A Potted History of
Fermor Hesketh Lodge No.1350.
It would appear that Fermor Hesketh Lodge No. 1350 was formed by petition of Lodge of Sincerity No 292 in conjunction with Lodge Combermere No. 477 (Cheshire).
Sister Lodges.
Lodge Sylvanus No. 3670 It would seem that Lodge Sylvanus floundered due to lack of numbers. It eventually went dark surrendering the Warrant in 1997.
Lodge Seaforth No.4038. It went on to suffer the same fate as Lodge Sylvanus. It eventually went dark surrendering its Warrant in June 2006.
Anfield Priory Lodge No. 4039. Suffered the same fate as the previous Two Lodges floundering due to a lack of numbers surrendering its Warrant in March 2004.
Prince of Architects Lodge No. 4188 seems to have made good progress and is still a very active lodge in the Bootle Group of Lodges
Linacre Lodge No. 4823 according to the information that I have managed to unearth is that Linacre Lodge suffered a similar fate as others surrendering its Warrant in June 2015
Balliol Lodge No. 5941 sadly went the way of others surrendering its Warrant in June 2006
The final sister Lodge Trinity No 7584 went dark surrendering its Warrant in March 2010.
Of the 7 sister Lodges that were part of Fermor Hesketh Lodge line of Lodges the only one still operating apart from Fermor Hesketh is Prince of Architects.
Of the once 8 lodges in the Fermor Hesketh line only two have survived to the present day. Perhaps had Fermor Hesketh Lodge not been joined by members from Lodge Seaforth No. 4038 it may well have suffered a similar fate as its sisters did.
It is interesting to note that the founders who spawned these Lodges. Lodge of Sincerity No. 292 appears to be from West Lanc’s whilst Lodge Combermere No. 605 was of the Cheshire jurisdiction .
Lodge of Sincerity No. 292 was granted its warrant on 16th of February 1793 and Lodge Combermere was granted its Warrant on the 19th of October 1852.
Fermor Hesketh was granted its Warrant on 9th February 1871 and was consecrated on 4th July 1871.
Prince of Architects was granted its Warrant on 3rd November 1920 and was consecrated on 23rd March 1921.
I so far have been unable to discover the link which may have existed when Lodges of separate jurisdictions could sponsor Lodges not in their area. It may simply be that over time areas of jurisdiction have become more defined.
It is interesting to note that The Province of Cheshire was inaugurated in 1725 and the Province of West Lancashire was originally Lancashire West Division appearing to be inaugurated in 1826 eventually becoming West Lancashire circa 1960.
The Petition for a charter to form the Fermor Hesketh Lodge was sponsored by Brethren mainly from the Combermere Lodge No. 605 and was granted on the 9th February, 1871 to the following brethren.
John Higson Johnston.
William P. Colebom.
James Ridley
Samuel Jones.
Joseph Dawson Crawford.
Robert Henry Harbord.
Edward Harbord. Peter Talbot Peterson.
The Consecration Ceremony took place at the Masonic Hall, Hope Street. Liverpool on Tuesday 4th July. 1871 at 2p.m.
The Consecration Officer was W. Bro. Robert Wylie, Prov.G.D.C. Who, later became Deputy Provincial Grand Master, and he was accompanied by W. Bro. Thomas Wylie, Provincial Grand Registrar. W. Bro. James Higson Johnston was then duly installed as the First Worshipful Master of the Lodge with the following brethren as Officers. W. Bro. Dr. James Ridley. S.W.
W. Bro. Dr. Joseph D. Crawford. J.W.
W. Bro. William P. Colebom. Treasurer
W. Bro. Edward Harbord. Secretary
Bro. R. Rochefort Rae. D.C.
Bro. Samuel Jones. S.D.
Bro. Dr. Arthur Samuels. J.D.
Bro. Martin Browne. I.G.
Bro. Peter T. Peterson. Steward.
Bro. John Williams. Steward.
Bro. W. H. Ball. Tyler.
The name of the Lodge was taken from the name of the then Rt. Worshipful. Provincial Grand Master, Sir Thomas George Fermor-Hesketh, Baronet. Sir Fermor Hesketh was born on 9th May 1849 and died 19th April 1924 at the age of 74. Sir Fermor Hesketh was a lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade and Honorary Colonel in the 4th Battalion Liverpool Regiment. In January 1879 he started a world cruise in his own steam yacht the Lancashire Witch which he had had built. The Lancashire Witch was built in 1877 weighed 479 tons, she was built by B Steele & co Greenock and registered in Liverpool. She was sold to the Admiralty in 1893 and was renamed H.M.S. Waterwitch. She was employed as a survey ship and was sunk in a collision in Singapore harbour on 01.09.1912.
