeting was held at 85 Lancaster Gate on 7th March 1958. Ten members attended, as did one visitor. Ten members sent their apologies. It is, perhaps, worthwhile listing the complete minutes of this meeting as they represent a landmark in the history of Bulwer Lodge of Cairo.

1 The minutes of the informal meeting held on Monday 3rd February 1958 were read, approved and signed.

2 The Worshipful Master and W. Bro. Newport reported that they had had an interview with W. Bro. Jole, Assistant Grand Secretary, who said that there are procedures for surmounting difficulties such as those confronting the Bulwer Lodge relating to inaccessibility of their regular place of meeting and of the Warrant of the Lodge. Any petition will have to receive the prior approval of the District Grand Master before going to Grand Lodge. The D.G.M. had been very ill, but when he recovered sufficiently to speak on the telephone, he said that he would need the advice of senior officers of the District and mentioned particularly W. Bro. Godwin.

3 The motion on the agenda was put to the meeting and passed unanimously in the following terms:- “As it is impracticable at present for Bulwer Lodge, No. 1068 to meet at its regular place, or to hold a regular meeting to comply fully with Rule 141, Book of Constitutions, the Worshipful Master is requested to apply for a dispensation for the Lodge to meet at the Dominions Hotel, Lancaster Gate, W2 on the second Friday of April and the last Friday of October 1958 and the first Friday of January 1959.”

The members of the Lodge who approved the motion, either at the first or second of the informal meetings, or by letter, are as follows:

W. Bro. F. D. Stevenson Drane A.D.G.M.

W. Bro. A. R. Godwin P.D.G.W., P.A.G.D.C.

W. Bro. J. E. M. Brunskill P.D.G.W., P.A.G.D.C.

W. Bro. H. O. Powell P.D.G.W., P.A.D.G.C.

W. Bro. G. A. Brassey-Gottlieb P.D.G.W., P.A.G.D.C.

W. Bro. B. Smith P.D.G.W.

W. Bro. S G Newport P.D.G.Purs.

W. Bro. E. J. Prichard O.B.E., P.D.G.Std.B.

W. Bro. T. C. H. F. Jennings P.D.G.D.C.

W. Bro. C. G. Bayles P.D.G.Tyler

W. Bro. H. B. Lomas P.D.G.S.D.

W. Bro. J. N. Heale P.D.G.Sec.

W. Bro. G. R. Digby

W. Bro. A. F. E. Evans O.B.E.

W. Bro. L. S. Young

W. Bro. J. Hayes P.D.G.S.D.

W. Bro. F A Hogg P.D.G.W.

Bro. J. G. Dunnett

Bro. J. R. D. Goadsby (who had been unable to attend for 34 years)

Bro. A. C. Tomlinson

Bro. E. M. Churchman

Bro. J. Green

Bro. J. C. Cumming

Bro. J. N. Wall

There are thus 24 members who support the motion for a dispensation to meet in London, of whom 14 have District Rank, and of these five are Officers of Grand Lodge. Other members will be contacted as their addresses become known.

4 W. Bro. Arthur Godwin raised the following points to be considered if dispensation is granted:

Regalia.

It will be necessary to borrow regalia etc. until the Lodge can obtain its own. That in Cairo has already reached a stage where it should be renewed and this will cost in the neighbourhood of £120. It was decided to borrow (which W. Bro. Newport said he could arrange) until the lodge has access to its own funds or can in some other way cover the costs.

Records.

No records are available, and it cannot be known whether some members, particularly those who left some time before the Suez crisis, have kept in good standing or have come under the bye-law concerning exclusion. It was decided that, for the time being, any members wishing to attend can be relied upon to deal with this matter if in doubt in their own particular case. Records of payments made to Grand Lodge by individual members for a/c of Bulwer Lodge can be checked for this purpose.

Warrant.

W. Bro. Godwin said that the proper course is to apply for a Warrant of Confirmation which, together with the dispensation for place and dates of meeting, would enable the Lodge to meet in accordance with the constitutions.

Subscriptions.

In view of the higher cost of functions in London as compared with Cairo, and also the reduced circumstances of some members, it is necessary to consider the financial side with some care. It was decided that for the present all subscriptions etc. should remain as in the bye-laws, until the Lodge is in a better position to review the circumstances. It was also decided, for reasons of economy, to reduce the number of meetings to three, in April, October and January. Originally it had been suggested that the Lodge Installation should be in December, but W. Bro. Godwin pointed out that January is the traditional month for the Bulwer Installation and that was agreed unanimously.

