50 YEARS AGO

(Compiled from the Buffalo Quarterly Journal: September 1955)

The Grand Primo reported that, along with the I.P.G.P. (Bro. J. H. MUMFORD) and Bro. W. E. SCHUMM, G.P. 1938, he had visited the Provinces based in Western Germany, and had during that visit received the sum of £82 15s. 0d., which he had pleasure to hand over to Bro. M. W. PAYNE (Journal Editor) as a donation to the J.C.G.F. (“OURS”).

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Grand Lodge Delegates, Ex‑officios, would be required to pay an annual registration fee of 4/‑ Visitors would pay at 1 /‑ per meeting. Maybe it will have been noticed that in 1981, the fee will be £4 annual registration, with visitors at £1 per meeting. Oh dear, how sad, never mind, there’s plenty more where that comes from.

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Due to a Transport strike in the U.K. , many of the delegates to the 1955 Convention in Jersey found themselves without the means to get to their homes on arrival back on the mainland. Bro. M. W. PAYNE (then Journal Editor) made arrangements, with some assistance, to bridge the gap and covered this with his own personal cheque for £340. Grand Lodge agreed that Bro. Mervyn be reimbursed to any amount not repaid by a number who had not honoured their promise to subscribe their share of the costs.

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Bro. M. W. PAYNE (Journal Editor) said that his health had so improved that he was in a position to withdraw his previous notice of intention to retire. He suggested certain alterations in reference to the future of the Journal, including an increase of price to 6d. (2 ½p). Bro. F. LORD had consented to assist him in the work.

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It had become necessary to remind Minor Lodges that Grand Lodge provide medical care when required and paid all fares to and from our Convalescent Homes, it was not possible to provide spending money for the patients. It is a fact that, in those days many Lodges did expect that facility to be provided by Grand Lodge.

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A Notice of Motion on the G.L. Agenda coming from Central and East Fife , proposed the Convalescent part of Grove House be demolished and flats for aged Brethren built on the site. After a lengthy debate, the proposition was heavily defeated.

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It was reported that Bro. Pat SAXTON (of our blessed memory) had moved from Kent to Burton‑on‑Trent. He was referred to as “this star of North Kent ” and as “a comfortable man to work with”.

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The late Bro. GILBERT SUGDEN (Grand Primo 1959) claims a record. He stated that when he exalted Bro. R. J. ARMES (later to be Grand Primo 1967) to the Fourth Degree, there was an attendance of one hundred, including ten past or present Grand Lodge Officers, The Grand Primo and his Deputy, plus a further present or past P.G.P.’s from other Provinces. Bro. Gilbert suggested that 22% of the total consisting of “top brass” it must be around the record mark.

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News from Gibraltar reports that the young Brother occupying the chair at one of the Lodges, nearly had a heart attack when a visiting Brother announced himself as “the Rt. Hon. Sir CHARLES ALBERGE, Grand Minstrel of the Grand Lodge of England”. Bro. Charles certainly did his share in calling on Lodges in all corners of the world. There is somewhere in one of the old Journals a picture showing him with rather a long snake wrapped round his neck.

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Short comments on the Jersey Convention note without a regret, the passing of the Grand Council and the Convalescent Committee. Of the former it states that, although it had its uses in the past, it could not justify its existence with 70% of its members ex‑officios and not subject to election. A comment on Bro. GEORGE HUSBAND describes him as “Pokerfaced and pointed, Stately deportment, Catholic as to subjects, brief as to delivery, file under arm as to the manner born; nonchalant and slightly pontifical”.

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A cartoon in this issue depicts a Buff and his wife passing through Customs on the return journey. The lady is asking “Is this where I keep my mouth shut”? We well remember one lady who did not ... end of story.

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An enquiry asks if it is in order to display the Dispensation of a Lodge in the public bar of an hotel. The answer given was that there was no Rule to prohibit the practice; the P.G.L. would be entitled to issue a direction.