A History of Killarney Lodge No. 360
by V.W. Bro. A.T. Penman
Complied to celebrate Lodge "Kilarneys" Golden Jubilee in 1953.
The decision to produce this brochure to commemorate our Golden Jubilee was taken at a Standing Committee meeting held on September 13th, 1949, and subsequently ratified by the Lodge at its meeting on October 4th, 1949. This, in effect, was the culmination of a series of events which started in April of that year when Wor. Bro. E. Schaeffer, the then I.P.M. of Carnarvon Lodge No. 1735 E.C., came across an original copy of the by-laws of Killarney Lodge in, of all places, the delivery van of a local biscuit manufacturer!
He immediately handed them to your Editor, who was then W.M. of Killarney, and he, in turn, showed them to Rt. Wor. Bro. William C. Foster, a foundation member. That well-loved Brother began to "page through the book of memory" and suggested that it was high time that the Brethren of Killarney Lodge set about collating information for a suitable brochure.
This is the result, and your Editor trusts that it will not only bring back memories to the older Brethren but that, using as a skirrett the examples of those who have made the name of Killarney so well respected and loved, the younger Brethren will strike the lines for the foundation of an even greater Lodge of the future.
In compiling this brochure, I have endeavoured to link the past with the present, to "pen-picture" a few (only a very few) of the outstanding personalities who have made the name of Killarney Lodge so well respected, and to tell you something of the history of our more intimate and "sentimental" possessions.
The Birth of Killarney.
It was in July, 1903, that certain Brethren, members of St. Patrick's Lodge No. 199, Cape Town, decided that the time was ripe to approach Grand Lodge regarding the formation of a new Lodge under the Irish Constitution in this city.
After two or three meetings in a local tavern-sorry! Tea-room (see By-law No. 1)-a Memorial was completed. This contained the names of 40 Foundation Members and in due course was forwarded to Grand Lodge. On October 3rd, 1903, the Warrant was issued naming Wor. Bro. Rev. Gerald Willoughby as W.M. Designate, with Bro. Joseph G. Thompson as S.W. Elect and Bro. William M. Dawson as J.W., the first Secretary to be Wor. Bro. J.H. Dowries.
In the meantime by-laws had been drafted for submission to Grand Lodge. It is of interest to note that today, after 50 years, these by-laws are almost identical to those drawn up then.
There have, of course, been alterations to certain of them, such as those affecting fees, date and place of meeting, and so on, but in the main they are unchanged.
And here it is worth quoting our By-Law No. 1 as it appeared in the first issue of the printed books (1904). It reads: "That at social functions, or any gathering whatsoever in connection with the Lodge, no beverage of an intoxicating nature shall be permitted on the table or in any room associated with the gathering. Any Brother violating the spirit of this by-law shall be liable to the action provided in Grand Lodge Law No. 34. This By-Law shall not be repealed except by the unanimous vote of the Lodge". A comparison with the most recent printing of the By-Laws is most interesting.
There is no change!
This By-Law No. 1 has been, in a humorous manner, challenged but never altered, and the writer is sure that it will continue as long as Killarney exists. The regularity with which large numbers of Brethren visit our Lodge is proof that it is not the "groaning festive board, with spirits to imbibe" that is a Masonic necessity. It is rather the attraction of clean, precise ritual working in the various degrees, together with the fine name which our many Past Masters have given the Lodge that still makes Killarney one of the "musts" on practically any W.M's. visiting list, no matter what Constitution.
December 1903, saw the actual birth of Killarney, for it was in that month that the Consecration ceremony took place. Our early Brethren did not lose any time in getting busy, for a glance at the first Agenda issued after the Consecration meeting, reproduced on pages 12-15, shows no fewer than four ballots for new members.
A short History of our Warrant.
Although every Initiate is invited to view and read the Warrant of a Lodge – how many do? It is a pity that many do not, for it is worth reading. For that reason I have prompted to find out a little regarding this all-important document, which, in our case, bears the No. 360.
Here I wish to pay tribute to our Grand Secretary for Instruction (Rt. Wor. Bro. Henry J. Sumner) for his assistance.
Warrant No. 360 was first issued on December 4th, 1760, to Mullingar, County Westmeath, to Charles Mercer as W.M., James Fottrell as S.W., Christopher Haggerty as J.W., and with eight other members. From 1760 to 1791, 29 members were registered, but on October 7th, 1813, Grand Lodge found it necessary to cancel the Warrant.
The number was dormant until January 5th, 1826, when it was issued to Staffordstown, County Antrim, and here it remained for 20 years, being cancelled by Grand Lodge in 1846 as the result of a debt to Grand Lodge of £8. 8s. 4d.
Then for 40 years No. 360 was blank on the Grand Lodge register. In 1886 it was issued to Tasmania, only to last three years and again become dormant in 1889.
In 1890 several enthusiastic Brethren decided to revive Lodge Tasmania but, after applying for a Warrant, changed their minds and their allegiance and instead became Lodge 21 on the register of the Grand Lodge of Tasmania, then only recently formed.
Then came Killarney’s big day! On October 3rd, 1903, the Warrant was issued to Wor. Bro. Rev. Gerald Willoughby as W.M., Bro. Joseph G. Thompson as S.W., Bro. William M. Dawson as J.W., and Wor. Bro. J.W. Downes as Secretary, together with the other foundation members as shown on the facing page.
Has this interested you? I hope so and trust that many more of you will now read the original warrant.
Foundation Members.
W. Bros. J.A. McKendry, P.M.;J.S. Cruickshank, W.M.; Rev. J.J. McClure, W.M.; J.R. Finch, P.M.; J.W. Downes, P.M.; R.M. Maxwell, P.M.; Bros. Rev. Gerald Willoughby; J.G. Thompson; W.M. Dawson; S. Gibson; J.W. Clint; V.H. Waggoner; W.J. Fegan; R.S. Hipwell; G.H. Kelsey; Capt. G.E. Sharp; J.H. Stocks; James Baxter; F. Ballantine; J. McCrudden; Thomas Ball, CMG.; Rowland Chute; C.H. Comins; J. Hunt; W.C. Foster; J. Johnstone; Jas. Patterson; Hugh Walsh; W.H. Douglass; D.E. McConnell; J.D. Mansfield; A.H. McCausland; T. Alexander; S.E. Knight; E.F. Webster; J. McDonald; Geo. Hassell; J.A.S. Harrison; J.A. McMullen and Jas. Hosford.
Fifty years unbroken Membership.
Rt. Wor. Bro. William Charles Foster, P.P.D.G.M., P.S.G.D. (IRELAND)
It was in March, 1902, that William Charles Foster was initiated in Lodge No. 336.
