A BRIEF HISTORY OF CORINTHIAN LODGE No. 4432

Researched and written by W. Bro. D A Evans with acknowledgement of an earlier history (1922 - 1972) researched and written by  W. Bro. P B Farquhar, MBE, PPAGDC and W.Bro. C I Thomson PPSGW.

The Early Days

Corinthian Lodge No. 4432 was sponsored by the Loyal Travellers Lodge, No. 2733 because, being very a large Lodge, the members found progress to the Chair to be rather slow. It was agreed that all Founder Members of Corinthian Lodge, who were not Past Masters, would not go through the Chair of Loyal Travellers Lodge.

Regretfully, no minutes of the Meeting of the Founders, prior to the Consecration ex­ist and the reasons for choosing the name are not known. It has always been under­stood that it was the wish of the Founders that the membership of the Corinthian Lodge should not exceed sixty.

The Lodge was consecrated on the 15th July, 1922 at the Masonic Hall, Severn Street, Birmingham by the following Brethren whose names are recorded for posterity:­

The R.W. Bro. Col. W F Wyley, VD, DL, PGD, Provincial Grand Master as­sisted by The V.W. Bro. the Rev. Canon C W Barnard, MA., PGChap., Deputy Pro­vincial Grand Master and W.Bro. Brig. General M Quayle Jones, CB CMG, CBE, DL, Assistant Provincial Grand Master.

W. Bro. F C Whittall, Prov.SGW as Senior Warden

W. Bro. T E C. Cole, MD, Prov JGW as Junior Warden

W. Bro. Rev. C A H Russell, MA, Prov.G.Chap and W. Bro. Rev. R E Price, MA, Prov.G.Chap. as Chaplains

W. Bro.F G Swinden, PAGDC, Prov.G.Sec as Secretary

W. Bro. G F Humphries, Prov.GDC as DC

W. Bro. W Lewis, Prov.G.Pursuivant as IG

W. Bro. G W Webb, Prov.G.Organist

Bro. G Blakemore, Prov.G.Tyler as Tyler

W. Bro. A J Egginson, Prov.G.Stwd. as Master Designate

W. Bro. B Lovewell, Senior Warden Designate

Bro. J S Rigby was Junior Warden Designate.

The Consecration Meeting was attended by twenty-one other Founders.

The Founders, all members of the Loyal Travellers Lodge No. 2733, held the first Offices in the Lodge as follows: ­

Founders                                                                First Office

W.Bro.A F Eggison, Prov.G.Stwd                                    Master

W. Bro. H J Pratt, PPGJD                                              IPM

 Bro.B Lovewell                                                          SW

 Bro. J S Rigby                                                           JW

W. Bro. G E Mountford                                                Chaplin

W. Bro A Mountford                                                    Treasurer

W. Bro. G A May                                                        Secretary

W. Bro. W E Rose                                                       DC

Bro. F W E Thompson                                                  SD

Bro. H A Brown                                                           JD

Bro. J M Hind                                                             Almoner

Bro. G E Smith                                                           Organist

Bro. F W Lewis                                                           Asst. Sec

Bro. J H Baines                                                           IG

Bro. J A Heafield                                                         Steward

Bro. E F Crane                                                            Steward

Bro. W H Lobb                                                            Steward

Bro. F Sanders                                                            Steward

Bro. W D Thompson                                                     Steward

Bro. G H Picken                                                           Steward

Bro. G       Collins                                                       Tyler

Brethren

Bro. J W Roberts                                 Bro. A J Gupwell

Bro. A Brown                                      Bro. M L Williams

It is interesting to note that the Lodge has met at a number of venues. From Septem­ber 1922 to April 1927 it met at The Masonic Hall, Severn Street. It then moved for the 1927 October meeting to The Warwickshire Masonic Temple, Broad Street were it continued meeting until November, 1939. The first meeting, during wartime Janu­ary 1940 was held at The Edgbaston Assembly Rooms, Francis Road, Edgbaston where the Lodge continued to meet until April 1971. At the following meeting in Oc­tober, the Lodge held its first meeting at The Warwickshire Masonic Temple, Stirling Road, Edgbaston where the Lodge continues to meet.

All Lodges have busy and quiet periods in their life. The Lodge clearly started on a "high" and the record of work during those early years illustrates this.

