Foreword
The printing of “Seven Years of Masonry” is a token the very
great respect and affection in which the Author, W. Bro E. J. Brown, was
held by all who knew him. The original intention was to present each
Member of the Lodge with a copy, but remembering the great which W. Bro.
Brown held for the Masonic Charities, it was decided to solicit a small
contribution and devote the proceeds to the Royal Masonic Benevolent
Institution. “The Seven Years of Masonry” was originally read by the
Author at Cabbell Lodge of Instruction and has been re-read on three
subsequent occasions.
W. Bro. Brown was Initiated in Londesborough Lodge No. 1681
and was Installed in the Chair of that Lodge. He joined Cabbell Lodge in
December, 1893, and was Installed in the Chair in 1901, after having
passed through all the junior offices. He was appointed D.C. of the
Lodge in 1912 and resigned this office in 1934 owing to failing health,
when he was appointed Chaplain. In 1902 he was appointed Provincial
Grand D.C. He occupied the Chairs of many of the Advanced Degrees.
Such are the dry bones of his Masonic history which fail to
reveal the great, though unconscious influence he commanded in his
adopted Lodge. This influence was obtained not by precept but by
example. The self effacing nature of the man, drew respect from all who
met him and also admiration for the firmness of his principles and the
rectitude of his character. He was modest and retiring, but ever ready
with advice, counsel and information to all seekers after knowledge and
was the most genuine Mason I have had the privilege of knowing.
Probably one of his greatest contributions to Masonry was
the valuable work he performed as Preceptor of the Lodge of Instruction,
an office which he accepted when the Lodge was formed in 1908 and which
he held until he was called to the Grand Lodge Above in 1936.
It has been said, and I think truly, that he was the
greatest asset Cabbell Lodge ever possessed. May we be worthy to follow
in his footsteps.
T. E. PARRY
P.P.G.W. P.P.J.
22nd September, 1950
SEVEN YEARS OF MASONRY
The Early History of Cabbell Lodge.
Copy of a
paper read by W. Bro. E. J. Brown, P.M. 807,
P.P.G.D.C.,
P.Z. 807, P.P.G.S.N., at the Cabbell Lodge
of
Instruction on Wednesday, 2nd December, 1931.
In “THE HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN NORFOLK” by our Right
Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, Bro. Hamon Le Strange, there is a
short account of out Lodge containing much valuable information which
has been of great service to me in compiling these notes on the early
history of Cabbell Lodge.
Not only have I used some of his facts but, I must admit,
some of his phraseology; so you will not go very far wrong if, when you
hear a more than usually dignified sentence, you put it down to the pen
of the Right Worshipful Brother Hamon Le Strange.
Every Initiate is informed that “This is our Warrant or
Chapter from Grande Lodge of England, and is open for your inspection on
this or and other Lodge evening.” As none of you have ever taken the
trouble to give more than a passing glance at it I am going to read it
to you and none of you will be able to plead ignorance of its content.
ZETLAND,
GRAND MASTER.
To all and every, our Right Worshipful, Worshipful and loving brethren.
We, Thomas Dundas, Earl of Zetland, Baron Dundas of Aske in
the County of York, &c., &c., &c., Grand Master of the Most Ancient and
Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of England, send
Greeting; Know ye that we, by the authority and under the sanction of
the Grand Lodge of England, vested in us for that purpose, and at the
humble petition of our Right Trusty and Well-beloved brethren, HENRY
JOHN MASON, THOMAS HOWES, JEREMIAH HOWES, HENRY UNDERWOOD, GEORGE
WILLIAM MINNS, JOSEPH HARE and JOSHUA MORSE, do hereby constitute the
said brethren into a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons under the title
or denomination of THE CABBELL LODGE NO. 1109. The said Lodge meet at
the Star Inn St. Peter of Mancroft Norwich, in the county of Norfolk, on
the last Thursday of every month; empowering them in the said Lodge,
when duly congregated, to make, pass, and raise freemasons according to
the ancient customs of the Craft in all ages and nations throughout the
known World; and further, at their said petition, and of the great trust
and confidence reposed in every of the afore named brethren, we do
appoint the said HENRY JOHN MASON to be the first Master, the said
THOMAS HOWES to be the first Senior Warden and the said JEREMIAH HOWES
to be the first Junior Warden for opening and holding the said Lodge,
and until such time as another Master shall be regularly elected and
installed, strictly charging that every Master who shall be elected to
preside over the said Lodge, and who must previously have duly served as
Warden in a Warranted Lodge, shall be installed in ancient form and
according to the laws of the Grand Lodge, that he may be thereby fully
invested with the dignities and powers of his office.
