Centenary Story 1868-1968

Introduction	19th Century	Early 20th Century	1st World War Years
Between the Wars	2nd World War Years	1945 to Centenary	To Present Day

Introduction The first Lodge to meet in Dover of which we have any record was Lodge No.262, constituted in 1761 at the Lord Granby's Head. Alas, it lasted eight years only. During the next fifty years several other Lodges appeared; one, the Lodge of Unanimity, was constituted at the Fox Inn, Dover, and one of the petitioners was a member of Peace and Harmony Lodge, a lodge working under a transferred warrant, and unfortunately, having no minutes until 1829. By 1860 this Lodge had over fifty members, and there was pressure for the formation of a new lodge, which pressure led to the birth of the Corinthian Lodge No.1208, on the 17th February 1868. Our origins are somewhat obsure, for no record appears to have been kept of founders' meetings. Grand Lodge Librarian tells us we were sponsored by the Royal Navy Lodge No. 429 of Ramsgate, but the seven petitioners were all members of Peace and Harmony No.199 and eight members of the Royal Navy Lodge recommended the petition.

Consecration to the end of the 19th Century We were consecrated at Licence's Assembly Rooms on the sea front, in the presence of the Right Worshipful, the Provincial Grand Master - Viscount Holmesdale, M.P. - by Worshipful Brother Muggeridge, a Past Master (Lodge not named) who installed as first Master Bro. G. Adamson of 199. At this meeting eight gentlemen were proposed for initiation and eleven as joining members. Pilots predominated, but veterinary surgeons, licensed victuallers, printers, tailors, and grocers were among the number. Bro. Adamson must have worked very hard. At his first meeting in March he initiated eight candidates and admitted the joining members. How he coped we cannot think; but he did. Incidentally, Lodge opened at 6.15 pm and closed at 9.45 pm. Our meetings were held at the Royal Oak Hotel in Clarence Street. The minutes rarely mention 'after proceedings', but I suspect that there was some 'calling off', and the Junior Warden's column was occasionally in the ercet position. However, here is a brief account of what followed our 1870 Installation: 'The brethren then adjourned (5.30) to a superior banquet, replete with every comfort, served up by our worthy and esteemed host, Bro. Past Master Adamson. After the usual patriotic and Masonic toasts, a number of excellent songs were sung by the brethren, and the evening was passed with harmony and decorum peculiar to the craft' What more could be desired? In February 1875, Bro. W.A. Smeeth was installed as Master. His promotion had been rapid; but his influence in Lodge lasted over half a century. He was Secreatry of the Lodge for 37 years from 1876, and his minutes can still be read without eyestrain. In September 1886, we moved from the Royal Hotel to the Freemason's Hall, a building recently acquired. Ten shillings per member was voted as our contribution to the decoration and furnishing of our new home. The Master was W.Bro. Kennett, who had a considerable share in the acquistion of the new building. Queen Victoria's Jubilee Year saw the birth of the Military Jubilee Lodge on 23rd March 1887. We were the sponsoring lodge and watched with interest the rapid growth and popularity of the new Lodge. The last decade of the century was for us a period of steady growth in numbers and friendly relationships between Lodges in Dover and in neighbouring towns. To read of the initiation of such stalwarts as David Wilson, Charles Sellens, E.W. Barclay and A.W. Prince is something of a thrill.It is also a reminder of passing years! Those stalwarts quickly reached the chair; Bro. C.J. Sellens occupied it during 1899-1900, and it was during his mastership that the Masonic Hall Company was formed to take over from the trustees the ownership of the Masonic Hall. Bros. Sellens and Smeeth were appointed to the Board of Directors and the Company leased the building to the Masonic Hall Committee at a rental of £85 per annum. Bro. Sellens' last initiate was Charles Harris, who so frequently entertained the Lodge with 'The Bells of St. Mary'.

