Purbeck History – Purbeck Lodge

PROVINCE OF DORSET

THE ANCIENT ORDER OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS

When W. Bro Mike Warne asked me to update the Purbeck Lodge History to celebrate our 100 year Anniversary, I was unaware of the size of the task!
The ‘Lockdown’ period did enable me to spend time on this book, but we must thank W. Bro Mike Warne for establishing the History booklet for 1996 75th Anniversary.

Although I have benefited from accessing the Internet for information, something which Mike could only achieve by painstakingly reading through the Minutes of the Lodge, my sincere thanks go to Mike for his efforts.

This History Book has relied on the considerable time and input of my wife Angela who has typed and retyped all of the words. Thanks also to our lodge photographer W. Bro Trevor Tomes who was able to provide excellent photographs of various occasions.
There were also those Brethren who were able to ‘dig out’ interesting pieces of information and enable me to include them in this history.

1921

01/01/1921

Inception

The British Army was reorganised after the 1914-18 war and a newly formed tank corps was concentrated at Worgret Camp, Wareham, Bevington Camp and Lulworth in sight of the Purbeck Hills.
Among the officers seconded to these units were several enthusiastic members of the craft who conceived the idea of forming a new lodge.
The formation of the new lodge was to be sponsored by the Wareham Lodge of Unity No.386 and was energetically pursued by Bro Captain H FT Blowey OBE, Bro Dr K J Courtenay, P.P.G Swd B of Wareham and with the good offices of W Bro Col. G P Symes M.V.O., AG Reg Provincial Grand Secretary

06/09/1921

Naming the Lodge

One of the first deliberations was the name of the new lodge, several were put forward – ‘The Imperial Service Lodge’ – was considered too comprehensive a title. Col Woods suggested the name Godfrey De Bouillon ! Other names put forward were –

The Dorset Military Lodge, The Dorset Tank Lodge and The Bevington Lodge, all were turned down.

Finally on the 6th September 1921 Captain Blowey suggested the name –
‘The Purbeck Lodge’ as being acceptable to the locality and surrounding lodges.
This name being acceptable to Grand Lodge, a Warrant was obtained from the WM Grand Master dated 7th September 1921

07/09/1921

The Warrant & Founders

Founder Members

Lieut. Col. H K Woods, D.S.O – First Master
Col. G P Symes, M.V.O., AG Reg, Prov. G.Secty
Dr. K J Courtenay, P.P.G. Sw.B
Major Sir John Prestige, K.8.E.,P.G.Stwd,. L.G.R.
Capt. SA Phillips, P.P.G.D.C
Capt. H FT Blowey 0.8.E.
S H Titley, P.G. Chap. (Ceylon)
Lieut .AT S Newman,P,D.G.Org.(Bombay) Rev.TO Coupe, P.P.G.Chap
Col. RF Roundel!, M.P
Major J H Hawtin
Capt. F Fryer
Lieut. LO R Ashley
Lieut. LG Wright
Capt. G G H Symes
Capt. H W J Strange
Capt. FA Hilborn
Major WA Stack

Major J V Shute
Lieut. W C Creasey
Capt. J Ashford

Lieut. M Bellamy, M.C
Lieut. A E Morgan
Lieut. L H I Sheppard

15/11/1921

Consecration & Installation

The Consecration was carried out at the Masonic Hall, Wareham on Tuesday 15th November 1921 by the RW Grand Master –
The Right Honourable The Earl of Shaftesbury assisted by the W Deputy Provincial Grand Master Col Sir William Watts and the officers of Provincial Grand Lodge of Dorset.
This was followed by the installation of Bro Lt Col Hugh Kennedy Woods DSO and the election of W Bro AS Newman, PDG.Org (Bombay) as Treasurer, and Bro AC J Cobb as Tyler.
The Officers were invested as follows :-

Senior Warden -Bro. Capt. H FT Blowey, QBE

Junior Warden – Bro. Capt. FA Hillborn

Chaplain – W Bro. Rev.TO Coupe, PPG Chap

Treasurer – W Bro. Dr K J Courtenay

Dir. Ceremonies – W Bro. Capt. SA Philips

Senior Deacon – Bro. Major J H Hawtin

Junior Deacon – Bro. Capt. G G H Symes

Almoner – Bro. Lieut. LG Wright, DCM

Organist – Bro. Lieut. LO R Ashley

Asst. Secretary – Bro Capt. H W J Strange

Inner Guard – Bro. Major WA Stack

Tyler – Bro. AC J Cobb

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16/11/1921

The First Worshipful Master

The fact that it was proposed that the first Worshipful Master of Purbeck Lodge should be :-

Bro Lt Col H K Woods DSO –

caused a few problems; the Grand secretary stated that although there was nothing in the Book of Constitutions, the committee had gone back over a lengthy period and they could find no instance of the granting of a dispensation for a new lodge which was not to be ruled over by a Past Master in the first instance.
After a great deal of discussion it was decided that Bro Lt Col H K Woods DSO would be allowed to become the first Master of Purbeck Lodge.