Through steady action, we will ensure a bright future for our beautiful planet.
MOUNTSFIELD LODGE No. 6548
On 20th December 1935, a small group of enthusiastic Master Masons from a variety of Lodges, held a meeting at the George Inn Public House, Rushey Green, Catford SE6. Their purpose was to form a Masonic Class of Instruction. That evening they agreed to form the Mountsfield Masonic Class of Instruction. This name was chosen for no other reason than because a park of that name was situated nearby. This Class of Instruction thrived and continued to meet up to the start of the Second World War.
After the war, membership continued to increase, and each week approximately 25 to 30 members were attending. Those brethren then decided to explore the possibility of forming their own Lodge. Three of the prospective founders namely, W. Bro W G Harwood, W. Bro W F Hubble and Bro A G Spong were members of St. John & St. Paul Lodge No. 615 and they successfully approached their Lodge to ask them to act as sponsors. They were only too willing, and the brethren approached Grand Lodge for a warrant, which was duly approved. Having obtained the warrant from Grand Lodge, the Mountsfield Lodge No. 6548 was consecrated at the Masonic Hall, Bromley, on 15th April 1948.
The Deputy Provincial Grand Master W.Bro Wing Commander B W Noble OBE PGD was the consecrating officer, assisted by the Assistant Provincial Grand Master W. Bro A Atkinson PGD and W. Bro H Tuffee PPrGW, and ten other consecrating officers. All 17 founders were present, although none now survive to read this history. The records show that 84 guests attended! The first Worshipful Master was W. Bro J D Holmes PM 4739, with W. Bro A H Jarman PM 5320 as the Immediate Past Master. The Senior Warden was Bro W Bishop and the Junior Warden, Bro A G Spong.
The first regular meeting was held on 11th September 1948 at The Royal Bell Hotel, Bromley, Kent, which remained it’s home until September 1962, when it moved to The Masonic Hall in Cromwell Avenue, Bromley, Kent. The Lodge remained in that location until 21st April 1979, when it moved to our present home, The Bromley Masonic Centre, Oakley House, Bromley Common, Bromley, Kent.
During the last 50 years, the Lodge has been served well by many distinguished brethren and colourful characters that have passed to the Grand Lodge above. I am unable to mention them all, but have attempted to honour these Brethren and record notable highlights in our history.
On 14th January 1956 a note worthy event took place, when Malcolm and Dennis Hubble, twin sons of W. Bro W F Hubble PPrJGD were initiated by their father, when the then Worshipful Master vacated the chair in his favour.
Two of our founder members merit special mention for their long and devoted service to the Lodge. The first, W. Bro A H Jarman MM PPrSGD LGR, known to the brethren as Our Alf, was the first Immediate Past Master in 1948. He then became Assistant Director of Ceremonies in 1957, and remained as such until 1969, when he became Director of Ceremonies. He was an active member of the Lodge of Instruction until his death in December 1976, and is still remembered each year by his Mother Lodge, Acorn, who conduct the Alf Jarman Memorial Demonstration. Until recently, this gave both members of Mountsfield and Acorn Lodges the opportunity to remember this superb ritualist. The other founder was W. Bro A G Spong PPrGReg. He served as our Chaplain since first appointed in 1957 and was an active member of the Lodge of Instruction until his death in December 1990.
On 19th January 1980 the Lodge held its Banner Dedication Ceremony which was carried out by the then Provincial Grand Master, Reverend Canon Peter Churton-Collins BD. The oration was carried out by the then Provincial Grand Chaplain, Reverend Cyril Darby OBE RN.
During the meeting of 12th January 1984, the Lodge was presented with a ‘Tiddler Box’ by W. Bro J R Rich of St. John & St. Paul Lodge No. 615. This box is still passed around the Festive Board to allow both members and visitors to place any small coinage into it for charity. This prevented their pockets remaining heavy and has, so far, raised a not inconsiderable sum for the RMBI Good Neighbour Fund.
