Felix Lodge No.1494 - 140 Years of History
1874 – 2014
Felix is Latin for “Happy” or “Fortunate”
The Lodge crest bears the Latin "Floreat Caritas" for which two translations seem appropriate, either "May Charity Flourish" or "May Dearness Flourish" both seem particularly appropriate.
Felix Lodge was Consecrated on 30th May 1874 at the Clarence Hotel Teddington
In order to provide some historical reference and set the scene here are some other events that happened in 1874.
The Beginning
Felix Lodge No. 1494 became the 19th Lodge in the fledgling Province of Middlesex, which had its inaugural meeting, also at the Clarence Hotel Teddington, on Saturday 22nd January 1870. The Clarence Hotel is a bar and restaurant today and now known as “The Park” at 19 Park Road Teddington. It is now a grade II listed building, having been listed in 1983.
The Province of Middlesex had started with the “The Eight Originals” Royal Union 382, Carnavon 708, Crescent 788, Dalhousie 865, Strawberry Hill 946, Villiers 1194, Enfield 1237 and Gooch 1238, and by the end of 1874 the role of Middlesex Lodges had risen to 20 with Felix No.1494 being registered as the 19th.
Strangely enough in 2013 Felix was still 19th Lodge in the Province and whilst “The Eight Originals” all remain Felix would have been 16th if 3 London Lodges; Royal Jubilee 72, Lodge of Harmony 255 & South Middlesex 858 had not joined the Province between 1971 and 1990. Bard of Avon Lodge 778 was originally a Warwickshire Lodge but moved to Middlesex in 1872 just two years before Felix was consecrated.
The patent for Felix Lodge was signed by the Rt. Hon. The Earl of Zetland K.T., M.W. Grand Master. The R.W. Provincial Grand Master Francis Burdett deputed the Provincial Grand Secretary W.Bro. R. Wentworth Little to perform the Ceremony of Consecration for Felix Lodge 1494 and among the 39 distinguished brethren present were V.W.Bro. John Hervey, W.Bro. J.C. Parkinson JGD, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, the Grand Tyler and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master for East Lothian.
The V.W.Bro. John Hervey was the 4th Grand Secretary to serve the United Grand Lodge of England and W.Bro. J.C. Parkinson JGD was a tireless worker against the social evils of the late Victorian era whose associates included Charles Dickens, his brother Alfred, Sir Arthur Pinero and Sir Edward Letchworth who later became the Grand Secretary for 25 years and where the shop in Grand Lodge gets its name.
The Consecrating vessels used at the inauguration of the Felix Lodge were lent for the occasion by permission of V.W.Bro. Sir Albert W. Woods GDC and the customary address was given by W.Bro. R. Wentworth Little. The petition by the 7 founding members read:
“To the M.W. the Grand Master of the United Fraternity of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England: We the undersigned, being regular registered Masons of the Lodges mentioned against our respective names, having the prosperity of the Craft at heart, are anxious to exert our best endeavours to promote and diffuse the genuine principles of the art; and for the convenience of our respective dwellings and other good reasons we are desirous of forming a new Lodge, to be named the Felix Lodge. In consequence of this desire we pray for a warrant of Constitution empowering us to meet as a regular Lodge at the Clarence Hotel, Teddington on the third Saturday of the months of April, May, June and July, and there to discharge the duties of Masonry in a constitutional manner, according to the forms of Order and the laws of the Grand Lodge: and we have nominated and do recommend Bro. Edward Bartlett Grabham to be the first Master, Bro. Major George Barlow to be the first Senior Warden and Bro. Felix Sumner Knyvett to be the first Junior Warden, of the said Lodge. The prayer of this petition being granted, we promise strict obedience to the commands of the Grand Master and the laws and regulations of Grand Lodge.”
The seven founding members signing this petition were:
Edward Bartlett Grabham Lodge No.19
Major George Barlow Lodges No.321 & No.1383
Felix Sumner Knyvett Lodge No.58
Daniel Nicholson Lodge No.19
Isaac Coalbank Lodge No.1293
John William Sanders Lodge No.1293
David Bindoff Lodge No.1293
Felix Sumner Knyvett was born in 1840 and died in 1906. According to the 1881 census he was a Bank Clerk and Justice of the Peace in Hertfordshire. He was the only son of Felix Knyvett of Ashwellthorpe Watford Hertfordshire. He had his own coat of arms. He was a life member of the Kent Archaeological Society and his father had been secretary to a bishop, although which one is not clear.
Isaac Coalbank was born in 1844 and died 5th May 1917. He is thought to have been a Doctor.
At this time there is no further information on the founders of the Lodge, although further research is possible using the chargeable genealogy websites. There are no notes or minutes from early meetings but it is thought that the Lodge was named Felix and the first Junior Warden had Felix as a Christian name was just coincidence.
Despite the Lodge’s name meaning “Happy” or “Fortunate” in Latin, the first meeting was far from fortunate or happy. Following the consecration the first working meeting of the Lodge was held on 20th June 1874, when 4 EA’s were initiated in one evening. They were Thomas Archer, an Architect, George Cholmely Cattlin, an insurance broker, Edward Edmundson Whitford, a stockbroker and Edward Alfred Wooley, a solicitor and their ceremony was taken separately up to the obligation. It was at this meeting that 2 of the founding members swiftly resigned, with no reason being recorded. The two members who left were Bro. Sanders IG & Bro. Coalbank JD. Not a great start.
The four new members were Passed and Raised at the July meeting and at an emergency meeting in August. This meant that they went from initiate to Master Masons in seven weeks.
During the first year of the Lodge’s existence Bro. Knyvett donated a “very handsome oak Master’s chair” and by the end of the year the inventory showed a variety of furniture, working tools and other masonic items, then most notable of which were 2 dozen firing glasses. Most of these are use at the festive board today.
It seems that the Lodge may have overstretched itself though, as when the Treasurer, Bro. D. Nicholson, presented the first Lodge accounts he recorded that the Lodge was in debt by £54, 14s 9d, which was owed to 6 of the brethren. This situation was resolved by the audit committee, in their meeting outside the Lodge, the first of which was held at the Jamaica Coffee House Cornhill.
The minutes of 5th May 1875 record the presentation to W.Bro. Edward Bartlett Grabham of the first Past Masters Jewel of Felix, which cost 5 guineas. The jewel was presented “as a small acknowledgement of the great ability, tact and good will he has displayed during his year in office.”
This jewel was clearly well deserved as it was recorded that W.Bro. Edward Bartlett Grabham performed 2 Initiations, followed by 2 Passings and then promptly installed his successor into the Chair of King Solomon in a single meeting. The following year he was appointed Provincial Senior Grand Warden for Middlesex.
