The
Procession.
A
procession was then formed, headed by the
Melksham Town Band under their Band
Master, Mr. Henry Chivers. The
Chaloner Lodge No.2644 came first in
the parade, marshalled by Brother Joseph Collett as Steward, followed
by Brother Barnes, acting Tyler, (he being
Tyler of the Lodge of Fidelity
No.663, Devizes), with drawn sword.
The Lodge Banner, depicting the Chaloner Arms, was carried by Brother
E W. Bascombe, Inner Guard.
The banner was made by Brother H.T. Lamb of St. Johns Square, Clerkenwell, London. The order of the procession was two Tylers with drawn swords, visiting Brethren of Lodges according to their Lodge numbers - the junior first - namely Chaloner No.2644.
The White Horse Lodge No.2227,Westbury, Wilts.
The Lodge of Loyalty No. 1533, Marlborough.
The Longleat Lodge No.1478, Warminster. The Gooch Lodge No. 1295, Swindon.
The Lodge of Friendship and Unity No. 1271, Bradford-on-Avon.
The Wiltshire Lodge of Fidelity No. 663, Devizes.
The Lodge of Concord No.632, Trowbridge.
The Lansdowne Lodge of Unity No.626, Chippenham.
The Elias De Derham Lodge No.586, Salisbury.
The Royal Sussex Lodge of Emulation No.355, Swindon
The Lodge of Rectitude No.335, Corsham.
Then followed members of Provincial Grand Lodge, present and past, the juniors first.
The Senior, and Junior Warden of Provincial
Grand Lodge - two Provincial
Deacons - the Provincial Grand
Chaplain, bearing the Volume of the
Sacred Law - a Steward - the
Very Worshipful Brother F.W.
MacDonald, Past Grand Chaplain of
England - a Steward - members
of Grand Lodge - the Very Worshipful
Deputy Provincial Grand Master - a
Steward - the Provincial
Standard Bearer with the Standard of the Provincial Grand Master - a
Steward - the Provincial Sword Bearer - the Right Worshipful Provincial
Grand Master - two Provincial
Deacons - two Stewards and the
Provincial Tyler.
A
banquet followed at the Town Hall, presided
over by Worshipful Brother Captain
Chaloner, Worshipful Master of
the new Lodge. Approximately, one-hundred
sat down and the usual Loyal and Monastic toasts were drunk. The
comfort of every guest was well attended to by Mr. James Larcombe of the
Kings Arms Hotel, who undertook the catering,
and the Lodge Stewards, Brothers E
Lowther, Henry Sawtell, and
Robert Parker rendered valuable help and discharged their duties
to the entire satisfaction of the Brethren.
The
Church bells were rung during the day and it was most
noticeable how willing everyone was to make the proceedings a success, including
the Church Wardens for
the use of the Church,
and Messrs. A. & G. Stratton for the loan of the Free Hall for Lodge purposes.
It is further reported that the last
Masonic procession in Melksham, prior to this one, was on St. John's
Day, 24th June 1825.