FREEMSONRY IN
SHEERNESS 17 ??
( Acknowlegements to
T.V. Scott and J C Attwood )
There
being great want of masons and bricklayers to carry out the important work at Sheerness
he is to summon the masters and wardens of those companies ,
and order as many able workmen to be sent as shall perfect the work before the
season of the year prevents.
‘ Calendar of State Papers ‘
The
first warrant was issued on
The
second warrant was issued
There
are 6 lodges that meet in
The Masonic Temple in
Adams
Lodge consecrated in 1778/1797 originally
mainly consisting of Service/Dockyard
men
De Shurland Lodge consecrated in 1866 originally mainly consisting of
business men
Now meets Wednesday Evening (after
Wed. early closing.)
United Service Lodge consecrated in 1905 originally mainly
consisting of servicemen
Now meets on a Friday for servicemen
to go home for the weekend after a meeting
Queenborough
Lodge consecrated in
1914 originally mainly consisting of Queenborough men
Isle
of Sheppey Lodge consecrated in 1949 originally mainly consisting of Sheppey men
Nore
Command Lodge consecrated in1986 formed from members of the other Lodges
Plus
numerous other Chapters and higher degree lodges etc.
Queenborough
Lodge and The Isle of Sheppey Lodge originally met in the
Adams
Lodge first met
in The Sign of the Marquis of Granby a
tavern situated within the barracks.
It
was transferred to the ‘Mason Arms’ in
1792 then it moved to various other sites including;-‘Belle and Lion Bluetown
,’ White Horse ‘ in Bluetown, ‘Chequers Tavern ‘ in BlueTown,
‘Red Lion’ in Blue town.
‘Fountain
Hotel ‘ in Bluetown, ‘Britannia Inn in
‘Mile Town, Royal Hotel in Broadway,
‘Swan Inn ‘ in Bluetown. ‘Royal Hotel ‘ Mile Town, ‘Wellington Inn ‘Mile
Town, ‘Local Board of Health Rooms. ‘
etc
etc etc and finally in 1909
to the
It is
interesting to note that in 4th Sept 1798 Relief to a distressed Brother 5/-
Relieved
a brother from
To a coffin for Bro. Dolinson £2-12-4d
On
the lighter side we have recorded 1807 1st Sept. Bro. Smith fined 1/6d for attending Lodge with a long
beard
1808
2nd May Bro.Baker
fined 6d for not having shaved and Bro. Abbott fined 6d for swearing
A ceremony probably
unique in the history of Sheerness was witnessed in 1835 on the occasion of
laying the foundation or first stone of
The Holy Trinity Church by Adams
Lodge and was attended by seventy Freemasons representing various lodges in the
District of Kent
“ It was the wish of
the inhabitants of the Isle of Sheppey
in general that the First Stone of the new church about to be
erected at that place should be laid with Masonic Honours and Ceremonies etc.etc….”
An
extract showing the Loyal feelings of the Lodge members is to be found on 18th
June 1840 when it was unanimously carried that “ In consequence of the late
treasonable attempt to assassinate Her Majesty and Prince Albert that an
address be presented by Provincial Grand Lodge to her Majesty and Prince Albert
on their providential escape from such
an attack.”
Also from the minutes ,1846
6th January Paid for Beer at Xmas for Poor in Workhouse. 12/-
The
sudden death of an unknown gentleman occurred at the “Wellington Inn “ on 16th July 1862 and an
examination of his effects revealed Masonic clothing but no money .When this
information reached the members of Adams Lodge it was proposed and carried
unanimously that the lodge should bear the cost of the coffin the church fees
and the ground. The cost to the Lodge was £5-5s-6d
A
memorial plaque to John .Staples .Keddell ,a surgeon,, a well
known and respected mason held in high esteem ,bearing many Masonic symbols can
be seen on the wall at the entrance to the
.During
November
He
had allowed a Masonic Funeral to be held instead of a Military ceremony.. Shortly
afterwards the Lodge undertook to pay for the erection of head and foot stones to their
memory and for their maintenance.
In January 1880 information reached the Lodge that the body
of one of the members was lying at his residence and that owing to the reduced
circumstances caused by his long illness ,his wife had not the means to bury
him. It was immediately decided that the Lodge should bear all the expenses of
internment and arrangements were at once made , even
to the tolling of the bell at an additional cost of1s-6d.
