Lodge of Unity m 7401
Consecrated
1955 - 2002
The Lodge of Unity will be celebrating it=s 50th Anniversary on
The following extracts are from the
Founder Members / Past Masters meetings minute book, which are all held in the
1st Meeting of the Proposed Founder members.
A meeting was held at Gordon Lodge on
Apologies for absence were received from W.Bro Warner, Bro Boxall, Bro Insoll. W.Bro Bingham was asked to be the minutes Secretary. W.Bro C.R.Reece stated that the Provincial Grand Master was happy to know that a new lodge is being formed.
W.Bro Reece then explained to the meeting the
reasons for a new lodge and that, an initiate might have to wait 20 years
before reaching the chair in Peace Lodge. It was then stated that 21 members
had shown an interest in the formation of a new lodge, the Founders Fee would
be approximately ,5..5s..0d (,5.25p), and the Annual Fee the same as that of
the Mother Lodge ,5..15s..0d (,5.75p).
The brethren present were informed that a period of at least 3 years should
lapse before seceding from the Mother Lodge, (this was not binding, but a
Gentleman=s agreement).
The selection of Worshipful Master, Secretary and Director of Ceremonies would be left to the Founders= choice, and officers would be appointed in seniority by the signature in the Registration Book of the Mother Lodge.
Brethren were asked to submit suitable
names for the new lodge, also that an emblem would have to be produced: these
would ultimately be submitted to the Provincial Grand Master and later to
It was suggested that 3 Candidates per year should be taken, and in view of the difficulty of finding suitable dates, it was agreed that the following dates be provisionally booked, that being the third Tuesday in September, October, November and December 1955.
Members were asked to submit names of
suitable Candidates at the next meeting which was to be held on
The best thanks were accorded to W.Bro Reece for the careful exposition he had given the
meeting, which closed at
Signed I.G.Beeho.
A further seven meetings were held before the Consecration Ceremony, some of the salient points from those meetings are recorded here:-
A letter had been received from the Provincial Grand Secretary stating the following dates had been allocated to the proposed New Lodge, the third Tuesdays in September, October, November, December 1955 and February, March and June 1956.
The following suggested names were received:- Bro Boxall suggested the Reece or Charles Reece Lodge, W.Bro Reece stated he appreciated the honour but was afraid that was not permissible.
W.Bro Smale
suggested the St. Barnabas Lodge as the church was now closed and merged with
St. Pauls church. W.Bro Bingham submitted the name of St. Christopher as the
patron Saint of Travellers. Bro G.Wright mentioned Durdham as one of the few distinctive landmarks remaining
in the City of
W.Bro Reece then asked for further suggested names.
W.Bro C.R.Reece reported on his interview with the Provincial Grand Master stating that he had submitted the names of the Founders and that the P.G.M. was very pleased with them and gave the proposed New Lodge his blessing.
W.Bro C.R.Reece stated that the Provincial Grand Master, in his interview suggested the name of the Lodge of Unity, but it must be understood that this was only a suggestion. This name was readily accepted by the brethren present and the suggested names were approved in the following order:- Lodge of Unity, Durdham, St. Barnabas and St. Christopher.
Date of Consecration. It was reported that the date for the
consecration of the New Lodge had been fixed for
Lodge Furniture. W.Bro Reece submitted a list of requirements and stated that a few promises had been made for gifts, and the Secretary would be glad to receive any others. At this stage W.Bro L.W.Andrews offered to present a banner and he was warmly thanked for his generous gift.
Lodge Motto. W.Bro Reece submitted for consideration a passage from Psalm 133, which bore an appropriate message in connection with the proposed name of the Lodge of Unity.
Deputy Provincial Grand Master. At this
juncture the meeting was honoured with the presence of the Deputy Provincial
Grand Master W.Bro W.W.Jervis.
In the course of an interesting talk he informed the brethren that the Lodge of
Unity would be the last Lodge to be formed until the
Charges. The D.P.G.M. remarked in some detail
upon the Antiquity of the Bristol ritual, and pointed out that the Junior and
Senior Wardens= Charges are not part of the Bristol
ritual and that the P.G.M. would like to see them discontinued, but stated that
it was a matter for the W.M. to decide in his own Lodge. A full and frank
discussion ensued, but no decision was made.
Hymns:- a discussion took place regarding the choice of hymns. It was decided to apply to the Mother Lodge (Peace) for permission to use their hymns if necessary, and that a small committee be appointed to go into this matter, together with W.Bro W.T.Williams -Organist.
Matters from the previous meeting:- W.Bro Reece reported that the Peace Lodge had given permission for their hymns to be used if necessary. The following sub-committee was appointed to meet W.Bro W.T.Williams, P.G.Organist regarding the hymns, W.Bro C.C.Hancock, Bro E.W.M.Brookman and the Secretary with power to act.
