Episode 20. Development of Freemasonry in Leicestershire & Rutland in the 18th & 19th Centuries

In this episode we look through a paper written in 1968 by W.H.Russell for the Lodge of Research No.2429 in Leicester. www.research2429.org.uk

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Welcome to another episode of Square Talk, the podcast for Freemasonry. And in this episode, something slightly different. We're delving into the archives, we're going back to 1968, and in particular, a paper found on the Lodge of Research number 2429's website, and that paper from 1968 is all about the development of Freemasonry in Leicestershire and Rutland by W. H. Russell. So let's dive straight in. This seems to me to be an appropriate moment for us to look back with feelings of gratitude to our forebearers in Masonry, out of whose early struggles has emerged the craft as we know it in our province today. Indeed, when we examine the minutes of lodges and such other accounts as remain of Freemasonry in the eighteenth century, we may well feel amazed that there was any survival at all. Rooms in hotels and inns, dimly lit at first by candles, and oil lamps, frequent movement from one hostillery to another, at the mercy of the landlord and his sometimes unsympathetic wife, at times a prey to the jeers of a gaping populace. Such were the conditions under which our brethren met and practised their masonry. And there the lodges met once a month throughout the year, and at additional emergency meetings, round the board in the centre of the room, convenient for serving of supper before the lodge was closed. Towards the end of the 18th century, floor cloths came into use, often displaying emblems of the three degrees, and these later gave way to the tracing boards as we know them today. The lodges generally were small. There was much coming and going, frequent argument, some quarrelling, a good deal of absence in spite of fines to prevent it. It is not surprising that many lodges, after a few years of existence, fell into abeyance. The first lodge in Leicestershire was warranted as number 179, because lodges were not named in those days, in 1739 and it was erased in 1744. Another lodge, number 250, warranted in 1754, had a life of 15 years, being erased in 1769. After the formation of the Athol or Ancient Grand Lodge in 1751, Freemasonry in the county came to life again under its jurisdiction. A military lodge attached to the Leicester militia was established in 1761 and lapsed after a life of three years. Lodge number 91, however, established in 1761 had a longer life. It received a new number from the Grand Lodge at Union, but it was finally erased in 1821. Seals belonging to this lodge for the degrees of Royal Arch, Art Mariner, Night Templar and Red Cross of Babylon, all of which were worked in the old Athor lodges, are now in our provincial museum. The defection in 1790 of the Master, Wardens and other officers of Lodge No. 91 from the ancients to the Grand Lodge of England not only began the decline of that lodge, but also saw the creation of St John's Lodge, now number 279, which remains the senior lodge in the province to this day. In 1803, the warrant, bearing the date of 30 January 1764, of a defunct ancient lodge in Macclesfield, was allocated to the Knights of Malta Lodge, now number 50, at Hinckley in Leicestershire. In 1774, Colonel Sir Thomas Folk was appointed by the Grand Master to preside over the craft in Leicestershire. But on his death in 1876 the office remained vacant for three years until it was conferred on Thomas Boothby Parkins. He was succeeded as provincial Grand Master by his son, Second Lord Rancliffe, and throughout their combined rule of sixty years, often in absence abroad, they showed little interest in the province. In September 1833, however, his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, the most worshipful of the Grand Master, visited Nottingham and convened a Grand Lodge meeting there. It was attended by brethren from all the adjoining provinces. Amongst others present on that occasion were Lord Rancliffe, worshipful brother Sir Frederick G. Folk, Master and other members of St John's Lodge, Leicester. Lord Rancliffe had been Provincial Grand Master for Leicestershire for 21 years, but at that time had not attended a Masonic Lodge in the county. He had avoided appointing a deputy provincial grandmaster or any provincial officers. The Grand Master requested that the officers of the various provincial lodges attending should be presented to him by their respective provincial grandmasters. This, as you can imagine, placed Lord Rancliffe in a serious dilemma. But he avoided embarrassment by there and then, in the ante room, appointing Sir Frederick G. Falk as his deputy, and other worshipful brethren present from Leicestershire as officers of his provincial Grand Lodge, and as such, they were then introduced to the most worshipful the Grand