Copy of Communication sent to the Editor of the Freemason
The Inhabitants Lodge
Gibraltar, 153. E.C.
On Friday 4th December this Lodge was the scene of a most interesting and perfectly unique ceremony. An emergency had been summoned for that night to confer the second degree on Brother di Stella Burford-Hancock, who had been initiated in the “Lodge of Friendship”, 278 E.C. and who is destined to receive his Third Degree in St. John’s Lodge, 115 E.C. thus taking one Degree in each of the three lodges of which his father presides as D.G.M. An addendum was subsequently made to the summons, that the D.G.M. with the officer of D.G.L. would visit the lodge and restore the original Charter, which had been lost for many years.
After the lodge had been opened, a very full attendance of members and visitors being present, the R.W.D.G.M. was announced and received with due honours in the Third Degree. He was attended by his Deputy and all the officers of the D.G.L. in full dress.
The Candidate was then passed to the Second Degree, in the absence of the W.M. by I.P.M. Bro Sproat, the Lecture on the Tracing Board being given by the S.W. Bro Discombe and the charge by Bro Silcott, the J.W. all passing off without a hitch, and the work carried out in an impressive manner.
The R.W.D.G.M. then gave a very interesting history of the former constitution of Lodge 153 and of the loss and recovery of its original warrant as follows: -
Worshipful Master and Brethren
This Lodge, now bearing the name of “the Inhabitants Lodge” and numbered 153, was originally founded under the “Atholl” Constitution on the 13th Nov. 1777 as the “Garrison Lodge” and bore the number 202, a note in the G. Lodge Register describes it as a “Stationery and not a Military Lodge”, while number 148 (2nd Battalion Royal Artillery) now St. John’s was exclusively a military Lodge until the 7th July 1807, when the name of John Nicholls, Inhabitant first appears on the Register of members. Curiously enough, it is now a matter of notoriety that the two lodges have reversed their characters. An old document bearing date 23rd January 1810, has come into my possession and will be placed at the disposal of the Lodge; this is a Lodge Certificate describing its bearer, Bro George Fairfoot as “a regular geometrical master mason of the ancient Craft”.
At the Union in 1813, the number was changed to 251. being afterwards altered to 178 in 1832, and finally to 153 in 1863.
In 1858 the Lodge, having being for some years in abeyance, was resuscitated, Bro Gould being the master and Bros Irwin and Schreiber the Wardens, Bro Irwin succeeding Bro Gould in the chair the following year. At this time the original Warrant of the lodge had mysteriously disappeared, and by some confusion, on its revival the lodge was worked under a warrant under the “modern” Constitution, belonging to a lodge founded in 1762, bearing the name of “the Lodge of Inhabitants, Gibraltar, N° 285” which having ceased to make returns in 1800 was dropped out at the Union in 1813 and ceased to exist. Acting on this warrant, in 1862 application was made for a Centenary Warrant, which was granted in due course this raised some doubt on the past of St. John’s Lodge (now 115), which, as possessing an earlier number, disputed in a friendly manner the right of 153 to a Centenary Warrant to which 115 was not as yet entitled. The matter was referred to the D.G.L. and by that body to the G.L. and ultimated in the Warrant of 1762 being returned to the Grand Lodge in 1875, and being replaced by a Warrant of Confirmation founded on the “Atholl” warrant of 1777 and bearing the names of Bros Cunningham, Conroy, and Collins as master and wardens, this is the Authority under which the lodge has since been worked there was naturally much confusion in the matter, and very voluminous correspondence took place between the Lodge, D.G.L. and G.L. with the above result.
This summer, on my arrival in England I received a letter from that distinguished Masonic historian Bro W J Hugham, informing me that he had recognised the original charter of 153 amongst a collection of Masonic curiosities in the possession of Bro Irwin P.M. 153 (who is said to have purchased it with other Masonic souvenirs many years ago) and stating that Bro Irwin placed it at the disposal of the lodge he intended it to forward it to me for transmission. In due course it arrived, I found it partly engraved and partly written on parchment, the words in many places having become illegible from age, but I have had it carefully deciphered by Masonic experts and the writing sufficiently restored to render it legible I communicated with the G. Secretary and learned from him that after making a searching enquiry he had no doubt that this was the original Charter of the Lodge which had been working under the name of “the Inhabitants” since 1858, and he directed that after its restoration to the Lodge, the Warrant of Confirmation dated 1877 should be returned to G.L. As most of the present members of the Lodge have been initiated under this later Warrant, and all observed under it for years past, they must regard it with a feeling of great consideration and would naturally prefer to keep it on the walls of the Lodge. I shall therefore put it to the G.S. whether taking these points in consideration, the return of the Warrant of Confirmation can not be dispensed with. (Applause) It is with the strongest feelings of satisfaction that I now commit the original charter to your keeping W. Master, and I consider myself extremely fortunate in being chosen as the medium through which the restitution of this venerable and highly curious document to its original owner has been effected. (Applause)
The W.M. then deputed the 4 senior P.M.’s of the Lodge, Bros Gorham, Henry, Barker and Cunningham to proceed to the anteroom and bring in the old charter, which had been handsomely framed by Bro Sir H J Burford Hancock. It was admitted in due form, and carried to E. to joyful music, when it was handed by the D.G.M. to the keeping of the W.M. and his successors, on behalf of the Lodge.
Bro Colonel Gorham, being called upon as the oldest P.M. and the immediate successor of Bro Irwin in the chair, expressed his gratification at the return of the charter and asked the D.G.M.: -
(1) if he was in possession of any information respecting the means by which it became lost and had come into the hands of Bro Irwin, and (2) if he was quite sure that this was the original charter of Lodge 153.
The D.G.M. replied that he was unable to trace anything whatever of the means by which it had gone astray, but that he had very carefully gone over the various papers and books of the Lodge which dated from 1778 and had satisfactorily proved that the documents was genuine.
The Deputy D.G.M. Bro G.J. Gilbard then delivered a short but instructive address on the nature and powers of warrants in general, and by putting two resolutions expressing the thanks of the Brethren of 153 to Brothers Hugham and Irwin for their kindness in this matter.
These were carried by acclamation.
The W.M proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the R.W.D.G.M Bro Sir H. Burford Hancock for his zeal in restoring their lost property and in conducting his laborious researches to prove its authenticity. He reminded the Brethren that since the advent of the .G.M to his important office masonry in Gibraltar had received new life and strength from the earnest personal interest taken by him in the welfare of the Lodges under his jurisdiction, (loud applause) and it was a source of lively gratification to him (the W.M) to be enabled to express this appreciation of the D.G.M’s in the good causes on an occasion so appropriate to the expression of such a feeling. He begged to be allowed to include in the proposition the name of Brother Gilbard, the D.D.G.M as one who not only on the present occasion, but during a long period of office – extending over many years – had ever done well for masonry.
This vote was also carried by acclamation, and after a brief acknowledgement by the D.G.M the proceedings terminated, the Brethren then adjourning to the Refreshment Room where the usual toasts were proposed and honoured, and an excellent finish put to a very enjoyable and instructive evening.
Certified true copy
Nathan Hall, Secretary
Inhabitants Lodge, 153 E.C
Gibraltar, December 1885.