Charges:- A long and frank discussion took place following the D.P.G.M.=s visit to the last meeting and it was decided that the Charges be dropped for the present.
W.Bro Reece read a letter from P.G.Secretary which referred to the following:- Approval of Petition by Grand Lodge and that the Lodge of Unity will be numbered 7401, By-Laws to be framed.
The following Officers were designated:- W.M. W.Bro C.C.Hancock, I.P.M. W.Bro I.G.Beeho, S.W. Bro S.C.Coulson, J.W. Bro C.S.G.Dennis, Chaplain W.Bro C.R.Reece, Treasurer W.Bro H.W.Benney, Secretary W.Bro H.H.Bingham, Director of Ceremonies W.Bro A.J.E.Smale, S.D. Bro H.J.Davies, J.D. Bro F.Bannister, Asst Director of Ceremonies W.Bro R.H.Bond, Almoner W.Bro L.W.Andrews, Organist W.Bro W.T.Williams, Asst Secretary Bro B.Lawson, Inner Guard Bro H.F.Everitt, Superintendent Steward Bro E.W.M.Brookman, Stewards Bro=s H.G.Boxall, W.W.Insoll, C.W.Andrews, and B.G.T.Underdown. Past Masters W.Bro F.E.Warner. Bro G.W.Wright no office.
Number of Candidates:- It was decided that four Candidates be initiated in the first year and the following names would be placed on the waiting list: 1. Mr F.Taylor, 2. Mr J.Aris, 3. Mr C.J.Lystor, 4. Mr C.Jarvis, 5. Mr J.H.Jarvis, 6. Mr A.Imeson, 7. Mr A.Gingell, 8. Mr N.M.Turner.
It was agreed in reference to W.Bro Benney=s gift of the Holy Bible, that all the Founders would sign and that every Initiate would also be asked to sign.
Bibles:- W.Bro Smale produced the Masonic Bible which was referred to at the previous meeting, also Bro C.S.G.Dennis had a copy published by the Oxford Press at ,1..8..6d (,1.422p). It was proposed by Bro Dennis and seconded by Bro Everitt that Candidates should be supplied with a copy of the Holy Bible.
The Lodge of Unity became a member Lodge
of the
The Consecration Ceremony took place in
Freemasons= Hall,
The ceremony was presided over by the
Right Worshipful Brother George Tryon Provincial Grand Master for
The Consecration ceremony is recorded in a printed booklet produced for the ceremony, a copy of which is held in the Provincial Archives with the Lodge of Unity=s past records.
This ceremony was the culmination of two years of patience, careful planning and organisation, by Worshipful Brother Charles Reece PAGDC, a Past Master and Secretary of Peace Lodge, who was an excellent Mason, very efficient and well equipped to undertake the duties involved in forming a new Lodge.
The Lodge has received official visits from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Bristol in 1966, 1976, 1984, 1992, and 2000.
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The Provincial Grand Master selected the
Lodge to give a demonstration of the Bristol Ritual, of the Third degree, to
the Leeds & District Lodge of Installed Masters m 7918, at their invitation on
Similarly, the Lodge was selected to give
a demonstration of the Bristol Ritual, of the First degree, to the West Kent
Masters Lodge m 5778, on
The Lodge was again selected to give a
demonstration, of the First degree, to the Essex Installed Masters Lodge m 3256 on
The Lodge of Unity is now a well established and administered Lodge, noted for it=s atmosphere, good fellowship and it=s warm welcome to all visitors, symbolised on it=s banner by the Dove of Peace over clasped hands, with the inscription, ABehold, how good, and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in Unity@, (Psalm 133 verse 1).
On Tuesday 17th December 1957, the Worshipful Master, Bro C.S.G.Dennis, stated that the business of the evening was to initiate Dr Dennis Henry Fox, who progressed through the normal offices, to reach the chair of the Lodge in 1966 and on the 27th May 1990 appointed Provincial Grand Master for the Province of Bristol, and was Installed with due ceremony at the Victoria Rooms by the late R.W. Bro. The Rt Hon. Lord Farnham. Assistant Grand Master.
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It would be very remiss not to mention
Worshipful Brother Charles Robert Reece, who was most remarkable man and Mason;
it was his idea to form a new Lodge, and his idea alone. He was concerned over
the length of time it was taking for members of the Peace Lodge 3992, to reach
the chair, possibly 20 years, and after researching the possibility of forming
a new Lodge he called a meeting, of those interested Brethren, on
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If you would like to contact the Secretary of the Lodge of Unity, please use the address shown on the Web Site.