In 1876, having left the chair, he became secretary and although he held this position until 1878, and again from 1880 to his death in 1883 his immaculate copper-plate handwriting can be seen in the early minute books from 1876 to 1883. It was clear that Bro. Grabham was a very valuable and respected member of the Lodge, as on 17th June 1882 he was presented with a gold watch inscribed “Presented by the Felix Lodge 1494 to Bro. Edward b. Grabham, PM, Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden Middlesex & Secretary, in recognition of valuable and efficient services rendered to the Lodge.” Sadly, Bro. Grabham had the watch stolen, almost immediately after having left the Lodge. On hearing this news several of the brethren clubbed together and brought a replacement out of their own personal funds. So if any brother should come across such a watch on e-bay today there is a 50% chance its stolen goods!
The Venues
The Lodge continued to meet regularly at the Clarence Hotel Teddington, where it had been consecrated, until an emergency meeting was called on 11th October 1882, where the Lodge learnt that the Hotel was no longer able to accommodate masonic meetings. Great difficulty was experienced finding a suitable location within the Province on a Saturday night, so the Lodge petitioned the Provincial Grand Master that it might be allowed to meet in London. Tentative arrangements were made to meet in the Grosvenor Gallery in New Bond Street but the PGM refused to grant permission for this move.
More hard work by Bro. Grabham lead to him writing to the members on 9th June 1883, the letter was headed “Removal of the Lodge” and explained that the proprietor of the Mitre Hotel, Hampton Court had considerably increased his capacity to accommodate Lodge meetings and that Felix Lodge would be able to hold their future meetings there on the first Saturday in April, May, June & July.
The Mitre had become a popular venue for the Georgian and Victorian fashion of the “Summer Lodge”, as a pleasing relaxation from London society. These included Bard of Avon Lodge and the Hampton Court Mark.
Reading into the Hotel’s history either Tom Saddler or his son Charles would have been the proprietor at the time, as Tom was the manager of the hotel for many years when it was owned by the Goodman family and purchased it from them when Mr. Goodman retired.
The was no clear record of how much Lodge dues were at its consecration, but in 1876 they were raised to 3 guineas. In 1883 Bro. Grabham’s letter explained that the unforeseen circumstances have lead to an increase to £2 2s per session. The hotel did have a reputation for good food.
The Lodge seemed to settle well in its new home at the Mitre hotel and continued to meet there, despite changing social circumstances and 2 world wars, until October 1971, when it was decided to move to the then new Twickenham District Masonic Centre at Cole Court London Road Twickenham, where it has remained to date.
Felix Lodge was amongst the founding Lodges of the Twickenham and District Masonic Centre at Cole Court. Despite having been settled in Cole Court for over 42 years the Lodge still tries to recreate the atmosphere of those early meetings at The Clarence & Mitre Hotels at the festive board in several ways:
The snuff box was presented to W.Bro Frank Baden Fuller PrSGD in 1944 to mark his jubilee in Felix, his mother Lodge. Seven years later, in March 1952, his son returned it to the Lodge after his father’s passing, with the request that the Lodge passes it at the festive board, a tradition that is still observed 62 years later. And yes the snuff is changed on a regular basis, that’s not 62 years old!
A more recent addition to the table at the festive board table is the sword. This sword was presented to the Lodge by Bro. A.W. Chase PPJGW, known as Charles, a former Naval Officer. It was his dress sword which he donated to the Lodge. He served as Secretary from 1980-1988 and was Master of the Lodge in 1966 & 1979. Bro. Chase was another secretary of Felix Lodge who had impressive copper-plate handwriting.
Charitable Giving
Although never large in membership Felix Lodge has played its part in supporting the Masonic and local charities. At the 10th Anniversary meeting in July 1884 the Lodge donated the sum of 20 guineas from Lodge funds to “our Great Masonic Charities” but this donation was made in the names of Founders, Bro. Felix Sumner Knyvett (Treasurer) and Bro. Francis Bradley Archer (Secretary) in recognition of their service to the Lodge.
Felix Lodge were contributors to a special fund in 1887 as part of the celebrations for HRH Queen Victoria’s Jubilee marking her 50th year on the throne. In May 1924, to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Felix Lodge, a donation of 139 guineas was made to the “Freemasons Hospital & Nursing Home” a building opened some 10 years previously and for the greater part of the First World War used as a military hospital.
This charitable tradition has continued throughout the life of the Lodge and, more recently, Felix Lodge achieved Vice Patron and Patron status in the Middlesex 1998 & 2009 Festivals.
Military Masons in Felix Lodge
The Felix Lodge was founded by mainly Medics and professional businessmen from the worlds of Finance, Insurance, Architecture and particularly the Law but having existed through 2 World Wars there have been many members that have served their country in military service.
This began with the outbreak of the Boar war on 10th October 1899. In March 1900 two members of Felix Lodge were amongst the men serving in South Africa – Bro. Major Gratton and Bro. Captain Bateman. Fortunately, despite the severity of the fighting and the war continuing until the Treaty of Vereeninging was signed in May 1902 to end the Boar War, both brothers returned safely to the Lodge and Bro. Gratton was promptly invested as Junior Warden.
At the May meeting in 1914 the Senior Warden Bro. Fargus was elected Master for the ensuing year but the First World War broke out in August and by the November meeting he was on active service. It was proposed that Bro. Fargus’s installation be deferred and W.Bro. H Pullman PM, PGStwd continue as Master for a further year. It was decided that all serving brethren would be put on the country members list for the duration of the war.
The minutes of the 6th March 1915 record, with great regret, the death of Bro. Fargus, killed in action and by the January meeting the brethren were mourning the loss of Bro. Rigby M.C too, also killed in action.
This is recorded on the "Masonic Great War Project" which is a searchable database purely on Freemasons who took part in and died in the course of their duty during the Great War of 1914-1918
Bro. H Pullman PM presented the Lodge with a loving cup at the next meeting on 4th March 1916 to mark his two successive years as WM and decided that it should be dedicated to those members of Felix Lodge who were in active service during the war, especially those who made the supreme sacrifice in the cause of their King and their Country.
The Names recorded on the Pullman Cup are:
Bro. Fargus – 9th Queen Victoria Rifles, killed 1st January 1915 in France
Bro. Captain FJ Rigby MC – Seaforth Highlanders, killed 21st January 1916 in Mesopotamia
Bro. Major AF Hess – 8th West Yorkshire Regiment (Leeds Rifles) died of wounds 14th July 1916
Serving Brethren
Bro. Brigadier General Bernard Montague Bateman CM, GRA
W.Bro. Major John Herbert Bankes Royal Army Medical Corps
Bro. Gunner Charles Smith Bradley Sussex GA
W.Bro. Captain Gordon Forbes Elmslie 6th East Surrey Regiment
W.Bro. Captain Gerald Cozens Pullman OBE 6th East Surrey Regiment (Son of Bro. H Pullman)
Bro. Lieutenant John Grafton Fairfax Ross RE
W.Bro. Captain Aubone Alfred Surtees 3rd Northumberland Fusiliers
W.Bro. Gerald Pullman OBE (PM 1921) PPGReg Died in 1938
The Pullman Cup was restored in 1969 and it is still passed round the Lodge every year at the installation meeting festive board, where every Brother present drinks from it and the names inscribed on the cup are read aloud. This year will have a special significance being the centenary of the start of World War I.
