A meeting of Devonian Freemasons was held at the Grand Hotel, Bristol, on 25^th July 1927, presided over by the Worshipful D.P.G.M. for Bristol, Sir Ernest Cook, who had been President of the Devonian Society in 1926.

A resolution was carried that a Lodge for Devonians be founded in the Province of Bristol. At a subsequent meeting it was reported that The Powell Lodge No.2257 were prepared to consent for a warrant going forward on their summons for approval by Grand Lodge.

Of the twenty-five founders, nineteen were members of the Devonian Society, three of whom were Past Presidents.

It is interesting to record here that since the Lodge's inception seventeen of its members have become President of the Society of Devonians in Bristol.

At the first meeting of interested brethren on 25^th July 1927, it had been agreed after regular proposition, that in the event of a Lodge being formed, it should be named 'Devonia' Lodge. In the event Grand Lodge were not prepared to agree to this name. The Treasurer Elect, W. Bro. W. T. Sing submitted 'Semper Fidelis' as an alternative, and the founders and Grand Lodge agreed it was appropriate to Devonians, being the motto of the City of Exeter, the county town of Devon.

The Consecration of the Lodge took place on Wednesday, 24^th October 1928. The ceremony was performed by the Worshipful Brother, the D.P.G.M. Sir Ernest Cook, P.G.D. assisted by members of Provincial Grand Lodge and included an excellent oration delivered by the Prov. Grand Chaplain W. Bro. Rev. Canon G. B. Havard-Perkins.

Following the Installation of the Worshipful Master, W.Bro. J. C. Wing P.M. 1135, P.M. 686, P.Pr.S.G.D. (Bristol) and the election of the Treasurer, W. Bro. W. T. Sing P.M. 2390 the first officers of the Lodge were appointed and invested.

The Past Master's Jewel to the first Master, W. Bro. J. C. Wing, was presented by the Treasurer, W. Bro. W. T. Sing at the Installation meeting on 17^th December 1929.

It was at this meeting, and subsequent Installations until 1939, that W. Bro. A. B. Brown gave the charges to W. M., Wardens and Brethren, and then they were discontinued.

The first Lodge candidate was W. H. B. Reed, aged 75, who was initiated 19^th December 1928, passed 13^th February 1929, and died 11^th March 1929, two days before he was due to be raised. Walter E. Budd, the second Lodge candidate, became the first initiate into the Lodge to become W. M. in 1937.

Calling off and calling on was a feature at early meetings when two degrees were worked.

Provincial Grand Lodge paid their first official visit after the consecration at the meeting on 14^th October 1931. The Lodge has been honoured many times since with the last Provincial visit taking place on 14^th March 1973.

The Lodge committee on 8^th February 1933 appointed a subcommittee to look into the financial position of the Lodge with particular reference to cost of refreshments and payment for visitors. Subsequently it was recommended that members pay half a crown for guests.

A Cash Book entry for 1933 showed a payment for two dozen bottles of whisky cost £13.15.0 and there regularly appeared an item for clotted cream (Devonshire?) 12 lbs. £1.5.0.

Calls on charity were in the early years not confined to the membership.

12^th March 1930 an application for assistance was relieved to the extent of 5/-.

14^th December 1932 £10 advanced to distressed brother who hoped to be able to repay the Lodge at an early date. 12^th April 1933 The Committee were informed that a brother of the Khyber Lodge No. 582 was seeking assistance and was waiting in the hall. Although not a member of the Lodge the Committee decided to make a grant of 10/6.

13^th February 1935 an application to relieve a distressed brother of The Zetland Lodge was received and a grant of 10/- made.

11^th April 1937 a Notice of Motion was passed to relieve a distressed brother in the amount of £10.10.0.

Came the outbreak of World War II and W. Bro. Norman Kendall, who had been installed in 1939, remained in office until 9^th April 1941. There has been only one other occasion when the W. Master has served longer than one year when W. Brother R. F. Bray served the two years 1963 and 1964.

The 103^rd regular meeting of the Lodge on 16^th November 1940 was held at Park Street and on the night of 24^th November 1940 the building was bombed and severely damaged by fire. It was feared that the Lodge Charter Warrant and all the Lodge effects were lost. However, the day following the air raid W. Brother Percy Richards searched amongst the smouldering remains and found four damaged officers' collar jewels which had been presented at the Consecration.