During the first year of the Lodge in which ten Meetings were held, there were fifteen Initiations, six Joining Members, eight Passings and six Raisings and during the second year, in which eight Meetings were held, there were seven Initiations, two Joining Members, ten Passings and six Raisings. During the third year there were six Initiations; which not only indicates a vast amount of work and enthusiasm, but also a desire by the twenty-four Founders, to reach the agreed maximum membership as soon as possible. Oh that those days were still with us!

At the third meeting the Worshipful Master, W.Bro. A J Eggison announced that the Provincial Grand Master, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, the Assistant Pro­vincial Grand Master and the provincial Grand Secretary, were to be Honorary Mem­bers of the Lodge.

In November 1922, Initiates Jewels were presented to Bro. J R Roberts and Bro. A  Eggison, but there are no further records in the minutes of such Jewels being pre­sented.

It is well known the Work in the Lodge is always better if the Brethren have attended Lodge of Instruction. Prior to 1934 the Brethren of the Lodge had always been wel­come to attend the Loyal Travellers Lodge of Instruction. At the Lodge Meeting on 17th March, 1934, a proposition to form a separate Corinthian Lodge of Instruction was carried. The Lodge of Instruction has continued to meet, although not always with the numbers one would wish, and during its life has given excellent festival presentations of Masonic Work. Work outside Emulation Ritual has been encour­aged with members of the Lodge being knowledgeable in such works as The Test Questions of a Master Mason, The First and Third Degree Tracing Boards, The An­cient Charges and for new Initiates, during the Festive Board, The Initiate's Chain.

The 21st Anniversary of the Lodge was celebrated on 16th October, 1943 when W. Bro. Pountney installed Bro. C Hollos in the Master's Chair as his successor. To mark the occasion, on behalf of the Brethren of the Lodge, W.Bro. C F Monk, Dep­uty Provincial Grand Master, presented the Worshipful Master with a new Collar and Chain of Office; W.Bro. C Boden, ProvJGW presented the Volume of the Sacred Law, to which Vellum had been added on which the names of all the Masters of the Lodge had been recorded, also with a new cushion and a Third Degree Sheet. The record on the Vellum has been maintained by each successive Master signing his name on the Vellum at his Installation. W.Bro. E S Stamp ProvGDC. presented the Worshipful Master and his Wardens with new hand carved Gavels (recorded in the minutes as Mauls). The 21st Anniversary Celebration was attended by forty-seven Members and fifty-three Visiting Brethren.

The 50th Anniversary of the Lodge was held on Saturday 21 October 1972. This was the Installation meeting of W.Bro P Knowles. On that occasion a history of the first fifty years had been prepared by W.Bro P Farquhar, MBE, PPGDC and W.Bro. C I Thompson PPSGW. The Lodge was presented with new Cuffs for the Principle Officers the Almoner's Box and a new cushion for the Volume of the Sacred Law. That evening the Brethren dined on Coq-au-van, and Gateau D'Orange all part of a seven course meal that included five different wines. Definitely pre breathalyser!

A miscellany of odds and ends

All societies, lodges and in fact, any organisation has its own particular memories. Corinthian Lodge also has it miscellany of facts. A few of these odds and ends show how the customs and traditions of the Lodge have developed. Here are a few of them:-

For some reason, which is lost in obscurity, the Consecration Meeting was not counted numerically as a Meeting of the Lodge, with the result that the recorded number of Meetings is one less than the actual.

In the early days at Severn Street, Junior Brethren were detailed to pump the organ. For the brethren concerned it did not carry the rank of Assistant Organist!

Originally it was customary that all Toasts in the Lodge were proposed by Past Mas­ters, except that of the Worshipful Master, which was proposed by the Senior War­den. This custom was temporarily broken in 1931-32 during the Mastership of W. Bro. W D Thompson, when Junior Brethren proposed the Toast to "The Past Mas­ters and Officers" at all meetings and this was responded to by the Junior Officers. The custom was resumed in 1932 and continued until the Junior Brethren arranged the 21st Anniversary Celebration in 1943, since when, they have been encouraged to take as active a part as possible, both in the Lodge and at the Festive Board.

At the Meeting in March, 1944, the Master and Wardens of our Daughter Lodge, the Lodge of Peace and Unity were invited to close the Lodge for the first time, which courtesy was shortly reciprocated and has become a custom of both Lodges, broken only on occasion of oversight or inadvertence.

The recital of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 12, verses 1-7, in the Third Degree, was intro­duced by W.Bro. Herbert A Brown, PPGW, in 1942 and the Initiates Chain by W. Bro. C I Thompson, PPSGW in 1943.

