province of kent

PROVINCE OF KENT.

Adams Lodge No. 6.

Mark Master Masons.

1874 to 1974.

WARRANT DATED MAY 2^ND 1857.

Compiled by Colin Penney

9 Elm Lane

Minster

Sheerness

Kent

ME12 3SQ

The population of Sheppey in 1874 was 18,565 with 12,763 in Sheerness.The barracks contained between 1500 and 2000 men and the Dockyard employed 1500 to 2000 artisans and mechanics.1080 men were on board vessels of the R.N.and 248 men were on merchant ships.

The workhouse contained 250 inmates. Flushing pier had 26,475 passengers passing through . Imports were worth £5,000,000 and exports were worth £1,000,000 . The town is strongly defended by fortifications which extend for a mile and a half and cost £100.000 and mount more than 100 guns many of which are of large calibre.

The means of communication with the mainland was 3 primitive ferries –two for foot passengers and one free for passengers and horses but not for carriages. The charges were 4d before and 6d after sunset.

Adams Mark Lodge No.6 meets under the first warrant granted to a Kent Mark Lodge and 6^th in seniority in England.

Adams Mark Lodge is very fortunate in having in its possession the minute books from 1857 to the present day ,complete and in very good condition.

1.) 20^th March 1857 to 12^th January 1892

2.) 8^th March 1892 to 10^th January 1911

3.) 14^th March 1911 to 8^th May 1923

4.) 15^th September 1923 to 14^th May 1947

5.) 10^th September 1947 to present day.

A SHORT HISTORY.

Among the minutes of Adams Lodge of Craft Masons No.158 (at that time No. 259) are the following;-

24^th July 1817 To cash Bro.Brelsford for receiving order of Ark and Mark 3/6d ,Bros.Ryatt,Arnold,Crampton and Newland ditto 3/6d each.

13^th April 1838 Bros,Keddell,Wilkins,Edgcumb, Eastman, Clarkson, Hancorn, Firminger , and Shrubsole received the Ark and Mark degrees.

During 1853 at a meeting of Adams Craft Lodge No.158 ,then 184 it was proposed that the degrees of the Ark and the Mark be revived.

17^th November 1857 three brethren were advanced,15^th February 1858 seven were advanced, 9^th June 1857 nine were advanced etc etc.

27^th October 1874 only 5 brethren were present.

22^ND December 1874 it was resolved that Bros. Spears and Bagshaw purchase collars for the use of the Lodge .

27^th January 1875 Bro.Binckes The G,Sec. Explained the working of the M.M.M.The cost of the Installation Banquet was 5/- per head..

11^th May 1875 It was decided to ensure the Mark property for £50.

2^nd November 1876 The Provincial Grand Lodge of M.M.M. was held under the auspices of the Adams Lodge.

3^RD September 1879 A Lodge of Emergency was called by command of the W.M.M.for the purpose of advancing six brethren of rthe Belvidere Lodge No. 503 Maidstone.

14^th September 1886 At this ceremony the Mark music was played in an excellent manner.

13^th September 1887 The I.P.M. who was acting as W.M.M.in the absence of the Master stated that owing to a difference that had arisen between him and a brother he could not sit in the Lodge with him.It was unamimously agreed to that the name of the brother be expunged from the minutes.

10^th September 1888 Advancement fee is 1/- if not a member of this Lodge.

13^th January 1891 Bro.Spears presented three mauls to the Lodge.

27^th October 1891 80 brethren attended the P.G.M.L. held at Sheerness.

13^th March 1894 “Marks “ entered in the minute book.

14^th January 1902 Two brethren were advanced by Wor.Bro. R.J.Gibbs P.M. of Gibralter Lodge No. 43

12^th September 1905 A petition to G.M.L. for assistance to a widow ,read and duly signed by every Brother present (£20 was given by G.M.L .)

14^TH November 1905 The Warrant was framed.The cost of P.M.’s jewel was £3-3s-0d.

9^th July 1907 It was agreed that 6 collars be purchased for the principal officers.

11^th October 1907 At the Provincial Meeting 100 members assembled and 52 sat for lunch.

12^th November 1907 The S.W. was not seeking election.After much discussion Bro. Kingwill who has been a M.M.M. since 1881 was elected to be the next W.M..(He had not served the office of Warden.)

17^th September 1912 A discussion took place for the resusitation of the Ark Mariner Degree.

8^th September 1914 The W.M.M. alludes to the small number present owing to the terrible crisis that had befallen our country ,calling out the Army and Navy for the defence of the realm.

14^th March 1916 Bro. Gibson was given a replacement G.L.certificate his original being lost on the “Maloja”

11^TH July 1916 Three brethren apologised for absence and thanked the A.O.U. for having safely come through the Naval Battle of Jutland.

12^th September 1916 Grand Lodge granted £10 TO Bro. Knight to assist him in replacing his loses through the torpedoing of the “ Persia” on the way to India. The secretary was asked to enquire for particulars of the Masonic Passes printed in various languages for the use of brethren on active service.

12^th March 1918 Following the Obligation ,the town receiving warning of an enemy raid and as a number of those present felt it incumbent upon them to go home,the W.M.had no alternative but to adjourn the meeting ,which was done.

19^th March 1918 The W.M.M. completed the ceremony from the previous week.

11^th March 1919 The Lodge of Instruction was formed.

13^th May 1919 10 guineas were sent to Mark Benevolent fund.

