Welcome to Duke of York Lodge.No. 2453
Warrant: 21 November 1892
Consecrated: 26 September 1895
Meeting at the Masonic Hall, Cardiff.
-Celebrating 125 years since its consecration on 26th September 2020-
September the 26th 1895 marks a historic Masonic landmark, for on that day the Duke of York Lodge was Consecrated at the Masonic Temple in Guildford Street, Cardiff and dedicated by Lord Llangattock, the Provincial Grand Master, assisted by W. Bro Marmaduke Tennant.
Whilst the Duke of York Lodge was created by Charter on 21 November 1892, the Consecration was delayed, due to difficulties in obtaining permission from HRH, the Duke of York, to use his royal title. The death of the Provincial Grand Master, Sir George Elliot, also played a part in this delay, the Lodge finally being Consecrated on 26 September 1895.
This was also the occasion of the opening of the new Masonic Temple in Cardiff.
It may be noted that Tennant Lodge, with a later Warrant than that of the Duke of York Lodge, was Consecrated before the Duke of York Lodge. The explanation of this apparent anomaly is given in the following correspondence:
The Craftsman – April 1901
To the Editor of the Craftsman
Dear Sir,
In your current issue, under the heading “Craflets” appears the following: – Wor. Bro Marmaduke Tennant mentioned the singular fact that the ‘Duke of York Lodge’ was named a Royalty who was not a Freemason. To avoid any misunderstanding, may I be permitted to point out that on the formation of the Lodge, the Grand Secretary declined to place the Petition before the Grand Master until His Royal highness, the Duke of York had given direct permission to use the title., and only on production of the written permit did the Grand Secretary present the Petition for signature. The name “Duke of York” was not used or appropriated haphazard (ly) but was obtained with difficulty. Being personally responsible for so designation the Lodge, I do not wish anyone to imagine that the founders of the “Duke of York” Lodge appropriated the title without paying that need of courtesy which is due to our Royal House.
Yours fraternally,
Steffano Vorzopollo, PM, PPJGW, Cardiff,
March 13th, 1901.
The first Master of the Duke of York Lodge, W. Bro Charles Edwin Dovey, was installed in the presence of Lord Llangattock, by W. Bro Marmaduke Tennant, the Provincial Grand Master and both were made Honorary Members of the Lodge, on a show of hands.
Due to the genial disposition and benign influence which had endeared him to the Members of the Lodge, W. Bro Charles Edwin Dovey was chosen as Master Designate, when an application was made for a warrant for a Daughter Lodge. Charles himself was a Member of the Committee appointed by the Grand Lodge to raise funds for a Masonic Peace Memorial in London and whilst he was Chairman of the Cardiff Masonic Hall Company, the premises were extended, and a new organ purchased.
Charles Dovey was to be the first of many famous Masters of the Duke of York Lodge – all of whose signatures may be found on a unique roll of Past Masters in the ante room of the Lord Swansea Temple.
Included amongst the names of Past Masters can be found W. Bro SM Wilkinson, PPrJGW. and W. Bro RH Seel, PPrJGW, the well-known Auctioneers and Estate Agents and both brethren served the Lodge as Treasurers from 1917 to the early 1950’s. The noted Masonic ritualist and historian, W. Bro Rev J Sansam lies, PPrG.Chap. was Master in 1932 and was still President of the Lodge of Instruction in 1951. W. Bro T John Evans, OBE, PPrJGD. – an Oxford scholar and Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales was Master in 1941.
The two world wars saw brethren from the Duke of York Lodge giving their lives whilst serving in H.M. Forces. Three brethren died in World War l and seven, including a civilian, in World War ll. Bro WJ Foster, MC, PPrJGW – affectionately known as “Tiny Foster” – was the Master in 1934, and became Secretary, forty-five years ago, holding the post for eleven years. During World War l, he was decorated with the Military Cross, as was W. Bro Douglas Worgan, MC., PPrJGD, who was Master in 1963. W. Bro R. J Hedley, PPrJGW, served as Treasurer from 1953 to 1964, he and W. Bro “Tiny Foster” were a formidable pair. On 21 March 1950, W. Bro RJ Hedley occupied the Chair to Initiate his son John, who held an executive position with the railway in Southern Rhodesia in those days and became Master of the Lodge Msasa No.6802 in that country and later held the rank of PDistGStdB, (Rhodesia, which is now Zimbabwe).