The next meeting did not take place until 9^th April 1941 at the Masonic Hall, Downend.

4^th February 1941. It was reported that a copy of the Warrant had been received replacing the one lost by enemy action.

5th March 1941. The cash book records the purchase of two dozen pairs of gloves cost £1.17.0.

From 4th May 1942 meetings were transferred to the Constitutional Club, St.Stephen Street, Bristol.

As from 1^st September 1947 meetings were held at the Hawthorns Hotel, Clifton, and from 14^th October 1953 until the return home to Freemasons Hall, Park Street, on 9^th October 1957 meetings were held at Brunswick Square.

2^nd July 1945. The Secretary read a letter addressed to W. Bro. Jervis from the P.G.M. stating that the Grand Secretary had communicated the good wishes of the Lodge to the Grand Master on the release of his son, Viscount Laseelles, from enemy captivity and Lord Harewood much appreciated the good wishes and thanked the Brethren.

2^nd October 1950. The Provincial Grand Master, W. Bro. Tryon presented regalia of Past Grand Deacon on behalf of the Lodge to W. Bro. W. W. Jervis, D.P.G.M., in token of their affection and appreciation.

There is only space to mention a few of the Brethren who have contributed so much to the welfare of this Lodge.

The first Secretary was W. Bro. J. A. Westcott, who was a Past Master of Powell Lodge. He did an enormous amount of work in founding the Lodge and died in office in 1936.

W.Bro. W. T. Sing, founder and first Treasurer and responsible for the Lodge's name, was Past Master of Exmoor Lodge No.2390. He was also a founder and first Secretary of Chatterton Lodge No.5386. He also died in office in 1934.

W.Bro. W. W. Jervis was a Master Mason of St.Vincent Lodge No.1404 when he became a founder and first Junior Warden of Semper and third W.M. in 1930. His keen interest in Masonry was evidenced in the Bristol Masonic Society and he became its President in 1931. Grand Lodge honour of P.A.G.D.C. was awarded to him in March 1948, and he became Deputy P.G.M. for the Province of Bristol 1950.

W.Bro. L. Palk, who became W.M. in 1931, was a M.M. of Powell Lodge and served our Lodge well as D.C. 1934/1939. Initiated in 1920, when he died in 1965 he was the last of the original twenty-five founders.

W.Bro. A. B. Brown, who was a joining member and P.M. of St.Aubyn Lodge No.954, was Treasurer from 1934-1948.

W.Bro. J. C. Hole, P.M. of Lodge of Obedience No.1753, became a joining member in 1929 and was Secretary from 1936 to 1955, the year he died. A cheque was presented to him in October 1951 on completion of fifty years in Masonry, and it was minuted that he was an exceptional man and mason.

W.Bro. Percy Richards, initiated in 1929, became W.M. in 1941. He served as Almoner from 1951-1956 and was Treasurer 1956-1959. The Great Architect willing he will be our oldest living member when this booklet is published, and will complete fifty years in masonry in 1979.

W.Bro. John Heamon, initiated May 1928, became W.M. in 1947 and was D.C. 1949-1959.

W.Bro. Norman Kendall, initiated February 1930, was W.M. in 1939 and 1940. He served as Secretary from 1955-1962 and died in office. The Lodge owed much to his initiative and interest in Lodge of Instruction and it is interesting that two of his sons are keen members of the Lodge.

W.Bro. A. W. Thackway. W.M. in 1944 was Lodge Treasurer 1949-1956. He received Provincial Grand Lodge Honour of Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden 1961.

W.Bro. L. W. Andrews, P.M. of Peace Lodge, was a member 1947-1962. He was a pioneer of Bristol motoring and at age 90 still a director of a local Coach company, and around the turn of the century one of the first to own a horseless carriage.

W.Bro. Ashley Hutchings, initiated March 1939, became W.M. in 1954, and has been Lodge Secretary since 1970.

Bro. Tom Rogers, initiated 18^th October 1941, was Almoner for many years and elected an Honorary Member and died 1976, aged 86.

W.Bro. Eric Blight, initiated 1948, became W.M. in 1960 and was Lodge Secretary 1966-1970.