One of our two known Foundation Members, he reached the Chair in 1910 and was Treasurer during 1917/1919.
In addition, he is a Foundation Member of Lodges Milnerton and Emerald Isle, and the founder of Sharman Crawford Lodge, of which he was Treasurer from 1929 to 1950.
St. Patrick's and Excelsior Lodges have honoured him by making him an Hon. Past Master.
In 1925, when Provincial Grand Lodge was founded, he became the first Prov. Senior Grand Warden and he was Prov. Deputy Grand Master for the years 1933/34.
In 1952, in honour of his 50 years of great service to the Craft, Grand Lodge bestowed on him the honorary rank of Past Senior Grand Deacon.
In the profane world a well-known and well-liked business man, he was Deputy Mayor of Cape Town for the years 1935/37 and Mayor during 1937/39. During this time it fell to his lot to welcome to Cape Town Lord Nuffield of motorcycle fame, who referred to him affectionately as "that chap Foster".
[Photograph of Rt. Wor. Bro. Foster and V. Wor. Bro. Thomas Addison included]
The Guiding Star of Killarney.
No matter how good a Lodge may appear to be, it is only as good as its Secretary can make it.
In the early years of Killarney Lodge, this position was passed from one Brother to another and we find that during the 20 years from 1903 to 1923 it changed hands 17 times! The following are some of the Brethren who occupied this all-important position: Stewart Harrison, E.F. Webster, Henry N. Boddy, James D. Thomas, Gilbert J. Allis, Richard S. Hipwell, Thomas Maginess, A.T. Penman, W.H.C. Windsor, W.R. Turner, Andrew Walker, C. Robinson, N.I. Robertson, R.H.G. Jellard and M.J. Robertson.
Today, however, Killarney is more fortunate. We have now had Very Wor. Bro. T.A. le Vack in this important position for 15 years. "Tom," as he is known to all, has proved that the names Le Vack and Killarney are synonymous.
Proposed by (now Rt. Wor.) Bro. Wm. C. Foster, he was initiated on August 4th, 1925, and was Installed as W.M. on July 4th, 1933, by his proposer-a strange but fine coincidence.
During 1939/40 he was P.J.G.D. and in 1945 P.S. Grand Warden. In recognition of his services, he was at that time presented by the Lodge with a regalia case made by Bro. B.G. Rabbitts.
On July 4th, 1950, he was presented with a Secretary's Jewel which had previously been presented to the late V. Wor. Bro. S.H. Whyte and readily handed back to the Lodge through V. Wor. Bro. A.J. Steyn by Bro. Claude Whyte, son of the deceased.
Another presentation for services rendered took place on November 6th, 1951, when, by the unanimous vote of the Lodge, a Past Prov. Senior Grand Warden's apron, worn with such distinction by our late Very Wor. Bro. J. Cowell, and returned to us by his widow, was handed to "our Tom".
Memories over 40 years.
To produce memories of Killarney, as I am instructed, is like going back to the beginning of time. In the course
of a very strenuous career, memories of more than 40 years back begin to dim; and I am not helped by the disappearance of some of my diaries during the recent war, when the enemy bomber was no respecter of either persons or property.
I was initiated in Killarney Lodge on November 12, 1909, being induced to join the Lodge partly by its temperance principle, and partly because of the many personal friends among its members, notably Bros. E.W. Snell, W.C. Foster, S.H. Whyte, G.J. Allis, the Rev. G. Willoughby, R.S. Hipwell (now a Venerable Archdeacon but then a clerk in the Cape Divisional Council), to mention only a few. I did not take the Second Degree until March 11, 1910, having meanwhile toured the country with the visiting MCC team as part of my work in Reuters. Indeed, my diary shows that on that same day I reported the Western Province match at Newlands, in which the MCC scored 406 for 7 wickets, Jack Hobbs contributing 187.
Recollections of my initiation are hazy, but I recall Bro. W. Mitchell (6th W.M.) being in the Chair, with Bro. W.C. Foster as S.W. and Bro. E.W. Snell as J.W. I recall also being in the charge of the J.D. of that year, Bro. J. N. Thompson, who in ordinary life was a carpenter and who had a grip like a vice. If I had been tempted to break out and wander from the strait and narrow path, I am sure Bro. Thompson would have nullified the attempt. In after years he became a close friend, and I became an admirer of his strong attachment to principle.
The raising ceremony was performed on April 8, 1910, and five days later I sailed for England on my first furlough, then already 18 months overdue. Returning to Cape Town the following September, one of the first functions I attended was a magnificent Masonic reception to H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught (the Grand Master of English Freemasonry), who came out to Cape Town to open, on behalf of the King, the first Parliament of the Union of South Africa. There were, I recall, something over 1,000 Brethren present in the new City Hall in full regalia-the English, Scottish, and Netherlandic Brethren with their District and Provincial Grand Lodges, and the Irish Brethren simply as individual Masons without any representative head.
Among the memories of those early days, two that remain in the mind are the excellence of the Irish working as then performed by Killarney, and the admirable musical programme which accompanied the social proceedings, contributed mainly by Bro. W.C. Foster, Bro. Rowbottom, and one or two other Brethren, as well as some who were fairly frequent visitors, like Bros. George Oakley, Rosser Dummer and Willie Williams the Welshman.
I was elected Secretary in April of 1912 and entered on my duties the following June (the Installation meeting was then held in June) when Bro. Gilbert J. Allis went into the Chair. I have never forgotten my first duty, after the investiture was completed, which was to read letters of apology. The first to be read was one from the Dean of Cape Town (Dean Barnett Clarke, the District Grand Master of the English Constitution), who was by general consent the worst writer in the whole of the city. I struggled with his letter, short though it was, for many minutes, and having finished the struggle looked up to see the entire Lodge convulsed the Dean had arrived very late and had slipped unannounced into a seat on the dais, out of sight from the Secretary's desk, and from that point of vantage he followed with intense amusement my somewhat reproachful efforts to submit his apologies.
During my term as Secretary, the record of one meeting in the middle of 1913, shows that I acted during one ceremony as Secretary, Senior Warden and Organist, indicating that there were times, even in those early days of Union, when officers found themselves suddenly called away. In 1914 1 was elected Junior Warden, in 1915 Senior Warden and in 1916 Master. My Installation, on July 4 of that year-there was no special reason for choosing Independence Day was the first occasion on which the Lodge met on the first Tuesday of the month, as it still does. The Installation meeting attracted a good deal of attention and was indicative of the splendid reputation Killarney Lodge had acquired. Some 135 Brethren were present, of whom 55 were in the East, among them the heads of the three other Constitutions - Col. William Standford (England), Sir Frederick Smith, then Mayor of Cape Town (Scotland) and C.C. Silberbauer (Netherlands). The Installation ceremony was performed by my predecessor, Wor. Bro. Andrew Walker, who shortly afterwards joined the South African forces fighting in Europe. Before I left the Chair of Killarney, I had the melancholy duty of announcing that Wor. Bro. Andrew Walker had been killed on the Western Front.