At the 4th March meeting 1940, with the Second World War having broken out, it was decided that the subscription fee should remain at 4 guineas with a nominal fee of 1 guinea for the four Felix members serving in the armed forces. These were:
Bro. Clifford Charles Bass
Bro. Gerald Brett (an archaeologist, Assistant Keeper of the Victoria & Albert Museum, a member of the Keystone Lodge No.10 and subsequently Prestonian Lecturer in 1961)
W.Bro. John Graham PrGReg (Royal Marines)
Bro. Maurice Shearme
Bro. Brett was taken prisoner of War in Germany. Bro. Bass was first taken prisoner in Italy, escaped, was recaptured and imprisoned again in Germany.
Noteworthy Past Members of Felix Lodge
Clearly, all of the past members who served in the armed forces are noteworthy but there have been others in the last 140 years who should be mentioned for their achievements within or outside Freemasonry.
In November 1919, the first year of peace, the minutes record “That the members of Felix Lodge, of which Bro. Sir EE Cooper is the oldest living member in the Lodge assembled, offer to him their most sincere and fraternal congratulations on his selection to the high office of Lord Mayor of the City of London, and their best wishes for a happy and prosperous year….”
Alderman Sir Edward Ernest Cooper Bt PGW, was initiated in the Felix Lodge in September 1878. Starting life with an education at a dame’s school in Bayswater kept by Horatia, the Daughter of Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton, he entered Lloyds and subsequently enjoyed a notable civic career.
He had many interests apart from Masonry, he was chairman of the Royal Academy of Music and sang regularly in the voluntary choir at St. Paul’s Cathedral for 20 years. He was knighted in 1913 and when he was made Lord Mayor of London he was only the third person from Lloyds to do so.
In April 1882, at the peak of his career, Sir William Emerson, the distinguished architect and president of the Royal Institute of British Architects was initiated in the Felix Lodge and remained an active member for 44 years until shortly before his death.
William Emerson's principal works include the Church of St Mary & St James, St James Street, Brighton (1877–189), and the Clarence Wing of St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London. However his major works were carried out in India where he practised from 1866 until the late 1870s.
These include Crawford Market Bombay, All Saints College Allahabad; Muir College and the Victoria Memorial in Calcutta
There have been a number of Legal Luminaries in Felix Lodge over the years and one of the earliest was W.Bro. William John Jeeves KC. He was initiated in St Peter’s Lodge No. 442 Cambridgeshire in 1886 but when he was called to the bar in 1903 he joined Felix Lodge in 1904 and was Master within five years. He was probably the only man to have resigned from the important clerkship of the Corporation of Leeds to become a successful “silk”.
A more recent member of the Lodge who had an interesting career was W.Bro. Philip Percy Parker PPJGW. W.Bro. Parker was initiated in Felix Lodge in 1957, was Master in 1963 and again in 1980, Treasurer from 1972 to 1979 and again in 1997. He also served as Provincial Grand Treasurer and you may have guessed by now he was a professional accountant.
With a dry wit and a wry smile Bro. Philip was a very popular member of the Lodge and he was a very discreet man. For it was not until after his death in 2008 that the members of the Lodge discovered that he was the accountant for a number of well know entertainers including Led Zepplin, James Galway, Yul Bynner and Sir Cliff Richard.
He was so well liked and admired by his clients that he continued to work for James Galway and Sir Cliff Richard for many years after he had official retired. When asked if he was busy at a lodge meeting, he replied “since my retirement things have slowed down a lot but I have kept a couple of special clients who I work for who keep me busy” Only years later we discovered who those special clients were.
In terms of masonic achievement there have been a number of past members of Felix Lodge deserving of a mention in the Lodge’s History:
Members of Felix have included 2 Provincial Grand Masters – R.W.Bro. J Herbert Bankes and Lt. Col. Philip Bull respectively – and among the distinguished honorary members taking an active part in Felix affairs we proudly number V.W Bro. John Howell Evans PGD in turn Provincial Grand Secretary, Assistant and then Deputy Grand Master serving R.W.Bro. Alexander Burnett Brown and HRH Albert Duke of York KG (later King George VI).
Bro. Bankes MRCS LRCP DL a private member of the Lodge joined Felix from Lanesborough Lodge No.3029 and his devotion to Felix was such that he served as Master in 1920, 1944 and 1945. Seven years after his first Mastership he was appointed Provincial Grand Secretary, ten years later being promoted to Assistant Grand Master, then Deputy grand Master.
At the march 1928 meeting HRH Albert Duke of York PGM and V.W. Bro. J Howell Evans PGD were elected honorary members for Felix Lodge.
On May 5th 1951 R.W.Bro Philip Cecil Bull DSO TD, the 6th Grand Master of the Province was proudly welcomed as a joining member of Felix Lodge. This was only his 3rd Lodge membership in Middlesex and the only Lodge he joined after his appointment to PGM.
The Centenary Meeting
The Centenary meeting of Felix Lodge was held in its new home at Twickenham and District Masonic Centre Cole Court in London Road on 24th September 1974. Incidentally, the first meeting at Cole Court was the 400th meeting and was held Tuesday 2nd November 1971.
Presiding over the meeting was the Worshipful Master Bro. Alexander Ronald King, know to everyone as Bro.Ron, his officers were:
SW Bro. R. Stotesbury,
JW Bro. TT Winslow,
Treasurer W.Bro. PP Parker Prov. G Treas,
Secretary W.Bro. LS Deal PPJGD, known as Bro. Sean
DC W.Bro AWA Chase
SD Bro. WJK Smith
JD BRO. BF Earnest
ADC W.Bro. LJ Bentley PPGDC PProv G Treas
IG W.Bro CJ Crane PPAGDC
Tyler W.Bro. HW Stephens PPGStdB
There were 11 members present in addition to the officers listed, 8 official guests and 41 other guests. This was probably the best attended meeting in the Lodge’s history.