And we do require you, the said HENRY JOHN MASON to take
special care that all and every the said brethren are or have been
regularly made Masons, and that you and they and all other, the members
of the said Lodge do observe, perform and keep the laws, rules and
orders contained in the Book of Constitutions, and all others which may
from time to time be made by our Grand Lodge, or transmitted by us or
our successors, Grand Masters, or by our Deputy Grand Master for the
time being.
And we do enjoin to make such by-laws for the government of
your Lodge as shall to the majority of the brethren appear proper and
necessary, the same being not contrary to or inconsistent with the
general laws and regulations of the Craft, a copy whereof you are to
entered in a book to be kept for that purpose. And you are in nowise to
omit to send to us or our successors Grand Masters, or to the Right
Honourable Fox Maule, Baron Panmure of Brechin and Navar County Forfar,
K.T.G.C.B., &c., &c., our Deputy Grand Master, or to the list of members
of you Lodge, and the names and descriptions of all Masons initiated
therein, and brethren who shall have joined the same, with the fees and
monies payable there on.
It being our will and intention that this out Warrant of
Constitution shall continue in force as long only you shall conform to
the laws and regulations of out Grand Lodge. And you the said HENRY JOHN
MASON, are further required, as soon as conveniently may be, to send us
an account in writing of what shall be done by virtue of these
resents.
Given under our hands and the seal of the Grand Lodge at
London this 7th February, A.L. 5860
A.D. 1860
By command
of the M.W. the G.M.
PANMURE,
D.G.M.
W. Gray Clarke, G.S.
The Consecrations toke place
on Thursday, April 13th,
1860, at 3 o’clock at the Star Inn.
The Provincial the
Grand Master Bro. Benjamin Bond Cabbel’s state of
health did not permit of his being present at the opening of the Lodge,
but he deputed to supply his place Bro. the Rev. Frederick William
Freeman, D.P.G.M. of Suffolk and W.M. that year of Faithful Lodge,
Harlston. Among the brethren present were the Rev. Samuel Titlow,
Provincial Grand Chaplain, Rev. F. G. Fradell, P.P.S.G.W. of the West
Riding, Rev. C. J. Martyn, P.G.Sec. Oxon, afterwards D.G.M. of Suffolk,
Rev. F. J. S. Hodgson, Chaplain of Social Lodge, many present and past
officers of Provincial Grand Lodge, and brethren from the three existing
Norwich Lodges, Union, Social and Perseverance.
A Lodge was formed presided over by Bro.
Emmanuel Hymesm W.M. 258, assisted by Bro. Jas Dawbarn, P.M. 158
as S.W. and Bro. W. Rant Redgrave, P.M. 100 as J.W.
The Lodge was opened in the first, second and third degree,
Bro. the Rev. F. W. Freeman as Constituting Master and members of P.G.L.
then entered and took their places.
At the request of the Constituting Master Bro. W. Leedes Fox,
P.G.Sec., read the authority of the R. W. Bro. B. B. Cabbell, P.G.M.,
directing Bro. the Rev. F. W. Freeman, D.P.G.M. of Suffolk and W.M. of
100 to act for him in constituting the Lodge, and also the petition for
the new Lodge, and the Warrant from the M.W. the G.M.
The Lodge was then in ancient form duly consecrated and
constituted and dedicated to Virtue, Honour and Mercy. After the
accustomed ceremonies which ought not to be introduced into writing,
Bro. H. J. Mason was presented to the Rev. F. W. Freeman to be installed
as the first Master, and the brethren presented having unanimously
consented the ceremony of Installation was performed in the customary
manner.
The new W.M. then appointed his Officers, and the Lodge was
ultimately closed with solemn prayer.
A banquet was afterwards served at half past six, when
upwards of 50 brethren attended, and harmony and good fellowship
prevailed.
The above is the account of the consecration taken from the
Provincial Grand Lodge Minute Book. There is another but not quite so
interesting an account in our own Minute Book which, however, ends with
the following quaint phrase – “the brethren passed a joyous evening.”
The first officers of the Lodge were:-
H. J. MASON,
P.M. W.M. THOMAS BALLARD
J.D.
THOMAS HOWES
S.W. JOSEPH
HARE I.G.
HARRY BROWN
WOLLSEY J.W.
JEREMIAH HOWES, P.M. SEC.
GEO. WM. MINNS
S.D. JOSHUA
MORSE T.
All members of Perseverance Lodge.
Our new Lodge lost no time in commencing to work, for only
a week after the consecration the first regular Meeting was held. Three
candidates were proposed; Mr. John Suggett, Mr. Wm. Bullard, and Mr.
Joseph Stanley.
A letter was read from the P.G.M. expressing his wish to be
elected a subscribing member; the Prov.G.S., Bro. Leedes Fox, also asked
to be elected an honorary member.
