The Report of the Special Committee was again up for discussion, but an amendment by Bro. E. I. Freeman (Grand Trustee) to the effect that “The Report be received but no action be taken by Grand Lodge” was carried

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A promise was given that complaints of Degree Jewel quality would be considered when examining new tenders. We must remind you that this was 50 years ago.

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New Provincial Grand Lodges (Governing Authorities at that time) were approved for Alfreton (from Nottingham) and Cromer (from Norwich

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Abertillery proposed that a standard button‑hole badge to be supplied only by Grand Lodge be issued for the use of members. They lost easily and still, in spite of the advert published fairly regularly in the Journal, all sorts of badges are available up and down the country.

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Another proposal to provide a Convalescent Home at an English North Western coastal resort, and also to close Grove House for that purpose, came from Rhondda Valley. A similar suggestion came from Derby. The first was lost (as usual) and the Derby one withdrawn.

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A paragraph states “At the January meeting of Grand Lodge held at Portsmouth in 1934 we were held up for a shorthand writer and Bro. Butt stepped in at a moment’s notice and earned our undying gratitude”. A shorthand writer in these days might earn the undying gratitude of the new Editor in 2004.

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The 1954 Editor writes “We usually find at least three sorts of correspondents. First the one who uses two sheets of foolscap paper to give the information that Bro. XYZ was raised to the Second Degree, secondly the one that gives information but not the name and the date and thirdly the bright lad who sends a whole newspaper and gives us the pleasure of wading through the paper to find the news for ourselves”. They all still write.

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It’s easy. - Bro. Bill Hawkins, Grand Registrar (Eng) puts up what he considered to be a delicate problem for the Journal to solve.

A Grand Lodge party, organised by Bro. Syd Langley of Windsor, duly found their reserved seats at Kings Cross on the outward journey to Stockton but had been warned by British Railways that on the homeward run it might not be so easy as the train was a pre‑Stockton starter.

When they arrived at Stockton Station AFTER Grand Lodge meeting they duly discovered the carriage in which their reservations were marked up in good order by BA, but to the great embarrassment of these modest and retiring G.L. officers and delegates they found two of the seats occupied by a glowing and self‑conscious newly married couple.

“What,” says Bill Hawkins, “what would you do chum?” S’easy!!! Pitch ‘em out of the window. They would never know the difference.

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The “Crackpots” ‑ We have no idea who started this one but as it brought in 26/11 for the Journal Children’s Fund we readily forgive him or them. Bro. Cyril Milnes of Rotherham paid in the cash and in the rules, which are two in number, I seem to see colour of his pencil.

Rule 1. All monies subscribed by whatsoever means between the sums of 1/2d. and £100,000 to be handed to the Journal Children's Fund. All sums over £100,000 to be handed over to the Journal Children’s Fund.

Rule 2. There are no other rules so there ain’t no sense in printing any.

There are numerous bye-laws. The presiding officer shall be known as “The Old Cock”. Meetings shall be held annually of failing that then some other time, and the next Convention will be held in Nottingham if and when the next series of Grand Lodge meetings are held there. Anyhow, as already pointed out takings for the year ended December 1953 amounted to 26/11 and it is hoped that with brighter summer weather next winter we may get up to 27/‑. (It should be mentioned that the whole of the 26/11 was contributed in half‑pennies.)

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