It was about this period that negotiations for a Provincial Grand Lodge, based on Cape Town, were opened. Perhaps I should say "re-opened", for some 10 years previously application had been made to Dublin by the three Lodges then existing in Cape Town. The petition was granted, but the Provincial Grand Master nominated was Bro. Sir Kendal Franks, the famous surgeon, who had stayed in South Africa after the Boer War and had settled in Johannesburg. The three Cape Town Lodges of those days, desiring the administration of the Provincial Grand Lodge to be in the Mother City, not unnaturally protested, and were given the option of remaining under the direct control of Dublin. Those who remember the somewhat acrid relationship between Cape Town and Johannesburg in the early days of the century, will not be surprised that the Cape Town Lodges exercised their option.
In 1916, therefore, the position was that the three Cape Town Lodges – St. Patrick’s, Killarney and Excelsior – were under the control of Dublin, over 6,000 miles away, while the whole of the rest of the four Provinces of the Union, outside the municipal boundaries of Cape Town, together with Southern and Northern Rhodesia, came under the sway of the Provincial Grand Lodge, based on Johannesburg. It was an absurd position and called for obvious rectification. During business visits to Johannesburg, it had been the subject of more than one conversation with Sir Kendal Franks, whom I was happy to number, among my friends, and the question came to a head in the November meeting during my year as W.M., when R.W. Bro. Sir Kendal Franks, accompanied by his Deputy (Dr. Russell, Medical Officer of Health for the Witwatersrand), his P.G. Secretary (Wor. Bro. Coates) and his P.G. Treasurer (Wor. Bro. Lawrence) paid a visit to Killarney Lodge. I recall that I worked the Third Degree that night, and Bro. Sir Kendal Franks and his officers accompanied me to the centre of the floor, where, at that time, the climax of the ceremony was performed.
R.W. Bro. Sir Kendal Frank's comments at the subsequent supper were scarifying in the extreme. As an Irishman he told us exactly what he thought of our ritual, which had in fact grown up somewhat haphazard over the years. Sir Kendal told us that he had never seen the like of our ritual anywhere, certainly not in Ireland, and went on to stress at length the desirability of the Cape Town Lodges joining the Provincial Grand Lodge of South Africa, as the Johannesburg body was termed. Incidentally, it was Dr. Russell, the Deputy P.G.M., who the same night put the final touch to our confusion by asking why, if we had to use the emblem appropriate to the Third Degree, we should not adhere to our own sex - it was the first time this anomaly had been brought to light.
At the following meeting, in December, 1916, Sir Kendal's suggestion was discussed and was referred to a Committee of the three Irish Lodges. Apart from Major Hanton (St. Patrick's) and myself, the Committee was composed entirely of Irishmen, North and South, at a time when the feud between North and South was at its height, and I, as one of the only two Englishmen on the Committee, was elected to the Chair. It was one of the most joyous experiences of my Masonic life, trying to maintain order among my Irish friends, keeping the discussions on the straight and narrow path, and endeavouring to lead the Committee to a decision which could be submitted to Grand Lodge.
The decision was, however, reached after about 12 months. It suggested the formation of a Provincial Grand Lodge for the Western Province, up to Worcester, leaving the whole of the rest of the Country under Sir Kendal Franks as before.
This seemed to us reasonable, but it was not accepted by the Board in Dublin, who took the line that three Lodges were not sufficient to form a Provincial Grand Lodge. After my transfer to England at the end of 1919, I had the advantage of one or two conversations on the question with the Grand Master, the Earl of Donoughmore, who, I recall, showed considerable sympathy with our case, but after consultation with Dublin was not then able to do anything.
The opportunity arrived some three years later, when in the course of journalistic duties, I ran across Col. Sharman Crawford in London and enlisted his help, explaining the whole position to him. Col. Sharman Crawford was then about to sail for South Africa on a health trip, and promised to look into the subject while there. A cable to Bro. W.B. Knox had everything in readiness for the Colonel, who returned to Ireland enthusiastic about the project. A little later, in 1925, while attending the bi-centenary of Grand Lodge in Dublin, I had the intense gratification of recording my vote for the establishment of a Provincial Grand Lodge in the Southern Cape, which was the first item on the Agenda.
Other visits to Ireland have followed as the representative on the Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes of the Irish Provincial Grand Lodge of Rhodesia - the Southern Cape Province is represented by Archdeacon R.S. Hipwell, also of Killarney.
Two other aspects of Masonic life in Cape Town I recall with much satisfaction. The first was service on the Masonic Education Fund as representing Killarney, and service on the Fund's Committees on behalf of the Irish Constitution, at the time when Professor C.E. Lewis was Chairman. The other was the institution of the Lodge's fund on behalf of the Maginess family. Few public men in the Cape have been more widely esteemed than Tom Maginess, by political foe and friend alike. A strong advocate of Labour in its early days, he left hardly an enemy. In Killarney, where he was appreciated as a former Secretary, he was beloved. When, therefore, he died suddenly, leaving a wife and family of six (a seventh came later) not too well provided for, their welfare became a matter of public as well as Masonic concern. It fell to me to tour the Lodges of the Peninsula appealing for funds, and from every one, without exception, I was able to hand in contributions, many of them substantial. The public side of the appeal was in the hands of Bro. George Robinson (manager of Messrs. Attwell, the bakers), a very modest and reserved member of Killarney, who never took office in the Lodge but was always foremost in the cause of charity. Before I could do more than lay the foundation of the fund, I was transferred by my firm to London. But I have never ceased to be grateful to those who carried on the effort (especially the late R.W. Bro. W.B. Knox) and to the Brethren of Killarney for seeing the effort through to a successful conclusion, and for ensuring a successful start in life for all the Maginess family.
