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History
By W Bro N.P. Smith AGPurs., With grateful thanks to W Bro A.T.Humm LGR Who wrote the original history in 1951.
(Last 50 years of history is currently being written in greater detail and will be updated as soon as possible)
(Last 50 years of history is currently being written in greater detail and will be updated as soon as possible)
Early Days 1763 – 1822
The origins of St John’s Lodge No. 90 are found in the Warrant issued by the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons on 19th May 1763, 250 years almost to the day of this meeting at which we celebrate the anniversary.
The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons (According to the Old Constitutions) was established in 1751 as a rival to the original Premier Grand Lodge, founded in 1717, as a result of the dissatisfaction of many Masons, particularly those who had immigrated from Ireland, with changes made in the ritual. The new and rival Grand Lodge was to return to the “ancient landmarks” of Freemasonry and rather cleverly dubbed themselves the “Antients” to distinguish them from the “Moderns”, the Premier Grand Lodge, who were of course the older. One of the landmarks considered most important by the “Antients” was the celebration of the two St John’s days, hence the wording in our warrant that the Installations should be “on (or near) every St John’s day during the continuance of this Lodge for ever.”
The “Antients” Grand Lodge was immediately successful, issuing warrants from 1753 and within 10 years had warranted over 100 Lodges, the future St John’s Lodge being No. 113. Like many Lodges at this time the Lodge did not have a name only the designation of where it met, as stated in the warrant “to form and hold a Lodge of Freemasons aforesaid at the sign of the Magazine in town of Greenwich in the County of Kent”. Unfortunately, we have no minutes dating from this time and only have the names of the first Master named in the Warrant as “one of our Master Masons, Mr Edward Lane, Mr John Gillett his Senior Warden and Mr Edward Mee, his Junior Warden”. The only record we have of the Lodge in these early days is from the GL Minutes and in 1769 we find Edward Lane, the first Master being appointed Steward for the feast of St John and in the GL minutes of March 1785 a report that the sum of £17-7s-6d had been received from 113 for the registering of 10 members, so it was obviously thriving at this point. In these early days however it is clear that the records kept were far from complete, there was much confusion brought about by difficulties of communication and by the failure of lodges to keep in touch which was usually by attending Grand Lodge.
The Lodge was noted in the GL minutes as meeting at Deptford and in 1809 is recorded at the Griffin Tavern, King’s Yard Gate, Deptford and in 1810 at the Dutchess of Brunswick’s Head, Deptford. During this period the rivalry between the two Grand Lodges was realised by both sides to be unnecessary, and in 1810 the Grand Lodge, now known as the Atholl Grand Lodge after their Grand Master, the Duke of Atholl who reigned for 19 years, following his father in the same office, passed a resolution that “a Masonic Union on principles equal and honourable to both Grand Lodges, and preserving the Land Marks of the Ancient Craft, would be expedient and advantageous to both.”
Steps were taken to bring about a reconciliation, which was achieved by the signing of the Articles of the Union in 1813 and the United Grand Lodge came into being. When the Union was effected the numbers of the lodges had to be re-allocated because of duplication and this was done alternately between the Moderns and the Antients and No. 113 became 138. Lodge No. 138 then moved in 1814 to the Roman Eagle, Church Street, Deptford then in 1817 to the Lord Duncan, Broadway, Deptford and in 1816 it was named St John’s Lodge, presumably in reference to the wording in the warrant and in 1832 there was another re-allotment of numbers when it became No. 107 and in 1863 when the process was repeated it became No. 90 and remains so. The minute books in our possession date from 1822 and from then we have a continuous record of the Lodge meetings.
The origins of St John’s Lodge No. 90 are found in the Warrant issued by the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons on 19th May 1763, 250 years almost to the day of this meeting at which we celebrate the anniversary.
The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons (According to the Old Constitutions) was established in 1751 as a rival to the original Premier Grand Lodge, founded in 1717, as a result of the dissatisfaction of many Masons, particularly those who had immigrated from Ireland, with changes made in the ritual. The new and rival Grand Lodge was to return to the “ancient landmarks” of Freemasonry and rather cleverly dubbed themselves the “Antients” to distinguish them from the “Moderns”, the Premier Grand Lodge, who were of course the older. One of the landmarks considered most important by the “Antients” was the celebration of the two St John’s days, hence the wording in our warrant that the Installations should be “on (or near) every St John’s day during the continuance of this Lodge for ever.”