Our veteran Prov.G.M. – He was eighty years of age when
Cabbell Lodge was consecrated, and had served as J.G.W. as far back as
1828 – seems to have keenly appreciated the fact of the Lodge being
called by him name, for in August he gave 20 gs. to the “Girls” in the
name of the Lodge, another similar amount to the “Aged” in February,
1861, and a third to the “Boys” in March, 1861. The example set by our
Prov.G.M. has never been forgotten. In June, 1861, notice was given of
the formation of the Charity Committee, and the Benevolent Fund then
formed is, as you all know, in a most flourishing condition and is well
and usefully applied. The old Minute Book has many entries of charitable
gifts as 5/- voted to a poor brother of St. Michael, Coslany; 8/- to a
poor brother to relieve his immediate wants; £3. 3. 0. voted to the
“Boys”; £1 to Bro. W. –P.M. in distress; 21/- collected for the “Boys”;
£5. 5. 0. “Boys”; 21/- voted to a widow; that the sum of £1 per annum be
paid to Bro. C –as long as his circumstances may require; subscription
of £1. 10. 6. made for widow of Bro. G-; 21 gs. to the “Aged”; £5. 5. 0.
voted for Flood Fund; £2. 2. 0. voted towards an apprentice premium. At
the present time there is a Charity Scheme which is in a most
flourishing state in connection with our Lodge of Instruction, and if
any brother present would like to have further information about it, I
refer him to Bro. P.M. Carter who would be most happy to provide him
with a card.
Now back to the Lodge again. In May 1860, the first
initiations took place – Bros. Bullard and Suggett. Bro. Bullard
afterward took the Chair in 1869. The initiations were taken separately,
and that appears to have been general practice in the early years of
Lodge. At this Meeting the Prov.G.M. and Prov.G.S. were elected as
requested.
At the June Meeting there were two passings, one
initiation, and one proposition. The Prov.G. Chaplain, the Rev. S.
Titlow, whose portrait hangs in the Banqueting Room, presenting the
Lodge with a Bible, and this is still in possession of the Lodge.
In July the work consisted of two raisings, one passing
and an initiation, and as the raisings were taken separately, and after
the passing “it was then getting late in the evening” the lodge was
adjourned for a fortnight and the initiation took place then.
In August the Prov.G.M. presented his first gift and Bro.
P.M. Underwood, 100 Founder also presented a handsome tracing board of
the 2nd Degree. Two ceremonies were worked and “the brethren
retired from the labour to refreshment and spent a joyous evening.” This
is the first time since the Consecration Banquet that any mention is
made in the Minutes of the “Forth Degree,” but I believe it was the
custom in those early times to partake on bread and cheese and beer, so
probably the repast on this occasion was of a more recherché
description.
The September Meeting was a quiet one, one Degree, the
second, being worked, but in October there were two Meetings, one to
receive propositions, and the other for work, and a full and interesting
evening’s work it was. The W.M. raised two candidates and then vacated
the Chair in favour of the J.W. Bro. H. B. Woolsey, who initiated a
candidate to everyone’s satisfaction. On resuming the Chair the W.M. the
proposed for the first time Bro. G. W. Minns, S.W., as W.M. for the
ensuing year and this was seconded by the Secretary, Bro. Howes, P.M.
This is interesting to us for two reasons. Bro. Minns was
appointed at the beginning of the year as S.D. and acted for such some
months he could not therefore, be S.W. as we understand it, even though
he had sometimes acted in capacity. The second point is that it throws a
little light on the method of election of a Master. Bro. Gunns,
following Bro. P. M. Underwood’s example made a presentation to the
Lodge – a Banner Pole, the Cabbell Arms, Triangle Tackle, and a perfect
ashlar. Now to us as a Lodge of Installation, comes the most interesting
events of the evening. Bro. Mason, W.M., proposed that the Lodge be
summoned to meet at 6:30, instead of 8 o’clock as heretofore, and that
the time prior to opening of the Lodge be applied to instructing the
young members of the Lodge in Masonry.
At the November Meeting accordingly the Lodge of
Instruction met at 6:30 and the Lodge proper at 8. The J.W. again worked
a Degree, this time the second, and the secretary initiated a candidate.
The W.M. proposed for the second time Bro. Minns, S.W. as W.M. for the
ensuing year. The Lodge was closed with solemn prayer by W. Bro. Rev.
Samuel Titlow, and the Lodge went from labour to refreshment and enjoyed
a very pleasant evening.
In December there were two Meetings, one to receive
propositions, and the ordinary Meeting on the last Thursday. After two
Degrees were worked the ballot was taken for the W.M. and unanimously in
favour of Bro. H. J. Minns, S.W., who was duly proclaimed M. Elect.
Thanks from the W.M. to his officers for their assistance during his
Mastership ended the business.
So ends the account of the first year’s work in Cabbell
Lodge under it’s first W.M. Bro H. J. Mason. His name often occurs in
the after pages of the Minute Book, and as I.P.M. he did much work in
the Lodge. Later on he became a founder and first Master of Sondes
Lodge, Dereham.
