Honour Lodge of Instruction

(Sanctioned by the Lodge of Honour No. 526 on October 12th 1906)

Recognised an an Emulation Working School by the
Emulation Lodge of Improvement on March 30th 1917


 

Secretary: W.Bro. A.F. Lee
Preceptor: W.Bro. R.J. Haynes, PAGDC, PPrSGW #
Deputies: W.Bro. R.A. Stubbs, PPrSGW #
W.Bro. M.C. Dews, PPrSGD
W.Bro. J.B. Rouse, ProvGSec

# Approved by the Emulation Committee to teach 'Emulation' work

 


Go direct to: Introduction History Programme




INTRODUCTION

The Honour Lodge of Instruction is one of only 52 (2007 statistics) Lodges of Instruction in England and Wales that are 'Recognised' by the Emulation Lodge of Improvement. These undertake to teach the ritual according to the method demonstrated by the Emulation Lodge of Improvement Committee in London.

One of the principle factors in achieving and maintaining such recognition is the approval of a Preceptor who must submit himself to test and demonstrate his ability to teach Emulation work to the satisfaction of the Committee.

Within the Province of Staffordshire the other 'Recognised' Lodges of Instruction are Josiah Wedgwood (No. 2214), St James's (No. 482) and St Modwen's (No. 4850).

Click here for details of Emulation Working and Emulation Lodge of Improvement.

The Lodge of Instruction meets on the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month from September (3rd Fri.) until April (3rd Fri.). All visitors (Master Masons and Past Masters) are welcome - details may be obtained from the Secretary.

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HISTORY

The birth of the Honour Lodge of Instruction took place at a regular meeting of the Lodge of Honour No. 526 on the 12th day of October 1906. Extracts from the minutes of that meeting are as follows;-

 
"The W.M. Wor Bro Wm Johnson, rose and proposed:- That it is desired in the interests of the Lodge of Honour No. 526 that a Lodge of Instruction under its sanction should be held; and that the first meeting of such a Lodge of Instruction should be held at the Star & Garter Hotel Wolverhampton, on the first Monday in January next.
Bro A R White S.D. seconded the proposition, and the Brethren unanimously agreed to it."

The first meeting after sanction was held on Monday 7th day of January 1907. There were a total of 20 Brethren present including 9 Installed Masters. At this meeting the Bye-Laws were proposed and approved, and the Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows;-

W Bro Wm Baker ................ Preceptor
W Bro Darby ........................ Deputy Preceptor
W Bro Wm Johnson .......... Secretary and Treasurer
Bro Sgt Bennett ................. Tyler and to be paid 3/6d per meeting

From that first meeting the Lodge of Instruction prospered, and after ten years had the confidence to apply for recognition from the Emulation Lodge of Improvement in London, (set up in 1823 to maintain the standard of the ceremonies approved by the United Grand Lodge of England).

Click here for details of Emulation Working and Emulation Lodge of Improvement.

An Emergency meeting of the Honour Lodge of Instruction was called to commence puntually at 2:30pm on Saturday March 17th, at the Star & Garter Hotel Wolverhampton. The business was as follows:-
To rehearse the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Ceremonies and the Ceremony of Installation in Craft Masonry, in the presence of Wor Bro J.J. Black, PM and Sec Wey Side Lodge No 1395, P.P.G.W. Surrey, P.A.G.D.C. Eng; Member of the Emulation Committee, Freemasons Hall London, as a test of fitness or otherwise of the Honour Lodge of Instruction for 'recognition' by the Emulation Lodge of Improvement as an Emulation-Working Lodge.
At the meeting a total of 31 Brethren attended including 14 Installed Masters. 20 of the Brethren afterwards enjoyed a supper and the meeting terminated at 8:45pm.