A strong family connection within the Lodge is illustrated by the Walls, of which for many years there were, appropriately four, and later increasing to five! The first was W.Bro. C P V Wall, PPGD. followed by his sons W.Bro. R H Wall, PPAGDC. and W.Bro. P V Wall, PPAGSwdB, and later by his grandsons W.Bro P V Wall PPSGW and W.Bro. J V Wal1,PPSGD. The unusual family feat of then, four Walls, was celebrated in an article in the Masonic Record Magazine in July 1955.

In addi­tion, however, there have been at least twelve sons, and five sons in law. The latest son to be welcomed into the Lodge is Bro. Stephen Rowe who was initiated by his father W.Bro C E Rowe in 1996.

In the early seventies new regalia was obtained by the Lodge. W.Bro J Tyler pre­sented a new cushion and fall for the Volume of the Sacred law to rest on. There was a problem with getting the fall and getting it embroidered with the Lodge name. The Masonic suppliers would take months. The problem was solved by W. Bro Porter buying a remnant of velvet from Rackham’s and getting it embroidered for a nominal sum by the lady who was head of Embroidery Section at a local college. It saved the day and W. Bro Tyler a lot of money!

In 1973 the effigy of what appears to be an Egyptian King was presented to the Lodge by Bro. S Miller. It is always placed out at Festive Board in front of the Wor­shipful Master. Bro. Miller reported that he bought it for no special Masonic signifi­cance, but because it looked good and it is similar to the effigy on the Masters Chair in he Lodge Room. And it does too.

The Lodge has a number of wooden Firing Gavels. These were presented to the Lodge by Bro. W Dain who had them made. The Clock used during the First Degree Ceremony was presented to the lodge by W.Bro. J Thompson who also presented new gauntlets for use by the Master and his Wardens.

W. Bro. P V Knowles became the first Charity Steward of the Lodge on creation of that Office in 1977. He held the Office without a break until ill health forced him to relinquish it in 1995. He presented the jewel of the Office to the Lodge. W.Bro. Knowles also graciously presented the Lodge with the Working Tools of the Three Degrees in 1973.

In 1987 three goblets for use by the Master and his Wardens were presented to the Lodge by the widow of W.Bro N Howard to celebrate the life of the W Brother who had died in 1986. They are used at every Festive Board.

As previously mentioned all Lodges and Societies have high and low points. In re­cent years the Lodge has suffered from an unfortunate lack of Brethren to progress to the Master's Chair. In 1995 W. Bro. H Burrows became the first Past Master to re­occupy the chair having first been installed in 1991. It is interesting to note that his Past Masters Jewel is a made up Founders Jewel that was originally presented to W. Bro. H A Brown. It now has a bar to recognize his second period in the Chair. The second Past Master to be elected to re-take the Chair of King Solomon is W.Bro Ivor Emo. His first year in the Chair was in 1992 and he was elected Master for this seventy fifth anniversary year.

During this period a number of items of Lodge Furniture had become worn out or lost. During 1994 the Master, W. Bro D Evans made an appeal for replacements. All the required items were replaced including new Deacons and DC's wands which were graciously presented by an anonymous Brother. At the end of the Installation Meeting of W. Bro. T Martin in October 1994, W.Bro. P V Knowles, also the Master of the Lodge of Peace and Unity, presented a magnificent new Tyler’s sword to the Lodge which had been presented by our Daughter Lodge.

Outstanding Service

Many Members of the Lodge have given long and outstanding service to Masonry in general and to this Lodge in particular, of which a shinning example is W.Bro. Her­bert A Brown PPGW, the last surviving Founder of the Lodge. He was the first Junior Deacon and held office continuously for thirty-one years. He was Almoner to 1953! During his years of Office, W.Bro. Brown missed only five Lodge Meetings and dur­ing the succeeding nineteen years he was only absent on six occasions.

In 1968, to mark his fifty years of active Masonry, he was presented by the Lodge with a Silver Loving Cup. From time to time the Loving Cup is displayed at Festive Board and the tradition explanation of a Loving Cup is presented to the Lodge. It is a beautiful silver cup that has had an eventful life having once been nearly stolen. It is the tradition that the Master for the Year looks after it. It is reported that one Master tried too hard. On taking it home after Installation he placed it on the floor in its case and then fell over it, and nearly knocking himself out!

