The first 50 years (1943 – 1993) 

 

The name NORMA was suggested by W.Bro. J.C. Kersey, PPrGD (Middx) and its meaning is threefold,

 

• A Perfect Square

• A Perfect Pattem

• A Constellation

 

The crest was designed by W.Bro. W.A.S. Houslop, a Founder Member and the first Secretary of Norma Lodge.

 

Our Mother Lodge is CITADEL LODGE No. 1897 which was itself consecrated on the 15th of February 1881.

 

NORMA LODGE No. 5902 was formed at 2.30 p.m. on 22nd of October 1943 at aConsecration Meeting held at Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen Street, London. The list of Officers present is contained at Appendix A. In addition there were also 123 visiting brethren.The oration at the Consecration Meeting was given by W.Bro. Rev. Hector Reindorp, RAsst.G.Chap., RProv.G.Chap, Middlesex and Essex, which contained, due to the time limit, a curtailed explanation of the Crest. .

 

After the Lodge had been consecrated the first Master, W.Bro. A.R. Larsen(Who was Danish), was installed, and he in tum invested his officers.

 

At the same meeting there were four propositions for Initiation and three for joining members.

 

1943-44

The first regular meeting was held at the Rest Hotel, Kenton on Monday 22nd November 1943 at 5.00 p.m. with 26 visiting brethren. As the second World War was continuing, restrictions were in force preventing the purchasing of Masonic regalia and Woodcock Hill Lodge were most generous by kindly loaning us their Masonic ornaments and working tools. This arrangement continued until 1959.The first year was a busy one with the addition of two emergency meetings held, one in July and the other in September. At these six meetings there were four Joining members and five Initiates, all of whom were Passed and three were Raised. The Master, W.Bro. Larsen conducted two of the initiations, two Passings and all three Raisings.

 

1944-45  

At the Installation meeting of W.Bro. H.C.E Sheffield in 1944 there were 62 guestsincluding the R.W.Bro. A. Bumett Brown, Provincial Grand Master accompanied by W.Bro. Lance E. Hare, Provincial Grand Secretary. Again due to the amount of work two emergency meetings (8th January 1945 and 28th May l945) were added to the four regular Meetings. In this year Five Initiations, two Passings and four Raisings were conducted.During this year our Lodge had the pleasure to sponsor Grimsdyke Lodge No. 6186, and to welcome three Joining members.W.Bro. Sheffield celebrated his Ladies Festival at the Connaught Rooms during which London suffered a very heavy Air Raid.

 

1945-46

Before W.Bro. Charles E. Nicholas could be made Master of Norma Lodge a special dispensation had to be obtained from Grand Lodge as he was at that time Master of Woodcock Hill Lodge No. 5576.This year was the busiest that our Lodge had so far experienced, and to complete the work three Emergency Meetings were held, (on 7th February, 12th June, and 21st October 1946), this allowed two initiations, five Passings and four Raisings to be completed.There were also five Joining members.

 

1946-47

During the year that W.Bro. F. Santer was Master there was one Joining member, two initiations, one Passing and two Raisings. An Emergency Meeting was held on lath June 1946 at which the Middlesex St. David Lodge of Instruction demonstrated an Ancient Ritual of circa 1730 to raise funds for the then proposed Harrow Masonic Memorial Hall.There were 137 visitors in addition to the members of Norma Lodge.

 

1947-48

The Master was W.Bro. A.S. Houslop, and during his year there were two Initiations, two Passings and one Raising.

 

1948-49

W.Bro. Roy Willoughby Jeffery's year as Master consisted of three initiations, two Passings and two Raisings.

 

1949-50

An extremely busy year, for W.Bro. Leonard A. Sawtell. W.Bro. Ben Foster was granted London Grand Rank and then, W.Bro. .l.C. Kersey (the Admiral) reached his Masonic Jubilee and was later promoted to Grand Rank as RG.Std.B., also there were six Initiations, two Passings, three Raisings and one Joining Member.

 

1950-51

W.Bro. ER. Garrood was the first Norma Initiate to become Master of the Lodge. During his year there were three Initiations, six Passings and four Raisings.Bro. William Coleman, a Master Book Binder in Fleet Street presented the Lodge with new Minute Books and in later years Minute Books for the Lodge of Instruction and a number of bound Hymn Books.An Emergency Meeting was held on 24th September 1951. It was proposed that an invitation should be extended to the Worshipful Master of Citadel Lodge No. 1897 to become an honoured guest of our Lodge during his year of Office. At this meeting two Candidates were Passed and a further two were Raised.A Class of Instruction was formed and held its first meeting at Northwick Park Social Club on 5th March 1951.