The early years of the 20th Century The South African war does not appear to have seriously affected the Lodge which subscribed generously to relief funds connected with it. Loyal though we were, we were not always pleased with the actions of Grand Lodge or its Board of General Purposes. In 1902 we passed a resolution expressing our disapproval of the appointment as assistant secretary of our Girl's School the son of a member of the committee - a very newly-made Mason! A few years later we made a vigorous protest against the order of the Board of General Purposes prohibiting music in our Lodges. These were the days of W.Bros. Barclay and Kennett and we were a very musical Lodge. Incidentally, Bro. Barclay was specially appointed Provincial Grand Organist in 1901, prior to the Provincial Masonic Church service, held in St. Mary's, Dover where Bro. Barclay was organist. It was also in 1901 that we found it necessary to increase our annual subscription to 24/-, and two years later the fee for inititaion was raised to £7. In 1903 Grand Lodge forbade the publication in the press of Masonic meetings. Hitherto our local papers gave full reports of Installations etc. - they even published the menus for the banquets! Our contributions to Charities were not restricted to ten-yearly efforts. In 1905 we founded 10 Life Subscribers to the RMBI, 11 to the Girls' School and 1 to the Boys' - modest but frequent contributions. In the same year we sent £7.10.0. to the Mayor's Hospital Fund. The Corinthian Glee Singers had already established a reputation, W.Bro. Kennett kindly supplying 50 books of words enabling the brethren to join in. The frowns of Grand Lodge did not extend to the after-proceedings. These frowns, by the way, were the subject of a strongly worded protest from the Lodge to the R.W. The Provincial Grand Master. Our well-beloved Bro. Kennett died shortly after this, and a special meeting of the Lodge was held on 31st January 1908 to pay tribute to his memory. The early years of the 20th Century saw peaceful progress in the Lodge; long meetings were customary - 6.30 to 9.30 quite often. The year 1908 saw the initiation of Mr. Fred Whitehouse, followed by other shoolmasters. In 1913 W.Bro. Smeeth felt obliged to relinquish the Secretaryship, which he held for 37 years, during 25 of which he had been Preceptor of the Lodge of Instruction. He was succeeded by another stalwart, W.Bro. David Wilson who had been our Treasurer for 14 years. Suitable presents were made to W.Bro. Smeeth. Our Lodge has been fortunate in its Secretaries and Treasurers. As regards the Province of Kent, 1905 brought the resignation of the Right Worshipful The Provincial Grand Master, the Rt. Honourable Earl Amherst who had served the province with distinction for so many years. He, then Viscount Holmesdale M.P., was PGM when our Lodge was consecrated. His successor was Right Worshipful Brother F.S. W Cornwallis Past Grand Warden and our Lodge offered its warm congratulations to the Provincial Grand Master Designate; it also sent ten guineas towards the proposed testimonial for the retiring PGM. It is interesting to note that in 1911 the Lodge resolved that a society for the creating of Life-Subscriberships to the Masonic Institutions be formed in connection with the Lodge of Instruction, W.Bro. J.H. Back and S.E.Board to be asked to act as Treasurer and Secretary respectively. This society eventually gave birth to our present Masonic Charities Association. The Lodge has always taken itself and its work very seriously and Masters were never afraid of occupying the Chair for three hours or more at a stretch. At an Emergency Meeting in April 1906 six candidates were dealt with; two were raised, three were passed and one initiated. They were giants in those days! 1912 brought us a letter of reproof from Provincial Grand Secretary for allowing 'Anthems' to be sung during the Installation Ceremony. Our attention was drawn to the circular of the Board of General Purposes issued in 1908. The brethren much displeased; but we obeyed.

