WHY SHOULD I VISIT. . .
Bank of England Lodge No. 263?
We continue arena's "visiting" series, where readers are encouraged to visit a unit that is "different" in some way. Chris Starnes, Senior Warden of Bank of England Lodge No 263 explains more...
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25 years old this summer, the first meeting of the Bank of England Lodge
A PM's jewel of the Lodge
was recorded, in fine copperplate handwriting, in the minutes as follows: “At the Guildhall Coffee House King Street Cheapside London, on the 18th day of August 1788, by virtue of a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of England. Present Brother James Joyce as R.W.M., James Bliss as S.W., Hugh Pownall as J.W., Will Mullins as Treasurer, Will Garret as Secretary, Francis Scurry, John Boles, Edward Taylor, Thomas Bliss with Patrick and Edmund Toulman as Tyler. The Lodge was opened in due form and
proceeded to the election of Officers when Brother James Joyce was unanimously elected the first Master, Brother Will Mullins the first Treasurer and Edmund Toulman the first Tyler. The R.W.M then appointed Brother James Bliss the first Senior Warden and Hugh Cownall the first Junior Warden and Bro William Garrett Secretary.” Of the nine Founders, three of whom
were “Gentlemen of the Bank of England”. James Joyce, who became the first Master of the Lodge, remained in the Chair for eight years. He became Master again for another eight years in 1808. The Founders acted in true Masonic
The Crucefix Candelabrum
spirit by allowing the Lodge to be open to all suitable men who wanted to become Freemasons, and not confining its members to any particular Institution. Over the years there have been many members who were accountants and barristers but also a diverse mix of sail- makers, singers, composers, shoemakers, surgeons, stock brokers and jobbers - even vitriol manufacturers! This inclusive spirit
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continues to the present day. The Lodge started out as No 326 a
‘moderns’ Lodge and then the number was altered in 1792 to 435, in 1814 to 499, in 1832 to 329 and finally in 1863 to 263. The Warrant of Constitution is dated 24th June 1788, a Warrant of confirmation was issued dated 20th November 1870 and a Centenary Warrant issued dated 3rd September 1900. During the nineteenth century, the
Lodge met in a variety of taverns including the Ship Tavern, The Horns and The Goose and Gridiron. The minutes of those times record some interesting interactions. In 1820 the WM addressed the Brethren to prompt a move from The Horns, Gutter Lane “having frequently seen scenes of Inebriety among Women at the Bar and Door of the House which he considered derogatory to the dignity of the Lodge. The Lodge has met at many locations since then and now meets at Freemasons' Hall in Great Queen Street. Open it may be but to this day, the Lodge still has amongst it members “Gentlemen of the Bank of England”. Some unusual practices took place in
those early days such as at an emergency meeting held on 12 Sept 1788, the Lodge’s first candidate. Mr Peter Carter, a Goldsmith, was proposed, initiated and passed all in the same meeting! On 8th March 1827, £10 was voted from Lodge funds for the relief of Bro King (no relation to the recent Governor of the Bank!), who stated that when presenting his petition on 8th February he omitted to state that at the time he was confined within the walls of a prison! On 14th August 1814 it was agreed that every brother be provided with new aprons at the expense of the Lodge and the trimmings at their own expense, the Tyler
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