Lodge of Philosophy
1945-Present
The history of any institution is the story that unfolds of its members and the events that took place over the last seventy-five years, that affected their lives.
VWBro Andrew Tate stated:
"they must have been very brave men that considered forming a Lodge in 1945"
Indeed they were and the Lodge was Consecrated only a few days after V.J. Day on Wednesday 29th August 1945.
The Evening Gazette reported the Consecration.
However the main newspaper headline on the day in the "Evening Gazette" was:-
"40 days patrol under water. German U-Boat secret revealed"
The Germans had produced a high-speed U-Boat able to remain under water 40 days and travel faster submerged, than on the surface. But they were about six months too late in the development and mass production.
On the Local front the "Cleveland Standard" in August, 1945, was more concerned with "Miss Margaret Lockwood's visit to Redcar" She was to stay at the Coatham Hotel and to attend a preview of her film "Ill he your Sweetheart" at the Gaumont Cinema, Middlesbrough, but unfortunately while travelling with her husband by road from the South, a car tyre punctured and delayed their arrival more than three hours.
It was also reported that the Marske and District Horticultural Society had their first large-scale show since 1939 in the back field at Marske; and an advert for Sturman and Liddle, Consulting Opticians at 33, Station Road, Redcar advised customers that on Thursday and Friday Mr. Sturman would attend "personally!"
During the war years WBro John Adams, Bro Edward Hadfield and Bro Edwin Foster after many discussions agreed that there was every possibility of forming a new Lodge, they decided to leave the matter until after the war.
So it was later brought up before the Asst. Prov. G. Master who agreed that they should proceed, and the Lodge was duly consecrated on Wednesday, 29th August, 1945 at 11.45 a.m. The Consecration was conducted by the Most Hon. The Marquess of Zetland, K.G., P.C., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of the Province of North and East Yorkshire. The Ceremony was held at the Cleveland Technical Institute at Middlesbrough.
Following the Consecration the first Master W. Bro. John Adams, PPGReg. was installed by the Worshipful Assistant Provincial Grand Master Sir William Crosthwaite, PGD.
The first regular meeting was held at the Masonic Hall, Redcar, on Friday, October 12th, 1945, and the W.M. made sympathetic reference to the passing of one of the founder members, Bro. H.G.A. Crabtree, who had been installed as a Steward.
The first candidate was Mr. Herbert Irwin Peacock, a Master Butcher, whose business address was given as 23 West Street, Middlesbrough.
The First Installation Meeting was held on the 14th December, 1945, when W. Bro. John. C. Hudspeth was installed as the new Master of the Lodge of Philosophy.
WBro Edwin Foster stated "We had dreams of having lectures in the Masonic Art and one thing and another".
The first lecture was held on the 17th September, 1948. The subject was "What can we learn from Masonic Research" and was delivered by WBro William Waples, the Curator and Librarian of the Province of Durham.
The first Lewis to be initiated was Bro G. M. Darcy, the son of one of the Founder Members WBro George Darcy on the 14th February 1947.
Many others followed:
Bro's J. G. Booth, A, Brundall, M. T. Darcy, M. J. Firth, A.Grainger,
N. C. Grainger, P. S. Griggs, D. B. Ingledew, D. C. Ingledew,
A. W. Longstaff, P. M. Norris, G. R. Peacock, D. Peacock,
K. J. H. Saxton, G. G. Stell, J. B. Stockham, A. L. Toschach,
J. D. Tunstall.
19 Lewis's to date.
Before the Lodge was opened at the December Meeting in 1951 the W.M. made suitable and sympathetic reference to the bereavement sustained by the Craft, County and Commonwealth by the passing of His Most Gracious Majesty, King George VI, and Black Rosettes were worn on the Brethren's Aprons during the period of Royal Mourning.
It is recorded in the Minutes of the Lodge on the 11th February 1955, that the Lodge of Philosophy tendered to one of the Founder Members W. Bro Charles Vernon Fitten O.B.E. Prov. JGW sincere congratulations on the great honour that Her Majesty the Queen has bestowed upon him, that of Knight Bachelor and wished him Good Health and Long Life to enjoy it.
In May in 1956 the Lodge was delighted for W. Bro. E. Graham Tverman, when the Grand Master confered upon him the Rank of PAGDC in recognition of his long and devoted service to Freemasonry.
The Annual Festival was amended to May in 1957 when Bro. George Maurice Darcy, S. W. was installed by W. Bro. Harold Ingledew, M.B.E.,WM.
In August 1959 the Lodge meeting recorded the death of the Founder Member W. Bro. John Adams.
Some 47 years after the first lecture was delivered in April 1995 the Lodge invited V. W. Bro. The Revd. N. B. Cryer, Past Grand Chaplain to deliver his lecture, "A Walk Round Your Lodge Room", and for the very first time Ladies of the Brethren were invited into the Lodge Room to hear the distinguished speaker. The Ladies joined the Brethren for dinner at the after meeting.
At the Consecration Meeting the attendance book indicates the signature of a young M. M. by the name of C. C. Fairweather.