First World War Years Bro. Fred Whitehouse was installed as Master in February 1914, the occasion being marked by the presence of the Right Worshipful the PGM W.Bro. F.S.W. Cornwallis, accompanied by the Provincial Grand Treasurer. The customary ceremony for receiving and saluting our distinguished visitors was duly carried out. This same year the Lodge mourned the loss of W.Bro. Burkett who had rendered many valuable services to the Lodge during his 31 years of membership. A cursory glance through the Lodge minutes for the years 1914-1918 would incline one to say that we carried on as usual. We did continue to initiate, pass and raise candidates; but we did much more. Appeals for funds were numerous, local, provincial and national and it is pleasing to record out ready response in all cases. Amounts seem small; but we had not experienced serious inflation of the currency. It was in 1914 that the establishment of a Masonic Nursing Home was proposed, with the appropval of Grand Lodge. This proposal was eagerly accepted and led to our Fulham Road Nursing Home, soon to give place to the Royal Masonic Hospital. In April 1915 Grand Lodge notified amendments to the Book of Constitutions which provided that no brother on active service should be excluded because his subscriptions were in arrear. During the following year W.Bro. Barclay left Dover and the Lodge decided to mark their appreciation of his service to the Lodge, particularly his contribution to music. Meetings were often very late - 8 to 10.30 being common. Suppers were rare, though occasionally Lodge was 'Called Off' for refreshment. We did not grow appreciably during the war years; resignations were mentioned at many meetings. The Roll of Honour names four of our members, Bros. J.B. Friend, S.T. Godden, E.R. Richards and A.O. Sherren and the minutes also record resolutions of sympathy with parents whose sons made the supreme sacrifice. The Brethren who occupied the Chair during the war years were succesively W.Bros. F. Whitehouse, P.T. Hart, A.J. Worsfold, W.J. Peppin and C. Wilson. It is interesting to report that in spite of many appeals due to the war we were able to send ten guineas to our local hospital. A communication from Grand Lodge declared it necessary that Brethren of German, Austrian, Hungarian or Turkish birth should refrain from attendance at Lodge for the duration of the war. Wise perhaps, but rather sad.

Between the Wars The 1920 Festival was mentioned in our minutes for the first time in December 1917. Our Provincial Grand Master was to preside - it was for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution - and our support was asked for, with gratifying results. Another fund was supported at this time on behalf of those brethren who were interned in Germany. The only reference to our Jubilee is in a letter from W.Bro. Smeeth apologising for absence from that meeting.The war was at its height, which may be the reason. The Deputy Provincial Grand Master, W.Bro. John White visited the Lodge in 1919 and 1921 - always a welcome visitor. An interesting use of the working tools was made when H.R.H Prince Arthur of Connaught laid the foundation stone of the Dover Patrol Memorial at St. Margaret's Bay. Our level was used by him in the Ceremony and a note to that effect was subsequently engraved on the level. The Masonic Million Memorial Fund for providing a central home for Freemasonry and for commemorating the many Masons who gave their lives during the war, was the subject of an appeal by the Grand Master in April 1920. London led the response and enthusiasm gradually grew in the Provinces. Our magnificent premises in Great Queen Street is the result. To celebrate the return of peace a special meeting of Grand Lodge was held on Friday 27th June 1920 at the Royal Albert Hall. The value of money was declining and in 1920 we had to raise out initiation fee from 7 to 9 guineas. So far as one can see this did not affect the flow of candidates. Emergency meetings were still frequent. Modesty almost precludes mention of the unfailing charitable attitude of the Lodge, particularlty towards the widow and fatherless. No deserving case was ever turned down and our minutes frequently record the gratitude of the recipients. At the instigation of W.Bro. Board a Life Subscribing Society was formed in connection with the Lodge of Instruction in March 1922. This was to enable members to obtain life votes in the Masonic Institutions. Later, in 