Skip to main content

MOUNTSFIELD LODGE No. 6548

Through steady action, we will ensure a bright future for our beautiful planet.

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