St Giles Lodge 8555
17th April 2024
St Giles 50th Anniversary meeting
St Giles celebrated our 50th anniversary by raising Bro. Brian Laurence on behalf of Hartebeestpoort no 8545 based in South Africa.
Some interesting notes from the founders’ meetings culminating in the formation of St Giles Lodge 50 years ago
The first meeting to discuss the formation of a daughter Lodge by the Watling Street Lodge no 1639
The meeting was held the 11th of April 1973.
The meeting was held the 11th of April 1973.
Those present were;
W. Bro R Sellick
W. Bro. R Holton
W. Bro. L Watts
W. Bro. C West
W. Bro. R Bennett
W. Bro. J Parker
W. Bro. N Welton
W. Bro. H Brookes
Bro. J Haseldine
Bro. P Erlen
Bro. R Perry (Snr)
Bro. R Perry (Jnr)
Bro. F Smith
Bro. A Hale
Bro. Morley
Bro. A. Harris
The need for a new lodge to be formed in Stony Stratford was discussed at some length. It was recognised that the waiting lists for membership of established lodges were extended and there was insufficient capacity for the steadily increasing demand for membership.
Estimated Fees were also discussed for the consecration meeting;
Grand Lodge dues £15
Provincial Lodge dues £5
Books and invitations £100
Choir £25
Rent of the hall for consecration £35
Gifts for the consecrating officers £120
It was agreed that the new lodge would meet six times a year, probably on the 3rd Wednesday of the chosen months.
It was also agreed at the meeting that a subcommittee should be formed to consider the name of the new lodge.
At the next meeting on the 30th May 1973 W. Bro Cox proposed and Bro. Field seconded that the new Lodge be named “St Giles”, derived from the name of the Parish church of Stony Stratford.
After some discussion the was put to the meeting and carried.
It was proposed, Seconded, and carried at the meeting that the first Master of St Giles would be W. Bro. R Selick.
Over 8 subsequent meetings, it was decided amongst many other items that the start time of meetings would be 6.15 p.m. (now 6 p.m.) except for the installation meeting which would be 5 p.m.
The officers of the new Lodge were decided for the first year.
It was agreed that the officers of the Lodge would provide their own collars and jewels and present them to the Lodge.
The by-laws were drawn up by a subcommittee.
By-law no 6 was an Initiation fee of £20 which was after a vote changed to £30.
The annual subscription to the lodge would be £7.50 exclusive of the dining fee.
It was also decided to have a non-dining fee and a country member fee of £3.
Bro. J Haseldine researched the history of St Giles and W. Bro Field summited a draft drawing from St Giles church in London for the proposed jewel for both the Founders and Past Masters jewel.
United Grand Lodge met on the 12th of December 1973 to discuss the Charter of the Lodge with the decision being made on the 13th of December to approve it.
At a meeting on the 13th of February, W. Bro. Field reported the design of the jewel had been approved by Grand Lodge and that an order had been placed for 20 founder’s jewels (some of which are on display in the Bletchley Masonic Center museum) and 6 past master jewels the likely cost being £12.50 each.
Bro. A Harris offered to supply a Tyler's sword engraved with the names of the founder members, which was gratefully accepted.
The last founders meeting number ten was held on the 18th April 1974 to finalise the Consecration and other outstanding matters.
W. Bro R Sellick
W. Bro. R Holton
W. Bro. L Watts
W. Bro. C West
W. Bro. R Bennett
W. Bro. J Parker
W. Bro. N Welton
W. Bro. H Brookes
Bro. J Haseldine
Bro. P Erlen
Bro. R Perry (Snr)
Bro. R Perry (Jnr)
Bro. F Smith
Bro. A Hale
Bro. Morley
Bro. A. Harris
The need for a new lodge to be formed in Stony Stratford was discussed at some length. It was recognised that the waiting lists for membership of established lodges were extended and there was insufficient capacity for the steadily increasing demand for membership.
Estimated Fees were also discussed for the consecration meeting;
Grand Lodge dues £15
Provincial Lodge dues £5
Books and invitations £100
Choir £25
Rent of the hall for consecration £35
Gifts for the consecrating officers £120
It was agreed that the new lodge would meet six times a year, probably on the 3rd Wednesday of the chosen months.