The
provincial Grand Lodge of Kent met in Sheerness attended by brethren from
Lodges throughout the County.The business of the
Province was then proceeded with at the “ Fountain Inn
“ where breakfast was served. On its completion soon after
The order of the procession
was
Band of Music
Banners of the Twelve Tribes
of Israel borne by twelve young gentlemen
Brethren of Royal Navy Lodge, Ramsgate
Two by two preceded by their
banner
Brethren of Lodge Peace and
Unity,
Two by two preceded by their
banner
Brethren of United
Two by two preceded by their
banner
Senior Warden of Lodge of Harmony , Faversham
Two by two preceded by their
banner
Brethren of Prince Edwins Lodge, Hythe
Two by two preceded by their
banner
Brethren of Lodge of Friendship ,
Two by two preceded by their
banner
Brethren of Adams Lodge , Sheerness
Two by two preceded by their
banner
The Provincial Grand Lodge
with Three Candlesticks
The Sacred Volume, Square and
Compasses borne on a cushion
Then Right Worshipful Deputy
Provincial Grand Master
On
arrival at the church the procession halted and the Officers passed through the
lines and were then followed by the brethren into the church, the body of which was filled ,while in the
sides and galleries were seated their relatives and friends.
In
Mr. A T Sears Book “James Prankard” , among
the records of the Bethel Independent Church
1813 is ;-
To
the United Brethren of the Lodge of
Gentlemen,
We,
the undersigned ,
feeling compassion for the moral
degradation of those children who without restraint are permitted to range the
streets on a Sabbath day, and growing up into life without that Institution
,which will form them useful and important members of society; have earnestly
wished to contribute our humble endeavours to remove this growing evil ,by our
gratuitous labours of a Sabbath day in instructing such children as shall be
put under our tuition
The
nature of the education which we intend to give , is
to teach them to read, and to catechise them in the common principles of
Christianity ; without any reference to sect or society. The doctrines we
intend to inculcate are those of the Established Church of England or those of
the Shorter Catechism
of the Assembly of Divines which is
precisely one with the former.
Knowing,
Gentlemen your philanthrophy to all classes of the community whose
religious objects are unison with your own ; otherwise we would not have
presumed. We ask the liberty of your lodge as a place of Instruction
; and we pledge ourselves not to
permit the children to be without some of the teachers ;and we will take
every precaution that nothing shall be injured ,leaving it as clean as we find
it.
We are Gentlemen.
Your humble servants.
This
application was favourably entertained and the gratuitous use of the room was
granted.
Woolworths
store now stands on the site of the freemasons lodge hall
This
poster advertising the Sunday School was
dated only two days before the opening.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
FREEMASONS LODGE
SHEERNESS
On
Sunday next , the 12th instant, a school will be opened at the above place,
for the Instruction of children of both sexes, in the Rudiments of Christianity
.Those parents whose desire it is ,to keep their children from the Paths of the Destroyer ,and to train them
up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord , are requested to bring them to
the school on Sunday Morning next at
Nine o’clock.
Sheerness
In
1817 it was in this year that the church members began to extend the work of
preaching in the new area of
Historical
notes
1874
September 5th The Grand
Master of Greece took part in laying the Foundation Stone of The Erasmus
Wilson
Lodge at Greenhithe/Gravesend The mallet used was then one used by Charles 2nd to lay
the foundation stone of St.Pauls Cathedral in 1675.It was presented to the
Lodge of Antiquity by Bro.Sir Christopher Wren the
Master of the Lodge.
One
of the Queenborough Church Bells was taken down by the Island Freemasons and recast ,
it has wording cast around the bell to
signify that. It was also consecrated by the Bishop.
The
Lodge meetings and
Masonic information was often reported in the Sheerness and national newspapers
for example ;-
In
the Sheerness Times and Guardian , a copy of which is
in the Sheerness Library
1865
April 1st The Installation of
1866
March 3rd Consecration of De Shurland
Lodge at the Co-op
Hall
1870
February 19th Advert for
Grand Masonic Ball
1870
June 25th
Installation of De Shurland Lodge
1871
February 25th Adams Lodge
Ladies Night
1874
July 18th Grand Annual Masonic
Festival at Ashford.
1874
September 26th The Royal Family and
Freemasons
1879
April 19th When Adam Pucket the Master of Adams Lodge died he had a funeral
procession one
mile
long .
1882
December 2nd The Freemasons
Hall in 1813 is where Dr.Strothers house now is.
1918
December 7th Consecration
of Queenborough Lodge
Etc.Etc.Etc.
For
Masonic, local and
other Charities in 2004 The Island Lodges gave approximately £156, 000
which had been collected over the
last ten years with Adams Lodge collecting
over £31,000.