The “Antients” Grand Lodge was immediately successful, issuing warrants from 1753 and within 10 years had warranted over 100 Lodges, the future St John’s Lodge being No. 113. Like many Lodges at this time the Lodge did not have a name only the designation of where it met, as stated in the warrant “to form and hold a Lodge of Freemasons aforesaid at the sign of the Magazine in town of Greenwich in the County of Kent”. Unfortunately, we have no minutes dating from this time and only have the names of the first Master named in the Warrant as “one of our Master Masons, Mr Edward Lane, Mr John Gillett his Senior Warden and Mr Edward Mee, his Junior Warden”. The only record we have of the Lodge in these early days is from the GL Minutes and in 1769 we find Edward Lane, the first Master being appointed Steward for the feast of St John and in the GL minutes of March 1785 a report that the sum of £17-7s-6d had been received from 113 for the registering of 10 members, so it was obviously thriving at this point. In these early days however it is clear that the records kept were far from complete, there was much confusion brought about by difficulties of communication and by the failure of lodges to keep in touch which was usually by attending Grand Lodge.
The Lodge was noted in the GL minutes as meeting at Deptford and in 1809 is recorded at the Griffin Tavern, King’s Yard Gate, Deptford and in 1810 at the Dutchess of Brunswick’s Head, Deptford. During this period the rivalry between the two Grand Lodges was realised by both sides to be unnecessary, and in 1810 the Grand Lodge, now known as the Atholl Grand Lodge after their Grand Master, the Duke of Atholl who reigned for 19 years, following his father in the same office, passed a resolution that “a Masonic Union on principles equal and honourable to both Grand Lodges, and preserving the Land Marks of the Ancient Craft, would be expedient and advantageous to both.”
Steps were taken to bring about a reconciliation, which was achieved by the signing of the Articles of the Union in 1813 and the United Grand Lodge came into being. When the Union was effected the numbers of the lodges had to be re-allocated because of duplication and this was done alternately between the Moderns and the Antients and No. 113 became 138. Lodge No. 138 then moved in 1814 to the Roman Eagle, Church Street, Deptford then in 1817 to the Lord Duncan, Broadway, Deptford and in 1816 it was named St John’s Lodge, presumably in reference to the wording in the warrant and in 1832 there was another re-allotment of numbers when it became No. 107 and in 1863 when the process was repeated it became No. 90 and remains so. The minute books in our possession date from 1822 and from then we have a continuous record of the Lodge meetings.
1822 – 1900 Victorian St John’s
The first meeting recorded was at the Bee-Hive Tavern in Deptford Creek on 13th February 1822. There were four members present and five visitors, four of whom became joining members having been duly elected. At the next meeting 19 days later on 13th March 1822, resignations were received from five of the original members, including the Worshipful Master, Bro. Jeans. Brother Carless, having joined only at the previous meeting was proposed as WM, and was both elected and Installed at a meeting on 21st March 1822, eight days later.
Bro. Carless remained in the Chair for 14 months until 21st May 1823 when Bro. Proctor was both elected and Installed at the same meeting. The irregularity of this period did not apply just to the dates of the meetings!
On 6th April 1829 the Lodge was honoured by a visit from Bro. Sir Sidney Smith, known everywhere as “SSS”, a Rear Admiral and hero of the Napoleonic wars, a somewhat unconventional celebrity described as “a very English buccaneering hero”. He introduced his nephew Edward Beaumont Smith whose progress in the Lodge was swift. Raised on January 4th 1830 and invested as JW at the same meeting and Installed in the chair in January 1832, 3 years after his Initiation. Sir Sidney Smith was proposed as an honorary member at the next meeting on April 27th and elected at the following meeting in October.
On December 3rd 1832 Henry Mayhew, the noted author and journalist and co-founder of “Punch”, the satirical magazine, was Initiated. His masterpiece “London Labour and the London Poor” was used as background material by Charles Dickens for his novels. The Lodge still has his GL certificate amongst its memorabilia.
The Lodge settled into more regular meetings in the 1830s when there were between 6 and 9 meetings each year. Like most Lodges, St John’s suffered from loss of members from time to time and in 1842 & 1843 there were only two meetings in each year with an acting WM for each one.
The Brethren also enjoyed themselves outside the Lodge and in May 1831 Bro E B Smith proposed that “the Brethren do have a jollyfication at Greenwich in July” which was carried unanimously. Prior to this time the business of the Lodge was conducted after the dinner and looking at the amount of food and wine consumed as shown on the tavern bills it is no surprise that the Audit Report in January 1833 commended the WM for adopting “the Plan of transacting the Business of the Lodge before Dinner” which plan was continued thereafter.