The official guests included:
PGM RW.Bro. AS Hollins OBE MD
PProv.GM RW.Bro. N Moore MA (who has the main temple at Cole Court names after)
Asst. PGM W.Bro. Arthur Roberts
Asst. PGM W.Bro. Rev. W. Hutchinson
Asst. Prov. G Chaplin W.Bro. REV JE Penney
PGSec W.Bro Kenneth S Clarke
PGDC W.Bro. Vernon Barry DFV
Asst.PGSec W.Bro Alfred Gann.
The only regular work on that day was to present a GL certificate to Bro. David R Beney the rest of the meeting was taken up with official centenary matters.
They dined well at the festive board though with a starter for smoked salmon followed by a French onion soup, both accompanied by a 1970 Bernkasteler white win; main course was roast rib of beef with Yorkshire pudding, broccoli hollandaise, carrots vichy, roast and boiled potatoes. The beef was accompanied by a 1969 Beaune red wine. Desert was Annas au Kirsch and as normal they ended up with Cheese & biscuits, port and coffee.
Traditions of Felix Lodge
With an insight into the history for this Lodge from the early years meeting on a Saturday night at the Clarence Hotel in Teddington, moving to the Mitre Hotel at Hampton Court you can start to form a mental picture of how our members enjoyed their Freemasonry.
The minutes document the incredible amount of work carried out in the early meetings but they also allude to some very fancy dining and extravagant festive boards. It was mentioned that the brethren would often go for a walk along the river at Hampton Court before the festive board on a Saturday night in the summer before settling down to a 5 or 6 course meal, with Champagne, wine, port and brandy; all by candle light of course.
It seems clear that these brethren, almost exclusively professional people, many from the medical, financial and legal professions saw Felix Lodge as a place to enjoy Freemasonry and relax; relieving some of the pressures of their professional life. This is thought to be the reason why our members don’t wear gloves and why there is a relaxed atmosphere in the Lodge meetings.
This is why we always switch off the electric lights when the staff have finished serving at festive board in an attempt to recreate some of the atmosphere that would have existing at the early meetings. The passing of the port and the snuff box also add to this ambience.
Also we use of the remaining Firing glasses from the original 2 dozen for firing our toasts today. It is wonderful to think back that there is a good chance that the firing glass you will use tonight was in the hands of a prolific Victorian architect, a former Lord Mayor of London, an Assistant Grand Master, or one of the other prominent guests who have visited the Lodge over the years.
Another, some feel slightly odd, tradition of Felix is the absence of music and singing in our meetings and at our festive boards. We have heard one of our early members regularly sang in St. Paul’s Cathedral for over 20 years but it is a tradition of the Lodge, and one that the senior members of the Lodge have passed on to the junior members. Having heard many of the brethren sing maybe this tradition is not such a bad one! The Opening and Closing Odes are not sung, we don’t normally sing the national anthem and we don’t sing grace. There is no Master’s song on installation meetings either.
The reason for this stems back to the old times at the Mitre Hotel when music and singing were not permitted, whether that was an issue with the Hotel’s license it’s unclear but since 1883 there has been not singing or music in Felix Lodge, except at the end of the Centenary meeting when it was felt appropriate to sing the first verse of the national anthem but still no odes were sung, despite the presence of the PGM and many other distinguished brethren.
You may have noted during the section on Charitable Giving that the Felix Lodge has always taken its obligation to charity very seriously but this has always been done without holding a raffle. Again, some might find it strange, but it is a passed down tradition that Felix Lodge does not hold raffles. There is no documented reason for this.
Up until very recently it was the tradition of the Lodge to read the minutes of the meeting held 100 years previously to the last regular meeting. It was always a treat to hear the normal business of the Lodge from 100 years ago, how a brother was proposing an initiate, who might have a London address and a country residence or in one notable instance a candidate put their occupation as “Gentleman”.
This tradition was maintained from 1974 to 2013 but sadly several of the small minute books covering the period immediately before the 1st World War until the 1950’s were lost and so, sadly, this tradition cannot be upheld for another 40 years or so.
Although not strictly a tradition, more of a characteristic, the Lodge has always been low in numbers. This is not just a current trend, it was noted in the minutes 4th April 1896 and 1st April 1899 that the Felix Lodge was unable to meet, there being not enough members to form a quorum! But nevertheless, it has continued through the Boer War, the First & Second World Wars and now 140 years on it is still meeting. By the centenary meeting the Lodge had only had 219 members of whom 135 were initiates.
Looking down the list of Past Masters it would seem that being a Master more than once is almost a tradition in the Lodge. There are no less than 23 Masters, including our current Worshipful Master Bro. Noubar (in 2014), who have served as master on more than one occasion. W.Bro. Frank Baden Fuller served as Master of Felix Lodge on four occasions in 1899, 1918, 1942 & 1943 this being the most by any member. In fact only 110 different members have been Master over the 140 years of the Lodges existence.
There have been only 13 different secretaries since the Lodge began, and if you exclude the two members who served less than 2 years each this works out at nearly 13 years each on average. There are the same statistics with the Treasurer’s office too, discounting the 2 members that undertook the office for 2 years or less there have be 13 Treasurers.
In November 1899 Felix Lodge had changed its meetings from Saturdays to Wednesdays in April May, June & July, later they were switched back to Saturdays and in 1950 the current format of Tuesday nights in March, April, September and November were adopted.
Closing Thoughts
Whether the naming of the Lodge had anything to do with Felix Sumner Knyvett, our founding member, or not it seems a very appropriate name when you look at the Latin meaning for Felix - “Happy” or “Fortunate”.
Happy no doubt the members have been over the years, for much is owed to the all the Masons that made Felix Lodge what it is today. “We shall have but one aim in view, to please each other and unite in the grand design of being happy and communicating happiness”; these are sentiments dear to the heart of a Felix member.
The Lodge has undoubtedly been Fortunate too, to have such a long and distinguished existence. Fortunate to have had so many dedicated members to keep the Lodge alive during times of incredible hardship and distress, times of war and loss. Through this all the Lodge has triumphed and who would have thought back in 1874 that in the year 2014 the history of the Lodge would be on the agenda.
Let’s hope that we are able to celebrate the next major milestone for the lodge – 150 years.
Acknowledgement and Thanks to W.Bro Sean Deal PJGD, PPrSGW and W.Bro. Kenneth Ullyet PGStdB PPGReg who prepared and researched the majority of the information in this presentation for the occasion of the Centenary meeting.
1874 – 2014
Felix is Latin for “Happy” or “Fortunate”
The Lodge crest bears the Latin "Floreat Caritas" for which two translations seem appropriate, either "May Charity Flourish" or "May Dearness Flourish" both seem particularly appropriate.
Felix Lodge was Consecrated on 30th May 1874 at the Clarence Hotel Teddington
In order to provide some historical reference and set the scene here are some other events that happened in 1874.