1924, a benevolent association was formed in connection with the Lodge, the Chapter and Lodge of Instruction. The years following World War I saw much masonic activity. Our Lodge had an irresistible attraction for schoolmasters, many of whom have occupied the Chair. The names of Everett, Whitehouse, Cooke, Burgess, Morrell, Twyman, Horrex and later Baxter, Langley, Wellden, Francis, Monks, Kendall and Brooshooft spring to mind. Appeals for money were many. We supported the Million Memorial Appeal and promised to become a founding lodge of the projected Masonic Hospital. We also supported the Lord Mayor's relief fund in connection with the disaster in Japan and made generous donation to the Dover War Memorial Fund. We even sent a contribution to the Restoration Fund of St. Paul's Cathedral. In 1925 W.Bro E.M. Worsfold resigned his office of Charity Representative after 12 years service. He received the thanks of the Lodge and was suceeded by W.Bro H.R. Geddes. W.Bro Smeeth was ill this year and at the Installation meeting a message of rememberance was sent to him congratulating him on the 57th anniversary of his initiation. In January 1927 our Provincial Grand Master, Colonel F.S.W. Cornwallis, CBE, DL etc. etc. was raised to the peerage and the Lodge passed a resolution offering congratulations and pledging loyalty. Lord Cornwallis was also Deputy Grand Master (England). Our March meeting was attended by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, W.Bro John White PGD the occasion being the presentation of gifts to W.Bro Sellens to mark the Lodge's appreciation of his work for Masonary, including his 21 years as Director of Ceremonies and also his great contribution to public and municipal activities. This was W.Bro John White's last visit to the Lodge. He resigned in May 1927 and was suceeded by W.Bro W.F. Blay. This year saw the initiation fee raised to 11 guineas and the annual subscription to £1.10.0 (£1.0.0 for non-resident members). W.Bro Blay, the new Deputy PGM attended our Installation Ceremony in February 1928. He mentioned the launching of an appeal for £250,000 for the proposed new hospital at Ravenscourt Park. 1929 was the year of the Mastership of Bro. S.B. Turnpenny. Nearly 40 years later he was still very active as Director of Ceremonies and Charity Representative. Our contribution to the 1930 Festival was £652.15.0 and Chapter sent £47.5.0 - a worthy effort! This year's minutes record a letter of congatulations being sent to W.Bro Smeeth on his 97th birthday. The beloved Past Master visited the Lodge again after his 98th birthday and was congratulated by the newly-installed Master W.Bro A.J. Gunn. he died within a few days of his 99th birthday, having been a member of the Lodge for 64 years. Our Peace Memorial Temple was dedicated on July 19th 1933 and an Especial Meeting of Grand Lodge was held at the Royal Albert Hall on July 18th. This year saw active steps taken in connection with the enlargement and reconstruction of our new premised at Snargate Street. A Committee was appointed by the Lodge to deal with investments with a view to supporting the project. The enlarged premises at Snargate Street were opened by the Right Worsipful the Provincial Grand Master, the Right Hon. The Lord Cornwallis on Monday 8th October 1934 - to the very great pleasure and satisfcation of all concerned. In 1935 the Lodge voted 25 guineas towards a special fund for marking the 30th year of service as Provincial Grand Master of Lord Cornwallis. The amount raised was to be devoted to the Boy's Institution, augmenting the effort of the Province for the 1940 Festival. Our By-laws were carefully revised this year. W.Bro F. Conner (199) was congratulated and saluted on his appointment to Grand Rank and our own W.Bro Charles Wilson was thanked on his retirement after 30 years service as Assistant Organist and Organist. At our October meeting the Master announced the death of our beloved PGM the Rt. Hon. The Lord Cornwallis and the Lodge pledged its full support for the province during its time of difficulty. In 1936 the Right Hon. Wykeham Stanley, 2nd Lord Cornwallis, was installed as Provincial Grand Master. In 1938 the Lodge mourned the death of W.Bro Sellens whose services to the Lodge, to the Province and to the Municipality of Dover won highest esteem and regard of all his contemporaries. Later this year we learned with deep regret of the death of a well beloved brother, Bro. Charles Harris.