It was also agreed at the meeting that a subcommittee should be formed to consider the name of the new lodge.
At the next meeting on the 30th May 1973 W. Bro Cox proposed and Bro. Field seconded that the new Lodge be named “St Giles”, derived from the name of the Parish church of Stony Stratford.
After some discussion the was put to the meeting and carried.
It was proposed, Seconded, and carried at the meeting that the first Master of St Giles would be W. Bro. R Selick.
Over 8 subsequent meetings, it was decided amongst many other items that the start time of meetings would be 6.15 p.m. (now 6 p.m.) except for the installation meeting which would be 5 p.m.
The officers of the new Lodge were decided for the first year.
It was agreed that the officers of the Lodge would provide their own collars and jewels and present them to the Lodge.
The by-laws were drawn up by a subcommittee.
By-law no 6 was an Initiation fee of £20 which was after a vote changed to £30.
The annual subscription to the lodge would be £7.50 exclusive of the dining fee.
It was also decided to have a non-dining fee and a country member fee of £3.
Bro. J Haseldine researched the history of St Giles and W. Bro Field summited a draft drawing from St Giles church in London for the proposed jewel for both the Founders and Past Masters jewel.
United Grand Lodge met on the 12th of December 1973 to discuss the Charter of the Lodge with the decision being made on the 13th of December to approve it.
At a meeting on the 13th of February, W. Bro. Field reported the design of the jewel had been approved by Grand Lodge and that an order had been placed for 20 founder’s jewels (some of which are on display in the Bletchley Masonic Center museum) and 6 past master jewels the likely cost being £12.50 each.
Bro. A Harris offered to supply a Tyler's sword engraved with the names of the founder members, which was gratefully accepted.
The last founders meeting number ten was held on the 18th April 1974 to finalise the Consecration and other outstanding matters.
St Giles 8555 Consecration minutes
Saturday 20th April 1974
Held at the College of Further Education, Wolverton, Milton Keynes
The consecrations Ceremony was carried out by the R. W. Bro. Ralph Verney, Provincial Grand Master of Buckinghamshire.
Assisted by V. W. Bro Charles Millidge and Deputy Provincial Grand Master and R. W. Lt. Col, Rt. Hon. Lord Burnham Assistant Provincial Grand Master.
The following assisted with the consecration
W. Bro. F. Turk Prov SGW Senior Warden
W. Bro. L. Cowley Prov JGW Junior Warden
W. Bro. J. Bannon Prov A Chaplin Chaplin
W. Bro. S. Cayzer Prov G Sec Secretary
W. Bro. E. Deung Prov G DC Director of Ceremonies
W. Bro. W. Loaring Prov G Purs Inner Guard
W. Bro. W. Young Prov G Tyler Tyler
The following founder members were present;
W. Bro R Sellick
W. Bro. J Parker
W. Bro. J Brookes
W. Bro. R Turney
W. Bro. R Holton
W. Bro. N Walton
W. Bro. C Head
W. Bro. L Cox
W. Bro. L Watts
W. Bro. R Oliver
Bro. G Patterson
Bro. A Fields
Bro. J Haseldine
Bro. F Smith
Bro. P Erlen
Bro. R Perry
Bro. A Harris
Bro. J Martin
Bro. J Butterworth
123 Brothers were present
The Consecrating officer R. W. Bro. Ralph Verney Provincial Grand Master entered the Lodge in procession with the Grand Officers and occupied the chair, and after appointing the Consecrating team to their officers, opened the Lodge in the first degree.
Enter Apprentices were then excluded from the Lodge.
The Lodge was then opened in the second degree. Fellow Crafts were excluded.
The Lodge was opened in the third degree.
The Ceremony of Consecration was then conducted as per attached procedure.
The Warrant was read by W. Bro. Stanley Cayzer, Provincial Grand Secretary.
An Oration on the nature and principals of the Institution was rendered by W. Bro. J Bennion, Prov Assistant Grand Chaplin.