Master. In 1834, a warrant for a new lodge at Loughborough, to be called the Rancliffe Lodge No. 608 was granted. There were then only two lodges in the province, St John's Lodge, Leicester, and the Knights of Malta Lodge in Hinckley. A provincial Grand Lodge was held at the King's Head Inn, Loughborough, on the 13th of March 1835, when the Rancliffe Lodge was duly consecrated by the provincial Grand Master Lord Rancliffe. The lodge was in existence for only 14 years. On 30 May 1836, a provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Royal Hotel, Ashby de La Zouche, for the purpose of consecrating another new lodge, to be called the Ivanhoe Lodge, No. 631. The Provincial Grand Master was unable to attend and he authorised Brother Elvison to carry out the ceremony of consecration, assisted by several distinguished Masons. Amongst them Brother Reverend John McCauley, at that time headmaster of Repton School. The Deputy Provincial Grandmaster for Nottinghamshire, Dr. Piggot, an early friend of Lord Byron, was among the visitors. The lodge existed for little more than five years, the last meeting being held on the 7th of October 1841. The lodge furniture was sold to John of Gaunt Lodge in Leicester, on its formation in 1846. If you consider our present-day lodge fees, it is interesting to note that in Ivanhoe Lodge, over a century ago, the initiation fee was 5 guineas, the joining fee 2 guineas, and the annual subscription 2 guineas. This in 1836. It was about this period 1838 that Mason Mean Leicester itself appeared to be at a very low ebb due mainly to personal quarrels amongst its members and subsequent resignations. Attendances were so reduced that it was necessary for the Tyler to be in the St John's Lodge in order that it could be opened. Whilst there were occasions when, because of the small number present, the lodge could not be opened. It was in 1838 that Brother William Kelly was initiated into St John's Lodge, and what an influence on Leicester Masonry that was to have. Brother Kelly was installed in the Master's Chair in December 1841. A provincial Grand Lodge was held at Loughborough in July 1844, but as Lord Rancliffe the Provincial Grandmaster did not arrive until the business of the lodge was over, the chair was taken by worshipful Brother Kelly, who was by now the provincial junior Grand Warden. A letter was read stating that the members of Ivanhoe Lodge were all dispersed and that there was little probability of the lodge being revived. Lord Rancliffe the Provincial Grand Master arrived just in time to proceed to the banquet. It had been decided to establish a new lodge in Leicester, and two of the petitioners, Worship for Brother Kelly and Worship for Brother Williamson, visited the Hinckley Lodge to inquire if the members would be willing to transfer their warrant to Leicester, as it was understood that the lodge was by now almost defunct. No initiations or joinings had taken place for over four years, however the members declined even to consider it. In May 1846, the provincial Grand Master consecrated the second lodge in Leicester, John of Gaunt Lodge, No. 76, which is now number 523. Brother William Kelly was the first master, and it is interesting to note that Lord Howe, who was one of the petitioners, also countersigned its warrant as Deputy Grand Master, thus acting in a twofold capacity. An event probably unique in this respect. The ceremony took place in the magistrate's room at the old exchange in the marketplace, and was performed by Sir Frederick Falk, assisted by the Reverend Thomas Burnaby, Provincial Grand Chaplain, and Brother Lawrence Thompson of London, there being about fifty brethren present. On the death of Lord Rancliffe in 1851, after being provincial grandmaster for nearly 40 years, the Grand Master appointed Sir Frederick Falk as the new provincial Grand Master. He had been deputy provincial grandmaster for 18 years. At the September meeting 1851 of the Provincial Grand Lodge, it was reported that the Knights of Malta Lodge had 12 members, five of them being old members, and the remainder not long having been initiated. Amongst irregularities being practised was the payment, in many cases, of the initiation fee of £3.136 by instalments, and also providing out of it the candidate's apron, both contrary to regulations. A large proportion of the members of the Knights of Malta Lodge were framework knitters and operatives, and several were frequently made appeals for relief. The annual subscription was paid at the rate of one shilling per month, including ale. After an investigation and report, all the irregularities were eliminated. Sir Frederick Falk's poor state of health was preventing him from the discharge of his duties, so in February 1856 he issued a patent confirming Brother William Kelly full powers as deputy provincial grandmaster to rule over the province. In May of the same year, the provincial grandmaster died whilst