 

1951-52

This was W.Bro. F.C. Batten's year and it was during his period of office that the Grand Master decreed that white gloves should be worn after let January 1952.At the April, June, and November Meetings in 1952, discussion took place conceding a proposal to move the June meeting back to September, and at the November meeting it was adopted by a show of hands. However, at the February 1953 meeting the Secretary reported that he was unable to obtain accommodation for a September Meeting, but that proper steps would be taken to comply with the Resolution for l954.At the Installation, the R.W. Bro. Philip C. Bull, Provincial Grand Master was in attendance and Bro. N.E. Barrett and Bro. E. Blackburn had their Grand LodgeCertificates presented to them by him. There were two initiations, three Passings, four Raisings and one Joining member during the year.Norma Lodge of Instruction was first held on loth June 1952 at Headstone Hotel. It is worthy of note that membership was restricted to Master Masons only. This has subsequently changed to be open to all brethren.

 

1952-53

During W.Bro. R.B. Kersey's year in office Norma Lodge applied to meet at Harrow District Masonic Centre. In the reply, H.D.M.C. advised that I hope to be able to accommodate all member Lodges and Chapters on their meeting dates as shown in the Middlesex Calendar. It would appear that this resulted in the proposition passed in the previous Masonic year to move the June meeting to September to be abandoned. The Middlesex Sports Association was formed.At the meeting held on 23rd February 1953 W.Bro. F.H. Santer Passed his son having left his sick bed at the Royal Masonic Hospital that morning, with the permission of his doctors on the understanding that he return immediately after the meeting.The Lodge of Instruction presented Bro. R.J. Atthews with a silver match box for a perfect rendering in each of the three degrees.W.Bro. Sheffield passed to the Grand Lodge Above on 21st August 1953.

 

1953-54

When the Worshipful Master C.T. Miles Initiated Dr. Das it was an occasion on which another Holy Book was used instead of the Holy Bible. As Dr. Das being Hindu he therefore took his oath on the “Gita”At the November meeting in 1953 W.Bro. Rev. Hector Reindorp returned to give a full explanation of our Crest

 

1954-55

W.Bro. George Henry Lloyd was the first Master to hold Norma Lodge meetings at Harrow District Masonic Centre.Provincial Honours were awarded to W.Bro. W. Aubrey S. Houslop, PPIGD.

 

1955-56

W.Bro. RJ. Atthews was Master of the Lodge, and W.Bro. S.H. Morris retired as Treasurer having held that post for eight years.

 

1956-57

During the year W.Bro. T.W. Coleman was Master, W.Bro. Len Sawtell was awarded Prov.J.G.D.

 

1957-58

Master of the Lodge was W.Bro. S.A. Marshall. Norma Lodge became a Patron of the Royal Masonic Hospital, W.Bro. A.S., Hollins, OBE, MD, PGD, Asst. Prov. GrandMaster, was elected to become an Honorary Member. W.Bro. Len Sawtell was honoured with London Grand Rank, W.Bro. Garrood and W.Bro. Battey were both appointed PPrAGDC and W.Bro. RC.G. Sly was awarded PP1GSteward.

 

1958-59

In W.Bro. W. Owens year the members presented, without any expense to the Lodge, Masonic ornaments and working tools. Until that time they had been borrowed from Woodcock Lodge. They were consecrated on 23rd February 1959. W.Bro. R.B. Kersey was invested Prov.S.G.D. and his father W.Bro. J.C. Kersey, RG.Std.B., PPrGD, Middx., a Founder member, was promoted to RA.G.D.C. in Grand Lodge.

 

1959-60

W.Bro. C.R.G. Haynes was Master and Provincial honours were conferred on thefollowing brethren:W.Bro. Sauter, PPrGDW.Bro. C.T. Miles. PPrGStdBW.Bro. RC.G. Sly, PPrAGDC (promoted)

 

1960-61

In W.Bro. A.S. Nicholls' year as Master, Provincial honours were conferred on W.Bro. Lloyd, PPrAGDC

 

1961-62

The Master W.Bro., A.R. Higginson, BA, (Headmaster at a school in Harefield) wasconsidered to be a magnificent orator. During his year W.Bro. R. Atthews was awarded Prov.J.G.D.

 

1962-63

W.Bro. John Edwin Nicholls was Master and W.Bro. T.W. Coleman was investedPPrAGDC.The V.W.Bro. Rev. Hector W. Reindorp, MA, RG.Chaplain, and an Honorary Member, passed to the Grand Lodge Above on 19th August 1963. Norma Lodge suffered a further sad loss when W.Bro. Fred Santer, PPrGD and a Founder member died on 26th September 1963.