Following the “jollyfication” in 1831, Summer or Recreation dinners to which Ladies were invited, usually held in July, became a regular feature of St John’s social life and continued for many years, including in 1847 a proposal that ladies be admitted to the Dinner “on which occasion the Brethren to appear in full Craft Costume.”
In March 1868 it was proposed that “the necessary steps be taken to provide the Lodge with a Centenary Jewel” and further proposed that a Committee obtain information as to design and cost and at the next meeting in November that the Grand Master be petitioned to grant the Lodge a Centenary Jewel. In November 1869 Bro Patten PGSB, representing Grand Lodge, presented to the WM the Warrant of Dispensation, dated 18th March 1869, and signed by the Earl of Zetland, Grand Master, granting permission for the wearing of the Centenary Jewel, stating that the St John’s Lodge had now completed the Centenary of its existence.
Under the date 10th December, 1883, the death is recorded of W. Bro. Joseph Eglise, who had been initiated in 1849, was Master in 1850 and 1851, and Treasurer since 1858, a period of 25 years. He was one of the founders of the FitzRoy Lodge, together with Stephen Henry Lee PM its first WM, which was sponsored by St John’s and consecrated in 1849.
On 12th November, 1894, a silver bowl was presented to W. Bro. W. R. Stephens, who was elected a member of the Lodge in 1846, was Honorary Secretary from 1861 to 1868 and Treasurer from 1884, to 1893; and on 2nd April, 1897, a testimonial, signed by every member, was sent to him on his completion of 50 years’ membership of the Lodge.
It is interesting to note that DC had not been an office in the Lodge until January 1862 when a “Master of Ceremonies” was appointed for the first time. Prior to 1870 the WM was Installed in the Third Degree, the first mention of a Lodge of Installed Masters being minuted in January 1870 and this eventually being termed a Board of Installed Masters in 1899. The first mention of opening and closing hymns being sung occurs on 8th January, 1897.
The first meeting recorded was at the Bee-Hive Tavern in Deptford Creek on 13th February 1822. There were four members present and five visitors, four of whom became joining members having been duly elected. At the next meeting 19 days later on 13th March 1822, resignations were received from five of the original members, including the Worshipful Master, Bro. Jeans. Brother Carless, having joined only at the previous meeting was proposed as WM, and was both elected and Installed at a meeting on 21st March 1822, eight days later.
Bro. Carless remained in the Chair for 14 months until 21st May 1823 when Bro. Proctor was both elected and Installed at the same meeting. The irregularity of this period did not apply just to the dates of the meetings!
On 6th April 1829 the Lodge was honoured by a visit from Bro. Sir Sidney Smith, known everywhere as “SSS”, a Rear Admiral and hero of the Napoleonic wars, a somewhat unconventional celebrity described as “a very English buccaneering hero”. He introduced his nephew Edward Beaumont Smith whose progress in the Lodge was swift. Raised on January 4th 1830 and invested as JW at the same meeting and Installed in the chair in January 1832, 3 years after his Initiation. Sir Sidney Smith was proposed as an honorary member at the next meeting on April 27th and elected at the following meeting in October.
On December 3rd 1832 Henry Mayhew, the noted author and journalist and co-founder of “Punch”, the satirical magazine, was Initiated. His masterpiece “London Labour and the London Poor” was used as background material by Charles Dickens for his novels. The Lodge still has his GL certificate amongst its memorabilia.
The Lodge settled into more regular meetings in the 1830s when there were between 6 and 9 meetings each year. Like most Lodges, St John’s suffered from loss of members from time to time and in 1842 & 1843 there were only two meetings in each year with an acting WM for each one.
The Brethren also enjoyed themselves outside the Lodge and in May 1831 Bro E B Smith proposed that “the Brethren do have a jollyfication at Greenwich in July” which was carried unanimously. Prior to this time the business of the Lodge was conducted after the dinner and looking at the amount of food and wine consumed as shown on the tavern bills it is no surprise that the Audit Report in January 1833 commended the WM for adopting “the Plan of transacting the Business of the Lodge before Dinner” which plan was continued thereafter.
Following the “jollyfication” in 1831, Summer or Recreation dinners to which Ladies were invited, usually held in July, became a regular feature of St John’s social life and continued for many years, including in 1847 a proposal that ladies be admitted to the Dinner “on which occasion the Brethren to appear in full Craft Costume.”
