King Edward VII Lodge No. 3816 “History”
In the province of Hampshire and Isle of Wight we have a total of 256 Craft Lodges. These are spread over 38 Masonic Centres controlled into 12 ‘Groups’, ours obviously part of the Cosham Group. We share residence at Albert Road with 20 Craft Lodges, 7 Royal Arch Chapters, 4 Lodges of Mark Master Masons, 3 Royal Ark Mariners,3 Chapters of Rose Croix, and 1 Society of Rosicrucians. How did we end up here??.
The very beginning of our history arises from a decision by a group of Brethren from various Lodges that it would be a good idea to have a Masonic Lodge in the North End area of the City (many of them living in that area!) This idea took root and a meeting took place at 133 London Road, North End (the home of Bro Edward Gardener of Carnarvon Lodge No.804) on 29th of April 1916. There were 12 members present at this initial ‘Founders Committee’ which was ‘chaired’ by W. Bro. S. Salter of Royal Sussex Lodge No.342. At this meeting it was ‘proposed’ by Councillor W. Bro. J Timpson of Carnarvon Lodge No.304 and ‘seconded’ by Bro. J.T. Rowland of Prince Edward Lodge No.1903 that “It is desirable to form a Masonic Lodge in the North End area and that the name shall be the ‘North End Lodge’ This was carried unanimously. lt was further ‘proposed’ by Bro G. Spencer and ‘seconded’ by Bro. R. F. Salter both of Royal Sussex Lodge No.342 that “The Chairman and W. Bro. Major W Pearce (also of Royal Sussex Lodge No.342) should communicate the ‘Minutes’ of the meeting to W. Bro. H. G. Giles the Provincial Grand Secretary and at the same time forward a full list of “Founder Members” (22 in total). These actions were duly carried out and a 2nd Founders Committee Meeting was held at ‘The Vicarage’ in Derby Rd, North End on the 16th of November 1916. The Vicar of St. Mark’s Church at this time was the W. Bro. the Rev L. Blackburne of Phoenix Lodge No. 257. Chairman for the meeting was W. Bro. Sir George Couzens K.L.H.PPJGW. of Portsmouth Lodge No.487. A full list of ‘Founder Members’ was compiled and a sub-committee appointed to visit the Provincial Grand Secretary to present a formal request for the formation of a Lodge and to suggest as a ‘venue’ the St. Mark’s Institute, Angerstein Rd, North End This venue was offered by the Vicar of St. Mark’s, the Landlord.! The next meeting took place at St. Mark’s Institute on 11th of April 1917. The Chairman was again Sir George Couzens by now nominated as the proposed 1st Worshipful Master of the Lodge. At this meeting he moved that the name of the new Lodge be the ‘King Edward VII North End Lodge” subject to approval by the Lord Chamberlain. This was carried.
There followed a series of meetings to finalise such details as Bye-Laws, terms of tenure furniture, decoration, Lodge ‘Jewels’, carpeting, Lodge Crest, ‘Working Tools’, siting of ‘pedestals,’ Chairs’ ,candlesticks, etc. all the many items to be considered for the running of a Masonic Lodge, Finally all items had been covered and a date was received from the Prov. Grand Secretary for the ‘Consecration Ceremony’. This of course required further meetings to finalise details of the ‘Consecration Ceremony’ itself.
The Ceremony took place on the allotted date of 1st of April 1918 at 4p.m. at the St. Mark’s Institute in Angerstein Rd, North End. And the official name for the lodge would be “King Edward VII Lodge No.3816″. Due to the unavoidable absence of the P G.M. R.W. Bro. Sir Augustus F.W.E. Webster, Bart on military duties, the Consecration party was led by W.Bro. Capt. Hubert G. Giles R. N. the Provincial Grand Secretary. The Founder Members were from the following Lodges:-
Royal Sussex No.342 (10), Portsmouth No. 487 (2), Phoenix No. 257 (1) Prince Edward No. 1903 (1), Landport No. 1776 (2), Carnarvon No.804 (2), Portsmouth Temperance No. 2068 (2), Victory No.3509 (1),United Brothers No. 1069 (I).
The event was a great success as testified to by the ‘Minutes’ and as reported in great detail in the issue of the “Hampshire Telegraph and Post” dated 5*. April, 1918.
At the dining table afterwards were seated 136 Brethren . Musical arrangements throughout the meal were rendered by the J. Prosser Orchestra complemented by 9 ‘vocal arrangements’ and a ‘violin solo’.
The 1st “Regular Meeting’ of the Lodge took place on the 6th. May,1918 and there were 12 ‘Joining’ members and 2 Initiates’ to swell Lodge membership.
The Lodge continued to thrive over the years and a decision was made to consider the possibility of a ‘purpose built’ Masonic Temple in the area. Negotiations were commenced and a sub-committee appointed to take on this task. A plot of land was purchased in Derby Road at North End and contractual arrangements concluded with architects, builders, insurers, City Council, decorators, etc. The last meeting of the Lodge at St. Mark’s Institute was held on the 7th Nov., 1938. With a “dispensation’ from Provincial Grand Lodge for “change of venue’, the “Dedication Ceremony’ of the new Temple took place in December, 1938. Once again the occasion was well reported in the Evening News of the 15th Dec.,1938. Like the original “Consecration Ceremony, this event was also a great success. The Dedication Team was led by the P.G.M. R.W. Bro. the Right Honourable the Earl of Malmesbury. At the dining table were 162 Brethren.
The Lodge continued to meet regularly despite the 2nd. World War and the tribulations of rationing, except for a relatively short period in 1939 when Grand Lodge decreed that all Masonic meetings should cease.
The Lodge continued to thrive at the premises in Derby Rd. until 1972 when a rumour of “compulsory purchase” by the City Council appeared to threaten the future of the Masonic Hall. One of the effects of this was a decline in support from tenant Lodges which sought other venues. The end result was that a decision was forced on the Lodge whereby the land and premises would have to be sold. The sale was finalised and the last meeting at Derby Road was held on the 6th.March,1972.
Negotiations had already been completed whereby the new venue for Lodge meetings would be at Masonic Hall, Waterloo Rd, Havant. The date of meetings to be confirmed in a change to Bye-Law No. 1, would be the lst Monday in each month from October to June (except January).The 1st meeting was held there on 7th April 1972.
Then, an offer of accommodation was received from the Masonic Hall at Albert Rd. in Cosham. This was duly considered and a decision made to accept this offer. The last meeting at Havant took place on the 27th. June, 1972.
Dates of meetings at Cosham as confirmed in yet another change to Bye-Law No. l , would be the 4th Tuesday of each month, from October to June inclusive except for January. The 1st Regular Meeting took place on 24th. October 1972.
We now meet on the 4th Tuesday from October to April following a decision and amendment to the Byelaws in 2011.
As a direct link with the past Brethren, I would draw your attention to the chairs of the Worshipful Master, the Senior and Junior Wardens and the Senior and Junior Deacons in the Temple at Cosham. As the plates on them will testify, these items of Lodge furniture were donated by five of our “Founder Members”
This article was compiled with thanks to W. Bro. L. Channer