 

1963-64

The year in which W.Bro. Dr. Atulya Kunar Das (despite suffering Cancer of the throat) was our Master, W.Bro. S.A. Marshall was honoured with Prov. Grand Steward. In this year Bro. L. E. Atthews was initiated bringing the number of the Atthews family who were members of our lodge to three.

 

1964-65

W.Bro. G.W. Atthews celebrated his year by Raising his blood brother L.E. Atthews. W.Bro. W. Owen was honoured with Provincial Grand Steward.During this year two of our well liked and respected members died, on 23rd June 1965, Dr. Das, and W.Bro. Percy Sly on I3th July 1965.

 

1965-66

W.Bro. Fred Osbome Exner was Master and during his year in the chair of King Solomon, W.Bro. C.R.G. Haynes was awarded PPrAGDC.On the 28th February 1966 a ballot was held to determine whether to adopt the permissive variations of ritual referred to by Grand Lodge. By a decisive majority it was decided no change to the ritual should be made.

 

1966-67

This year welcomed W.Bro. L.H. Parsons as Master. Our Secretary, W.Bro. Battey died on loth March 1967, and as a result W.Bro. A.S. Nicholls was appointed to succeed him on 24th April 1967.

 

1967-68

W.Bro. G.T. Golley was Master, and Provincial honours were awarded to W.Bro. A.S. Nicholls, PPrAGDC.

 

1968-69

W.Bro. S. Houghton occupied the chair of King Solomon.Norma Lodge was saddened by the loss of two committed Freemasons. On 15th March 1969 W.Bro, L. Sawtell, PPrGD., LGR, one of our Founder members, passed to the Grand Lodge above, and, W.Bro. J.C. Kersey, P.A.G.D.C., PPrGD, (The Admiral) who on the 22nd April 1968, at the great age of 95, presented a Grand Lodge Certificate to Bro. W. Green, died on 8th September 1969. He was Initiated into Freemasonry in Citadel Lodge No. 1897 on 21st April 1900, and became Worshipful Master, of that Lodge, on 27th June 1908.

 

1969-70

Whilst W.Bro. E.L. Brand was Master, four of our members received Provincial honours, three were promoted. W.Bro. A. Houslop, PPrGW, W.Bro. C. Miles, PPrGD, W.Bro. S. Marshall, PPrAGDC and W.Bro. J.E. Nicholls was appointed PPrGStdB.

 

1970-7

1W.Bro. A.H. Vickery, a very popular and respected member became Master to the delight of all conceded.

 

1971-72

W.Bro. N.F. Johnson occupied the chair. Two members received honours, W.Bro.Houslop, Grand Rank, PG.Std.B., W.Bro. G.W. Atthews, PPrJGD and W.Bro. W. Owen was promoted to PPrGStdB.

 

1972-73

W.Bro. A.C.R. Haynes became Master of the Lodge, and in this year W.Bro. F.O. Elner was awarded PPrGStdB.

 

1973-74

This was W.Bro. R.I. Richards year and Provincial honours were awarded to W.Bro. L.H. Parsons, PPrAGDC and W.Bro. A.S. Nicholls was promoted to PPrJGD.

 

1974-75

The chair of King Solomon was occupied by W.Bro. .l.F. Snook. W.Bro. T.W. Coleman, PPrAGDC passed to the Grand Lodge above on 16th February 1975.

 

1975-76-77

During the two years that W. Bro. L. Booroff was Master, W.Bro. E.L. Brand was awarded PPrAGDC. Sadly W.Bro. L.H. Parsons, PPrAGDC passed to the Grand Lodge above on 29th August 1975.

 

1977-78

W. Bro. A.C.R. Haynes who had been Master of the Lodge in 1972-73 retimed to the chair of King Solomon.W.Br0. AH. Vickery was awarded PPrJGD, and he became Preceptor of the Lodge of Instruction.

 

1978-79

It was during W.Bro. R.G. Worsfold's year that W.Bro. D. Lewis, P.A.G.D.C., GrandOfficer and leader of the Bromley and West Kent Masonic Study Circle performed a Lodge Night l759 before 106 brethren.Regretiixlly, W.Bro. W.A.S. Houslop, P.G.Std.B., PPIGW, our first Secretary and the last Founder Member, and W.Bro. F. Garrood, PPrAGDC, both passed to the Grand Lodge above.

