Royal London Hospital Lodge

“The Masonic elements of Consecration are corn, wine and oil, which are called the corn of nourishment, the wine of refreshment, and the oil of joy. They are emblematic of health, plenty and peace”

Mackey’s Lexicon.

It seems very fitting that a Masonic Lodge such as The Royal London Hospital Lodge, No.2485, should have a place in the annals of Freemasonry. It is hoped that, to the brethren today there will be much of interest of our forefathers.

For many years prior to 1900, the question of the foundation of a London Hospital Lodge had been mooted at meetings of old London Hospital students, principally at the various annual October Dinners. These discussions had, however, never gone beyond a very preliminary stage for want of active support among the older Masons.

In that year there were two Hospital Lodges in existence; the Rahere Lodge, No.2546 of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital; the Sancta Maria Lodge, No.2682 of St. Mary’s Hospital; and also a general medical Lodge – the Aesculapius Lodge, No.2410, which was joined by Masons from Guy’s Hospital.

After the Annual Dinner of 1900, however, the matter was again discussed, and principally through the energy and initiative of Dr.R.J.Probyn-Williams, Dr.A.E.Sansom was persuaded to allow a meeting to be called at his home, 84,Harley Street, London, on Friday, 26th,October, 1900, at 8.30 p.m., when both friends and opponents of the scheme were present, and the sole point of the discussion was the desirability of the formation of a Lodge.

There were present on that occasion the following Masons: W. Bros. A.E.Sansom, TH.Openshaw and F.J.Smith, and Bros. G.Schorstein, P.Furnivall, R.J.Probyn-Williams, and C.H.Miller. After considerable discussion, it was unanimously decided that it was a desirable thing that a London Hospital Lodge should be founded, and all the brethren present, then and there, subscribed their names to a petition procured by W.Bro.F.J.Smith to be presented to Grand Lodge. W.Bro.F.J.Smith, acting as temporary Secretary, was instructed to send the petition to certain other London Hospital alumni and call a meeting later on, to proceed further with the business.

W. Bro.F.J.Smith accordingly sent the petition for signature to certain men and sent out notices for a meeting to be held on Thursday, 17th.,January, 1901. Present on this occasion were the following brethren:- W. Bros. A.E.Sansom, F.J.Smith, W.Gayton, F.S.Eve, E.C. Montgomery-Smith, S.L.Martin and Bros. G.Schorstein, P. Furnivall, R.J Probyn-Williams, together with W.Bro.D’Arcy Power of the Rahere Lodge who had been invited to give advice.

At this meeting W.Bro.A.E.Sansom was unanimously elected to the chair, and the following resolutions were proposed and unanimous passed, namely:

a. That the London Hospital Lodge be founded if the Petition be granted.

b. A list of eighteen Founder Members were drawn up:-

A.E.Sansom, T.H.Openshaw, Fred.J.Smith, Percy Furnivall, Chas.H.Miller, R.J Probyn-Williams, Gustave Schorstein, Wm.Jas.Best, J.A.Hosker, Wm.Gayton, W. Hubert Gardiner, Bertrand Dawson, Fred.S.Eve, E.C.Montgomery-Smith, S.L. Martin, T.Gilbart Smith, G.F.Rogers, and W.E.Rawes

c. That the Petition be presented to the Master and Wardens of the Rahere Lodge No.2546, at the earliest possible meeting of that Lodge for recommendation to Grand Lodge.

[W.Bro.D’ Arcy Power, the Secretary of the Rahere Lodge, being present signified his willingness to bring it before the Master and Wardens of the Lodge if it were sent to him before their next meeting on 12th., February, 1901.]

d. That the Initiation Fee be fixed at six guineas; the Joining Fee at three and the regular Annual Fee for members of the Lodge at one guineas.

e. That the day of meeting be, if possible, a Wednesday or  if failing this, a Thursday and of these, the first or third, in the months of November, December, February and March for choice but April, July, August and September were expressly excluded and that four meetings should be held in the year.

f. That the place of meeting be, if possible, one of the following hotels,

viz:

The Hotel Cecil, The Trocadero, The Café Royal, or The Albion.

Fred.J,Smith undertook to make enquiries at these to see what available days there were and the prices.

g. That the brethren dining must individually pay for their refreshment.

h. The following were then selected and nominated to act as the First

Officers of the Lodge:-

William Gayton I.P.M.

A.E.Sansom W.M.

Fred.S.Eve S.W.

Fred.J.Smith J.W.

S.Luther Martin Treasurer

Thomas H.Openshaw Secretary

T.Gilbart Smith S.D.