In accordance with the instructions of the Editor, who has brought the foregoing and what follows on his own head, I have to add that, on my return to London, I joined my old School Lodge (John Carpenter, No. 1997) and the Journalists' Lodge (Gallery, No. 1928). My interests have, however, been mainly bound up with the second Journalists' Lodge (Alfred Robbins, No. 5083) and the South Africa Lodge, No. 6742, in both of which it fell to my lot to be the first Master. The former was named after Sir Alfred Robbins, who for 20 years was President of the Board of General Purposes in London and was also a life-long journalist. But the Lodge was especially interesting from the fact that of its 20 Founders, 15 were directly associated with journalists overseas. At dinner after the Consecration, 120 guests sat down representing 23 different parts of the Commonwealth, and the toast of "Overseas Brethren" was replied to by R.W. Bro. Bennett, D.G.M. of Newfoundland (England's oldest Colony), of which he was also Prime Minister.
The South Africa Lodge was formed to provide a meeting place for South Africans and Rhodesians in London, and, holding its gatherings during the summer, it has been able to entertain many visitors from the Union and Rhodesia, Killarney Brethren amongst them. It is an interesting Lodge, covering all aspects of South African life. Its first Senior Warden was Bro. Leif Egeland, then High Commissioner in London, and in the last couple of years many of the Constitutional heads in South Africa have intimated their interest by joining as overseas members.
In relation to Grand Lodges, am one of those slightly exotic persons (of whom there are, I believe, only three in the world) who hold Grand Lodge rank in both Ireland and in England. Soon after the establishment of the Irish Provincial Grand Lodge in Cape Town, the Grand Master of Ireland was gracious enough to confer Grand Rank on my humble self. It strengthened a friendship, started earlier in connection with the negotiations for the Southern Cape P.G.L., and renewed many times later in London in meetings of the Supreme Council, 33 degree, of which, until his untimely death, the Earl of Donoughmore was the active head, in addition to being Grand Master of Ireland.
In England, the rank of Grand Standard Bearer was conferred in 1927. It was a remarkable coincidence - if there ever is such a thing-that the wireless from the Grand Secretary offering the appointment was put into my hands at breakfast time on my very birthday. It happened while returning on board the "Carnarvon Castle" from my first visit to Cape Town after my transfer to London. It enabled me to take an active part in a great gathering of 8,000 Masons in the Albert Hall, when the Duke of Connaught laid the foundation stone (by electric contact) of the magnificent headquarters of English Freemasonry in Great Queen Street, three miles away. Amongst those who took part in that ceremony was the Prince of Wales (afterwards Edward VIII) and the Duke of York (afterwards George VI). In 1933 1 received promotion to P.A.G.D.C. at the hands of the late King, and more recently further promotion to Past Grand Deacon.
Other responsibilities which have fallen my way are election to the Board of General Purposes of the Grand Lodge of England (besides representing Rhodesia on the Board of General Purposes in Ireland), and also election to the Board of the Royal Masonic Hospital, one of the jewels of English Freemasonry.
Our Working Tools and Floor Furniture.
In the years 1947 - 48, Killarney discovered that, as "Lodgers" in the British Temple, they had been provided with "all home comforts"; we did not own ourselves any Working Tools, Staves on Floor Furniture. This was a shock, and had to be rectified!
Immediately we called on Wor. Bro. B.G. Rabbits and he on one of his trips to the Transvaal obtained some native timber, a wood of great beauty, from which he modelled certain tools. Other Brethren found metal instruments in various places and these were altered to our requirements, a friendly engineer making a skirrett for us.
The set of tools being complete, a case was necessary, and Mrs. T.M.C. Stevenson, wife of our Very Wor. Bro. Tom Stevenson (Senior), kindly presented us with an ideal case.
The cushion for the V.O.S.L. was the work of Miss E. Loose (daughter of Very Wor. Bro. Rev. T. Loose) and Mrs. Vic. Prince (wife of V. Wor. Bro. Vic. H. Prince), and was duly presented to us by these ladies.
On the V.O.S.L. we find a silver plate which commemorates the fact that Wor. Bro. G.A. Castle, W.M. for the year 1927/28, only presided at one working after his installation and was then called to the Grand Lodge above.
Floor Furniture.
The floor furniture has had a most interesting history the wood from which Wor. Bro. B.G. Rabbitts turned and made these mauls, squares, etc., came to us in this manner:-
Our late Bro. Lieut. Col. F.M. Hornibrook, who landed in South Africa on January 1st, 1875, as a lad, accompanied his dad, a member of the Imperial Army, to the Old Army Barracks, Barrack Square (now in part known as Caledon Square).
In due course he graduated to the Army and rose to the rank of Lieut. Colonel. When the Barracks were demolished in the early 1900's he was given permission to take the solid window frames of the office he had occupied for many years as an officer in the 1st 24th Regiment.
Wood of the finest quality was used in those days, and from these window frames not only was the furniture turned out but, in addition a tea tray was made and, in turn, presented to Mrs. Hornibrook by the Lodge.
The foundation stone of the Barracks was laid in 1772 with the intention that it was to be the hospital: in 1781, when the building was only partly completed, one wing was used as a barracks for French troops (allies of the Dutch in the then war with Great Britain). After 1795, the whole building was turned into the barracks).
In Golden Years - A Red Letter Day.
December 5th, 1951, stands out as a Red Letter Day in a very fair share of Officers, many of whom have rendered, and the history of Killarney's golden years, for it was on that night that the then Wor. Master (Wor. Bro. J. Norton) invited Very Wor. Bro. T.M.C. Stevenson, P.P.S.G.W., to take the Chair and carry out the Installation of his son, Thomas Cowan Stevenson – a great occasion for both father and son.
A very close scrutiny of our minute books shows that, although Killarney has been well blessed with fathers and sons who “became Brothers,” this is the only recorded instance of a father carrying out the actual Initiation of his son in Killarney.
Having written the foregoing I wondered to what extent Killarney could be considered a family Lodge and, on checking our register, I found many instances of fathers, sons, brothers in the Lodge. Those that I noticed particularly were:-
Fathers and sons: The Whytes, the Harrisons, the Chutes, the Fergussons, the Stevensons, the Higgos, and the Windrums.
Uncle and nephew: Bro. Robertson and Bro. Thurgood
Brothers: Well, surely the outstanding family, and an example to all Brethren, must be “that chap Foster” and “the Foster Gang,” as they were affectionately known.
Our Association with Tristan da Cunha.
The passing to "Grand Lodge Above" on January 12th, 1952 of Very Wor. Bro. Percy A. Snell, severed a link between this Lodge and that famous little island - Tristan da Cunha - of which he was for many years known as the "Hon. Consul".
For over 25 years he made the welfare of Tristan's inhabitants his hobby.
His interest started in 1922 when he organised and headed a subscription list for the purpose of buying a wireless set for the Rev. M.H. Rogers who was going to the island for a spell of duty.
