HomeLodge History - East Medina Lodge 175
History of East Medina Lodge 175
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Formerly on the ATHOLL or ANTIENT Grand Lodge Roll
EAST MEDINA HISTORY BOOKLET link
The History of East Medina Lodge no. 175.
Background.
The Ancient & Honourable Society of Free & Accepted Masons has endured an evolutionary process and traces its origins from the ‘operative masons’ of the 14th century who, travelling throughout Europe and the British Isles, built many of the wonderful churches and cathedrals we still admire.
A Masons Guild was recorded in London as early as 1375 and the rebuilding of the capital city, after the great fire 1666, further concentrated high numbers of masons to these shores.
Some believe Masonic signs and handshakes were copied from those given to and used by those travelling operative masons as proof of their trade proficiency; others that they stem from the order of Knights Templar who, being hunted and persecuted throughout France, may have adopted a system of secret signs and handshakes to assist in evading capture.
There are records of Lodges formed and working ritual in England from 1599 onward, and some may well have existed in Scotland even earlier, The division of the ceremonies appears to have taken place about 1723, and from this has developed our present system of speculative Freemasonry.
In 18th century Britain there existed several Grand Lodges, two of which play a part in the history of East Medina. The first, the Grand Lodge of England, was constituted in 1717 and later became known as the 'Moderns'; the other being the 'Antients' or Atholl Grand Lodge (so named after the 3rd and 4th Dukes of Atholl, both Grand Masters) which formed in 1751.
Isle of Wight Masonry.
No Freemasons Lodge existed on the Isle of Wight until 1761, when a Lodge formed in London in 1733, Medena Lodge No. 31 (now Medina 35), moved to Cowes, holding a warrant under the Modern Grand Lodge
The Arms of Grand Lodge of England - The Moderns
Lieutenant Thomas Dunkerley, of the South Battalion Hampshire Militia, was appointed 1st Provincial Grand Master of the Moderns in 1772 and in 1787 the first officers of the Isle of Wight Provincial Grand Lodge were appointed.
The second Modern Lodge to form on the island was Vectis Lodge of Peace and Concord No. 554, first meeting in Newport in 1796.
Four further Lodges soon appeared: Vectis Antient Lodge No. 200 (now Albany 151) reformed in Newport in 1801; a Military Lodge No. 309 formed in Newport the same year by members of the 52nd Regiment of Foot, Oxfordshire Light Infantry; Hiram Lodge No. 291 (which had moved from Chatham to Albany barracks in 1802) believed to be comprised of members of the East India Company; and another Military Lodge No. 252, made up of members of the 23rd Regiment of Foot, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who moved to Parkhurst barracks in 1804.
These four all held their warrants under the Antient or Atholl Grand Lodge.
The Arms of The Most Antient & Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons
In 1813 the construction of a new pier started at Ryde and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master led a procession of Freemasons in full regalia through the town.
Extract from the minutes of Provincial Grand Lodge:-
“Tuesday June 29th 1813.
This being the day appointed for laying the first stone of the new pier at Ryde, which at the request of the Directors, whereas to be laid by the P.G.M. A provincial Grand Lodge was in consequence held at the Hotel Ryde, Isle of Wight and opened in due form when the minutes of the last stated P.G. Lodge were read and confirmed.
Present: The Rev Bro Geary D.P.G.M; Bro. Holloway P.D.P.G.M; Rev Bro Hamilton
P.G.C; Bros Young S.G.W; Harris J.G.W; Squire S.G.D; Rogers J.G.D; Harrington
G.S.B; Barton, G.T; Wood G.Sec
Grand Stewards Coffee P.S.D; Palmer P.T; Drover; Hellmore; Bros Griffiths; Steene; Dyer; Powell; Bone; Foster; R Holmes; Mildenhall; Leigh; Dennett; Trevethicke; Clarke; Weave;r Waterworth; Taylor; J. W. Allee; Woodyear; Hackett. Alfred Witt Davis Tyler.
Several Bro’s of Medina Lodge and many others from different Lodges – to the number in the whole of about 150.
The procession moved at ½ past 3 O’clock from the Hotel in the most Solemn and Regular order with music playing the Masonic March to the place appointed when after a prayer given by the Grand Chaplain and ode sung (viz ”Arise & blow Ye”) and then the stone was laid by the D.P.G.M with all the usual ceremonies and honours and acclamations of the Spectators – The Grand Treasurer having deposited a Crystal vial in which was contained a quantity of coins of the present reign and names of the Grand Lodge written on a scroll of Parchment.
The D.P.G.M and his Wardens having re-ascended the platform erected on the occasion a second ode was then sung (viz ”Let Masonry”) and a suitable and chant & oration was given by the D.P.G.M – the third ode being sung (viz ”Almighty Sire”) and a voluntary subscription made for the workmen the procession returned back in the same regular manner to the Hotel
The S.G.W then proposed, seconded by the J.G.W, that the D.P.G.M. be requested to finish his oration to which he very kindly consented.
All business being over the D.P.G.M. then closed the P.G. Lodge in the usual form.
The Brethren then retired to the Dover* where excellent dishes were provided by the Stewards of Ryde Pier and many Loyal toasts drank and good glee and songs sung – Lord Spencer and Lord Althorpe and many others who were present at the ceremony – dined with the Brethren to the number of 150.
E.Wood
Secretary
* An area along Ryde Esplanade reclaimed from the sea using the spoils removed when Lind Street was developed.
A month later the meeting of Provincial Lodge was held at Newport at which ladies and guests were invited to hear a lecture about Freemasonry. The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the pier and this meeting in Newport generated a great deal of local interest in Freemasonry and as a result a seventh Antient or Atholl lodge formed in Ryde on 8th September 1813: the East Medina Lodge of Truth and Friendship No. 232. This Lodge eventually became East Medina No. 175.
It is believed that in addition to the involvement of masons from Vectis Antient Lodge (Albany) in the formation of East Medina, members of Phoenix Lodge No. 257 of Portsmouth acted as co-sponsors, but there is no documentary evidence to substantiate this.
The Charter or Warrant held by East Medina No. 175 was originally held by Atholl Military Lodge No. 232, formed in 1708 by Regiment of Foot 'Rectons Hanovarian Brigade', at the time stationed on mud flats on the outskirts of New York, presumably a part of the occupying colonial forces. The Warrant was subsequently surrendered.
The practice of Grand Lodges re-issuing old warrants came about due to the introduction of a 'Secret Societies Act' following the Jacobite uprisings, to prevent sedition and any new secret or rebellious group from forming. In order to circumvent the act, which included all groups and societies, Grand Lodges simply re-issued surrendered warrants to any Lodge wishing to form.
The inaugural meeting of East Medina Lodge of Truth and Friendship No. 232 took place at the Bugle Inn on Ryde's esplanade on 26th October 1813.
Bro. Ashford, Worshipful Master of King George III Lodge (Atholl) No. 79, meeting at Portsmouth, was the consecrating officer and Bro. Henry Collier was duly elected and installed as the first Worshipful Master. There were 18 founder members present and 12 gentlemen were initiated into Freemasonry.
(One of these initiates was Thomas Drayton, a ship's pilot, and his certificate still hangs on the wall in the Tyler's room. A perusal of the certificate reveals that as Bro. Drayton could not write, he signed the certificate with his mark, a cross).
On 27th December 1813 the rival Grand Lodges, having appointed Royal
Dukes (of Kent and Sussex) respective Grand Masters, amalgamated under the famous ‘Articles of Union’ to form the United Grand Lodge of England, which we know and serve today.
15-12-13
TO BE CONTINUED........
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