Percy Furnavill J.D.

Robert J.Probyn-Williams I.G.

G.E.Rogers D.C.

G.I.Shorstein 1st.Steward

E.C.Montgomery Smith 2nd.Steward

Chas.H.Miller 3rd.Steward.

On 25th., February 1901, a petition praying for Warrant empowering the Petitioners to form themselves into a Lodge to be called “The London Hospital Lodge” was presented to the Most Worshipful the Grand Master by the Worshipful Master and the Wardens of the Rahere Lodge No.2546.

The Petition’s prayer was granted, and by a Warrant, bearing the date, 14th.,March, 1901, issued by the Most Worshipful the Grand Master, the London Hospital Lodge, No.2845 on the Register of the Grand Lodge of England, was constituted and empowered to make, pass, and raise Freemasons according to the ancient customs of the Craft.

The W.M, appointed by the Warrant was

W.Bro.A.Ernest Sansom, M.D.,F.R.C.P.,P.M.,P.Z.,P.P.G.J.W.(Mddx.), Physician to the Hospital, and the Wardens were W.Bro. Frederic S.Eve, F.R.C.S.P.M.,Surgeon to the Hospital, and W.Bro.Frederick J.Smith, M.A..M.D.,F.R.C.P.,P.M., Physician to the Hospital.

It subsequently became apparent that there were many old London Hospital Masons, several of them of considerable distinction in the craft, who had not been given the opportunity of signing the petition. It was unanimously agreed that those bretheren, having paid the fee of a Founder, and having assistedat the organisation of the Lodge, should be made a founder by election and should each be accorded all the privileges of a Founder

On Wednesday, 2nd.,October, 1901, at 4.30 p.m., within the Hotel Cecil, Strand, London, W.C., the Lodge was consecrated by the then Grand Secretary, V.W.Bro.(later Sir) Edward Letchworth, F.S.A., as Worshipful Master, assisted by W.Bro.Clement Godson, M.D.,P.G.D. as Senior Warden and W.Bro.Alfred Cooper, F.R.C.S.,P.G.D., as Junior Warden; V.W.Bro. The Rev.Sir Borradaile Savory, Bart.,M.A.,G.Chap., as Chaplain; V.W.Bro.Frank Richardson, P.G.D as Inner Guard. P.D.G.Reg., as Director of Ceremonies; and W.Bro.Surgeon Lt.-Col. Kiallmark,

There were present a very large number of representatives and distinguished Freemasons. The Founders of the Lodge (some forty-five in all) each received a memento of the interesting occasion in the shape of a very handsome founders jewel.

The brethren having assembled in the Lodge room, the Consecrating Officer, accompanied by the Grand Officers, entered in procession and taking the chair, appointed his officers pro tem. The ceremony of consecration was then proceeded with. The customary oration was delivered by V.M.Bro the Rev Sir Borradaile Savory, Bart, M.A., Grand Chaplain, in the following words:

“Worshipful Master, Wardens & Brethren,

“As the Worshipful Master has already told you, we are gathered together here this evening for a solemn and imposing rite – the Consecration of a New Masonic Lodge – and to me, personally, it is peculiarly interesting and I consider myself most fortunate to be allowed to assist on this important occasion, for I well remember that I am the first Initiate of my own dear Mother Lodge, Rahere’, the first of the Hospital Lodges.

“Indeed, it must be a matter of congratulation to all concerned to know that another Masonic Lodge is to be formed in connection with the London Hospital, which is the only large General Hospital for East London.

“Anyone who is familiar with the large pile of buildings in the Whitechapel Road, and who remembers what its history has been, must, 1 think, rejoice, in the work which we have undertaken this evening.

“In the year 1740, we are told, there existed a place for the reception of the sick poor known as “The London Infirmary”, and out of this original foundation the present London Hospital started in 1752 with only one hundred and thirty beds. You can now speak of the splendid number of seven hundred and ninety, and last year you are able to make the proud boast of having treated twelve thousand seven hundred and sixty-four patients.

“You bask, too, in Royal favour, with the Duke of Cambridge as your President. When we think of what you have done for the sick poor of East London during all these years, no one can wonder that we rejoice to know that another Masonic Centre of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth should be started in connection with it.

“BROTHERLY LOVE, the very foundation of our Order;

“RELIEF, the outward expression of that Love; and

“TRUTH, the very signal of our manhood.

But besides these virtues, Masonry sheds LIGHT, too, wherever it goes; and again here we see, may we not, a connection between your great Hospital and Masonry.