On 12th September 1987, W. Bro R Longhurst PPrSGD of the Province of Surrey, presented to the Lodge a pair of ashlars made from stone, which he had obtained from the Royal Naval College at Greenwich and, which had originally come from the Queen Mary Colonnade during repair work. The stones are approximately 300 years old.
Since its formation, the Lodge has sponsored two other Lodges. They are The Ancient of Days Lodge No. 9230 and New Ash Green Lodge No. 9231.
At the meeting of 9th March 1988, it was announced that Bro N Summers, our long serving organist had been appointed PPrAGStdBr, the first master mason to be granted this privilege in our Lodge’s history. This year has seen a repeat of that privilege, when Bro A Pearce was similarly honoured with the same rank of PPrAGStdBr.
In September 1990, the Lodge introduced an award to be given annually to the member who had attended the Lodge of Instruction most regularly during the year. The award would be presented in Open Lodge each installation meeting. This award was recently renamed, The Arthur May Preceptor’s Trophy in fond memory of the late W. Bro A J May PPrGStwd. He was an active member of the Lodge who, as Preceptor from March 1991 until his tragic death on 20th April 1997, laboured hard to ensure that our high standards were continued by the younger brethren.
Our Lodge has been served well by its Tylers and, in particular, the father and son partnership of W. Bros B F and P Butler. W, Bro B F Butler PPrGSuptWks served the Lodge from 1982 till 1991, when his son, W. Bro P Butler PPrJGD took over, and remains our Tyler to this day
Bro. T J Benton
CHARITY STEWARD
W.Bro W Patterson 1976 – 1979
W.Bro D A Cole PAGDC, PPrSGD, LGR, PZ 1979 – 1996
W.Bro R G Collings PrGStwd 1996 –
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CEREMONIES
W.Bro R C Waterford 1949 – 1954
W.Bro J D Holmes PPrDGReg 1954 – 1955
W.Bro J F Barber PPrAGDC 1955 – 1957
W.Bro A H Jarman MM, PPrSGD, LGR, PZ 1957 – 1969
W.Bro F E Pannett PPrAGDC 1969 – 1977
W.Bro D F Hammond PPrAGDC 1977 – 1979
W.Bro G R Bath PPrGSuptWks 1979 – 1984
W.Bro P J Doerr PPrAGDC 1984 – 1985
W.Bro G R Bath PPrGSuptWks 1985 – 1986
W.Bro P J Doerr PPrAGDC 1986 – 1988
W.Bro J Flowerday PPrAGDC 1988 – 1994
W.Bro B G Morris PPrAGDC 1994 – 1996
W.Bro T J Benton 1996 –
TYLER
W.Bro S Plaisted 1948 – 1960
W.Bro E Standing PPrJGD 1960 – 1964
W.Bro W C Savage LGR 1964 – 1969
W.Bro G H Curtis 1969 – 1977
W.Bro E T Gaddes LGR 1977 – 1982
W.Bro B F Butler PPrGSuptWks 1982 – 1991
W.Bro P Butler PPrJDG 1991 –
FOUNDERS
W.Bro J D Holmes W.Bro W F Hubble
W.Bro A H Jarman, MM Bro R J Musselwhite
Bro W W Bishop Bro G A Mussett, MBE
Bro A G Spong Bro V E May
Bro R L Doust Bro H N Presland
W.Bro J W Green Bro F N Brooks