General.

W. Bro. Godwin, and the other Past Grand Officers present, saw no insuperable obstacle to the proposals, although there may be a little delay. For this reason, W. Bro Godwin urged the Worshipful Master to submit the petition with the least possible delay, so that it may be placed before the Rt. Wor. the District Grand Master, and after his approval be submitted to Grand Lodge.

The W.M. said he is going abroad but will return specially for the meetings.

W. Bro. Godwin, in very moving words, recalled the great traditions of Bulwer Lodge and the true spirit of Freemasonry which prevails in the Lodge, together with the profound dignity in which its ceremonies have customarily been conducted. These attributes should not be lost by the discontinuance of the Lodge, but should be passed on to those who doubtless will wish to join wherever it may meet. W. Bros. Brunskill and Lomas spoke similarly, and referred to those who have sons, and friends who have sons, to form the next generation to carry on the traditions of Bulwer Lodge.

5 The meeting, after a general talk, was closed and the members went to refreshment. No date was fixed for a further informal meeting, as it is hoped that the Worshipful Master will succeed in obtaining the dispensation for a regular meeting of the Lodge to be held on the second Friday in April.

The First Regular Meeting of the Lodge to be held in London was at the Dominions Hotel, Lancaster Gate, on Friday 11th April 1958. The officers are listed as:

Worshipful Master: B. Smith

Immediate Past Master and Treasurer: H. O. Powell

Junior Warden: W. H. Hamilton

Director of Ceremonies: H. B. Lomas

Assistant Director of Ceremonies: (acting S.W.) T. C. H. F. Jennings

Inner Guard: J. Hayes

Other members present were:

F. D. Stevenson Drane

G. R. Digby (acted as Immediate Past Master)

J. E. M. Brunskill (acted as Chaplain)

S. G. Newport (acted as Secretary)

E. J. Prichard

F. A. Hogg

A. F. E. Evans (acted as Senior Deacon)

C. G. Bayles (acted as Inner Guard as W. Bro. Hayes was injured)

J. C. Cumming

P. Jones (acted as Junior Deacon)

J. N. Wall

F. J. Biss

There were also five visitors, one of whom, Bro. H. Philpott, acted as Tyler.

It is worthwhile detailing here the Treasurer’s Report presented at this meeting, as it gives an indication of costs at the time and some of the hardships suffered by the Brethren on being evacuated from Egypt.

a) The funds, property and records of the Lodge in Egypt, including its regalia, are at present under sequestration and therefore not accessible.

b) Funds in the hands of the District have been partly used to defray the District’s emergency needs.

c) There is an amount of under £30 with Grand Lodge, arising from subscriptions of Bulwer Lodge members resident in England. Presumably this sum will be available to the Lodge in due course.

d) Most of the members of the Lodge, through recent circumstances, are in arrears with their subscriptions, and are asked to pay them as soon as possible.

e) It is not proposed at present to alter the Bye Laws of the Lodge relating to fees and subscriptions. This will need consideration in relation to the level of expenses in London and the circumstances of some of the members who suffered from their evacuation from Egypt. The Egyptian currency will be considered, for the purpose, as equivalent to £1 Sterling per 100 Piastres.

f) As practically all members were resident more than 20 miles from Cairo during 1957, and as there were no meetings during that year, the subscription for 1957 is taken as £1.10s.0d (£1.50). For all other years before and after 1957 the subscription, except for members overseas and those on the country list, stands at £3. For members overseas and country it is £1.10s.

g) Lodge expenses in London are greater than in Cairo. On the other hand, some of the members have suffered financially through the recent political events. For these reasons, while keeping the subscription at £3 and not charging a dining fee for 1958, this should be regarded as a minimum. Members who can and wish to pay more may pay whatever larger subscription they feel they can without detriment afford.

h) The position will be reviewed in the light of events and proposals will be made as circumstances may be deemed to require.

i) Although the available records here in London are incomplete, the amounts due from members is known fairly accurately and they are asked to put themselves in good standing as soon as possible. Payment can be made directly to the Wor. Bro. Treasurer, H. O. Powell, Flat 5 Penwerris Court, Great West Road, Hounslow.

j) Members who had already been excluded prior to 1957 for non-payment of subscriptions and their names notified t o Grand Lodge can be reinstated under Rules 163 and 148 of the Book of Constitutions. These require a regular proposition and payment of arrears.

k) Members who are in arrear because the Lodge was not working and its officers were dispersed can now pay their arrears and thus place themselves in good standing.

l) It may be necessary to replace some if not all of the Lodge Regalia. Members are asked to bear this in mind when sending their subscriptions.

m) The custom of the Lodge to circulate the Charity Box during the meeting is to continue.