Second World War Years And now we come to the war years of 1939-1945. For the first two years we carried on more or less as usual under the Masterships of W.Bros Plater and Monks. Attendances were small - many members had been obliged to leave Dover (nearly all the schoolmasters) - and towards the end of 1940 we had to vacate our Masonic Hall and meet at the Oddfellows' Club, Biggin Street. We lost our Grand Lodge Officer, W.Bro Dickeson Bolton, Provincial Grand Treasurer in December of this year. W.Bros Humphrey, Bennett, Hinchliffe, Mills and Castle successively occupied the Chair until 1945. Difficulties were overcome and the work proceeeded. From 1943 we occupied another temporary 'home' - Queen's Head Hotel, Biggin Street. Incidentally we made a contribution to the 1940 Festival of £708 and W.Bro Turnpenny was already 'taking steps' for 1950 in spite of his 'accident' concerning which the Lodge offered its sympathy. The 1945 Installation ceremony was carried out at the Royal Victoria Hospital when Bro Castle was installed and W.Bro Langley was appointed Chaplain becoming Provincial Grand Chaplain the same year. The Lodge is justly proud of those keen members who kept it very much alive during those difficult years.

Post War to Centenary The immediate post war period was one of steady progress within the Lodge. During the Mastership of W.Bro. F.L. Kendall we took note of the election of His Grace the Duke of Devonshire as Most Worshipful the Grand Master, and of Right Worshipful the Earl of Scarborough as Deputy Grand Master. This was in 1947. Our present Secretary, W.Bro. F.H. Brooshooft became Master in 1948, and it fell to him to offer thanks of the Lodge to W.Bro. Morrell for kindly acting as Secretary during the illness of W.Bro. Board. This same year our By-Laws were again amended, the most important changes being the raising of the fee for Initiation to 15 guineas, and the annual subscription raised to 2 guineas. The next year W.Bro. Turnpenny succeeded W.Bro. Hart as Charity Representative, an appointment he held until our Centenary. For many years Ladies' Nights were all but unheard of in this Lodge, but during his year W.Bro. Brooshooft promoted one, a very sucessful one too, making a profit which he handed over to augment our contribution to the 1950 Festival. This Festival produced £185,121 from the Province of Kent and we were not ashamed of our modest contribution - £1,155 plus £52.10.0 from the Chapter. By 1950 two new Lodges - 'Snargate' and 'Pharos' had been consecrated and we made suitable gifts to both of them. Since then two further Lodges have been added, 'Dover Castle' and 'Septem', bringing the number of Lodges meeting in Dover to seven. It was in this year that W.Bro. Atkinson, Assistant Provincial Grand Master, attended to present to W.Bro. Board the Lodges's gift commemorating his 50th year in Masonary. The Craft in General and the Province of Kent in particular suffered a grevious loss in the passing of W.Bo. Blay, who had been our deputy PGM for some years and was greatly beloved. The Lodge paid tribute to his memory in 1951. At the 1952 Installation (Bro. A.H. Gunn) we saluted W.Bro. Traynor, VC of 2195 for the first time as a Grand Lodge Officer. During this year we lost W.Bros. Gedded and Horrex, two well-known Past Masters, as well as our Provincial Grand Secretary, W.Bro. F. Ryan. Our Secretary, W.Bro. Board, resigned in 1953 after 15 years as Secretary and was thanked by the Lodge. He had served us in many capacities. He was succeeded by W.Bro. Brooshooft. The following year we lost our Treasurer, W.Bro. Miller, who had occupied the office for 31 years. He was succeeded by W.Bro. A.H. Gunn. At our May meeting in 1953 during the Mastership of W.Bro. Nowers, W.Bro. Langley was saluted on his first appearance as a Grand Lodge Officer, and was presented with his regalia, the gift of Corinthian and Pharos Lodges. A deputation from Pharos was present and the Master, W.Bro. A.S. Lewis addressed the brethren. W.Bro. Langley expressed his warm thanks and gave a short lecture to the Lodge on 'Masonic Exposures' old and new. This year (1954) we congratulated W.Bro. Leslie Prince, PM on his appointment