Lodge of Amity No. 5823
Warranted: 1 November 1939
Consecrated: 29 February 1940
Meeting at the Masonic Hall, Cardiff
The movement leading to the formation of the Lodge of Amity took place in 1938. Six members of the Bute Lodge, No.960, decided that in view of the size in membership and the remote chance of Brethren achieving Office, a new Lodge should be formed. The driving force of 6 brethren was, David Richards, Herbert Gowen, William Creemer, Lewis Richards, Thomas Dyer and David Williams.
And so it was at a Regular Meeting of Bute Lodge on 2 May 1939 with WBro John Allison as Master in the Chair, that Bute Lodge agreed to sponsor a new Lodge.
WBro William M Bryant P.P.G.D
First Master 1940-1941
A number of preparatory meetings were held at the office of the temporary Secretary Bro Herbert Gowen at Park Grove, Cardiff. WBro William M Bryant, who had been the Master of Bute Lodge in 1933 was invited to one of these meetings and was invited to become the first Master of the Lodge of Amity. This he duly accepted.
A Petition was raised and presented to the Most Worshipful Grand Master in the proper form and was accorded the Lodge Number 5823 on the register of the United Grand Lodge of England. This new Lodge was given guidance and direction by the Dep ProvGM VW Bro E J Rutter.
The Charter from the United Grand Lodge of England was received and signed “Harewood” Pro.GM and was supported by the Grand Master, George Edward Alexander Edmund – Duke of Kent – Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. The greetings included reference to 9 monthly meetings to be held on the third Thursday of the month at the Masonic Temple, Guildford Crescent, Cardiff in the County of Glamorgan, with the exception of June July and August. It also documented that Bro David Richards be the Senior Warden and Lewis Richards the Junior Warden.
The Master Elect selected the Lodge’s First Officers with the approval of the Founders. The Lodge was Consecrated on 29 February 1940 under the banner of its Mother Lodge, Bute. The Consecration was officiated by Provincial Grand Master RWBro R P St.John Charles, PAGReg assisted by the DepProvGM VWBro E J Rutter, PSGD. The Consecrating Officers were made Honorary Members and presented with a Founders’ Jewel to mark the occasion. The Installation of the Master was undertaken by the DepProv GM, following which well over two hundred guests attended the Festive Board.
In late 1940 meetings were moved temporarily to Saturdays to allow Brethren a greater degree of safety in their travelling to and from the Temple, this reverted back to Thursdays towards the end of 1945.
The word “Amity” is from the Latin amicus meaning “friend” and the Founders considered that the aim of the Lodge should by its name imply that very quality. Interestingly, The Lodge of Amity was the first in the Eastern Division of South Wales to have the title set first; several Lodges consecrated subsequently adopted a similar custom.
WBro David G Williams designed the Lodge Badge. It consists of the name and number in a scroll, superimposed on an open pair of compasses, with a smaller scroll below it bearing the Lodge Motto: “Facta Non Verba” meaning “Deeds, Not Words”. The pendent Compasses and Square are fully embraced by a wreath of fruit and flowers.
As the Lodge Founders considered friendliness, happiness and peace crucial to the Lodge’s being, toasts are never fired, with the exception of the Tyler’s Toast, which is silent. Another Lodge tradition occurs in the Initiation Ceremony, where the Worshipful Master presents the Candidate with a pair of white gloves, and upon his Raising he is presented with a copy of the Oxford Workings.
The Brethren of Bute Lodge presented the Officers’ Regalia. Bro James Davies gave a set of Hymn Books and Bro A A Brooks oak Offertory Plates. WBro William Fiddler, MBE presented the Lodge with a Ballot Box and the Volume of the Sacred Law was presented by WBro C Manley. In 1990, to mark its 50th Anniversary, the Lodge was presented with a Banner by WBro Michael Stringer.
At the Lodge’s inception there were 22 Members; this steadily rose until 1961 when it reached 95. In 1971 the Lodge sponsored the formation of the Lodge of Harmony. This Lodge was formed for the principal purpose of helping Brethren, advanced in years, to achieve the Chair of King Solomon.
At the Master’s Installation in 1974 WBro David Harding recalls that there were 186 Brethren present. The Chief Steward recruited 20 volunteer stewards in order to accommodate the high numbers. The AProvGM in attendance was WBro Harold Wilson. Since then, WBro David Harding has been invited to sing the Masters Song at many Lodges and is accompanied in our Annual installation by WBro Terrence Noonan.
WBro Bill Aslett, one of the senior Worshipful Brethren, served with distinction in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Amongst his voyages were the bombardment of Sicily, supporting the Russian convoy and operations in Iceland. He was awarded the Italian Star, Atlantic Star and the Burma Star as Campaign Medals. After military service, WBro Bill joined the Police Force in Cyprus and was commended on several occasions. One of these was for “initiative and a display of personal courage” during rioting in the Troodos district of Cyprus and the following was reported in the press:
WBro Bill returned to South Wales and re-joined the Cardiff City Police Force and achieved the rank of Chief Inspector in 1973. He became a Mason whilst in Malta during 1954 and 2004 marked his 50 years in Freemasonry.
WBro John Sydenham, another senior Past Master received his Masonic Veteran Certificate in 2005.
Bro Richie Evans took part in the second wave of D-Day Normandy Landings and received the 1939- 45 Star, France & Germany Star and a Defence Medal. More recently, Bro Richie became a member of the Normandy Veterans Association.
WBro Alan Lee, Worshipful Master in 1982 served in the Welsh Regiment and was posted to Maindy Barracks in November 1939. In 1941 he qualified as a Physical Training Instructor and was posted to HMS Westcliffe in Essex and then onto the 8th Parachute Regiment. He took part in the D-Day Normandy Landings and returned home in August before being sent to Ardennes in December 1944 for the Battle of the Bulge. Alan was then in the last big airborne drop over the Rhine in January 1945 before being made a Sergeant in the field on 24th March 1945. Unfortunately, on 1 April, WBro Alan took on a half-track vehicle sporting cannon shell and lost a leg.
A Lodge of Instruction was formed in the Lodge’s first year and a great many Worshipful Brethren and Brethren have given valuable service over the years. The first President of LOI was WBro John Allison followed by many distinguished members of the Lodge.
During 1999 WBro Percy Hooper became the Lodge’s Mandated Officer. Happily a tradition has evolved over recent years when Brethren of the Lodge visit his, the Rhondda Lodge, for their December meeting, In 2006 WBro Percy welcomed 26 brethren to his Lodge.
Our recently Installed Worshipful Master WBro Robert John Manfield aged 41, became the second youngest in the Lodge’s History to assume the Chair, the youngest being WBro Paul Sydenham at 34 years.
WBro John Manfield was initiated in December 1990 by WBro Paul Sydenham, Upon reaching the Chair in March 1999, John initiated his blood brother Robert Manfield at the April meeting. In October of that year he Initiated his son Robert. The following year as IPM he witnessed the Initiation of his stepson Bro Peter Wright.
Apart from the first Master WBro William M Bryant, WBro John is the only Master to repeat his year in the Chair. Consequentially, he went on to be Master of Cambrensis Lodge No.6608 in 2002 and 2003. In 2007 all four members of the same family held office thus: –
WBro Robert John Manfield, Worshipful Master,
WBro A.John Manfield, Director of Ceremonies,
WBro Robert Manfield, IPM
Bro Peter Wright, Assistant Secretary.
Compiled by Bro Peter John Wright, SD