9^th September 1919 The Deputy Provincial Grand Master attended and advanced two candidates.

13^th January 1920 15 guineas were sent to the Mark Benevolent fund.

8^th March 1921 It was agreed that two installations be held in 1922 in January and September to permit officers for the year to be shown in the current issue of the Kent Manual. Notice of motion that a G.P.Committer be formed.

13^th January 1924. It was proposed that St.Andrews Lodge of Rochester be invited to visit Adams Mark Lodge to work the degree.

10^th March 1924 St.Andrews Lodge worked the degree.

10^th September 1935 The Lodge was presented with the Keystone Jewel.

10^th November 1936 The W.M.M. reported that he had been selected as one to form an escort to Lord Harris,P.G.M. designate to conduct him to the pedastal to receive from the G.M.M. of England the Rt.Hon.The EARL of Stadbroke the benefit of Installation.

13^th September 1939 This day should have been the most important of the year (Installation) but a communication was received from G.L. on 7^TH September ………….. here followed two pages of notes and comments on the war.

11^th September 1946 Lord Harris attended the lodge and delivered the addresses to the Wardens ,Overseers And the Brethren.

8^th January 1947 Adams Lodge No.6 agrees to sponsor the new Mark Lodge at Sittingbourne.

10^th September 1952 Lord Harris attended the Lodge.

11^th March 1953 A letter was read from the P.G.Sec. asking on behalf of the G.Mark L of Benevolence for information of any of our brethren who had suffered under the recent floods.The Lodge Secretary submitted nine names of members who shortly received £10 each.A letter was also read from the treasurer of Sir Arthur Holbrook Mark Lodge No. 951 saying that at their regular meeting it was decided to devote the whole of collection to Adams Mark Lodge No. 6 for the relief of Mark Masons flood victims.

10^th March 1954 W.Bro. J. Pope W.M. of Quartuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076 visited the lodge and read a paper on “Mark Masonry”.

THE FIRST MEETING DATES OF ADAMS MARK LODGE NO.6 .

27^TH MARCH 1857	22^ND APRIL 1869	11^TH MAY 1875
9^TH JUNE 1857	22^ND JULY 1869	15^TH JUNE 1875
27^TH AUGUST 1857	15^TH SEPTEMBER 1874	20^TH JULY 1857
17^TH NOVEMBER 1857	27^TH OCTOBER 1874	27^TH JULY 1875
16^TH JANUARY 1858	6^TH NOVEMBER 1874	27^TH JULY 1875
11^TH SEPTEMBER 1858	8^TH DECEMBER 1874	18^TH SEPTEMBER 1875
16^TH NOVEMBER 1858	22^ND DECEMBER 1874	12^TH OCTOBER 1875
7^TH APRIL 1868	12^TH JANUARY 1875	9^TH NOVEMBER 1875
7^th JULY 1868	27^TH JANUARY 1875	14^TH DECEMBER 1875
28^TH JULY 1868	11^TH FEBRUARY 1875	11^TH JANUARY 1876
27^TH OCTOBER 1868	13^TH APRIL 1875	25^TH JANUARY 1876
28^TH JANUARY 1868	20^TH APRIL 1875	31^ST JANUARY 1876

ETC., ETC., ETC..

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Meetings of Kent Provincial Mark Lodge were held at Sheerness Mark Masons Lodge No. 6

in 1876, 1891, and in 1907.

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The First Dispensation authorising a Brother to be elected and installed as W.M. of Adams Mark Lodge No.6 not withstanding his want of qualification as an Installed Master of a Craft Lodge of Freemasons is dated 17^th day of November 1879 and is not numbered.

The Second Dispensation is dated the 5^th day of December 1889 and is numbered 237.

The latest is dated 20^th June 1970 and is number 3399

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The fee for advancing in 1857 was 12/6 for Adams Brethren and 17/6 for others (subs = 4/-)

1869 was 20/- 26/- (subs =6/-)

1875 was 21/- 21/- (subs =12/-)

1920 was £2/0/0

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Craft Lodges of Brethren Advanced in Adams Mark Lodge.

20, 24, 43, 77, 90, 107, 135, 158, 184, 182, 188, 199, 200, 216, 233, 257, 274, 299, 358, 398, 431, 465, 503, 508, 511, 515, 556, 558, 584, 729, 741, 765, 847, 898, 914, 1050, 1068, 1087, 1273, 1307, 1341, 1420, 1424, 1449, 1483, 1696, 1789, 1817, 1837, 1923, 1926, 1967, 2153, 2924, 1996, 3048, 3124, 3494, 3502, 3577, 3893, 3948, 3958, 4022, 4373, 4616, 4722, 5124, 5229, 5383, 5494, 6337, 6797, 8248.

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MARK LODGES OF JOINING MEMBERS.

ENGLISH CONSTITUTION.

NOS. 16, 43, 107, 263, 265, 295, 358, 419, 436, 451, 456, 464, 465, 502, 516, 529, 584, 613, 626, 1089, 1105, 1205.

SCOTTISH CONSTITUTION.

NOS. 18, 49, 270, 328, 339, 422, 548, 576, 670, 702, 888, 900, 1159, 1175, 1184, 1670.

IRISH CONSTITUTION. LODGE NO. 273

NOVA SCOTIA CONSTITUTION. LODGE NO. 1

BRITISH COLUMBIA CONSTITUTION. LODGE NO. 24

GREAT ORDER OF NETHERLANDS LODGE NO. 121

(UP TO 1974.)

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