The Worshipful Master thanked W. Bro. L. E. Thirkettle, P.A.G.D.C., P.D.G.Secretary for restoring the Charter (Warrant) from Cairo, it being the original Warrant of Confirmation from 1895 and signed by “Albert Edward, Prince of Wales”.

Bro. Thirkettle was unable to attend the Meeting, but did dine afterwards, before returning to Cairo “to resume his duties there”. There is no record of which Lodge W. Bro. Thirkettle belonged to, but he also rescued the Warrant of Grecia Lodge, No. 1105.

The meeting was held by Dispensation as the Lodge had not, at this time, voted on the move from Cairo to London. Notice of motion, signed by sixteen members of the Lodge, was given. The motion was on the Agenda for3rd October. At the second meeting, five officers, thirteen other members and fourteen visitors were present. The Proposition for the move from Cairo to London was unanimously carried.

At the meeting held on 5th December 1958, the modified Bye Laws were accepted. Changes mainly concerned dates and place of meetings, but fees were also set as five guineas (£5.25) inclusive of dining fees, £1.10s. (£1.50) for members residing more than 20 miles from London with a separate dining charge of £1. Also, ten guineas shall be the equivalent of 1000 piasters and £ Sterling shall be substituted for Egyptian Pounds (LE).

1959

The last meeting of the District Grand Lodge of Egypt and Sudan under the District Grand Mastership of Right Worshipful Bro. Bishop Johnston was held at the Café Royal, London on 27th May 1959. The District Grand Lodge was then transferred to Khartoum under Rt. Wor. Bro Mohamed Salih el Shangiti in 1961.

The Lodge met at the Dominions Hotel, Lancaster Gate, on 8th January (Installation), 10th April, 2nd October and 4th December. The first two meetings were held by dispensation due to difficulty in meeting on the days specified in the Bye Laws. A total of 30 members and 31 visitors attended the Installation Meeting, including the District Grand Master for Egypt & the Sudan. The ivory gavels Presented by W. Bro. St. Clair Garrood, which had been left in Cairo, had been retrieved by “a well known brother” and so the custom of using them at the Installation Meeting was restored.

The Address to the Master was given by B. Smith, to the Wardens by A.R. Godwin and to the Brethren by the District Grand Master for Egypt & the Sudan. The tradition of electing the Junior Warden as Lodge Charity Steward was reintroduced.

The Warrant of Confirmation was amended as follows:

Pursuant to a resolution of the Bulwer Lodge No. 1068 passed in conformity with the Laws of the Craft, and with the consent of the R.W. District Grand Master for Egypt and the Sudan and the approval of the M.W. The Grand Master the said Lodge is removed from Cairo to London as from 1st January 1959 and the said removal is recorded in the Books of Grand Lodge accordingly.

Freemasons’ Hall, London, 4th February 1959

James W. Stubbs, Grand Secretary

1960

The Lodge Committee recommended, and the Lodge accepted that “That Bulwer Lodge 1068 agrees that until the end of 1962, only the Grand Lodge fee of 5/- (25p) shall be collected as a joining fee of members of Egypt Lodges”. The Committee also recommended the formation of a Bulwer Lodge of Instruction. This was “deferred for the present” but a special “rehearsal meeting” would be held in the month preceding the Regular Lodge Meeting. The Committee “urged all Officers and Brethren to attend these meetings and take part in the work”. At this time, Committee meetings were held at the residence of Bro. S. G. Newport at 85 Lancaster Gate, close to the regular meeting place.

1961

During 1961, certain Lodge funds were released by the Egyptian authorities to Bro. Stavrou. This unspecified amount was paid into the Lodge account at the Bank of Alexandria in Cairo and, on production of a certificate from Grand Lodge, later transferred to London.

1962

Bro. Stavrou was again in touch from Egypt to confirm that the sum available for transfer from Cairo was LE361.750requested signature authority for the transfer. Needless to say, this was granted.