1861. In January the Lodge set to work earnest to prepare
for the Installation, a most important function, for this was to be
their own ceremony –no outside help. Accordingly a meeting was called
for Jan. 4th. They had a Bible, banner, tracing board,
officers’ collars &c., but no officers’ jewels, and many visitors were
accepted. Agreed, therefore, that the officers should purchase the
jewels of their office, and that they would be re-purchased of them
either by the Lodge or their successors in office. On the 17th
a special Lodge was called to clear off the arrears of work and so leave
the Installation night free, and two candidates were passed and two
initiations. Another special Lodge was held a week later for the purpose
of instruction previous to the Installation. On Wednesday, the 30th,
yet another special Lodge were held when two brothers were raised and
two more initiated. Next day, Thursday, the Installation itself took
place, the ceremony being performed by the Secretary, Bro. P. M. Howes,
after which, as the Minute reads “they retired from labour to
refreshment, when 21 Members and 26 Visitors sat down and partook of a
very excellent banquet served in very first rate style by Mrs. Watson.”
Then came the usual Masonic toasts which were interspersed with many
good songs and speeches. The brethren on retiring unanimously declared
they had passed one of the happiest evenings of their lives. They
evidently had a good time and I think they deserved it. The year so
happily begun proved a most remarkable one. Candidates came on so fast,
and there was consequently so much work to do, that the Lodge was
frequently adjourned from week to week, so that several Meetings were
held in a month. In October this year the Lodge removed to the Assembly
Rooms, not, however, without gracefully thanking their Hostess of the
Star for her kindness for catering for the comfort of the members. This
change of abode gave great satisfaction, especially as there was another
room for refreshments. The catering in the new home was in the hands of
the members. They kept their own store and special Stewards arranged for
the banquets.
Bro. the Rev. Samuel Titlow, Prov.G.C. was proposed as an
honorary member and his name was immediately entered in the book, as it
was quite unnecessary to ballot, and he was then and there appointed as
Chaplain to the Lodge, a position he held for many years.
The March Meeting, in defence I take it, to the chaplain
was held on the 21st instead of the 28th, that
being Maundy Thursday. The following entry may be brought to your notice
in the light of our recent experience. Bro. Howes stated that various
impositions had been practised upon the W.M. and other members of the
Lodge during the past week by a brother of the name of Thadeus Zablokth
by great misrepresentation, and proposed that Bro. H. J. Mason, P.M., be
in future the only relieving officer of Cabbell Lodge. The year 1862 was
a comparatively quiet one, only three special Lodges being called. The
Minute of November 27th is curious –“The Lodge closed in
peace and harmony which was further increased by the visitation of
several Knights of the Cabbell Encampment.”
In 1862 the Lodge were re-numbered and Cabbell became No.
807, but no mention of the change is made in our minutes, and for some
time afterwards brethren in signing the presence book often entered the
old number 1109. It was in this year 1863 that the portrait of the
Prov.G.M. Bro. B. B. Cabbell, which now hangs in the Temple, was
presented to P.G.L. by the brethren of the Province. The following entry
looks as if slackness was putting in an appearance and that the brethren
meant to stop it. “Unanimously carried that on and after next Lodge
night the fines for non-attendance of officers be strictly enforced.”
Whether any Lodge Officers were fined I cannot say but I should imagine
that after such a broad hint the dilatory ones remembered the charge
given them when they appointed and became ever after “patterns of good
order and regularity.”
In 1863 the death occurred of Bro. Minns, P.M., P.P.G. Sup.
W., Founders and in the Minute Book there is a full page appreciation of
his good personal and Masonic qualifications. In 1865 the following
little incident of Masonic etiquette occurred. A Mr. Alexander Bennett
of Ryburgh, was proposed and the Secretary was instructed to write to
the W.M. of the Dereham Lodge, that being the nearest to the candidate’s
residence, for permission to initiate the candidate in this Lodge, and a
letter was received in reply from Sondes Lodge with thanks for the
courtesy.
In 1866 quite a new departure was made. The Lodge passed a
resolution allowing subscribing members to join on payment of half a
guinea in addition to the usual quarterly subscription. Only eleven
Meetings were held this year, the October Meeting being abandoned owing
to the death of the Deputy Prov.G.M., Bro. Leedes Fox, who, as you will
remember, was an honorary member of Cabbell Lodge.
The Lodge was in its seventh year and had got over the wild
rush of its impetuous youth; it no longer held is two, three or four
Meetings a month, it was no longer the baby Lodge of the Province; for
it had seen three other Lodges Formed; Sincerity in 1863, Sondes in
1864, and Joppa in 1866, so now, at the end of its seventh year, the
Lodge decided to have an annual holiday and to close down in future
during the four summer months.