- Benjamin Disraeli succeeded William Gladstone as Prime Minister
- Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace in Oxford
- The body of Dr David Livingston, the African Explorer, was returned to England and was buried at Westminster Abbey.
- Queen Victoria was 55 years old and had been on the throne for 37 years with 27 years left to rule the Empire
- Meanwhile in America Jesse James and his gang were robbing trains and banks in the Wild West.
- Edison and Swan were a couple of years away from producing the first successful electric light bulb
The Beginning
Felix Lodge No. 1494 became the 19th Lodge in the fledgling Province of Middlesex, which had its inaugural meeting, also at the Clarence Hotel Teddington, on Saturday 22nd January 1870. The Clarence Hotel is a bar and restaurant today and now known as “The Park” at 19 Park Road Teddington. It is now a grade II listed building, having been listed in 1983.
The Province of Middlesex had started with the “The Eight Originals” Royal Union 382, Carnavon 708, Crescent 788, Dalhousie 865, Strawberry Hill 946, Villiers 1194, Enfield 1237 and Gooch 1238, and by the end of 1874 the role of Middlesex Lodges had risen to 20 with Felix No.1494 being registered as the 19th.
Strangely enough in 2013 Felix was still 19th Lodge in the Province and whilst “The Eight Originals” all remain Felix would have been 16th if 3 London Lodges; Royal Jubilee 72, Lodge of Harmony 255 & South Middlesex 858 had not joined the Province between 1971 and 1990. Bard of Avon Lodge 778 was originally a Warwickshire Lodge but moved to Middlesex in 1872 just two years before Felix was consecrated.
The patent for Felix Lodge was signed by the Rt. Hon. The Earl of Zetland K.T., M.W. Grand Master. The R.W. Provincial Grand Master Francis Burdett deputed the Provincial Grand Secretary W.Bro. R. Wentworth Little to perform the Ceremony of Consecration for Felix Lodge 1494 and among the 39 distinguished brethren present were V.W.Bro. John Hervey, W.Bro. J.C. Parkinson JGD, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, the Grand Tyler and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master for East Lothian.
The V.W.Bro. John Hervey was the 4th Grand Secretary to serve the United Grand Lodge of England and W.Bro. J.C. Parkinson JGD was a tireless worker against the social evils of the late Victorian era whose associates included Charles Dickens, his brother Alfred, Sir Arthur Pinero and Sir Edward Letchworth who later became the Grand Secretary for 25 years and where the shop in Grand Lodge gets its name.
The Consecrating vessels used at the inauguration of the Felix Lodge were lent for the occasion by permission of V.W.Bro. Sir Albert W. Woods GDC and the customary address was given by W.Bro. R. Wentworth Little. The petition by the 7 founding members read:
“To the M.W. the Grand Master of the United Fraternity of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England: We the undersigned, being regular registered Masons of the Lodges mentioned against our respective names, having the prosperity of the Craft at heart, are anxious to exert our best endeavours to promote and diffuse the genuine principles of the art; and for the convenience of our respective dwellings and other good reasons we are desirous of forming a new Lodge, to be named the Felix Lodge. In consequence of this desire we pray for a warrant of Constitution empowering us to meet as a regular Lodge at the Clarence Hotel, Teddington on the third Saturday of the months of April, May, June and July, and there to discharge the duties of Masonry in a constitutional manner, according to the forms of Order and the laws of the Grand Lodge: and we have nominated and do recommend Bro. Edward Bartlett Grabham to be the first Master, Bro. Major George Barlow to be the first Senior Warden and Bro. Felix Sumner Knyvett to be the first Junior Warden, of the said Lodge. The prayer of this petition being granted, we promise strict obedience to the commands of the Grand Master and the laws and regulations of Grand Lodge.”
The seven founding members signing this petition were:
Edward Bartlett Grabham Lodge No.19
Major George Barlow Lodges No.321 & No.1383
Felix Sumner Knyvett Lodge No.58
Daniel Nicholson Lodge No.19
Isaac Coalbank Lodge No.1293
John William Sanders Lodge No.1293
David Bindoff Lodge No.1293
Felix Sumner Knyvett was born in 1840 and died in 1906. According to the 1881 census he was a Bank Clerk and Justice of the Peace in Hertfordshire. He was the only son of Felix Knyvett of Ashwellthorpe Watford Hertfordshire. He had his own coat of arms. He was a life member of the Kent Archaeological Society and his father had been secretary to a bishop, although which one is not clear.
Isaac Coalbank was born in 1844 and died 5th May 1917. He is thought to have been a Doctor.
At this time there is no further information on the founders of the Lodge, although further research is possible using the chargeable genealogy websites. There are no notes or minutes from early meetings but it is thought that the Lodge was named Felix and the first Junior Warden had Felix as a Christian name was just coincidence.
Despite the Lodge’s name meaning “Happy” or “Fortunate” in Latin, the first meeting was far from fortunate or happy. Following the consecration the first working meeting of the Lodge was held on 20th June 1874, when 4 EA’s were initiated in one evening. They were Thomas Archer, an Architect, George Cholmely Cattlin, an insurance broker, Edward Edmundson Whitford, a stockbroker and Edward Alfred Wooley, a solicitor and their ceremony was taken separately up to the obligation. It was at this meeting that 2 of the founding members swiftly resigned, with no reason being recorded. The two members who left were Bro. Sanders IG & Bro. Coalbank JD. Not a great start.
The four new members were Passed and Raised at the July meeting and at an emergency meeting in August. This meant that they went from initiate to Master Masons in seven weeks.
During the first year of the Lodge’s existence Bro. Knyvett donated a “very handsome oak Master’s chair” and by the end of the year the inventory showed a variety of furniture, working tools and other masonic items, then most notable of which were 2 dozen firing glasses. Most of these are use at the festive board today.
It seems that the Lodge may have overstretched itself though, as when the Treasurer, Bro. D. Nicholson, presented the first Lodge accounts he recorded that the Lodge was in debt by £54, 14s 9d, which was owed to 6 of the brethren. This situation was resolved by the audit committee, in their meeting outside the Lodge, the first of which was held at the Jamaica Coffee House Cornhill.
The minutes of 5th May 1875 record the presentation to W.Bro. Edward Bartlett Grabham of the first Past Masters Jewel of Felix, which cost 5 guineas. The jewel was presented “as a small acknowledgement of the great ability, tact and good will he has displayed during his year in office.”
This jewel was clearly well deserved as it was recorded that W.Bro. Edward Bartlett Grabham performed 2 Initiations, followed by 2 Passings and then promptly installed his successor into the Chair of King Solomon in a single meeting. The following year he was appointed Provincial Senior Grand Warden for Middlesex.