as High Sheriff of the City of London and the Lodge further marked the year by unanimously electing our well beloved Brother, W.Bro. Fred Conner, as an honorary member. Before the year ended we had lost two more well beloved Past Masters in the persons of W.Bros. A.J. Gunn and W.E. Giraud. In 1955 when W.Bro. Keith Wright occupied the Chair, the Lodge congratulated W.Bro. Turnpenny on his elevation to Grand Lodge rank - a well deserved honour. He had served the Lodge as an officer for 25 years and incidently, 12 years later was still serving it by which time he was promoted to the rank of Past Grand Deacon. Installation in 1956 saw an important break from 'Corinthian' custom. The Installing Master was no longer to be expected carry out the whole ceremony, but could be assisted by brethren for the presentation of the working tools and for the delivery of the addresses. W.Bro. Lewis installed W.Bro. 'Tony' Woollaston as Master under the new arrangement. The year 1957, in which W.Bro. Pelham was WM, included a further amendment to our By-laws increasing the Initiation Fee to 20 guineas and Joining Fee to 3 guineas. On the recommendation of the Treasurer it was decided that in future Lodge Accounts should be made up to 31st December. The annual subscription was increased to 10/-, By-laws having been amended accordingly. Our contribution to the 1960 Festival amounted to £1600 plus £126 from the Chapter, a matter of great satisfaction to the Lodge and all concerned, especially W.Bro. Turnpenny, who worked very hard to achieve this result. The total sum provided by the Province of Kent was £360,143 the highest sum ever raised by the Province. Before writing a few words concerning the years near to centenary, it is important to remember the Lodge of Instruction. It has met week by week under a long line of keen Preceptors whose zeal and tact have maintained the very high standard of which this Lodge is justly proud. Very early in the history of the Lodge W.Bro. Smeeth became its Preceptor and held this position for 25 years (1876-1901) during which time he was also Secretary of the Lodge. Other stalwarts followed including W.Bros. Sellens, Miller, Morrell, Turnpenny and 'Phil' Francis of blessed memory, who carried on the work for 15 years. He was succeeded in 1961 by W.Bro. A.S. Lewis who was a worthy successor to a long line of zealous Masons.

The early 1960s were devoted to the raising of funds for the extension of the Royal Masonic Hospital, a new wing having been built. We got off the mark rather slowly, but by 1962 we had become a founding Lodge of the new wing and in due course raised our contribution to £854.10.0 plus £31.10.0 from the Chapter. Not a bad interim effort! And it was such, for almost immediately the drums were beating for the 1970 Festival. During the Mastership of W.Bro. Curson we lost two well-known brethren in the persons of W.Bro Charles Wilson and W.Bro. Archie Wellden. Both had rendered sterling service to the Lodge. W.Bro Curson also roused our interest in the matter of a Roll of Past Masters and we are very proud of the result which, was achieved without trespassing on Lodge funds. The claims of the 1970 Festival did not prevent us from responding to the appeal of Grand Lodge for support for the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of its foundation. 1n 1967 HRH The Duke of Kent was installed as Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England. Our Centenary Master was Bro. C.A. Hill who was initiated in 1929 and would normally have occupied the Chair many years ago. After making progress towards the Chair in the between-war years, he left Dover for an overseas appointment which delayed his election to the position of Worshipful Master until our Centenary Year.

To the Present Day Our Centenary Story was compiled by W.Bro. the Reverend Llewellyn Langley, BSc, PAGChap, PPrGChap, Worshipful Master in 1933. 33 years have sinced passes and our Lodge is now starting to contemplate it's 150th Celebration in 2018. Much has happened sinced our Centenary and our archivists are are collating the history of the Lodge which hope to publish on this Web Site (history in itself) as soon as possible.