W.Bro. Maurice Mudge, initiated July 1941, became W.M. in 1955, was D.C. from 1962 - 1972.

Bro. Fred Winter, initiated February 1947, served the Lodge as Steward and Assistant Secretary from 1953 - 1975.

Enemy action on the night of 24^th November 1940 destroyed many valued gifts which had been made to the Lodge, particularly at the Consecration Meeting and in subsequent years. The generosity of members was to replace the lost Lodge regalia and equipment. W. Bro. R. Stirratt presented a new W.M.'s cocked hat. W. Bro. Norman Kendall asked the Lodge to accept three gavels made from old oak from Redcliffe Church, and suitably inscribed. The widow of Bro. Tom Pearce asked that a Volume of The Sacred Law be accepted in memory of her late husband. The Lodge Banner was replaced in memory of W. Bro. J. C. Hole and was dedicated at the meeting held on 11^th April 1956 by W. Bro. Rev. Canon G. B. Havard-Perkins P.Pr.G. Chaplain, who had also officiated at the Consecration ceremony.

A box of Working Tools was dedicated in memory of W. Bro. Waiter W. Jervis, D.P.G.M., by W. Bro. The Rev. Canon J.E. Staley on 11^th May 1960.

8^th November 1961. W. Bro. Capelin asked the Lodge to accept a Poignard and Scabbard in memory of the Late W. Bro. Punchard P.M. and Founder and its first inner guard appointed at the Consecration ceremony 1928 - it was the gift of the President of The Devonians' Society (W. Bro. Capelin and six Past Presidents of the Society were also members of the Lodge.)

A Bible was presented by Bro. F. M. Winter.

On the death of W. Bro. Norman Kendall, a suitably engraved gavel was presented for use in the Lodge and to perpetuate his memory.

Gavel for use at Committee Meetings presented by W. Bro. Ron Bray in memory of his father, W. Bro. Tom Bray, W.M. 1958.

Musical Jug playing the Lodge's County Anthem, Widdicombe Fair, presented by the late W. Bro. P. Reed.

Our sponsoring Lodge, Powell No.2257, were the first to pay a fraternal visit at the meeting held 21^st October 1929 and it is interesting to record that W. Bro. Philip Hort and W.Bro. John Hort were present.

It was common practice in early years for Semper Fidelis and Royal Sussex Lodge of Hospitality to be guests of each other at after meetings.

each paid fraternal visits between 1930 and 1973.

Since 1967 a regular feature has been the visit of the Homfrey Lodge No.1562 from Risca, and the, enjoyable return visits Semper Fidelis Lodge have paid to them.

The Worshipful Master and officers of the Lodge have been privileged to carry out Demonstrations of the Bristol Working by command of The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master on the following occasions:

The 9^th May 1953, before the Kynaston Studd Lodge No.5416 at Polytechnic, Regent Street, London, a Third Degree ceremony.

The 8^th December 1956, before the Bedfordshire Lodge of Installed Masters No.7301 at Luton, a First Degree ceremony and again to the same Lodge on the 2^nd June 1967 a Third Degree ceremony.

The 15^th November 1975 to the Worcestershire Associated Masonic Lodge's Group Three at the Masonic Rooms, Kidderminster, a Third Degree ceremony.

In celebrating fifty years of Masonic fellowship, the Brethren of the Semper Fidelis Lodge bow with gratitude and humility to the Great Architect of The Universe for the guidance and inspiration they have received.

Minute books, mainly factual and repetitive, do not disclose all the hours of happiness and good fellowship enjoyed by the Brethren during the period.

The names of many worthy masons are recorded in our history, whose loyalty and devotion have played so great a part in the development of this Lodge and thereby enhancing the good name of The Province of Bristol; but for each name recorded, there are many others who have given the same faithful service albeit in a less spectacular manner. They are the ‘silent majority’ whose mere presence has been essential to the Lodge's well being and whose unfailing support has been available throughout the years. To all we owe a great debt of gratitude.

It is a wonderful story of which only a bare outline has been given. It is also a great responsibility. Other men have laboured and ye are entered into their labours; so must every member of the Semper Fidelis Lodge so labour that the genuine tenets and principles of our Order may be transmitted pure and unsullied through this Lodge from generation to generation.