“Almost the first act of our Most Gracious Queen Alexandra was to provide funds to enable you to carry on the study of the cure of that dread scourge, Lupus, by light. And, indeed, may we not venture to hope that not only will more grand work be done by you at the London Hospital in the cure of Lupus by light, but that Masonic Light will now be shed, and other maladies dispelled ?”

The direction of the musical portion of the programme was in the hands of Bro. Edmund Branscombe, P.P.G.O.(Surrey), assisted by Bros. George May, Dan.Price and Fountain Meen, G.O.

The Lodge having been duly dedicated and constituted, the ceremony of installation of the W.M.designate was proceeded with; the Master Designate, W.Bro.A.Ernest Sansom, M.D.,F.R.C.P.,P.M.,P.Z.,P.P.G.J.W.

(Middlesex), was installed in the Chair of K.S. by V.W.Bro.Edward Letchworth, E.S.A., Grand Secretary, and the following officers for the ensuing year were duly appointed and invested:-

Acting I.P.M.

W. GAYTON, M.D.,P.M.,P.Z.,P.P.G.Reg.(Essex).

Senior Warden

Frederic S.EVE, F.R.C.S.,P.M.

Junior Warden

Frederick J.SMITH, M.A.,M.D.,F.R.C.P.,P.M.

Treasurer

S.Luther MARTIN, M.D.

Secretary

Thomas H.OPENSHAW, C.M.G.,F.R.C.S.,P.M.

Senior Deacon

T.GILBART SMITH, M.D.,F.R.C.P.

Junior Deacon

Percy FURNAVILL, F.R.C.S.

Inner Guard

Robert J.PROBYN-WILLIAMS, M.D.

Director of Ceremonies G.F.ROGERS, M.D.,F.R.C.S.,P.M.,P.P.G.W.(Cambs).

Stewards

G.I.SHORSTEIN, M.A.,M.D.

E.C.Montgomery SMITH, M.D.,P.M.

Charles H.MILLER, M.B., B.C.

Tyler

Charles PATRICK, P.M.,P.Z.

It may here be mentioned that each officer presented to the Lodge, the Collar and Jewel of his Office.

The V.W.Bro., the Grand Secretary, and the other consecrating officers, were proposed by the Worshipful Master as Honorary Members, and were unanimously elected.

After the election of a Committee (which included the Master and his Wardens, the Honorary Secretary and Treasurer) to frame Bye-laws, and the transaction of routine business, the Lodge was closed, and an adjournment made to an elegant banquet.

FREEMASONRY & THE WAR

It has been directed by Grand Lodge that, in recognition of the splendid spirit shown by Brethren in maintaining the life and work of their Lodges during the period of the War, and in the interests of history, some permanent record shall be made of the efforts of the impact of the War upon Freemasonry.

In accordance with these directions this report is incorporated in these Minutes, [Wednesday, 10 December 1947] and a copy has been submitted to the Grand Secretary for preservation in the records of Grand Lodge.

The London Hospital Lodge, No.2845, being formed in connection, and intimately associated with the Hospital which serves the whole of the East London and the Eastern Counties, it naturally follows that a very considerable part was played by many Brethren in maintaining the life and work of the Lodge, and in upholding the high traditions of the Hospital, under the prolonged and concentrated bombardments of the enemy during the war years.

In addition, a large number of the Brethren served with the Forces overseas, and many with distinction as the list given below discloses. The list – which is of Brethren who took part in various forms of National Service – does not give, however, a complete picture of the services rendered by the members of the Lodge as a whole. All the Brethren of the Lodge are members of, or connected with, the Medical Profession, and many are practising in the Provinces; and in that capacity they gave unceasing care and attention to the sick and suffering, and to the health and welfare of the Nation generally.

These services were carried out almost invariably under conditions of great difficulty and considerable strain; and they were given without thought of recognition or reward.

Since the 8th Feb 1911, the Meetings of the Lodge had been regularly held at Pagani’s Restaurant, Great Portland Street, W. But during the Blitz of 1941, this building with its beautiful Temple was entirely destroyed. By a stroke of good fortune, no property of the Lodge was lost. A Dispensation was granted in October 1941, to enable the Lodge to hold future Meetings at Freemasons Hall, Great Queen Street, WC.

Despite the obvious difficulties experienced by all London Lodges in wartime, Meetings were held regularly, and attendances were remarkably consistently good. Many Brethren, living in the Provinces, came from long distances; and one Brother from Doncaster never missed a single attendance.

It is recorded with justifiable pride, that so far from affecting the Lodge adversely, the impact of the War, despite some sad and grievous losses, gave it an added strength.