The Lodge was the consecrated, dedicated and constituted as St Giles Lodge No. 8555 in the register of the Grand Lodge of England.
The Lodge was resumed in the second degree.
The Worshipful Master designate W. Bro Sellick was presented by the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies W. Bro. Eric Deung and recited the obligation of the Master Elect.
The Lodge was resumed in the third degree and all the brethren below the rank of installed master then retired from the Lodge and the consecrating officer, R. W. Bro. Verney invited the V. W. Bro. C Millidge, Deputy Provincial Grand Master to occupy the chair and installed W. Bro. R Sellick as the master of the Lodge.
W. Bro. J Parker was invested as Acting Immediate Past Master of the Lodge.
All master masons were re-admitted and the V. W. Bro. C Millidge proclaimed W. Bro. Sellick as the Worshipful master of St Giles Lodge no. 8555.
The Lodge was resumed in the second and first degree and fellow crafts were admitted (there being no entered apprentices) and the Worshipful Master was saluted and greeted in those degrees.
The working tools of the three degrees were presented by the V. W. Bro. C Millidge, who delivered the warrant of the Lodge to the Worshipful Master and presented the book of constitutions.
The Worshipful Master then invested the Wardens designate;
Bro. John Haseldine as Senior Warden
Bro. Frank Smith as Junior Warden
It was proposed by Bro. Haseldine and Seconded by Bro. Smith that the declaration of the ballot for the Election of the Treasurer be left in the hands of the Worshipful Master. This proposal was carried. The Worshipful Master appointed and invested W. Bro. Watts as Treasurer.
The Worshipful Master then appointed and invested his other officers as follows;
Chaplin W. Bro Brooks
Secretary W. Bro. Cox
Senior Deacon Bro R Perry
Junior Deacon Bro. Patterson
ADC W. Bro. Fields
Asst Sec W. Bro. Oliver
Inner Guard Bro. Erlen
Steward Bro. Martin
The address to the Worshipful Master was given by the R. W. Bro. Lt Col. Rt. Hon Lord Burnham, Assistant Provincial Grand Master.
The address to the Wardens was given by W. Bro. Turk, Prov Senior Grand Warden.
The address to the brethren was given by W. Bro. Cowley Prov Junor Grand Warden
It was proposed and seconded that W. Bro. Grew be appointed Tyler of the Lodge. The motion was carried and W. Bro. Grew was duly invested.
The Treasurer proposed and the Secretary seconded that the by-laws as proposed and agreed by the Founders be adopted. The proposition was put to the meeting and carried.
The Worshipful Master rose for the first time and from the chair and proposed, that the Consecrating Officers be Elected Honorary members of the Lodge.
This was carried unanimously.
The Worshipful Master rose for the second time, and the Secretary read the following propositions;
For Initiation;
Mr David Hammond, aged 32, Company Director
Mr Rodney Whitehead, aged 33, Motor Engineer
Joining Members;
Bro Rodger Perry, Postal Officer. A Master Mason. Scientific Lodge No 840
Bro. Graeme Joll, Solicitor. Master Mason. Eleanor Cross Lodge No 1764
Bro. A Hale, Works Director. Master Mason. Lucullus Lodge No 5258
Bro. J. Barby, Security Office. Master Mason. St Pauls Lodge, Cyprus No. 2277EC.
The Worshipful Master rose for the third time and proposed Bro. W. Smith as honoured guest. This was seconded by W. Bro. Parker and put to the brethren and carried unanimously.
There being no other business the Lodge was closed according to Ancient Custom until Wednesday 16th October 1974.
The closing hymn and National Anthem were sung.
The charity box realised £58
Menu at the Festive board
Pâté Maison
Fillet of Plaice – White Win Sause
Fried Quarters of Chicken
Sweet Corn – Bacon Rolls -Garden peas
Croquette Potatoes
Roll & Butter
Ice Cream Gateu
Coffee
Cheese Board & Biscuits
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Disclaimer: Links are owned by and are the responsibility of third parties. St Giles 8555 and its members cannot be held responsible for the suitability of external content. The inclusion of links on this website does not imply endorsement or otherwise. All images and logos are copyrighted to their respective owners.