Bro E James Smith, PGStdB, the Master of the Lodge in 1959 was also a Past Master of the Hendre Lodge No.3250, the Lodge of Unity No.6030 and was first Master of St. Cecilia Lodge No.8748 which was sponsored by the Duke of York Lodge in 1976. He served several Lodges, in addition to the Duke of York, as organist for many years and conducted the Guildford Singers. This octet sang the anthems at the consecration of approximately thirty-five Lodges and the dedication of the Porthcawl Temple and the Chapel at the Albert Edward Prince of Wales Court in Porthcawl. He also conducted the Rumney and St. Mellows British Legion Choir, which was honoured to perform at the Festival of Remembrance, at the Royal Albert Hall, London in 1961.
During the first hundred years, four Past Masters of the Lodge were appointed Officers of Grand Lodge, namely,1895 W.Bro. C E Dovey, PGStdB 1918 W.Bro. W.C. Jolliffe PGStB 1959 W.Bro. E.J. Smith PAGDC and 1968 W.Bro. R. Parker PAGDC.
Bro Roland was Charity Steward of the Lodge for sixteen years and has held the office of Chaplain for many years. He is also active in other degrees, being a Supreme Grand Chapter Officer and serving as Intendant General of the Red Cross of Constantine for South Wales and Monmouthshire from 1983 to 1991.
For many years each Lodge was responsible for supplying its own drinks. During that time, W. Bro’s. Stanley M Kendal, PPrSGW and Ernest James, PPrJGD, were transport managers of Hancock’s and Brains Breweries respectively. The Duke of York Brethren drank Hancock’s and Brains beers on alternate years and much mirth was derived over the merits and strengths of the different brews!
Six brethren have occupied the Masters’ chair for two years namely, W.Bro. HC Bolter -1940/41, W.Bro. RE Takel, PPrJGW, -1965/66, W.Bro. Frank Parsons, PPrJGW, – 1973 and 1988, W.Bro. J Beasley, PPrSGD – 1992 and 2008, W.Bro. A Gardener, PPrGSuptWks – 1997/1998 , W.Bro. RA Willett, PPrGStwd 2004/2005. W.Bro. Adam Jones ProvSGD 2017/2020. W.Bro. David Baldwin PPrJGD has held the position for 3 years 1992/2013/2014, and W.Bro. M. Ian Swetman, PPrJGD – has held the position of Master for a total of 4 years 1990/1999/2015/2016.
Famous Names who were Members of the Lodge include Bro. Sir W Gascombe John and Bro. Meurig Evans. The former, who was a blood brother of the artist Augustus John, designed the Lodge’s Past Masters jewel. This design was based on a ducal crown and white rose of York. Bro. Gascombe John also sculpted many of the fine statues that can be seen in Cardiff’s City Hall, including one of St. David. Bro Meurig Evans achieved fame as a Judge on the North Wales circuit.
Bro. EJ Hobbs, PPrJGW, served as Lodge Secretary from 1967 to 1979. On 17 January 1984, he performed the ceremony to celebrate thirty years as a Past Master of the Lodge and in recognition of his many years’ service to the Lodge, was made an Honorary Member, as were EJ Smith and AV Jones, PPrAGDC, the latter travelling regularly from Devon in his retirement, to play the organ at Lodge meetings.
The Hill family has played a prominent part in the Duke of York Lodge during the last forty years. W. Bro Harry Hill, PPrGStdB, was proposed into the Lodge by his brother-in-law W. Bro Herbert G Vodden, PPrGStdB, and Initiated on 17 February 1953. In 1967 he was installed as Master, during which year he presented the Lodge banner in memory of his dear wife. The banner was dedicated by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, W. Bro. Harry F. Stockwell.
Bro. Alfred Ivor Hill, PPrGOrg, was Initiated on 18 May 1954, having been proposed by his blood brother W. Bro. Harry Hill. Alfred was appointed Lodge Organist in 1955 and installed as Master in 1970. In 1976 he was appointed to Provincial Grand Organist. Bro Vivian Hill, PPrJGW, was Initiated on 20 December 1960, having been proposed and seconded by his father, W. Bro Harry Hill and his uncle, W. Bro Alfred Hill. Vivian was installed as Master in 1974 and in 1979 he became Secretary of the Lodge and continued to serve in this position until 1997. In 1980 he was appointed Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies and promoted to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 1986. He was also a Founder Member of Croeso Lodge No.8377.