W.Bro W G Harwood Bro F G Rawlings
Bro H J Wilson Bro W S Presland
Bro J F Barber
MOUNTSFIELD LODGE No. 6548
OFFICERS 1948 ~ 1998
CHAPLAIN
W Bro R C Waterford PPrAGDC 1954 – 1957
W.Bro A G Spong PPrGReg 1957 – 1990
W.Bro A S Herbert PPrSGD 1990 – 1994
W.Bro A J May PrGStwd 1994 – 1997
W.Bro G S B Goldspring 1997 –
TREASURER
W.Bro R L Doust PPrGStwd 1948 – 1973
W.Bro A W Charles PPrGReg, PPrGTreas (Mddx) 1973 – 1986
W.Bro E E Booth PPrSGD 1986 – 1987
W.Bro A S Herbert PPrSGD 1987 – 1990
W.Bro A W Charles PPrGReg, PPrGTreas (Mddx) 1990 – 1994
W.Bro D A Cole PAGDC, PPrSGD, LGR, PZ 1994 – 1995
Bro P Flowerday 1995 –
SECRETARY
W.Bro J W Green 1948 – 1955
W.Bro J D Holmes PPrDGReg 1955 – 1969
W.Bro D J Barber PPrAGDC 1969 – 1974
W.Bro C W Gaddes PJGD, PPrJGW, LGR 1974 – 1978
W.Bro W C H Slack PPrGSuptWks 1978 – 1984
W.Bro C W Gaddes PJGD, PPrJGW, LGR 1984 – 1993
Bro D W Lakey 1993 – 1995
W.Bro D A Cole PAGDC, PPrSGD, LGR, PZ 1995 –
DIRECTOR OF CEREMONIES
W.Bro W G Harwood PPrAGDC 1948 – 1969
W.Bro A H Jarman MM, PPrSGD, LGR, PZ 1969 – 1977
W.Bro F E Pannett PPrAGDC 1977 – 1979
W.Bro D F Hammond PPrAGDC 1979 – 1986
W.Bro G R Bath PPrGSuptWks 1986 – 1987
W.Bro D A Cole PAGDC, PPrSGD, LGR, PZ 1987 – 1994
W.Bro A S Herbert PPrSGD 1994 – 1995
W.Bro T J Benton 1995 – 1996
W.Bro B G Morris PPrAGDC 1996 –
ALMONER
W.Bro W F Hubble PPrDGReg, PZ 1948 – 1975
W.Bro D A Cole PAGDC, PPrSGD, LGR, PZ 1975 – 1978
W.Bro G R Bath PPrGSuptWks 1978 – 1979
W.Bro E E Booth PPrSGD 1979 – 1987
W.Bro E G Hockleyford PPrAGDC 1987 –
The following appointments and/or promotions, have been received by Past
Masters of and in the Lodge:
Grand Rank
W.Bro C W Gaddes PJGD, PPrJGW, LGR
W.Bro D A Cole PAGDC, PPrSD, LGR, PZ
W.Bro M J Hubble JP, PGStdBr, PPrAGDC
Provincial Rank
W.Bro W G Harwood PPrAGDC
W.Bro A H Jarman MM, PPrGSD, LGR, PZ
W.Bro J D Holmes PPrDGReg
W.Bro W W Bishop PPrAGDC
W.Bro A G Spong PPrGReg
W,Bro H J Wilson PPrAGDC
W.Bro J F Barber PPrAGDC
W.Bro G A Mussett MBE, PPrGSuptWks
W.Bro F N Brooks PPrAGSuptWks
W.Bro V E May PPrAGSuptWks
W.Bro D J Barber PPrAGDC
W.Bro H D Bull PPrAGSuptWks
W.Bro A W Glead PPrAGDC
W.Bro R E Reed PPrGStdBr
W.Bro G H Orme PPrGStdBr
W.Bro W C H Slack PPrGSuptWks
W.Bro F C Hulme PPrAGReg
W.Bro A W Charles PPrGReg, PPrGTreas(Mddx)
W.Bro W F Hubble PPrDGReg, PZ
W.Bro F E Pannett PPrAGDC
W.Bro H T Sutton PPrAGDC
W.Bro E A Waters PPrAGSwdBr
W.Bro D F Hammond PPrAGDC
W.Bro G R Bath PPrGSuptWks
W.Bro P J Doerr PPrAGDC
W.Bro E E Booth PPrSGD
W.Bro A S Herbert PPrSGD
W.Bro W J McInerney PPrGStdBr
W.Bro E G Hockleyford PPrAGDC
W.Bro J Flowerday PPrAGDC
W.Bro B G Cottis PPrGStdBr
W.Bro A J May PrGStwd
W.Bro R G Collings PrGStwd
W.Bro B G Morris PPrAGDC
Master Masons with Provincial Grand Rank
Bro N W Summers PPrAGStdBr
Bro A T Pearce PPrAGStdBr