Bro. G. H. Branston, a former Member, returned a Lodge Minute Book and Declaration Book which he had managed to get from Cairo and grateful thanks were recorded. Without these two items, this history would have been very thin indeed. It should be remembered that, at this time, all Lodges were required to make a return to the Clerk of the Peace giving the names and occupations of all members.

In 1962, the Lodge annual subscription was raised to six guineas (£6.30p), the Initiation Fee to fifteen guineas (£15.75) and the Joining Fee to eight guineas (£8.40p). The non-dining subscription was £1.10.0d (£1.50p), the dining charge for non dining members £1.5.0d (£1.25) and for visitors £1.0.0d. The original recommendation from the Lodge Committee was to raise the Initiation Fee to 20 guineas (£21.00) but it was felt that this was too high.

Certain previously sequestered sums were released from Cairo which, after sequestration charges, exchange control deductions and agents’ fees, amounted to £279. A vote of thanks was proposed to W. Bro. C. B. Stavrou for all his work in settling the Lodge’s affairs in Cairo.

A Past Masters’ meeting held on 13th December agreed to apply to the Foreign Compensation Commission with a claim for the various charges and to ask for investigation of the sum of £100 in Egyptian National Loan still held in Cairo. In 1963, the Lodge wrote to the Grand Secretary with a view to holding its Centenary in 1965. A reply was received stating that “the Lodge had a broken existence and would not be due for its Centenary until 1985". At the Past masters’ Meeting on 13th December, it was agreed that, despite the acknowledged facts that the Lodge was not working between 1872 and 1882 and 1883 to 1885, this should be considered “force majeure” if dues had been paid and correspondence exchanged with Grand Lodge during that time.

1964

Further correspondence continued with Grand Lodge regarding the Centenary. It was decided that the Lodge was at a disadvantage due to the old records being held in Egypt. A committee was appointed in October to try to obtain the rec ords from Freemasons’ Hall, Cairo.

1965

A further LE100, amounting to £62.1s.9d (£62.9p), of Egyptian Loan Stock was redeemed and added to the Lodge General Purpose Fund in 1965.

In January 1965, Grand Lodge issued a letter stating that it was permissible to use an alternative version of the Penal ties in the Obligations. It emphasised that this was permissive, and adoption was subject to a large majority of members voting in favour. W. Bro. Millar proposed, and W. Bro. Jones seconded that Bulwer Lodge of Cairo retain the original wording. It was agreed by 19 votes to 5 that the original penalties would be retained by the Lodge for at least five years. A letter is ap pended to the minutes of a Past Masters’ meeting held on 8th February 1965, as follows:

22nd February 1965

The Worshipful Master and a few of the Past Masters of Bulwer met at 85 Lancaster Gate to drink a toast on Monday 8th February which Grand Lodge say was the date of the first meeting of the Lodge in 1865. This does not seem to accord with the date of the original warrant which is given as 7th June 1865, but perhaps there were good reasons for this.

Those present agreed that this Centenary Year should be specially celebrated on a date as near to the original warrant date as practicable and it has been arranged that a centenary church service be held at Christ Church, Lancaster Gate at 6 pm. on Tuesday 8th June, for members of Bulwer and other Cairo Freemasons and their families, to be followed by a dinner at the Dominions Hotel.

These arrangements will not affect the dinner for Bulwer members and their ladies on Friday 1st October, which will be held as usual.

The purpose of this preliminary letter is so that members will bear in mind these two dates when considering other en gagements as it is hoped there will be the fullest possible attendance on both occasions.

It is expected that the cost for the June dinner will be about 25 shillings per head, exclusive of wines, but fuller details will be circulated with the summons for the April meeting.

H. O. Powell

Secretary

The full proceedings of the Centenary Service and Dinner are minuted but, briefly, the service took place at Christ Church, Lancaster Gate, by permission of the Reverend Anthony Bridge. It was conducted by V. W. Bro. the Rev. Cannon B. J. Harper O.B.E., Grand Chaplain and Past Deputy Grand Master of Egypt and the Sudan. Approximately 45 Brethren attended the service, and 39 dined afterwards. A copy of the Order of Service is in the possession of the writer.

1966

In October 1966, a Jewel for the Master’s collar commemorating the 250th anniversary of Grand Lodge was received. Its pre sent whereabouts are unknown. At the meeting on 2nd December, it was proposed that an irrevocable deed of trust for chari table purposes only, to be known as the “Bulwer Lodge Benevolent Fund”, be set up. The motion was carried unanimously and the following funds were transferred to it in February 1967 when it received approval from the Inland Revenue: £300.0.0d Savings Bonds 3% 1960/70

£100.0.0d Savings Bonds 3% 1965/75

£350.0.0d Halifax Building Society Account

£75.00 cash and all future additions thereto.