living in Leemington. The installation of the new provincial grandmaster, Earl Howe, took place in November 1856 in the long room of the Three Crowns Hotel. The possibility of reviving the lodges at Luftborough and Ashby de la Zouche was considered, Earl Howe reporting that Earl Ferrars had a desire to have a lodge established in Ashby de la Zouche. The deputy provincial grandmaster for Derbyshire had reported that the warrant of the Ivanhoe Lodge was now held by one of the lodges in his province. Amongst the lodge reports to Provincial Grand Lodge in October 1857 was one from the Master of the Hinckley Lodge, stating that in view of the state of the lodge he felt that he must surrender the warrant. The Provincial Grand Master decided to allow the warrant to remain for a further year, expressing the hope that the lodge might be revived. Shortly after this, Earl Howe honoured the lodge by accepting the mastership. The meeting place was changed to the Hinckley Town Hall, and during his year of office there were eight initiations and two joining members, resulting in the lodge flourishing once again. Early in the year 1859, a warrant was obtained for a new lodge at Aspy de la Zouche to be called the Ferrers and Ivanhoe Lodge. The funds having been raised, the site was purchased in Holford Street for the erection of a Freemason's Hall. On the 15th of February 1859, the foundation stone was laid by Earl Howe, the provincial Grand Master, assisted by his deputy, the provincial Grand Wardens, and other officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge. The cost of the site and buildings in Leicester, including Fittings organ, was about £2,000. At the Town Hall, Ashby de La Zouche on 1 October 1859, the Ferris and Ivanhoe Lodge was consecrated and Brother Edward Mammoth was installed in the master's chair. He survived his installation by only six months. He died after a painful illness at the age of 53. The year 1864 was marked by the revival of Masonry at Loughborough, chiefly through the enthusiasm and exertions of Brother Harry Davis, provincial junior Grand Warden and Master of John of Gaunt Lodge. A warrant was granted to the provincial Grandmaster Earl Howe, who honoured the lodge by accepting the mastership. The new lodge was called the Howe and Charmwood Lodge number 1007. Worship Brother William Kelly, Deputy Provincial Grandmaster, was also a founder member. The lodge was consecrated on the 2nd of August 1864. In the year 1866, the Rutland Lodge No. 1130 was consecrated at the George Hotel Melton Mowbray. The first master was Brother George Norman of Godby Hall, cousin of His Grace the Duke of Rutland. On 30 September 1869, the provincial Grand Lodge met at the Agricultural Hall in Oakham, when the County of Rutland was united with the province of Leicestershire, at the time of the consecration of the Vale of Catmos Lodge No. 1265. Brother George Brown of Cotttersmore Hall was the first master, and amongst the founders once again was Worship of Brother William Kelly. Lord Howe, having resigned as provincial grandmaster in December 1869, the deputy, Worship Brother Kelly, was appointed as his successor in January 1870. The death of Earl Howe took place on the 12th of May and cast a shadow over the province. On the 16th of September 1870, St. Peter's Lodge, No. 1330, was consecrated at Market Harbor, and Wright Worshipful Brother William Kelly, the provincial grandmaster, was a founder member and its first master. The next lodge to be consecrated was the commercial lodge, number 1391, in Leicester, and this was the last for Wright Worshipful Brother Kelly, who retired from the office of provincial grandmaster shortly afterwards. On the 18th of April 1873, the Earl Ferris, the Deputy Provincial Grandmaster, was installed as the Provincial Grandmaster, and his years of office were to be most fruitful. Ten more lodges being added to the provincial role, commencing with the Albert Edward Lodge, number 1560, in 1875, and ending with the Wiggeston Lodge, number 3448, in July 1910. I hope that I've managed to convey the great debt of gratitude we owe to the pioneers of masonry in our province. Theirs was no easy task, and in many respects a very difficult track to lay. As you may have gathered, they had their failures as well as their successes. Each one of us must appreciate what has been done for us by our predecessors, and hope that in some small way we may leave behind us something which will be likewise appreciated by our successors. There we go. That was the development of Freemasonry in Leicestershire and Uland by Worship Brother William Russell, written in 1968, and can be found in the transaction archive of the Lodge of Research number 249, the website of which is research2429.org.uk Well I hope you've enjoyed that. Something slightly different for this time. And perhaps let's dive into the archives of Freemasonry, in particular in this province, once again