In 1876, having left the chair, he became secretary and although he held this position until 1878, and again from 1880 to his death in 1883 his immaculate copper-plate handwriting can be seen in the early minute books from 1876 to 1883. It was clear that Bro. Grabham was a very valuable and respected member of the Lodge, as on 17th June 1882 he was presented with a gold watch inscribed “Presented by the Felix Lodge 1494 to Bro. Edward b. Grabham, PM, Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden Middlesex & Secretary, in recognition of valuable and efficient services rendered to the Lodge.” Sadly, Bro. Grabham had the watch stolen, almost immediately after having left the Lodge. On hearing this news several of the brethren clubbed together and brought a replacement out of their own personal funds. So if any brother should come across such a watch on e-bay today there is a 50% chance its stolen goods!
The Venues
The Lodge continued to meet regularly at the Clarence Hotel Teddington, where it had been consecrated, until an emergency meeting was called on 11th October 1882, where the Lodge learnt that the Hotel was no longer able to accommodate masonic meetings. Great difficulty was experienced finding a suitable location within the Province on a Saturday night, so the Lodge petitioned the Provincial Grand Master that it might be allowed to meet in London. Tentative arrangements were made to meet in the Grosvenor Gallery in New Bond Street but the PGM refused to grant permission for this move.
More hard work by Bro. Grabham lead to him writing to the members on 9th June 1883, the letter was headed “Removal of the Lodge” and explained that the proprietor of the Mitre Hotel, Hampton Court had considerably increased his capacity to accommodate Lodge meetings and that Felix Lodge would be able to hold their future meetings there on the first Saturday in April, May, June & July.
The Mitre had become a popular venue for the Georgian and Victorian fashion of the “Summer Lodge”, as a pleasing relaxation from London society. These included Bard of Avon Lodge and the Hampton Court Mark.
Reading into the Hotel’s history either Tom Saddler or his son Charles would have been the proprietor at the time, as Tom was the manager of the hotel for many years when it was owned by the Goodman family and purchased it from them when Mr. Goodman retired.
The was no clear record of how much Lodge dues were at its consecration, but in 1876 they were raised to 3 guineas. In 1883 Bro. Grabham’s letter explained that the unforeseen circumstances have lead to an increase to £2 2s per session. The hotel did have a reputation for good food.
The Lodge seemed to settle well in its new home at the Mitre hotel and continued to meet there, despite changing social circumstances and 2 world wars, until October 1971, when it was decided to move to the then new Twickenham District Masonic Centre at Cole Court London Road Twickenham, where it has remained to date.
Felix Lodge was amongst the founding Lodges of the Twickenham and District Masonic Centre at Cole Court. Despite having been settled in Cole Court for over 42 years the Lodge still tries to recreate the atmosphere of those early meetings at The Clarence & Mitre Hotels at the festive board in several ways:
- Candles are lit as soon as the serving staff have finished, as mentioned in the beginning of this presentation, the electric light bulb had not been invented when the Lodge was consecrated and the early festive boards would have been held by candle light.
- The Lodge snuff box is passed after the Loyal Toast.
- Many of the original firing glasses are still used for the fire after the toasts; the more gentile tempo of the Middlesex fire may account for the number of original glasses still in use!
- We always dine at a single long table and never have sprigs. Although there are no records to confirm this it is likely to be a legacy of hotel dining.
The snuff box was presented to W.Bro Frank Baden Fuller PrSGD in 1944 to mark his jubilee in Felix, his mother Lodge. Seven years later, in March 1952, his son returned it to the Lodge after his father’s passing, with the request that the Lodge passes it at the festive board, a tradition that is still observed 62 years later. And yes the snuff is changed on a regular basis, that’s not 62 years old!
A more recent addition to the table at the festive board table is the sword. This sword was presented to the Lodge by Bro. A.W. Chase PPJGW, known as Charles, a former Naval Officer. It was his dress sword which he donated to the Lodge. He served as Secretary from 1980-1988 and was Master of the Lodge in 1966 & 1979. Bro. Chase was another secretary of Felix Lodge who had impressive copper-plate handwriting.
Charitable Giving
Although never large in membership Felix Lodge has played its part in supporting the Masonic and local charities. At the 10th Anniversary meeting in July 1884 the Lodge donated the sum of 20 guineas from Lodge funds to “our Great Masonic Charities” but this donation was made in the names of Founders, Bro. Felix Sumner Knyvett (Treasurer) and Bro. Francis Bradley Archer (Secretary) in recognition of their service to the Lodge.
Felix Lodge were contributors to a special fund in 1887 as part of the celebrations for HRH Queen Victoria’s Jubilee marking her 50th year on the throne. In May 1924, to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Felix Lodge, a donation of 139 guineas was made to the “Freemasons Hospital & Nursing Home” a building opened some 10 years previously and for the greater part of the First World War used as a military hospital.
This charitable tradition has continued throughout the life of the Lodge and, more recently, Felix Lodge achieved Vice Patron and Patron status in the Middlesex 1998 & 2009 Festivals.
Military Masons in Felix Lodge
The Felix Lodge was founded by mainly Medics and professional businessmen from the worlds of Finance, Insurance, Architecture and particularly the Law but having existed through 2 World Wars there have been many members that have served their country in military service.
This began with the outbreak of the Boar war on 10th October 1899. In March 1900 two members of Felix Lodge were amongst the men serving in South Africa – Bro. Major Gratton and Bro. Captain Bateman. Fortunately, despite the severity of the fighting and the war continuing until the Treaty of Vereeninging was signed in May 1902 to end the Boar War, both brothers returned safely to the Lodge and Bro. Gratton was promptly invested as Junior Warden.
At the May meeting in 1914 the Senior Warden Bro. Fargus was elected Master for the ensuing year but the First World War broke out in August and by the November meeting he was on active service. It was proposed that Bro. Fargus’s installation be deferred and W.Bro. H Pullman PM, PGStwd continue as Master for a further year. It was decided that all serving brethren would be put on the country members list for the duration of the war.
The minutes of the 6th March 1915 record, with great regret, the death of Bro. Fargus, killed in action and by the January meeting the brethren were mourning the loss of Bro. Rigby M.C too, also killed in action.
This is recorded on the "Masonic Great War Project" which is a searchable database purely on Freemasons who took part in and died in the course of their duty during the Great War of 1914-1918
Bro. H Pullman PM presented the Lodge with a loving cup at the next meeting on 4th March 1916 to mark his two successive years as WM and decided that it should be dedicated to those members of Felix Lodge who were in active service during the war, especially those who made the supreme sacrifice in the cause of their King and their Country.