The Trust Deed, drawn up free of charge by W. Bro. M. Silverman, a former member and now of Nile Valley Lodge, No. 6306, was finally completed in October 1967.

1968

At a Lodge Committee Meeting on 4th July 1968, W. Bro. P. Jones, who was unable to attend, wrote to propose that a permanent Charity Steward be appointed instead of the present custom of the Junior Warden acting as such for his year of office. It was generally agreed to be a good idea and it should be discussed more fully at a later date.

The first record of a Charity Steward is in 1976, when W. Bro. S. Martin was appointed. This followed the Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge on 10th December 1975 when the Book of Constitutions was amended to include the Office and the now familiar “Trowel” Collar Jewel was introduced.

W. Bro. P. Jones was honoured with the rank of Deputy Grand Sword Bearer by the United Grand Lodge of England. At the meeting on 5th April, members agreed to pay voluntary contributions towards his Grand Lodge regalia as a permanent way of offering their congratulations. A contribution was also made from Lodge funds.

1970

During 1970, the Lodge had many discussions about forming its own Lodge of Instruction. The opinion was generally favourable subject to finding a suitable place and time and, of course, costs. W. Bro. H. O. Powell gave Notice of Motion on 4th December and an informal vote showed an encouraging number of members in favour.

1971

The Motion to form a Bulwer Lodge of Instruction was Proposed by H. O. Powell and Seconded by L. S. Young at the Installation Meeting on 14th January and was carried unanimously by a show of hands with the recommendation that it be formed without further delay. It was based at the Red Lion, Linkfield Road, Isleworth, moving to the Milford Arms, London Road, Isleworth in 1986, where it continued until it moved to Slough Masonic Centre in 1989 and to Beaconsfield in 2000.

Since its earliest years, the Lodge traditionally donated the contents of the Charity Bag at Installation Meetings to the Samaritan Fund of the Royal Masonic Hospital. In 1971, this tradition was broken for “especial reasons” and the sum of 5 guineas (£5.25p) was donated to the Marie Curie Fund instead. The “especial reasons” are not recorded.

1972

At the meeting on 6th October, H. O. Powell gave Notice of a Motion that the Bulwer Lodge meetings be permanently held at the Windsor Hotel, Lancaster Gate, W2. This appeared on the Summons for 1st December and was approved unani mously. A further Notice of Motion appeared on the same date proposing an increase in dining fees from £8.50 to £10.00 and non-dining fees from £2.00 to £3.50 for 1973. Inflation was rife in the days following decimalisation, thus the huge increases in percentage terms!

1973

A reference appears in the Minutes of the Meeting of 6th April 1973 to a Bulwer Tradition of circulating the Ballot Box to the Senior and Junior Wardens for examination before and after the ballot. It was stated that the tradition would continue and it was only a time-saving omission at this very busy meeting. The practice, however, completely died out until it was revived in 1999.

1979

Notice of Motion was given on 11th January that the Bulwer Lodge be removed from the Windsor Hotel to the Slough Masonic Centre. The Motion was voted on at the meeting on 6th April and adopted unanimously by show of hands. The move from London came about because the Windsor Hotel no longer wanted to host Masonic meetings. A number of centres were investigated including Staines and Cole Court in Twickenham. With the exception of Slough, all were either unable to accommodate us or were too expensive.

The Lodge moved to Slough on 26th October and the Dispensation from Grand Lodge for the move was read at that meeting. It was at this time that the Bulwer Chapter was detached from Bulwer Lodge and attached to Grecia Lodge No. 1105

The Warrant of Confirmation was amended as follows:

Pursuant to a resolution of the Bulwer Lodge No. 1068 passed in conformity with the Laws of the Craft, and with the consent of the R.W. Provincial Grand Master for Buckinghamshire and the approval of the M.W. The Grand Master the said Lodge is removed from London to the Province of Buckinghamshire with effect from the undermentioned date and the said removal is recorded in the Books of Grand Lodge accordingly.

Freemasons’ Hall, London, 12th December 1979

James W. Stubbs, Grand Secretary

Thus, another chapter in the history of Bulwer Lodge of Cairo came to an end and a new era began.