The History and Progress of The Lodge

A true history of a Lodge is not necessarily to be found in a catalogue of events, but in its influence on those who, through its medium, enter Freemasonry and put into practice those excellent tenets and precepts inculcated in its teachings.

The growth of the Lodge in its early years was somewhat remarkable when over the first three years we find a yearly average of 14 to 15 Candidates being taken through all 3 Degrees - the largest number in one evening being 5 Initiates, 4 F.Cs. and 5 M.Ms.; the Lodge being opened at 3.30 p.m. and the Banquet timed for 7 p.m. On two occasions there were 5 Initiates at Installation Meetings. By February, 1913, business seems to have quietened down when there were no Candidates and a Section of the 1st Lecture worked by the W.M. (W.Bro. Lord) assisted by Bro. Pegden. Emergency Meetings were frequent for some years and held under "the Fiat of the W.M."

The Lodge did not remain the preserve of NTC employees. In the first two years, members were initiated or joined who were variously: Manager of the Guernsey State Telephone Company; Managing Director of the Antwerp Telephone Company; Managing Director of the Western Electric Company and significantly a Staff Engineer from the Post Office. Given the animosity within the NTC to the impending PO take-over, it is noteworthy that the brethren extended the hand of friendship to a senior employee of the PO.

The first Ladies Festival was held on 20.1.1912, under the Presidency of W.Bro. F. A. B. Lord, at a Special Emergency Meeting for which a Special Dispensation was granted to wear Full Masonic Clothing with non-Masons present. The Summons is headed "Ladies Evening" and the programme for the Festival appears after the Lodge Agenda. The Lodge was opened at 4.30 p.m., when 3 Candidates were Passed. The Reception was timed for 6.15 p.m. and 218 dined. There is no record of how the Ladies filled in their time before 6.15 p.m.!

An Almoner in the Lodge was first appointed in October, 1910 - W. Bro. C. G. Sleigh (the Acting I.P.M. at its Consecration), who subsequently proposed the formation of a Charity Association.

The Lodge of Instruction was formed in 1910.

W.Bro. P. P. Kipping became in 1911 the first P.M. of the Lodge to be honoured with "London Rank", and in 1916 the first member of the Lodge to receive a Grand Lodge honour, that of A.G.Supt.Works.

The Telephone Royal Arch Chapter No. 3301 was founded on 30th November 1914 by 14 brethren from the Lodge.