 

1979-80

ln W.Bro. M.J.R. Goodgame's year, Provincial honours were awarded to: W.Bro. N.F. Johnson, PPr.lGD and W.Bro. A.C.R. Haynes, PPrAGDC.

 

1980-81

The Master was W.Bro. MJ. Huber, and we were delighted to welcome W.Bro. Harry Carr, R.l.G.D. who gave a most interesting talk entitled Freemasonry in the U.S.A. Two Brethren received Provincial Honours, they were: W.Bro. G.T. Golley, PPrAGDC, and W.Bro. R.I. Richards, PPr.lGD.

 

1981-82

Whilst W.Bro. D.R.G. Player was Master two Brethren were promoted: W.Bro. R.B. Kersey, PPrJGW and W.Bro. C. Miles, PPrJGW.W.Bro. Harry Carr, RJ.G.D. returned with another excellent lecture entitled “600 years of Craft Ritual"

 

1982-83-84

W.Bro. RR. Gifford occupied the chair for two years during which W.Bro. R.]. Atthews was promoted to PPrJGW, and W.Bro. LJ. Booroff was honoured with PPrJGD.

 

1984-85

This was the second occasion that W.Bro. R.G. Worsfold was Master, he also received Provincial honours of PPrAGDC, whilst W.Bro. W. Owen was promoted to PPrJGD.

 

1985-86-87

W.Bro. L.T. Lambert held the Mastership for two years during which Provincial honours were conferred on W.Bro. M.J.R. Goodgame, PPrAGR and W.Bro. MJ. Huber, PPr1GD.ln 1985 W.Bro. R.J. Atthews completed 22 years as Director of Ceremonies of Norma Lodge, and in 1977 had completed I 8 years as Preceptor of Norma Lodge of Instruction.Throughout his tenure the Norma Lodge standards in the Temple blossomed under his expertise and guidance for which all Lodge members are eternally grateful.

 

1987-88

During W.Bro. HR Chappell's year W.Br0. E. Brand was promoted to PPrJGD.

 

1988-89-90

W.Bro. A.E. Riseley occupied the chair of King Colomon for two years. W.Bro. N.FJohnson was promoted to PPrJGW and W.Bro. D. Player was awarded Prov.A.G.R.W.Bro. PR. Gifford received Provincial honours of Prov. G. Purs.The popular and much loved W.Bro. A.H. Vickers, died on 11th July 1989.

 

1990-91

W.Bro. K.M. Dulling became Master.A lecture was Given by W.Bro. Jonathan C. Mead, PM of the Langport Lodge of Masonic Study No.8072, entitled ‘The origin and development of the Masonic Apron’. At this meeting we were honoured with a visit from R.W.Gordon L. Bourne, Pro Provincial Grand Master who congratulated the Lodge on Becoming of the Middlesex Province retirement Home.W.Bro. W. Owen, who had been our Master in 1958-59, having suffered a severe stroke, became the first Freemason to be a nursing resident of the Middlesex Retirement Home and had at that time completed 65 years as a Freemason.W.Bro. RR. Gifford was promoted to PPrAGDC.

 

1991-92

W.Bro. R.D. Jenkins whilst occupying the Chair of King Solomon had the greatprivilege of attending the 275th Anniversary Meeting of Grand Lodge at Earls Court on 10th June 1992 and later attended, with other Lodge members, Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex celebrations at Guildford Cathedral on Sunday 28th June 1992.Due to the tremendous drive of our Charity Steward, Bro. R. Quinn and the response of Norma Lodge we became a Grand Patron of Middlesex Retirement Home.W.Br0. L. Booroff was promoted to PPrGR., W.Bro. G.W. Atthews was promoted to PPrGSuptWks, W.Bro. A.C.R. Haynes was promoted to PPr.IGD and also received Provincial Honours, through his Sussex Lodge, of Prov.S.G.D., and W.Bro. L.T. Lambert was honoured with PPrAGDC.

 

1992-93

W.Bro. J.A. Reynolds has the honour of being our Master in our Anniversary Year.W.Bro. N.F. Johnson declared his intention that this would be his last year as Secretary.He has held that post for 18 years. He is a pillar of Masonic strength; every member of the Lodge has received help and advice from him.At the February Meeting through W.Br0. Tony Haynes, we welcomed W.Bro. David Peebles, Past Master of Disciplina Lodge No. 8889 and his team from Sussex with a lecture ‘The Origins of Masonic Fire’.Just prior to going to press the Lodge learnt with much regret of the passing to the Grand Lodge above of W.Bro. W. Owen, PPJGD, on 3rd April 1993