At his passing his family asked for his ashes to be conveyed to the island, and proof of the very high esteem in which he was held by the people of Tristan came when they, through our P.G. Secretary, requested that a suitable headstone be supplied for his grave - the cost of the stone was borne by the islanders. A fine tribute to a fine man.
A word of thanks must go to the Tristan da Cunha Development Co. Ltd., who, without charge, conveyed both the ashes and then the stone (about 200 lb. weight) to the island without charge.
He immediately handed them to your Editor, who was then W.M. of Killarney, and he, in turn, showed them to Rt. Wor. Bro. William C. Foster, a foundation member. That well-loved Brother began to "page through the book of memory" and suggested that it was high time that the Brethren of Killarney Lodge set about collating information for a suitable brochure.
This is the result, and your Editor trusts that it will not only bring back memories to the older Brethren but that, using as a skirrett the examples of those who have made the name of Killarney so well respected and loved, the younger Brethren will strike the lines for the foundation of an even greater Lodge of the future.
In compiling this brochure, I have endeavoured to link the past with the present, to "pen-picture" a few (only a very few) of the outstanding personalities who have made the name of Killarney Lodge so well respected, and to tell you something of the history of our more intimate and "sentimental" possessions.
The Birth of Killarney.
It was in July, 1903, that certain Brethren, members of St. Patrick's Lodge No. 199, Cape Town, decided that the time was ripe to approach Grand Lodge regarding the formation of a new Lodge under the Irish Constitution in this city.
After two or three meetings in a local tavern-sorry! Tea-room (see By-law No. 1)-a Memorial was completed. This contained the names of 40 Foundation Members and in due course was forwarded to Grand Lodge. On October 3rd, 1903, the Warrant was issued naming Wor. Bro. Rev. Gerald Willoughby as W.M. Designate, with Bro. Joseph G. Thompson as S.W. Elect and Bro. William M. Dawson as J.W., the first Secretary to be Wor. Bro. J.H. Dowries.
In the meantime by-laws had been drafted for submission to Grand Lodge. It is of interest to note that today, after 50 years, these by-laws are almost identical to those drawn up then.
There have, of course, been alterations to certain of them, such as those affecting fees, date and place of meeting, and so on, but in the main they are unchanged.
And here it is worth quoting our By-Law No. 1 as it appeared in the first issue of the printed books (1904). It reads: "That at social functions, or any gathering whatsoever in connection with the Lodge, no beverage of an intoxicating nature shall be permitted on the table or in any room associated with the gathering. Any Brother violating the spirit of this by-law shall be liable to the action provided in Grand Lodge Law No. 34. This By-Law shall not be repealed except by the unanimous vote of the Lodge". A comparison with the most recent printing of the By-Laws is most interesting.
There is no change!
This By-Law No. 1 has been, in a humorous manner, challenged but never altered, and the writer is sure that it will continue as long as Killarney exists. The regularity with which large numbers of Brethren visit our Lodge is proof that it is not the "groaning festive board, with spirits to imbibe" that is a Masonic necessity. It is rather the attraction of clean, precise ritual working in the various degrees, together with the fine name which our many Past Masters have given the Lodge that still makes Killarney one of the "musts" on practically any W.M's. visiting list, no matter what Constitution.
December 1903, saw the actual birth of Killarney, for it was in that month that the Consecration ceremony took place. Our early Brethren did not lose any time in getting busy, for a glance at the first Agenda issued after the Consecration meeting, reproduced on pages 12-15, shows no fewer than four ballots for new members.
A short History of our Warrant.
Although every Initiate is invited to view and read the Warrant of a Lodge – how many do? It is a pity that many do not, for it is worth reading. For that reason I have prompted to find out a little regarding this all-important document, which, in our case, bears the No. 360.
Here I wish to pay tribute to our Grand Secretary for Instruction (Rt. Wor. Bro. Henry J. Sumner) for his assistance.
Warrant No. 360 was first issued on December 4th, 1760, to Mullingar, County Westmeath, to Charles Mercer as W.M., James Fottrell as S.W., Christopher Haggerty as J.W., and with eight other members. From 1760 to 1791, 29 members were registered, but on October 7th, 1813, Grand Lodge found it necessary to cancel the Warrant.
The number was dormant until January 5th, 1826, when it was issued to Staffordstown, County Antrim, and here it remained for 20 years, being cancelled by Grand Lodge in 1846 as the result of a debt to Grand Lodge of £8. 8s. 4d.
Then for 40 years No. 360 was blank on the Grand Lodge register. In 1886 it was issued to Tasmania, only to last three years and again become dormant in 1889.
In 1890 several enthusiastic Brethren decided to revive Lodge Tasmania but, after applying for a Warrant, changed their minds and their allegiance and instead became Lodge 21 on the register of the Grand Lodge of Tasmania, then only recently formed.
Then came Killarney’s big day! On October 3rd, 1903, the Warrant was issued to Wor. Bro. Rev. Gerald Willoughby as W.M., Bro. Joseph G. Thompson as S.W., Bro. William M. Dawson as J.W., and Wor. Bro. J.W. Downes as Secretary, together with the other foundation members as shown on the facing page.
Has this interested you? I hope so and trust that many more of you will now read the original warrant.
Foundation Members.
W. Bros. J.A. McKendry, P.M.;J.S. Cruickshank, W.M.; Rev. J.J. McClure, W.M.; J.R. Finch, P.M.; J.W. Downes, P.M.; R.M. Maxwell, P.M.; Bros. Rev. Gerald Willoughby; J.G. Thompson; W.M. Dawson; S. Gibson; J.W. Clint; V.H. Waggoner; W.J. Fegan; R.S. Hipwell; G.H. Kelsey; Capt. G.E. Sharp; J.H. Stocks; James Baxter; F. Ballantine; J. McCrudden; Thomas Ball, CMG.; Rowland Chute; C.H. Comins; J. Hunt; W.C. Foster; J. Johnstone; Jas. Patterson; Hugh Walsh; W.H. Douglass; D.E. McConnell; J.D. Mansfield; A.H. McCausland; T. Alexander; S.E. Knight; E.F. Webster; J. McDonald; Geo. Hassell; J.A.S. Harrison; J.A. McMullen and Jas. Hosford.
Fifty years unbroken Membership.
Rt. Wor. Bro. William Charles Foster, P.P.D.G.M., P.S.G.D. (IRELAND)
It was in March, 1902, that William Charles Foster was initiated in Lodge No. 336.
One of our two known Foundation Members, he reached the Chair in 1910 and was Treasurer during 1917/1919.
In addition, he is a Foundation Member of Lodges Milnerton and Emerald Isle, and the founder of Sharman Crawford Lodge, of which he was Treasurer from 1929 to 1950.
