How it all began
Albert Stebbing: 1st WM
Morry Woolf: 1st IPM
Sir Frederick Senier: DepPGM
and Consecrating Officer
The First Summons
Bernard Stebbing: 1st Initiate
The New Lodge Banner, dedicated 1987
Patrick Wilkins:
1st Initiate to attain Grand Rank
Alan Garner:
1st Initiate to serve as an APGM
In Southend, in the 1940s, it generally took an Initiate around 20 years to become Worshipful Master of his Mother Lodge.
The Lodge of Fraternity was founded by senior members of Albert Lucking and Prittlewell Lodges to enable brethren to progress to the Worshipful Chair as soon as possible after Initiation.
The Founders, in their resolve to achieve their goal, decided that no Past Master of or in the Lodge should become its Master, and for more than 50 years after its Consecration, the Past Masters of the Lodge resolutely maintained this principle.
The Idea
The idea of forming a new Lodge was conceived in 1943 by six brethren who eventually became known in 5916 as the “Original Six”.
They were Edgar Whittle, Reggie Brandreth, Ernie Smurthwaite and Reggie Winn of Albert Lucking Lodge No. 2717, and Jimmy Bradley and Oliver ‘Olly’ Jones of Prittlewell Lodge No. 4896.
In the first week in September 1943, these six brethren arranged to meet WBro Herbert ‘Jack’ Murrell and WBro Bert Allen (members of both Albert Lucking and and Prittlewell) at the Masonic Club situated in the High Street, Southend-on-Sea, to discuss their idea, and to see if one of their Lodges would sponsor a petition from them for a new Lodge.
These two brethren had been chosen as Jack Murrell would be representing the secretary of Albert Lucking Lodge, WBro Arthur Cotgrove (who was residing in Manchester during the war) and WBro Bert Allen was secretary of Prittlewell Lodge.
After much thought, as so very few Lodges were being formed during the war years (in fact, some Lodges never met at all), these two brethren gave their blessing to the proposed new Lodge.
Bert Allen then wrote to Arthur Cotgrove, who agreed that it could be sponsored by Albert Lucking and that he would be prepared to be the new Lodge’s first secretary, providing that Bert assist while he was away in Manchester.
Several meetings were held, with suggested names of other likely Founders. and eventually Provincial Grand Lodge agreed to meet a deputation in London to consider the formation of the Lodge. The chairman of that meeting was Sir Frederic Senier, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master.
The deputation, however, left the meeting feeling a little despondent, as Sir Frederic had made it quite clear that Province would not accept a secretary who did not reside in the area.
Bert Allen had informed Sir Frederic that he would be doing much of the work of the secretary, but that he could not accept the secretaryship itself as he was too much involved in keeping Prittlewell going, quite apart from his many wartime commitments.
During the journey home, Reggie Brandreth suggested that his business partner, WBro Douglas Verney of Priory Lodge No 1000 (who was a friend of Sir Frederic Senier), be approached to take the secretaryship. All thought this a good idea. Reggie Brandreth spoke to Doug Verney and he agreed.
This being acceptable to the Deputy PGM, invitations then went out to other Freemasons whom they felt would be interested in becoming Founders, and eventually a Petition was made and granted.
There were several problems; not the least being that of WBro Charlie Wells who was to be the first Master, and was so named in the first Petition. Due to illness, which had now become serious, he had to withdraw, and WBro Albert Stebbing who was to have been the first acting IPM. stepped in as Master.
WBro Morris Woolf, who was an old friend of Albert Stebbing, was approached to become the first acting IPM. to which he readily agreed.
The Name
The progressive offices of the Lodge to be held by the original six were again decided by drawing lots.
The naming of the Lodge was left to the ‘original six’, and Reggie Winn claimed the final and adopted suggestion was his.
The regular meeting place would be at the Masonic Hall, Southend-on-Sea, on the last Saturday in September, October, November, January, February and March, with the September meeting being set aside for Installation.
As stated at the Consecration ceremony, it was the intention that no more than one candidate be taken at each degree. This has been adhered to, but emergencies have arisen, and two candidates have been taken when necessary. However, the practice of conducting no more than two degrees at each meeting has been maintained.
The ritual of the degrees adopted was Emulation, worked ‘with variations’, and the floorwork was taken from Universal working.
It was decided that the VSL be opened at the First Book of Kings, Chapter Six during all meetings, as it is here that the building of King Solomon’s Temple is described. It was also decided that the the Sign of F. be given during Obligations.
When the first set of Lodge By-laws were approved in March 1945, By-law IV stated ‘that the Initiation fee be 15 guineas, the Joining fee shall be 5 guineas and the Rejoining fee shall be 5 guineas. The annual subscription shall be 4 guineas and the Country members subscription shall be 1 guinea’.
Both Prittlewell and Fraternity have Albert Lucking as their mother Lodge, making them sister Lodges.
The Crest
A Lodge Crest was, of course, essential. It was decided it should include a relationship with each of the three degrees by the Square and Compasses, the two Great Pillars and the Square Pavement all being incorporated in the design.
The reasoning was that the Square and Compasses, being the first things a Candidate sees, would depict the Ist Degree; the two Great Pillars, as described in its Tracing Board, would depict the 2nd Degree; and the Square Pavement, described in its respective Tracing Board, would depict the 3rd Degree.
The design consists of a view of the entrance to King Solomon's Temple, showing the two Great Pillars, complete with Chapiters adorned with spherical balls. Resting against the plinths of the pillars are the jewels of the Senior and Junior Warden. The name and number of the Lodge, together with the date of its Consecration, is shown on drapes encircling the Pillars.
In the background is a bank of cloud upon which are interposed the Square and Compasses, which together allude to Masonry universal.
Within the Porchway, on the Square Pavement, are two jambs or posts on which are hung two gates leading to the Inner Temple.
The Crest first appeared on the Summons for the Installation Meeting of 28th September 1946.
The Banner
The first Banner to depict the Crest of the Lodge Of Fraternity was donated by WBro Dick Clarke at the Installation Meeting of 29th September 1951. It was formally presented by the Provincial Grand Secretary, WBro Simmonds, and Consecrated and Dedicated by Canon Stafford Morris, a Past Provincial Grand Chaplain and an APGM.
The crest was painted onto a canvas background. By 1976, the paintwork had begun to crack and the canvas to split, and before long it had deteriorated beyond repair.
Several manufacturers in the London area were contacted to ascertain the cost of replacing the banner. Quotations ranged from £500 to £600 – equivalent to several thousands today, a sum the Lodge could not afford.
PM WBro Reg Platt learned of WBro Stanley Harris of Nore Lodge, who created embroidered banners as a hobby. WBro Harris implied that it would be two or three years before he would be able to start work, but in fact the Banner was not completed until January 1987.
The then Secretary, Worshipful Brother Bernard Stebbing suggested that as the Lodge’s first Initiate, he would like to donate the cost of the banner in memory of the Founders.
