The historic Burdett Lodge No 1293, which was consecrated to form the then new Province of Middlesex, and its Burdett Chapter met consecutively and shared a festive board. The Lodge met first and members and guests were entertained to two short and interesting presentations. One was the reading of the recently recovered Centenary Warrant granted in 1970, probably the first time that it had been read in 54 years. The second was a talk prepared and delivered by the WM W. Bro Howard Hughes, based on historic letters from Grand Lodge found bound in to the recently recovered Minute Books.
Highlights included a letter referring to the opening of what is now called Freemasons Hall in 1933. Extracts were read from a letter lifting the short suspension of Freemasonry at the start of the National Emergency in September 1939. It went on to set out the conditions under which Lodges and Chapters could continue to meet during the Second World War. An appeal letter had been sent for the donation of masonic jewels to be melted down to contribute to funds for the war effort, with a magnificent response to that appeal. A more sombre letter announced the sad loss of the Grand Master, HRH The Duke of Kent, in August 1942. And on a happier note, there was an invitation to attend the Installation of our current Provincial Grand Master, HRH Prince Michael of Kent, in 1982.
The Brethren then moved on to the Chapter meeting and its first Exaltation for some years. E Comp Howard Hughes acted as Z to Exalt in fine style Bro Ian Derry-McClellan, WM of Elizabethan Lodge No 7324. The 150 year old Charter of the Chapter had sadly been lost in the move from Staines and this was the first meeting under its new Charter of Confirmation. It was therefore proudly displayed to the candidate and read in open Chapter for the first time.
The Brethren then dined together as a Royal Arch festive board to warmly welcome their new member. If you would like to come along to a Burdett meeting please contact the Secretary, W Bro Vinod Pankharnia at vpankhania@gmail.com The photos were taken by the well-loved member of Burdett Lodge, W Bro Raj Patel, who sadly passed to the Grand Lodge Above on the 31st July. Rest in Peace Raj.