During his world cruise he had occasion to visit San Francisco where he met heiress Florence Emily Sharon she was the daughter of the State Senator who had amassed a huge fortune in Gold. Silver, Banking and Hotels. Florence was to eventually inherit all of her fathers fortune. On the 22nd of December 1880 Florence and Sir Thomas were married in California. They had two sons. He also had an Island name after him in Kachemak Bay Cook Inlet Alaska after he had visited it on his steam yacht during his world cruise. In1881 He was appointed High Sheriff of Northamptonshire. The First Minute Book of Fermor Hesketh lodge was lost and it was fortunate however that the Tyler’s Book remains as it provided the evidence which was necessary in claiming the Centenary Warrant. From the records many of the original members were from the Medical and Seafaring professions, and that the Lodge met in every month of the year, plus an average of five emergency meetings (17) in all and that at nearly every meeting in those days brethren from other Lodges were either Passed or Raised. It appears it was usual for brethren of other Lodges to visit and make a personal appeal to our members for assistance in cases of distress of members of their Lodges and it is recorded that amounts ranging from 2/6 to £2 were given. The following is the Introduction which was printed in the First Bye-Laws in 1872, and as it was then, still applies today. Order is Heaven’s first law, and no society can be conducted without order; but we must at all times remember that laws, without observance, are worse than useless. We must endeavour to avoid, as much as possible introducing into our mysteries any person addicted to strife, or contaminated by profaneness or dishonesty; and thereby show to the world that our principles rest on the firm basis of virtue and honour, and not on mere forms and ceremonies.
Masonry comprehends within its circle every branch of useful learning, and stamps an indelible mark of pre-eminence on all its genuine professors, which chance, power or fortune cannot bestow. When its principles are strictly observed, it is a sure source of tranquillity among the various disappointments of life; it cheers the mind in the hour of affliction, paves the way to peace, and promotes domestic happiness; it is company in solitude, and gives variety, vivacity, and energy to social conversation. The universal principles of the art unite in one indissoluble bond of affection men of the most opposite tenets, of the most distant countries, of the most contradictory opinions, – so that a Mason, FINDS, IN EVERY NATION, A FRIEND, AND IN EVERY COUNTRY, A HOME. Many of our Past Masters have been honoured by appointment to Rank in Provincial Grand Lodge, and also Four Past Masters have received Grand Lodge Honours one of whom is W. Bro Ken Robinson P.J.G.W. now in the province of Cambridgeshire. Six sons of Past Masters of the Lodge have also occupied the Master’s Chair of the Lodge.
The Centenary Meeting in November 1971 proved to be to a most happy one. The Lodge was honoured by the presence of many distinguished guests, who made it a really prestigious occasion. These included The R.W. Provincial Grand Master, The P.D.G. Chaplain. The Assistant. Prov. Grand Master, also the complete Provincial Grand Lodge Team. The Centenary Warrant was read by The Prov. Grand Secretary, and duly presented to the W.M. Ever since its foundation, the Lodge funds and the purses of its members have also been open to any deserving object, and generous donations have been given to the five West Lancashire Charities, as well as to the Festivals of the R.M.I. for Boys, the R.M.I. for Girls, the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution, the Million Memorial Fund, Liverpool Cathedral, the Grand Charity, the Samaritans Fund and the Tithebarn. We have now completed 144 years of endeavour and progress, and whilst feeling proud of those who have preceded them, the brethren of the Lodge must realise that they cannot bask in the reflected glory of the past, but we must also contribute to the foundations which have been well and truly laid, by seeing that our dear old Lodge continues to prosper, and that the members play their part in the maintenance of Masonry in general and Fermor Hesketh Lodge No. 1350 in particular. During the years Fermor has had 131 Worshipful Masters there have been a number who have served as master on more than one occasion. The first being in 1902 / 03 W. Bro A.E. Brierley. Two have served the office on three occasions W. Bro A.R. Carrigan in 1985/ 86 /2001 and W. Bro. P. Christian 2011 / 12 / 13. We have had on two occasions Masters by the name of Hesketh but we never have had a Fermor as Master. Facts gathered from information from W. Bro J.G. Amos. With the permission of U.G.L.E.
HISTORY
