In The Beginning

On the 21st December 1871, John Parker, aged 28, was initiated into the Wiltshire Lodge of Fidelity No.663, Devizes. He moved to Melksham in 1874 to take up the appointment of Manager of the Wilts and Dorset Bank Limited and he remained in the town until his departure to Bath in 1900.

While residing in Melksham, he became a Joining Member of the Lansdowne Lodge of Unity No.626, Chippenham in 1884 and eventually became Master of that Lodge in 1890. During the early days of his stay in Melksham he made the acquaintance of three elderly Brethren who were also resident in the town. They were A. Cochrane, Henry Simpson and Job Flocks, to whom he expressed his desire to form a new Lodge. Although they were sympathetic to his ideals, they could not hold much hope of Freemasonry being revived in the town. Nothing daunted him and he persevered with his plan until 1891, when as a Past Master of the Lansdowne Lodge of Unity, he was summoned to Salisbury for the investiture of the Provincial Grand Master of Wiltshire, the Earl of Radnor.

He received some encouragement from Members of Provincial Grand Lodge and in 1894 he put the question of the formation of a Lodge to Worshipful Brother, Captain Chaloner M.P who had come to live at Melksham House and was a Past Master of the Lodge of Friendship and Sincerity No.472 at Shaftesbury in the Dorset Province. Worshipful Brother Captain Chaloner readily and warmly supported the idea and Committee Meetings were held at his house. In the autumn of 1896, the first minute book of the Chaloner Lodge records that,

 "A Meeting of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons residing in Melksham was convened, by circular sent by Brother John Parker on the 21st November 1896, to be held at Brother Captain Chaloner's residence at Melksham House on Saturday 28th November 1896 at 8pm ".

The following Brethren were present:-Captain Chaloner, Joseph Collett, John Parker, Robert John Parker, Edward Lowther, George Childe, William Gray, Frederick William Bascombe, Henry Sawtell, Charles Sawtell, and Charles Saxty.

Brother John Parker read the circular convening the Meeting. The chair was taken by Brother Captain Chaloner, and it was proposed by Brother Henry Sawtell and seconded by Brother Edward Lowther,

"That steps betaken to form a Lodge for the town of Melksham and that £100 be raised by guarantee to the Wilts and Dorset Bank Limited, to provide for preliminary expenses ".

This was carried unanimously. Brother Captain Chaloner and Brother Charles Sawtell consented to become guarantors to the Bank, and the remaining Brethren present to indemnify them as guarantors pro rata against any loss to the extent of their shares, namely £80.  

It was proposed by Brother Henry Sawtell and seconded by Brother Frederick W. Bascombe that the Lodge should be called the Chaloner Lodge.

It was proposed by Brother Joseph Collett and seconded by Brother George Childe that Brother Captain Chaloner should be the first Worshipful Master of the new Lodge.

It was proposed by Brother Captain Chaloner and seconded by Brother Frederick W. Bascombe that Brother John Parker should succeed Brother Chaloner as Worshipful Master subject to election by the Brethren.

It was proposed by Brother John Parker and seconded by Brother Charles Sawtell that Brother Charles Saxty should be the Senior Warden of the new Lodge.

It was proposed by Brother Charles Sawtell and seconded by Brother Frederick W. Bascombe that Brother Edward Lowther should be the Junior Warden of the new Lodge.

It was proposed by Brother Henry Sawtell and seconded by Brother Edward Lowther that Brother John Parker should be the Secretary of the new Lodge.

It was proposed by Brother Captain Chaloner and seconded by Brother Henry Sawtell that the Meetings of the Lodge should be held on the third Friday of every month.

It was proposed by Brother Henry Sawtell and seconded by Brother Charles Sawtell that a Committee of the Master, Wardens, Secretary and Brothers Henry Sawtell, Charles Sawtell, and Robert John Parker, be formed to consider and report as to the buildings and room required for a Lodge and also the furnishings of the Lodge.

It was decided that the Worshipful Master be elected in March and installed in April.

It was further decided that Brother John Parker should see Mr. Angel, the sexton of the parish church, and confer with him as to his acceptance of the post of Tyler of the new Lodge.