The Names recorded on the Pullman Cup are:
Bro. Fargus – 9th Queen Victoria Rifles, killed 1st January 1915 in France
Bro. Captain FJ Rigby MC – Seaforth Highlanders, killed 21st January 1916 in Mesopotamia
Bro. Major AF Hess – 8th West Yorkshire Regiment (Leeds Rifles) died of wounds 14th July 1916
Serving Brethren
Bro. Brigadier General Bernard Montague Bateman CM, GRA
W.Bro. Major John Herbert Bankes Royal Army Medical Corps
Bro. Gunner Charles Smith Bradley Sussex GA
W.Bro. Captain Gordon Forbes Elmslie 6th East Surrey Regiment
W.Bro. Captain Gerald Cozens Pullman OBE 6th East Surrey Regiment (Son of Bro. H Pullman)
Bro. Lieutenant John Grafton Fairfax Ross RE
W.Bro. Captain Aubone Alfred Surtees 3rd Northumberland Fusiliers
W.Bro. Gerald Pullman OBE (PM 1921) PPGReg Died in 1938
The Pullman Cup was restored in 1969 and it is still passed round the Lodge every year at the installation meeting festive board, where every Brother present drinks from it and the names inscribed on the cup are read aloud. This year will have a special significance being the centenary of the start of World War I.
At the 4th March meeting 1940, with the Second World War having broken out, it was decided that the subscription fee should remain at 4 guineas with a nominal fee of 1 guinea for the four Felix members serving in the armed forces. These were:
Bro. Clifford Charles Bass
Bro. Gerald Brett (an archaeologist, Assistant Keeper of the Victoria & Albert Museum, a member of the Keystone Lodge No.10 and subsequently Prestonian Lecturer in 1961)
W.Bro. John Graham PrGReg (Royal Marines)
Bro. Maurice Shearme
Bro. Brett was taken prisoner of War in Germany. Bro. Bass was first taken prisoner in Italy, escaped, was recaptured and imprisoned again in Germany.
Noteworthy Past Members of Felix Lodge
Clearly, all of the past members who served in the armed forces are noteworthy but there have been others in the last 140 years who should be mentioned for their achievements within or outside Freemasonry.
In November 1919, the first year of peace, the minutes record “That the members of Felix Lodge, of which Bro. Sir EE Cooper is the oldest living member in the Lodge assembled, offer to him their most sincere and fraternal congratulations on his selection to the high office of Lord Mayor of the City of London, and their best wishes for a happy and prosperous year….”
Alderman Sir Edward Ernest Cooper Bt PGW, was initiated in the Felix Lodge in September 1878. Starting life with an education at a dame’s school in Bayswater kept by Horatia, the Daughter of Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton, he entered Lloyds and subsequently enjoyed a notable civic career.
He had many interests apart from Masonry, he was chairman of the Royal Academy of Music and sang regularly in the voluntary choir at St. Paul’s Cathedral for 20 years. He was knighted in 1913 and when he was made Lord Mayor of London he was only the third person from Lloyds to do so.
In April 1882, at the peak of his career, Sir William Emerson, the distinguished architect and president of the Royal Institute of British Architects was initiated in the Felix Lodge and remained an active member for 44 years until shortly before his death.
William Emerson's principal works include the Church of St Mary & St James, St James Street, Brighton (1877–189), and the Clarence Wing of St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London. However his major works were carried out in India where he practised from 1866 until the late 1870s.
These include Crawford Market Bombay, All Saints College Allahabad; Muir College and the Victoria Memorial in Calcutta
There have been a number of Legal Luminaries in Felix Lodge over the years and one of the earliest was W.Bro. William John Jeeves KC. He was initiated in St Peter’s Lodge No. 442 Cambridgeshire in 1886 but when he was called to the bar in 1903 he joined Felix Lodge in 1904 and was Master within five years. He was probably the only man to have resigned from the important clerkship of the Corporation of Leeds to become a successful “silk”.
A more recent member of the Lodge who had an interesting career was W.Bro. Philip Percy Parker PPJGW. W.Bro. Parker was initiated in Felix Lodge in 1957, was Master in 1963 and again in 1980, Treasurer from 1972 to 1979 and again in 1997. He also served as Provincial Grand Treasurer and you may have guessed by now he was a professional accountant.
With a dry wit and a wry smile Bro. Philip was a very popular member of the Lodge and he was a very discreet man. For it was not until after his death in 2008 that the members of the Lodge discovered that he was the accountant for a number of well know entertainers including Led Zepplin, James Galway, Yul Bynner and Sir Cliff Richard.
He was so well liked and admired by his clients that he continued to work for James Galway and Sir Cliff Richard for many years after he had official retired. When asked if he was busy at a lodge meeting, he replied “since my retirement things have slowed down a lot but I have kept a couple of special clients who I work for who keep me busy” Only years later we discovered who those special clients were.
In terms of masonic achievement there have been a number of past members of Felix Lodge deserving of a mention in the Lodge’s History:
Members of Felix have included 2 Provincial Grand Masters – R.W.Bro. J Herbert Bankes and Lt. Col. Philip Bull respectively – and among the distinguished honorary members taking an active part in Felix affairs we proudly number V.W Bro. John Howell Evans PGD in turn Provincial Grand Secretary, Assistant and then Deputy Grand Master serving R.W.Bro. Alexander Burnett Brown and HRH Albert Duke of York KG (later King George VI).
Bro. Bankes MRCS LRCP DL a private member of the Lodge joined Felix from Lanesborough Lodge No.3029 and his devotion to Felix was such that he served as Master in 1920, 1944 and 1945. Seven years after his first Mastership he was appointed Provincial Grand Secretary, ten years later being promoted to Assistant Grand Master, then Deputy grand Master.
At the march 1928 meeting HRH Albert Duke of York PGM and V.W. Bro. J Howell Evans PGD were elected honorary members for Felix Lodge.
On May 5th 1951 R.W.Bro Philip Cecil Bull DSO TD, the 6th Grand Master of the Province was proudly welcomed as a joining member of Felix Lodge. This was only his 3rd Lodge membership in Middlesex and the only Lodge he joined after his appointment to PGM.
The Centenary Meeting
The Centenary meeting of Felix Lodge was held in its new home at Twickenham and District Masonic Centre Cole Court in London Road on 24th September 1974. Incidentally, the first meeting at Cole Court was the 400th meeting and was held Tuesday 2nd November 1971.
Presiding over the meeting was the Worshipful Master Bro. Alexander Ronald King, know to everyone as Bro.Ron, his officers were:
SW Bro. R. Stotesbury,
JW Bro. TT Winslow,
Treasurer W.Bro. PP Parker Prov. G Treas,
Secretary W.Bro. LS Deal PPJGD, known as Bro. Sean
DC W.Bro AWA Chase
SD Bro. WJK Smith
JD BRO. BF Earnest
ADC W.Bro. LJ Bentley PPGDC PProv G Treas
IG W.Bro CJ Crane PPAGDC
Tyler W.Bro. HW Stephens PPGStdB
There were 11 members present in addition to the officers listed, 8 official guests and 41 other guests. This was probably the best attended meeting in the Lodge’s history.