On Saturday 6th April 1918 at 3:30pm, the first Festival was held in celebration of the award of 'recognition' by the Emulation Lodge of Improvement, when nine sections of the lectures were worked. There was no supper in deference to the wishes of Grand Lodge and the Government Food Controller, the R W Bro Lord Rhondda S.G.W. , having regard to the shortage of provisions caused by the continuance of the Great War; but tea and biscuits were served during a brief interval about half-way through the proceedings.
The Festival was a great success and the total number of Brethren present was 100, including the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, 2 other Grand Lodge Officers, 26 Provincial Grand Lodge Officers, 12 Installed Masters, 55 Master Mason, 3 Fellowcrafts and 1 Entered Apprentice.

The Honour Lodge of Instruction has met regularly since then up to the present day. It has over the years, helped its sponsor Lodge, the Lodge of Honour No. 526, build up an enviable reputation in the Province of Staffordshire and is still one of only a few Lodges recognised by the Emulation Lodge of Improvement in London for the excellence of its work.

(W.Bro. R.J. Haynes, Preceptor)

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PROGRAMME OF WORK: 2008/2009

INST=Instruction; REH=Rehearsal

DATE WORK INST or REH
12/09/08 O&C INST
03/10/08 1st (PM's) REH
17/10/08 1st INST
07/11/08 INSTALLATION REH
21/11/08 1st INST
05/12/08 1st REH
19/12/08 Xmas Dinner N/A
02/01/09 3rd REH
16/01/09 2nd INST
06/02/09 2nd REH
20/02/09 2nd INST
06/03/09 2nd REH
20/03/09 1st INST
03/04/09 1st REH
24/04/09 AGM work tbc

Lodge Officers unable to attend rehearsals or Brethren allocated Offices for Instruction evenings should notify the LOI Secretary or Preceptors at the earliest opportunity if they are unable to attend.

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EMULATION WORKING AND EMULATION LODGE OF IMPROVEMENT

The Emulation Lodge of Improvement for Master Masons first met on 2nd October 1823, and was at first sanctioned by the Lodge of Hope, No. 7. In 1830 the sanction was undertaken by the Lodge of Unions, now No. 256, which Lodge has remained the sponsor ever since. The Lodge was formed for Master Masons only, and worked, in its earliest years, only the Masonic lectures.

The early minute books of the Lodge are no longer in existence, but the following extract from the Freemasons' Quarterly Review in 1836 gives an account of its work and aims:-

"About the year 1823 several Brethren considered that the Masonic lectures were not worked in Lodges upon a sufficiently regulated system, and that if those whose attainments as working Masons placed them as a prominent authority were to meet together and to work efficiently, they might be the means of effecting much improvement.
They accordingly met, we believe, in Wardour Street, pursuant to a general notice in the public papers, which advertisement created a considerable sensation in the Craft. Some members of the Grand Stewards' Lodge, hitherto the only authority for a recognised system, felt that it was necessary to watch the proceedings. Some Grand Officers, with Brother E. Harper, the Grand Secretary, also attended.
The several Chairs, from the Master to the Outer Guard were all filled with the most practical and experienced Masons of the day; and we have the authority of a Grand Officer for stating, that never was there so perfect an illustration of the ceremonies and lectures ever before manifested. The visitors separated highly delighted; amongst them the lamented Peter Gilkes, who so highly approved of the proceedings, that in about twelve months afterwards he joined the Lodge and supported it until the time of his death.
At first the object was confined to the delivering of lectures, but afterwards the ceremonies were introduced which gave great satisfaction. Gratified as we are to bear testimony to the value and importance of this Lodge, and satisfied as we are of its influence on the Craft, we must enter our caution to the leading members of it not to relax from the discipline so unremittingly enforced by the late Peter Gilkes. We do not make this allusion without cause. Let the excellent Brethren to whose care the interests of the Lodge are unanimously confided, feel no diffidence in correcting the passing errors. They should remember that error may become practice if not early checked. And we further call upon the junior members to weigh with scrupulous care the language which the landmarks permit, and not be too ready to alter, in the slightest degree, what is in itself so excellent".

The Committee did in the past refrain from sponsoring any book of ritual but in 1969, appreciating that Preceptors and Officers do now learn their ritual from books, it sponsored a book 'Emulation Ritual' setting out the words and procedure of the Emulation System.

(Extracted from Emulation Lodge of Improvement Year Book)

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