The Lodge has been honoured with two Officers of Grand Lodge. The first was W. Bro. N Bamford who was appointed Grand Standard Bearer in 1989. It was with great sadness that W.Bro. Bamford suddenly passed away in 1995. Five years after W.Bro. Bramford was made a member of Grand Lodge Corinthian Lodge was further honoured when W. Bro. I Jones was appointed to the same Grand Lodge Office.

Peace and Unity Lodge

It pleasing to know that Corinthian Lodge gave birth to our daughter Lodge Peace and Unity. On 17th January, 1942, W.Bro. H L Cartwright, Master, informed the Brethren of the Lodge that several Past Masters and Brethren were desirous of form­ing a new Lodge. It had been decided by the proposed founders to remain members of Corinthian Lodge. Accordingly W.Bro. S A Godsall MC Prov.GJW, proposed that the Master and Wardens be authorised to sign a petition to the United Grand Lodge of England, requesting consideration of the matter. The proposition was seconded by W.Bro. J M McDonell PPAG.Supt.Wks and was carried.

The United Grand Lodge of England gave its consent and as a result the Lodge of Peace and Unity No. 5844 was consecrated on 15th May, 1942 by W.Bro. F Monk PGD., Assistant Provincial Grand Master in Charge. All founder members were members of Corinthian Lodge and W.Bro. S A Godsall ProvJGW. was installed as the first Master.

Seven members have been through the Chair of both Lodges namely: - W.Bro. S A Godsall Prov.PGW., W.Bro. P B Waldron PPAGDC, W.Bro. H L Cartwright PPAGSTDB.,W.Bro. W F Adams PPJGW, W.Bro. E A Kirby, W.Bro. C I Thompson PPSGW and W. Bro. P V Knowles PPJGW.

Oops a Daisy!

Whenever people come together, events conspire against them.

Over the years there have been many incidents that still bring a smile to those who remember them. Here are just a few of them that illustrate that humour does make it "alright on the night!"

When W.Bro.P Knowles was Secretary, in the absence of the Treasurer he left the Lodge to collect a candidates dues. On his return to the Lodge his Secretary’s Jewel became entangled with that of the Inner Guards to such a degree that the Inner Guard was almost dragged to the ground. With typical aplomb W.Bro. Knowles announced to the Master that the incident proved that the pen is mightier than the sword!

Many Brethren will remember W. Bro. R Beech. He was a man small in stature and was initiated by the tall W.Bro. N Howard. At that point in the ceremony were the candidate is asked to rise, W.Bro. Howard held his hand up high, so high, that our ini­tiate climbed onto the stool thinking this was required of him. Fortunately the Master realised what was happening before the candidate climbed onto the pedestal.

Who cannot but remember that delightful moment when Bro. Linger was asked to stand in as the candidate for the Sutton Coldfield Demonstration Team. He was given a long flowing wig and asked to drink lots of Ribena to toast his admission into a 17th century Lodge.

W.Bro. D Evans managed to have his successor elected whilst the Lodge was still in the Second Degree. Fortunately there were no Entered Apprentices present that even­ing.

W.Bro. Rowe could not help but refer to the Master as "Worshipful Mother" during his year as Secretary.

There was a dreadful panic one evening when W.Bro. Hyde, the Secretary, realised he not brought the Minute book. With the reading of the Minutes being deferred and a quick telephone call the matter was resolved when his wife Joan brought them to the Temple.

Ladies Nights

Formal Ladies Nights have long been a tradition of the Lodge and have only been missed in extenuating circumstances. Several traditions have developed over the years.

In 1973 W.Bro. N Bamford presented a Rose Bowl. This bowl is filled with roses by the previous year’s lady and presented to the Lady of the incumbent Master.

It is the tradition that the Senior Warden' Lady thanks the Master for the Ladies gifts.

The Senior Warden always proposes the Master's Toast whilst the most important Toast to the Ladies, is in the hands of the Junior Warden.

During recent years Masters have displayed their own individuality at Ladies nights.

We have seen Choral Groups, haggis, tatties and neeps, Irish Dancing, Welsh Harps and magicians; all of which have been enthusiastically welcomed by the Brethren, their Ladies, and guests.

Ladies nights and the Christmas Party, which is shared with our Daughter Lodge, have always been open to non-Masonic guests. This has proved to be a fruitful source of new initiates to both Lodges. Long may it continue to be so.

Conclusion

Corinthian Lodge has had its ups and downs over the years, but has always had the reputation for being a happy and welcoming Lodge, which has tried its best to give justice to the ritual.

Long may it continue as such.