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Formation of the Lodge
Early in the year 1917 a
few members of the Commercial Temperance Lodge No 3144 met together and
discussed the formation of a new lodge. They were Bros R Jewry Harbert,
E T Bowyer, J R Johnson, H Langley, R Cross, L R Thomas and W T Groom.
It was felt that we should get greater support if we could get the the
Provincial Grand Secretary (W Bro Theodore White) to assist us in the
formation of the Lodge. he was eventually interviewed by Bros Harbert
and Bowyer and welcomed the idea of forming a lodge bearing his name,
but at this time it was extremely difficult to name a Lodge after a
living person unless they were of very high rank. He consented however
and a petition was put forward, and as expected, not at first favourably
received because of its suggested name.
The difficulty was
eventually overcome. Whilst negotiations were in progress W Bro Theodore
White passed to the Grand Lodge above, but we know that had it been
possible he would have been proud to attend its consecration on 22nd
September 1917. The Lodge has the distinction of being the last Lodge to
be allowed to adopt "Temperance" as part of its name, although other
Lodges with the same principles have been formed since.
The Lodge was consecrated by W Bro John Thornhill Moreland, Provincial
Grand Master of Berkshire. The names of the founders and Offices are
shown in the By-laws |
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