The Petition and Dedication.
At the meeting of the Committee held at the residence of Brother Henry Sawtell on the 2nd. December 1896, the Brethren signed a petition to Grand Lodge. It was presented by Brothers Captain Chaloner and John Parker to the Lodge of Friendship and Unity Na.1271 at Bradford-on-Avon on the 7th of December 1896. It was well and worthily received, recommended and signed by the Worshipful Master and Wardens of the Lodge.
Brother John
Parker attended the Lansdowne Lodge of Unity No.626 at Chippenham on the following night the 8th of December where the petition
was exhibited to the Right Worshipful
Provincial Grand Master the Earl of
Radnor, who was present for the
installation of the Master Elect of the Lodge. It was then duly sent to
the Provincial Grand Secretary, Worshipful
Brother Harry Bevir at Wootton Bassett.
After necessary examination by Grand Lodge the wish of the petitioners was granted and a warrant, dated 29th December 1896, signed by the Grand
Master,
His Royal Highness the Prince of
Wales, was presented to Brother John Parker by the Provincial Grand Secretary,
Worshipful Brother Bevir at a meeting in Swindon.
Subsequent meetings of the committee were held on the 30th of January and the 20th February 1897 to make arrangements for the Dedication.
Two dispensations
were applied for to the Provincial Grand Secretary - one
for the using of the Free Hall, Melksham
for the Dedication Ceremony and the
other for a procession in full
Masonic Regalia to the Parish Church of Saint Michael on Saturday the
27th of February 1897.
A
special Lodge, called for 2pm. was finally
opened at 2.30pm. by Worshipful Brother Harry Bevir, the Provincial
Grand Secretary, as the Earl of Radnor,
the Provincial Grand Master had failed
to arrive! The Lodge was opened in the
Three Degrees, by which time Earl of
Radnor had arrived and at 3.15pm. he
installed as the first Worshipful
Master of the Chaloner
The
Worshipful Master then proceeded
to appoint and invest:Brother John Parker as
Secretary and 1.PM.
Brother Charles Saxty as Senior Warden.
Brother
Edward Lowther as Junior Warden.
Brother
Henry Sawtell as Senior Deacon.
Brother
Robert John Parker as Junior Deacon.
Brother
Charles Sawtell as Treasurer. Brother EW. Bascombe as
Inner Guard.
Brother
George Childe as Organist. Brother Joseph
Collett as Steward.
The
Ancient Charges were given by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master,
Worshipful Brother C. Phipps.
The
Lodge was closed in the Second Degree
and resumed in First at which point
the following candidates were proposed:
(1)
William Howard Bell aged 40 of Holt,
Gentleman.
(2)
Charles Awdry aged 50 of Shawhill
House, Barrister.
(3) James Edward Bush aged 35 of Melksham, Chemist.
(4)
Joseph Arscott Coombe aged 24 of Melksham,
Mineral Water Manufacturer.
(5)
Henry John White aged 54 of Melksham,
Draper.
(6)
Arthur Herbert Manning aged 34 of Melksham,
Draper.
(7)
William Henry Hunt aged 36 of Semington,
Farmer.
(8) Walter Henry Tayler aged 28 of Bristol, Solicitor.
(9) Herbert William Tayler aged 31 of Melksham, Miller.
(10) William Ferris "Iayler aged 22 of Melksham, Miller.
(11)
Alfred William Jolliffe aged 39 of Melksham,
Bookseller
(12)
Alfred Murray Gray aged 32 of Melksham,
Surgeon.
(13)
Arthur Augustus Angel aged 46 of Melksham, Carriage Trimmer.
The following were proposed and seconded as Joining Members:
Brother
Herbert Munday, Auctioneer, Trowbridge
Brother
Oliver Leak, Solicitor of Trowbridge
Brother
Laurence Cary Roger Gauntlet,
Machine Maker of Trowbridge,
Brother Ernest Williams, Chartered Accountant of Trowbridge
All
of Lodge of Concord No.632., Trowbridge.
Brother William Cory Howard Bell, Lieutenant of the Royal Artillery
Brother Alfred Lawrence, Army Sergeant Major of Lansdowne Lodge of Unity No.626., Chippenham.
Brother Douglas Kinnear MacDonald, Solicitor of Salisbury
of Elias De Derham Lodge No.586., Salisbury.
Greetings
were accorded the Worshipful
Master by every Lodge in the
Province. There were 139 visitors.