St. Patrick's and Excelsior Lodges have honoured him by making him an Hon. Past Master.
In 1925, when Provincial Grand Lodge was founded, he became the first Prov. Senior Grand Warden and he was Prov. Deputy Grand Master for the years 1933/34.
In 1952, in honour of his 50 years of great service to the Craft, Grand Lodge bestowed on him the honorary rank of Past Senior Grand Deacon.
In the profane world a well-known and well-liked business man, he was Deputy Mayor of Cape Town for the years 1935/37 and Mayor during 1937/39. During this time it fell to his lot to welcome to Cape Town Lord Nuffield of motorcycle fame, who referred to him affectionately as "that chap Foster".
[Photograph of Rt. Wor. Bro. Foster and V. Wor. Bro. Thomas Addison included]
The Guiding Star of Killarney.
No matter how good a Lodge may appear to be, it is only as good as its Secretary can make it.
In the early years of Killarney Lodge, this position was passed from one Brother to another and we find that during the 20 years from 1903 to 1923 it changed hands 17 times! The following are some of the Brethren who occupied this all-important position: Stewart Harrison, E.F. Webster, Henry N. Boddy, James D. Thomas, Gilbert J. Allis, Richard S. Hipwell, Thomas Maginess, A.T. Penman, W.H.C. Windsor, W.R. Turner, Andrew Walker, C. Robinson, N.I. Robertson, R.H.G. Jellard and M.J. Robertson.
Today, however, Killarney is more fortunate. We have now had Very Wor. Bro. T.A. le Vack in this important position for 15 years. "Tom," as he is known to all, has proved that the names Le Vack and Killarney are synonymous.
Proposed by (now Rt. Wor.) Bro. Wm. C. Foster, he was initiated on August 4th, 1925, and was Installed as W.M. on July 4th, 1933, by his proposer-a strange but fine coincidence.
During 1939/40 he was P.J.G.D. and in 1945 P.S. Grand Warden. In recognition of his services, he was at that time presented by the Lodge with a regalia case made by Bro. B.G. Rabbitts.
On July 4th, 1950, he was presented with a Secretary's Jewel which had previously been presented to the late V. Wor. Bro. S.H. Whyte and readily handed back to the Lodge through V. Wor. Bro. A.J. Steyn by Bro. Claude Whyte, son of the deceased.
Another presentation for services rendered took place on November 6th, 1951, when, by the unanimous vote of the Lodge, a Past Prov. Senior Grand Warden's apron, worn with such distinction by our late Very Wor. Bro. J. Cowell, and returned to us by his widow, was handed to "our Tom".
Memories over 40 years.
To produce memories of Killarney, as I am instructed, is like going back to the beginning of time. In the course
of a very strenuous career, memories of more than 40 years back begin to dim; and I am not helped by the disappearance of some of my diaries during the recent war, when the enemy bomber was no respecter of either persons or property.
I was initiated in Killarney Lodge on November 12, 1909, being induced to join the Lodge partly by its temperance principle, and partly because of the many personal friends among its members, notably Bros. E.W. Snell, W.C. Foster, S.H. Whyte, G.J. Allis, the Rev. G. Willoughby, R.S. Hipwell (now a Venerable Archdeacon but then a clerk in the Cape Divisional Council), to mention only a few. I did not take the Second Degree until March 11, 1910, having meanwhile toured the country with the visiting MCC team as part of my work in Reuters. Indeed, my diary shows that on that same day I reported the Western Province match at Newlands, in which the MCC scored 406 for 7 wickets, Jack Hobbs contributing 187.
Recollections of my initiation are hazy, but I recall Bro. W. Mitchell (6th W.M.) being in the Chair, with Bro. W.C. Foster as S.W. and Bro. E.W. Snell as J.W. I recall also being in the charge of the J.D. of that year, Bro. J. N. Thompson, who in ordinary life was a carpenter and who had a grip like a vice. If I had been tempted to break out and wander from the strait and narrow path, I am sure Bro. Thompson would have nullified the attempt. In after years he became a close friend, and I became an admirer of his strong attachment to principle.
The raising ceremony was performed on April 8, 1910, and five days later I sailed for England on my first furlough, then already 18 months overdue. Returning to Cape Town the following September, one of the first functions I attended was a magnificent Masonic reception to H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught (the Grand Master of English Freemasonry), who came out to Cape Town to open, on behalf of the King, the first Parliament of the Union of South Africa. There were, I recall, something over 1,000 Brethren present in the new City Hall in full regalia-the English, Scottish, and Netherlandic Brethren with their District and Provincial Grand Lodges, and the Irish Brethren simply as individual Masons without any representative head.
Among the memories of those early days, two that remain in the mind are the excellence of the Irish working as then performed by Killarney, and the admirable musical programme which accompanied the social proceedings, contributed mainly by Bro. W.C. Foster, Bro. Rowbottom, and one or two other Brethren, as well as some who were fairly frequent visitors, like Bros. George Oakley, Rosser Dummer and Willie Williams the Welshman.
I was elected Secretary in April of 1912 and entered on my duties the following June (the Installation meeting was then held in June) when Bro. Gilbert J. Allis went into the Chair. I have never forgotten my first duty, after the investiture was completed, which was to read letters of apology. The first to be read was one from the Dean of Cape Town (Dean Barnett Clarke, the District Grand Master of the English Constitution), who was by general consent the worst writer in the whole of the city. I struggled with his letter, short though it was, for many minutes, and having finished the struggle looked up to see the entire Lodge convulsed the Dean had arrived very late and had slipped unannounced into a seat on the dais, out of sight from the Secretary's desk, and from that point of vantage he followed with intense amusement my somewhat reproachful efforts to submit his apologies.
During my term as Secretary, the record of one meeting in the middle of 1913, shows that I acted during one ceremony as Secretary, Senior Warden and Organist, indicating that there were times, even in those early days of Union, when officers found themselves suddenly called away. In 1914 1 was elected Junior Warden, in 1915 Senior Warden and in 1916 Master. My Installation, on July 4 of that year-there was no special reason for choosing Independence Day was the first occasion on which the Lodge met on the first Tuesday of the month, as it still does. The Installation meeting attracted a good deal of attention and was indicative of the splendid reputation Killarney Lodge had acquired. Some 135 Brethren were present, of whom 55 were in the East, among them the heads of the three other Constitutions - Col. William Standford (England), Sir Frederick Smith, then Mayor of Cape Town (Scotland) and C.C. Silberbauer (Netherlands). The Installation ceremony was performed by my predecessor, Wor. Bro. Andrew Walker, who shortly afterwards joined the South African forces fighting in Europe. Before I left the Chair of Killarney, I had the melancholy duty of announcing that Wor. Bro. Andrew Walker had been killed on the Western Front.
