After two years of intense planning The Scout Lodge, No 9850 was finally consecrated and formed as a regular Lodge under the United Grand Lodge of England.

In the presence of Freemasons from all over the Province of Norfolk, and its neighbouring Provinces,and from other similar Lodges further afield; R.W.Bro John Stuart Rushmer, the Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Norfolk, and his team of Provincial Officers consecrated the Scout Lodge as a Norfolk Lodge. Its founding Master is W.Bro. A Johnson and there were 56 other petitioners (founders) 

The fact that the idea for the new scout lodge finally came to fruition was largely due to the efforts of a small group of masons the most active of which were W.Bros. Peter Miles ,Arnold Johnson and David Mostyn who were instrumental in the development of the idea and without whose enthusiastic support and expert guidance it is doubtful if the new lodge could have become a reality.

The story began at a Masonic meeting some time ago when W.Bro Arnold Johnson approached our Provincial Grand Master to seek his permission to form a Scout Lodge within the Province of Norfolk. Our PGM an ex-scout himself and past patrol leader of the Curlews 1st Cringleford Troop agreed to the request but under the condition that W.Bro Arnold could prove a need and could obtain strong support .

The views of other 'Masonic Scouters' were canvassed and after several meetings and much hard work, the steering committee was able to produce some concrete proposals for the new lodge. Soon  however, many other Masons with scouting links came forward to support the project and it did not take long to find the founding members necessary to create a petition to form the new lodge. By the time of the Consecration, the founders numbered 56 and came from all over the province. The petition was supported by Montgomery Lodge No:1741, which then became the sponsoring and mother lodge, and from which came a number of the founder members including the founding Worshipful Master.

Consecrating Team

W.Bro A J Cassie - W.Bro D Walker - W.Bro I S Fletcher - W.Bro M T Goffin - W.Bro A B P Jarvis W.Bro E T Moore - W.Bro The Revd A J Davey - W.Bro G W Allen - V.W. Bro S N Allen - RW.Bro John Stuart Rushmer - W.Bro Brian Frederick Barton - W.Bro Michael John Hedges MBE - W.Bro D J Woodgate

The Consecrating Officer, R.W.Bro John Stuart Rushmer PGM, gave a short address on the object of the meeting which set the tone for what followed.

A very moving and apt Oration on the Nature and Principles of the Institution was given by W.Bro The Rev’d A J Davey, Provincial Grand Chaplain, for those who hold both Scouting and Freemasonry dear to their hearts (and anyone interested in reading it) it is recorded on a separate page - click this link to read it.

It may be surprising to some that there is a similarity to Masonry in Scouting - the one being for men mainly over the age of 21 and the other for youngsters mainly under 21. However, among the large number of male Scout Leaders, there is a similarilty to their general attitude to life to that held by Freemasons with the same basic aims.
A simple translation of the Scouting Ideals, Aims and Principles into an adult organisation would produce something very close to Freemasonry. Perhaps because of this, many people have suggested that the Founder of Scouting, Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell, was a Freeason. However, It was confirmed by his late wife, Lady Olave Baden-Powell, and also his daughter Betty, that he was not a member of the Craft.

His younger brother, Major David Baden-Powell, was a Freemason. Perhaps his knowledge of his brother's activity with Scouting influenced his understanding of the aims of freemasonry. An illustration of this may have been his presentation of a Volume of the Sacred Law, personally inscribed and signed, to the Baden-Powell Lodge, No. 488, United Grand Lodge of Victoria, Australia. This was presented to note their Consecration in September 1930 by the then G. M., M .W. Bro. Lord Somers, who later succeeded Baden-Powell on his death in 1941, as the Chief Scout.

It is fascinating to analyze and compare the aims and ideals of the two "brotherhoods." The term "brother" is universal. Every boy who becomes a Scout is received into the "Worldwide Brotherhood of Scouting" upon accepting the Scout Promise. Thus the connection to man taking his Obligation being welcomed as a "Brother Mason." This also applies to the male adult Leaders who must also accept the Promise. A study of the wording reveals significant similarities:

A Scout promises
A Duty to God
Loyalty to the Queen
Help for other people at all times
A Freemason must
Believe in a Supreme Being
Obey the laws of God and Man
Extend Charity and Brotherly Love

'1759 The Provincial Grand Lodge of Norfolk is born’

Masons from all over the province joined with The Provincial Grand Master in the culmination of our year long celebrations; marking the 250^th anniversary of the formation of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Norfolk.

During the year we have celebrated the history, the people, the stories and the bright future of our Norfolk Masonic Province. We have dedicated a new Provincial Banner, published an updated history book, and held open days, a Summer Ball and a service of Thanksgiving at Norwich Cathedral.

At the annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge an initial donation of £140,000 was presented to the Norfolk Hospice Appeal and a further 250 donations of £250 are being given to local charities. This fundraising for charity has rightly been a centrepiece of our celebrations, and highlighted our long and continuing links with our local communities.

All the celebrated events have been memorable in their own right, yet when combined they illustrate the uniqueness, rich diversity and heritage which helps to makes up our Norfolk Freemasonry. Together we have remembered the past, celebrated the present and dreamed of the future.

In a finale to the year The Maid's Head Lodge Demonstration Team was delighted to be able to premier their latest play, which tells the story of "A Remarkable Milestone in the Life of a Remarkable Province." The play written & directed by W.Bro Gary Allen to celebrates the 250^th Anniversary tells the true story (or as near as we can surmise) of its formation and appointment of the first Provincial Grand Master Bro. Edward Bacon Esq. 

The Maid’s Head (Luvvies) relax with a well earned supper after the premiere of the new play

The play conjured up a picture of the kind of activity and conversation which must have taken place and gave us a feel for the period as well well as the event.

With all the sparkle you'd expect from a Maid’s Head production; St. Giles bubbled with excellent performances from all the cast. In fact, together with the harmony which followed the meal the team really gave their audience a night to remember. All in all this was an excellent night’s entertainment rapturously received and a joy to watch.

The Provincial Grand Master ended this wonderful evening by congratulating the cast on the success of the whole evening and then encapsulated the yearlong celebrations by reiterating the closing lines of the play;

“What a man is and becomes is in part due to his heritage and beliefs.  We are the descendants of generations of Masons who have gone before us.  Men of honour and faith who have strived to pass on to us the knowledge and skills they in turn were given by their forefathers. Today we have placed another stone on the foundations which our ancestors laid; a stone upon which we hope our children and generation which follow will also build, so that in 250th years from now, men of character and principles will also be able to meet as we do, in brotherly love and unity” 

An excellent night’s entertainment which should be on everyone’s calendar for next December, though I think the Bowers Temple was just about at capacity this year, so early booking is recommended for 2010.  

 

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27 November 2009