In March 1868 it was proposed that “the necessary steps be taken to provide the Lodge with a Centenary Jewel” and further proposed that a Committee obtain information as to design and cost and at the next meeting in November that the Grand Master be petitioned to grant the Lodge a Centenary Jewel. In November 1869 Bro Patten PGSB, representing Grand Lodge, presented to the WM the Warrant of Dispensation, dated 18th March 1869, and signed by the Earl of Zetland, Grand Master, granting permission for the wearing of the Centenary Jewel, stating that the St John’s Lodge had now completed the Centenary of its existence.
Under the date 10th December, 1883, the death is recorded of W. Bro. Joseph Eglise, who had been initiated in 1849, was Master in 1850 and 1851, and Treasurer since 1858, a period of 25 years. He was one of the founders of the FitzRoy Lodge, together with Stephen Henry Lee PM its first WM, which was sponsored by St John’s and consecrated in 1849.
On 12th November, 1894, a silver bowl was presented to W. Bro. W. R. Stephens, who was elected a member of the Lodge in 1846, was Honorary Secretary from 1861 to 1868 and Treasurer from 1884, to 1893; and on 2nd April, 1897, a testimonial, signed by every member, was sent to him on his completion of 50 years’ membership of the Lodge.
It is interesting to note that DC had not been an office in the Lodge until January 1862 when a “Master of Ceremonies” was appointed for the first time. Prior to 1870 the WM was Installed in the Third Degree, the first mention of a Lodge of Installed Masters being minuted in January 1870 and this eventually being termed a Board of Installed Masters in 1899. The first mention of opening and closing hymns being sung occurs on 8th January, 1897.
1900-1950 Modern Times
On 1st February, 1901, the Lodge went into mourning for three months for Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria. On this date no banquet was held after the meeting as a mark of respect.
The meeting held on 15th December, 1914, was the first since the outbreak of war. No official banquet was held following the meeting.
On 18th January, 1916, the resignation of a member of the Lodge, of alien birth, was accepted with regret after the receipt of a letter from the Grand Secretary stating that no exceptions whatever were provided for in the Resolution passed by Grand Lodge. The member in question had actually lost his son in fighting for this Country.
A minute dated 20th March, 1917, records that thirteen members of the Lodge were then serving in His Majesty’s forces. Lt. Col Aschwanden was congratulated on his D.S.O. and Major Williamson on his M.C.
On the 17th January, 1922, it was reported that Grand Lodge had been notified that it was the intention of the Lodge to become a Hall Stone Lodge in connection with the Masonic
Million Memorial Fund: and on the 17th March, 1925, a sufficient sum was voted to complete the amount required.
The meeting on 21st November, 1939, was the first after the outbreak of war. It was resolved that the wartime emergency subscription should be £1.10.0 and that no banquets should be held. Following the cessation of hostilities, on 15th January 1946 the Lodge was honoured by the presence of Sir Frank Newson-Smith, Bart., Junior Grand Warden. After the war the Lodge was once again thriving and numbers were increasing. At the Installation of W Bro Harold Smith in 1951 there were 30 members present and 43 guests and these numbers continued throughout the 1950s.
On 1st February, 1901, the Lodge went into mourning for three months for Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria. On this date no banquet was held after the meeting as a mark of respect.
The meeting held on 15th December, 1914, was the first since the outbreak of war. No official banquet was held following the meeting.
On 18th January, 1916, the resignation of a member of the Lodge, of alien birth, was accepted with regret after the receipt of a letter from the Grand Secretary stating that no exceptions whatever were provided for in the Resolution passed by Grand Lodge. The member in question had actually lost his son in fighting for this Country.
A minute dated 20th March, 1917, records that thirteen members of the Lodge were then serving in His Majesty’s forces. Lt. Col Aschwanden was congratulated on his D.S.O. and Major Williamson on his M.C.
On the 17th January, 1922, it was reported that Grand Lodge had been notified that it was the intention of the Lodge to become a Hall Stone Lodge in connection with the Masonic
Million Memorial Fund: and on the 17th March, 1925, a sufficient sum was voted to complete the amount required.
The meeting on 21st November, 1939, was the first after the outbreak of war. It was resolved that the wartime emergency subscription should be £1.10.0 and that no banquets should be held. Following the cessation of hostilities, on 15th January 1946 the Lodge was honoured by the presence of Sir Frank Newson-Smith, Bart., Junior Grand Warden. After the war the Lodge was once again thriving and numbers were increasing. At the Installation of W Bro Harold Smith in 1951 there were 30 members present and 43 guests and these numbers continued throughout the 1950s.