It was about this period that negotiations for a Provincial Grand Lodge, based on Cape Town, were opened. Perhaps I should say "re-opened", for some 10 years previously application had been made to Dublin by the three Lodges then existing in Cape Town. The petition was granted, but the Provincial Grand Master nominated was Bro. Sir Kendal Franks, the famous surgeon, who had stayed in South Africa after the Boer War and had settled in Johannesburg. The three Cape Town Lodges of those days, desiring the administration of the Provincial Grand Lodge to be in the Mother City, not unnaturally protested, and were given the option of remaining under the direct control of Dublin. Those who remember the somewhat acrid relationship between Cape Town and Johannesburg in the early days of the century, will not be surprised that the Cape Town Lodges exercised their option.
In 1916, therefore, the position was that the three Cape Town Lodges – St. Patrick’s, Killarney and Excelsior – were under the control of Dublin, over 6,000 miles away, while the whole of the rest of the four Provinces of the Union, outside the municipal boundaries of Cape Town, together with Southern and Northern Rhodesia, came under the sway of the Provincial Grand Lodge, based on Johannesburg. It was an absurd position and called for obvious rectification. During business visits to Johannesburg, it had been the subject of more than one conversation with Sir Kendal Franks, whom I was happy to number, among my friends, and the question came to a head in the November meeting during my year as W.M., when R.W. Bro. Sir Kendal Franks, accompanied by his Deputy (Dr. Russell, Medical Officer of Health for the Witwatersrand), his P.G. Secretary (Wor. Bro. Coates) and his P.G. Treasurer (Wor. Bro. Lawrence) paid a visit to Killarney Lodge. I recall that I worked the Third Degree that night, and Bro. Sir Kendal Franks and his officers accompanied me to the centre of the floor, where, at that time, the climax of the ceremony was performed.
R.W. Bro. Sir Kendal Frank's comments at the subsequent supper were scarifying in the extreme. As an Irishman he told us exactly what he thought of our ritual, which had in fact grown up somewhat haphazard over the years. Sir Kendal told us that he had never seen the like of our ritual anywhere, certainly not in Ireland, and went on to stress at length the desirability of the Cape Town Lodges joining the Provincial Grand Lodge of South Africa, as the Johannesburg body was termed. Incidentally, it was Dr. Russell, the Deputy P.G.M., who the same night put the final touch to our confusion by asking why, if we had to use the emblem appropriate to the Third Degree, we should not adhere to our own sex - it was the first time this anomaly had been brought to light.
At the following meeting, in December, 1916, Sir Kendal's suggestion was discussed and was referred to a Committee of the three Irish Lodges. Apart from Major Hanton (St. Patrick's) and myself, the Committee was composed entirely of Irishmen, North and South, at a time when the feud between North and South was at its height, and I, as one of the only two Englishmen on the Committee, was elected to the Chair. It was one of the most joyous experiences of my Masonic life, trying to maintain order among my Irish friends, keeping the discussions on the straight and narrow path, and endeavouring to lead the Committee to a decision which could be submitted to Grand Lodge.
The decision was, however, reached after about 12 months. It suggested the formation of a Provincial Grand Lodge for the Western Province, up to Worcester, leaving the whole of the rest of the Country under Sir Kendal Franks as before.
This seemed to us reasonable, but it was not accepted by the Board in Dublin, who took the line that three Lodges were not sufficient to form a Provincial Grand Lodge. After my transfer to England at the end of 1919, I had the advantage of one or two conversations on the question with the Grand Master, the Earl of Donoughmore, who, I recall, showed considerable sympathy with our case, but after consultation with Dublin was not then able to do anything.
The opportunity arrived some three years later, when in the course of journalistic duties, I ran across Col. Sharman Crawford in London and enlisted his help, explaining the whole position to him. Col. Sharman Crawford was then about to sail for South Africa on a health trip, and promised to look into the subject while there. A cable to Bro. W.B. Knox had everything in readiness for the Colonel, who returned to Ireland enthusiastic about the project. A little later, in 1925, while attending the bi-centenary of Grand Lodge in Dublin, I had the intense gratification of recording my vote for the establishment of a Provincial Grand Lodge in the Southern Cape, which was the first item on the Agenda.
Other visits to Ireland have followed as the representative on the Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes of the Irish Provincial Grand Lodge of Rhodesia - the Southern Cape Province is represented by Archdeacon R.S. Hipwell, also of Killarney.
Two other aspects of Masonic life in Cape Town I recall with much satisfaction. The first was service on the Masonic Education Fund as representing Killarney, and service on the Fund's Committees on behalf of the Irish Constitution, at the time when Professor C.E. Lewis was Chairman. The other was the institution of the Lodge's fund on behalf of the Maginess family. Few public men in the Cape have been more widely esteemed than Tom Maginess, by political foe and friend alike. A strong advocate of Labour in its early days, he left hardly an enemy. In Killarney, where he was appreciated as a former Secretary, he was beloved. When, therefore, he died suddenly, leaving a wife and family of six (a seventh came later) not too well provided for, their welfare became a matter of public as well as Masonic concern. It fell to me to tour the Lodges of the Peninsula appealing for funds, and from every one, without exception, I was able to hand in contributions, many of them substantial. The public side of the appeal was in the hands of Bro. George Robinson (manager of Messrs. Attwell, the bakers), a very modest and reserved member of Killarney, who never took office in the Lodge but was always foremost in the cause of charity. Before I could do more than lay the foundation of the fund, I was transferred by my firm to London. But I have never ceased to be grateful to those who carried on the effort (especially the late R.W. Bro. W.B. Knox) and to the Brethren of Killarney for seeing the effort through to a successful conclusion, and for ensuring a successful start in life for all the Maginess family.
In accordance with the instructions of the Editor, who has brought the foregoing and what follows on his own head, I have to add that, on my return to London, I joined my old School Lodge (John Carpenter, No. 1997) and the Journalists' Lodge (Gallery, No. 1928). My interests have, however, been mainly bound up with the second Journalists' Lodge (Alfred Robbins, No. 5083) and the South Africa Lodge, No. 6742, in both of which it fell to my lot to be the first Master. The former was named after Sir Alfred Robbins, who for 20 years was President of the Board of General Purposes in London and was also a life-long journalist. But the Lodge was especially interesting from the fact that of its 20 Founders, 15 were directly associated with journalists overseas. At dinner after the Consecration, 120 guests sat down representing 23 different parts of the Commonwealth, and the toast of "Overseas Brethren" was replied to by R.W. Bro. Bennett, D.G.M. of Newfoundland (England's oldest Colony), of which he was also Prime Minister.
