50 YEARS AGO

Compiled from the Buffalo Quarterly Journal June 1955

The Grand Lodge Report of this meeting in the West Park Pavilion in St. Helier, Jersey, was of a very brief nature, calling for less than four pages of print.

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The then Editor writes that he can understand why every Bro. Miller is a “Dusty” but cannot put an answer to why every Clarke or Clark is a “Nobby”. One such “Nobby” was elected Grand Constable for 1956 in the following December, but he never revealed the secret to us.

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Bro. A. L. H. Walker (West Herts, a delegate at the time, but later to become Grand Primo in 1961) protested at the inadequacy of the Minutes of the previous G.L. Meeting, saying that a verbatim report should be given. The Grand Secretary answered that in his opinion, the Minutes merely recorded the decisions taken at the meeting and the Journal could not give sufficient space to provide such a report.

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The 1955 Convention took up the remainder of the week in this same hall in Jersey. Amongst the important decisions taken was one which brought about the demise of the old Grand Council (Finance Committee) and also the Convalescent Committee.

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The long standing term of “Governing Authority” also disappeared and the rather more acceptable description of “Provincial Grand Lodge” came into being in its place.

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The Journal pointed out that the Ladies Glades (still a subject of differing opinions) did not “belong” to anybody. They were a completely independent organisation, and that so far as the Grand Lodge of England was concerned, there was no official recognition.

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Convention decided that the fee for each P.G.L. delegate to Grand Lodge should be 4/- (20p.) per annum.

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In a long paragraph on “Chairmanship”, a lot of criticism was made in stressing declining standards. Much advice was given on how improvements could be made, but whether it did any good or not is a different matter. It is a point still open to discussion, but there can be no question of the fact that the success or otherwise of a Lodge is still very dependent on this factor.

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It was reported in a newspaper that it had been suggested that Cardiff must be the dearest place in the country in regard to hotel charges. The general charge for “B & B” was 25/‑ (£1.25). One member eventually found a place at 20/6 (£1.02 ½) and gave an impression that the breakfast was rather “continental”. The Journal Editor adds his own comment that this complainer should have considered himself to be fortunate, for the price he had to pay had been 42/- (£2. 10).

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A new Lodge was opened in 1955, the first one in France, the name being La Foret de Fontainebleu in the Department of Seine et Marne. It is now held in Trebek, Limburg, the Netherlands

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At a children’s Christmas Party it was rather unusual to see the portly figure of Father Christmas, appropriately dressed (white beard, red gown and all) enter riding on a camel. Perhaps not so surprising when we know that the party was held in Benghazi. 16 Libyan orphans were included amongst the guests.

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Another Father Christmas report states that their gift giver arrived in a cart drawn by an ox, but as this was in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) we suppose this would be in order. The Lodge Secretary’s name was Snow, but whether he was laid all around is not stated.

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In those days of “50 Years Ago” the Grand Lodge Committees were still “begging to report”. In our day, we never caught them at it.