The official guests included:
PGM RW.Bro. AS Hollins OBE MD
PProv.GM RW.Bro. N Moore MA (who has the main temple at Cole Court names after)
Asst. PGM W.Bro. Arthur Roberts
Asst. PGM W.Bro. Rev. W. Hutchinson
Asst. Prov. G Chaplin W.Bro. REV JE Penney
PGSec W.Bro Kenneth S Clarke
PGDC W.Bro. Vernon Barry DFV
Asst.PGSec W.Bro Alfred Gann.
The only regular work on that day was to present a GL certificate to Bro. David R Beney the rest of the meeting was taken up with official centenary matters.
They dined well at the festive board though with a starter for smoked salmon followed by a French onion soup, both accompanied by a 1970 Bernkasteler white win; main course was roast rib of beef with Yorkshire pudding, broccoli hollandaise, carrots vichy, roast and boiled potatoes. The beef was accompanied by a 1969 Beaune red wine. Desert was Annas au Kirsch and as normal they ended up with Cheese & biscuits, port and coffee.
Traditions of Felix Lodge
With an insight into the history for this Lodge from the early years meeting on a Saturday night at the Clarence Hotel in Teddington, moving to the Mitre Hotel at Hampton Court you can start to form a mental picture of how our members enjoyed their Freemasonry.
The minutes document the incredible amount of work carried out in the early meetings but they also allude to some very fancy dining and extravagant festive boards. It was mentioned that the brethren would often go for a walk along the river at Hampton Court before the festive board on a Saturday night in the summer before settling down to a 5 or 6 course meal, with Champagne, wine, port and brandy; all by candle light of course.
It seems clear that these brethren, almost exclusively professional people, many from the medical, financial and legal professions saw Felix Lodge as a place to enjoy Freemasonry and relax; relieving some of the pressures of their professional life. This is thought to be the reason why our members don’t wear gloves and why there is a relaxed atmosphere in the Lodge meetings.
This is why we always switch off the electric lights when the staff have finished serving at festive board in an attempt to recreate some of the atmosphere that would have existing at the early meetings. The passing of the port and the snuff box also add to this ambience.
Also we use of the remaining Firing glasses from the original 2 dozen for firing our toasts today. It is wonderful to think back that there is a good chance that the firing glass you will use tonight was in the hands of a prolific Victorian architect, a former Lord Mayor of London, an Assistant Grand Master, or one of the other prominent guests who have visited the Lodge over the years.
Another, some feel slightly odd, tradition of Felix is the absence of music and singing in our meetings and at our festive boards. We have heard one of our early members regularly sang in St. Paul’s Cathedral for over 20 years but it is a tradition of the Lodge, and one that the senior members of the Lodge have passed on to the junior members. Having heard many of the brethren sing maybe this tradition is not such a bad one! The Opening and Closing Odes are not sung, we don’t normally sing the national anthem and we don’t sing grace. There is no Master’s song on installation meetings either.
The reason for this stems back to the old times at the Mitre Hotel when music and singing were not permitted, whether that was an issue with the Hotel’s license it’s unclear but since 1883 there has been not singing or music in Felix Lodge, except at the end of the Centenary meeting when it was felt appropriate to sing the first verse of the national anthem but still no odes were sung, despite the presence of the PGM and many other distinguished brethren.
You may have noted during the section on Charitable Giving that the Felix Lodge has always taken its obligation to charity very seriously but this has always been done without holding a raffle. Again, some might find it strange, but it is a passed down tradition that Felix Lodge does not hold raffles. There is no documented reason for this.
Up until very recently it was the tradition of the Lodge to read the minutes of the meeting held 100 years previously to the last regular meeting. It was always a treat to hear the normal business of the Lodge from 100 years ago, how a brother was proposing an initiate, who might have a London address and a country residence or in one notable instance a candidate put their occupation as “Gentleman”.
This tradition was maintained from 1974 to 2013 but sadly several of the small minute books covering the period immediately before the 1st World War until the 1950’s were lost and so, sadly, this tradition cannot be upheld for another 40 years or so.
Although not strictly a tradition, more of a characteristic, the Lodge has always been low in numbers. This is not just a current trend, it was noted in the minutes 4th April 1896 and 1st April 1899 that the Felix Lodge was unable to meet, there being not enough members to form a quorum! But nevertheless, it has continued through the Boer War, the First & Second World Wars and now 140 years on it is still meeting. By the centenary meeting the Lodge had only had 219 members of whom 135 were initiates.
Looking down the list of Past Masters it would seem that being a Master more than once is almost a tradition in the Lodge. There are no less than 23 Masters, including our current Worshipful Master Bro. Noubar (in 2014), who have served as master on more than one occasion. W.Bro. Frank Baden Fuller served as Master of Felix Lodge on four occasions in 1899, 1918, 1942 & 1943 this being the most by any member. In fact only 110 different members have been Master over the 140 years of the Lodges existence.
There have been only 13 different secretaries since the Lodge began, and if you exclude the two members who served less than 2 years each this works out at nearly 13 years each on average. There are the same statistics with the Treasurer’s office too, discounting the 2 members that undertook the office for 2 years or less there have be 13 Treasurers.
In November 1899 Felix Lodge had changed its meetings from Saturdays to Wednesdays in April May, June & July, later they were switched back to Saturdays and in 1950 the current format of Tuesday nights in March, April, September and November were adopted.
Closing Thoughts
Whether the naming of the Lodge had anything to do with Felix Sumner Knyvett, our founding member, or not it seems a very appropriate name when you look at the Latin meaning for Felix - “Happy” or “Fortunate”.
Happy no doubt the members have been over the years, for much is owed to the all the Masons that made Felix Lodge what it is today. “We shall have but one aim in view, to please each other and unite in the grand design of being happy and communicating happiness”; these are sentiments dear to the heart of a Felix member.
The Lodge has undoubtedly been Fortunate too, to have such a long and distinguished existence. Fortunate to have had so many dedicated members to keep the Lodge alive during times of incredible hardship and distress, times of war and loss. Through this all the Lodge has triumphed and who would have thought back in 1874 that in the year 2014 the history of the Lodge would be on the agenda.
Let’s hope that we are able to celebrate the next major milestone for the lodge – 150 years.
Acknowledgement and Thanks to W.Bro Sean Deal PJGD, PPrSGW and W.Bro. Kenneth Ullyet PGStdB PPGReg who prepared and researched the majority of the information in this presentation for the occasion of the Centenary meeting.