1951- 2013 Up-to date
In 1963 The Lodge was granted a dispensation for an emergency meeting in connection with the application for the celebration of the bi-centenary.
The bicentenary meeting took place on the 22nd May 1963 when the guest of honour was the Right Worshipful deputy Grand Master the Rt Hon Earl Cadogan, accompanied by the VW Grand Secretary and the VW Grand Chaplain who delivered a very interesting oration.
The numbers continued to be high during the sixties and seventies and on into the eighties but like many London Lodges began to reduce as the Lodge progressed into the new century probably due to changing work patterns in the capital.
Very little occurred to disturb the even tenor of the meetings during the second half of the twentieth century, although one event was the loss of the old minute books giving the complete record of the Lodges activities since 1822. This was discovered in November 1966, they seemed to have disappeared without trace and were given up as lost. Then, almost miraculously it seemed, they were recovered some twenty years later in June 1988 having been rescued from a rubbish tip during a house demolition by a foreman who happened to be a Mason and realised their value to St John’s and returned them to us.
They were taken into the care of W Bro Peter Denhard, an inspirational figure for St John’s during the fifty years he was a member. Initiated in 1960 he rose through the offices and served as WM on three occasions, was Treasurer from 1990 to 1999 and Almoner for many years thereafter and was promoted to Grand rank in 1991, the first Grand officer in the history of the Lodge. He was appointed archivist of the Lodge and undertook the task of researching the history, and instituted the practice of reading an extract from the Antient minutes at each meeting and arranged for the minute books which were still in their original covers to be rebound to keep them secure.
During this period we had the notable presence of four members of the same family in the Lodge. In 1965 the late Brian Burch was Initiated, in 1969 his father was Initiated and as WM in 1973 Brian Initiated his brother Martyn Burch, our current Master and then in 1982 the fourth member of the family, Colin Burch our current JW was Initiated and every member of the family has played a significant role in St John’s over the past nearly half-century.
The minute books and the memorabilia of the Lodge are now kept in preservation standard storage material thanks to a grant from the Library and Museum at FMH and will be passed on to our successors to enjoy the story of the Lodge from its beginnings in 1763 and they can look forward to the next celebration of St John’s Lodge No. 90 in fifty years time.
In 1963 The Lodge was granted a dispensation for an emergency meeting in connection with the application for the celebration of the bi-centenary.
The bicentenary meeting took place on the 22nd May 1963 when the guest of honour was the Right Worshipful deputy Grand Master the Rt Hon Earl Cadogan, accompanied by the VW Grand Secretary and the VW Grand Chaplain who delivered a very interesting oration.
The numbers continued to be high during the sixties and seventies and on into the eighties but like many London Lodges began to reduce as the Lodge progressed into the new century probably due to changing work patterns in the capital.
Very little occurred to disturb the even tenor of the meetings during the second half of the twentieth century, although one event was the loss of the old minute books giving the complete record of the Lodges activities since 1822. This was discovered in November 1966, they seemed to have disappeared without trace and were given up as lost. Then, almost miraculously it seemed, they were recovered some twenty years later in June 1988 having been rescued from a rubbish tip during a house demolition by a foreman who happened to be a Mason and realised their value to St John’s and returned them to us.
They were taken into the care of W Bro Peter Denhard, an inspirational figure for St John’s during the fifty years he was a member. Initiated in 1960 he rose through the offices and served as WM on three occasions, was Treasurer from 1990 to 1999 and Almoner for many years thereafter and was promoted to Grand rank in 1991, the first Grand officer in the history of the Lodge. He was appointed archivist of the Lodge and undertook the task of researching the history, and instituted the practice of reading an extract from the Antient minutes at each meeting and arranged for the minute books which were still in their original covers to be rebound to keep them secure.
During this period we had the notable presence of four members of the same family in the Lodge. In 1965 the late Brian Burch was Initiated, in 1969 his father was Initiated and as WM in 1973 Brian Initiated his brother Martyn Burch, our current Master and then in 1982 the fourth member of the family, Colin Burch our current JW was Initiated and every member of the family has played a significant role in St John’s over the past nearly half-century.
The minute books and the memorabilia of the Lodge are now kept in preservation standard storage material thanks to a grant from the Library and Museum at FMH and will be passed on to our successors to enjoy the story of the Lodge from its beginnings in 1763 and they can look forward to the next celebration of St John’s Lodge No. 90 in fifty years time.
St John's Lodge Original Meeting Location in 1763