Last but not least, W. Bro David Roy Hill, PPrAGDC, Harry Hill’s son and Vivian’s brother, was Initiated into the Lodge in 1968. Roy subsequently became a Founder Member of the Ystrad Mynach Lodge No.8567 becoming its Master in 1979.
Bro Peter Holmes, PPrJGD, Master of the Lodge in 1978 was also a Founder Member and Master of Ymlaen Lodge No.8419.
Bro TJ Gwynne Williams, PPrGStwd, – Better known as “Gwynne the Bank,” was Initiated in 1969 and took over the position of Treasurer from W. Bro Reginald Pickett, PPrAGReg, PPrJGW, (Mon), in October 1981until 1997, and in recognition of his excellent work in Freemasonry. he was made a Past Provincial Grand Steward in June 1986. This was a singular honour for both Gwynne and the Lodge, as he was the first Member of the Lodge to gain Provincial rank, without being installed in the master’s Chair. In 1991 Bro Desmond Harding was also honoured as Past Provincial Grand Steward. David Baldwin’s blood brother Alan Baldwin PPrGReg was master in 1993, and is a very regular member of the lodge, standing in at a moment’s notice for any of the officer’s chairs.
Times have changed a great deal since 1896, in those days supper at the Lodge cost a mere two shillings, being 10p by present values.
At one time, during the earlier years, to build up the strength of the Lodge, the masters had a strenuous time performing two and three ceremonies on the same evening. One older Member recalls being one of five Initiates, one of nine for his Passing and one of ten for his Raising! One Lodge was closed at 10.20 p.m. and on another occasion, after working a second degree, a third degree was begun at 10.00 pm and two actors visiting Cardiff, (described as “Theatricals”), were Initiated.
Bro. I Swetman PPrJGD has been Lodge Secretary from 1997 to 1999 then again from 2017 to the present day, W. Bro. J Beasley PPrSGD had been Charity Steward since 1994 and then President of the Lodge of Instruction since 1998 and was promoted to Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon in 2002 (Deceased in 2015). W. Bro. A Gardener was Lodge Treasurer from 1999 to 2003, Chaplain from 2001 to 2002, and became Secretary in 2003 until 2013. He also became the fifth Member of the Lodge to be appointed as an Officer of the United Grand Lodge of England, with the rank of Past Assistant Grand Superintendent of Works, in 2010. In June of 2015 at the Provincial Grand Lodge meeting held at Barry memorial hall W. Bro. Alan Gardener PPrGSuptWks was appointed as one of the Assistant Provincial Grand Master of the Province of South Wales, the first member of the Lodge to achieve this honour. He was further promoted in 2016 to the rank PSGD of the United Grand Lodge of England. He was also appointed as Chairman of the Association of the Friends of the Albert Edward Prince of Wales Court in Porthcawl one of Eighteen care homes run by the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution and held that position from September 2011 until he stepped down in January 2019 after nearly eight years.
The oldest subscribing Past master at present is W.Bro. Colin Wood PPrSGW who was master in 1980 and still holds an active role within the lodge as lodge Chaplain. The Lodge has Two Past Masters boards which we believe is unique certainly in our Province, in the fact that it bears the signature of every Master since 21st November 1893 the date the Warrant was issued. The lodge was not consecrated until the 26th September 1895, it was therefore decided that we should have celebrated 125 years since our consecration, on 26th September 2020, but due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and the suspension of Lodge meetings the celebration will be had back to least until 26th September 2021, providing that the pandemic has subsided, where we will hold a special lodge meeting.
In recent years, the Lodge has had an influx of both young new Members via the Membership Pathway and others via the internet, which has proved very successful. These brethren along with a few joining members have introduced other potential candidates, and we are looking forward to adding to that number again this year.
Looking back over the years, the Duke of York Lodge has been served well by so many Brethren, too numerous to mention individually by name. It is to those un-named Brethren, together with those already named, that we give thanks for such devoted service over the last hundred and twenty-five consecrated years.
Originally Compiled in 1995 for the first 100years by: W. Bro Robert E. Gill PPrGStwd.
Updated since: – W.Bro. Alan Gardener PSGD APG.