The South Africa Lodge was formed to provide a meeting place for South Africans and Rhodesians in London, and, holding its gatherings during the summer, it has been able to entertain many visitors from the Union and Rhodesia, Killarney Brethren amongst them. It is an interesting Lodge, covering all aspects of South African life. Its first Senior Warden was Bro. Leif Egeland, then High Commissioner in London, and in the last couple of years many of the Constitutional heads in South Africa have intimated their interest by joining as overseas members.
In relation to Grand Lodges, am one of those slightly exotic persons (of whom there are, I believe, only three in the world) who hold Grand Lodge rank in both Ireland and in England. Soon after the establishment of the Irish Provincial Grand Lodge in Cape Town, the Grand Master of Ireland was gracious enough to confer Grand Rank on my humble self. It strengthened a friendship, started earlier in connection with the negotiations for the Southern Cape P.G.L., and renewed many times later in London in meetings of the Supreme Council, 33 degree, of which, until his untimely death, the Earl of Donoughmore was the active head, in addition to being Grand Master of Ireland.
In England, the rank of Grand Standard Bearer was conferred in 1927. It was a remarkable coincidence - if there ever is such a thing-that the wireless from the Grand Secretary offering the appointment was put into my hands at breakfast time on my very birthday. It happened while returning on board the "Carnarvon Castle" from my first visit to Cape Town after my transfer to London. It enabled me to take an active part in a great gathering of 8,000 Masons in the Albert Hall, when the Duke of Connaught laid the foundation stone (by electric contact) of the magnificent headquarters of English Freemasonry in Great Queen Street, three miles away. Amongst those who took part in that ceremony was the Prince of Wales (afterwards Edward VIII) and the Duke of York (afterwards George VI). In 1933 1 received promotion to P.A.G.D.C. at the hands of the late King, and more recently further promotion to Past Grand Deacon.
Other responsibilities which have fallen my way are election to the Board of General Purposes of the Grand Lodge of England (besides representing Rhodesia on the Board of General Purposes in Ireland), and also election to the Board of the Royal Masonic Hospital, one of the jewels of English Freemasonry.
Our Working Tools and Floor Furniture.
In the years 1947 - 48, Killarney discovered that, as "Lodgers" in the British Temple, they had been provided with "all home comforts"; we did not own ourselves any Working Tools, Staves on Floor Furniture. This was a shock, and had to be rectified!
Immediately we called on Wor. Bro. B.G. Rabbits and he on one of his trips to the Transvaal obtained some native timber, a wood of great beauty, from which he modelled certain tools. Other Brethren found metal instruments in various places and these were altered to our requirements, a friendly engineer making a skirrett for us.
The set of tools being complete, a case was necessary, and Mrs. T.M.C. Stevenson, wife of our Very Wor. Bro. Tom Stevenson (Senior), kindly presented us with an ideal case.
The cushion for the V.O.S.L. was the work of Miss E. Loose (daughter of Very Wor. Bro. Rev. T. Loose) and Mrs. Vic. Prince (wife of V. Wor. Bro. Vic. H. Prince), and was duly presented to us by these ladies.
On the V.O.S.L. we find a silver plate which commemorates the fact that Wor. Bro. G.A. Castle, W.M. for the year 1927/28, only presided at one working after his installation and was then called to the Grand Lodge above.
Floor Furniture.
The floor furniture has had a most interesting history the wood from which Wor. Bro. B.G. Rabbitts turned and made these mauls, squares, etc., came to us in this manner:-
Our late Bro. Lieut. Col. F.M. Hornibrook, who landed in South Africa on January 1st, 1875, as a lad, accompanied his dad, a member of the Imperial Army, to the Old Army Barracks, Barrack Square (now in part known as Caledon Square).
In due course he graduated to the Army and rose to the rank of Lieut. Colonel. When the Barracks were demolished in the early 1900's he was given permission to take the solid window frames of the office he had occupied for many years as an officer in the 1st 24th Regiment.
Wood of the finest quality was used in those days, and from these window frames not only was the furniture turned out but, in addition a tea tray was made and, in turn, presented to Mrs. Hornibrook by the Lodge.
The foundation stone of the Barracks was laid in 1772 with the intention that it was to be the hospital: in 1781, when the building was only partly completed, one wing was used as a barracks for French troops (allies of the Dutch in the then war with Great Britain). After 1795, the whole building was turned into the barracks).
In Golden Years - A Red Letter Day.
December 5th, 1951, stands out as a Red Letter Day in a very fair share of Officers, many of whom have rendered, and the history of Killarney's golden years, for it was on that night that the then Wor. Master (Wor. Bro. J. Norton) invited Very Wor. Bro. T.M.C. Stevenson, P.P.S.G.W., to take the Chair and carry out the Installation of his son, Thomas Cowan Stevenson – a great occasion for both father and son.
A very close scrutiny of our minute books shows that, although Killarney has been well blessed with fathers and sons who “became Brothers,” this is the only recorded instance of a father carrying out the actual Initiation of his son in Killarney.
Having written the foregoing I wondered to what extent Killarney could be considered a family Lodge and, on checking our register, I found many instances of fathers, sons, brothers in the Lodge. Those that I noticed particularly were:-
Fathers and sons: The Whytes, the Harrisons, the Chutes, the Fergussons, the Stevensons, the Higgos, and the Windrums.
Uncle and nephew: Bro. Robertson and Bro. Thurgood
Brothers: Well, surely the outstanding family, and an example to all Brethren, must be “that chap Foster” and “the Foster Gang,” as they were affectionately known.
Our Association with Tristan da Cunha.
The passing to "Grand Lodge Above" on January 12th, 1952 of Very Wor. Bro. Percy A. Snell, severed a link between this Lodge and that famous little island - Tristan da Cunha - of which he was for many years known as the "Hon. Consul".
For over 25 years he made the welfare of Tristan's inhabitants his hobby.
His interest started in 1922 when he organised and headed a subscription list for the purpose of buying a wireless set for the Rev. M.H. Rogers who was going to the island for a spell of duty.
At his passing his family asked for his ashes to be conveyed to the island, and proof of the very high esteem in which he was held by the people of Tristan came when they, through our P.G. Secretary, requested that a suitable headstone be supplied for his grave - the cost of the stone was borne by the islanders. A fine tribute to a fine man.
A word of thanks must go to the Tristan da Cunha Development Co. Ltd., who, without charge, conveyed both the ashes and then the stone (about 200 lb. weight) to the island without charge.