SOUTH PORCH LODGE No: 59

Consecrated 4th April 1992

 

 

 

South Porch Lodge News

Reported by V.W/Bro. Peter Slade

 

 

 

 

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The 122^nd Regular Meeting of the South Porch Lodge No: 59 was held at the Masonic Centre, Avenida del Inverandero 12, Argana Alta, Arrecife de Lanzarote, on Tuesday 10^th February 2009 at 18-00.hours.

During the meeting the Lodge was called off at 18-12 Hrs

Then followed a presentation of three Chairs a Master and two Wardens each of which had been given to South Porch Lodge No.59 in Lanzarote after being retrieved from the cellars of The Queens College, Taunton Lodge No.6988 in the Province of Somerset, United Kingdom.

The Worshipful Master of the Queens College Lodge then proceeded to related to the history surrounding them, as far he had been able to research that two Wardens Chairs had very probably started life in the Cafe Royal London in the early part of the 20^th Century. That pair were not matching exactly, but close enough to the “trained eye”.

The Master’s Chair was believed to have been from a different source, namely the “Holborn Lodge” and dated around the turn of the Century.

W/Bro. Robert Hewson took on the restoration project, (Each Chair was in somewhat dilapidated condition) and as an upholsterer of some standing was able to say that the construction method and materials used dated the Master’s Chair to the “turn of the Century” and the other two a little later.

With the assistance of W/Bro. Arthur Francis who dealt with the stripping and polishing many hours of work produced three excellent pieces of Lodge furniture.

W/Bro. David Sargison Secretary of the Lodge then presented South Porch Lodge with a beautiful painting of the Queens College in Taunton, Somerset through which the whole exclusive membership of their Lodge had passed including many notable Masonic persons.

The Worshipful Master of South Porch Lodge Norman Lund reciprocated on behalf of the Lodge presenting Queens College, in the person of W/Bro. Andy Rodgers (Master) with a solid Glass Tablet inscribed with the Masonic Emblem expressing our gratitude for their most generous gift.

The Lodge was called on at 18-26 Hrs

 

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The latest info. of South Porch Lodge who are lucky enough

to have some very generous Members.

Lodge Chairs

Brotherly love, Relief & Strewth!

 

South Porch Lodge No 59 Temple in the Province of Lanzarote, Canary Islands,

and working within the Spanish constitution.

From a very humble beginning, in the disused storeroom of a village shop. 14 years ago, a minimum quorum, a few chairs and a piece of linoleum containing black and white squares, they have grown to a complement of 30ish members, and a queue of prospective candidates.

However, a worshipful Brother founder member who was a very  competent Carpenter/Cabinet maker had produced three excellent pieces of  furniture for the Master and each of his Wardens, but not special chairs.

This has of course remained with the Lodge, and is in place in the permanent building in Arrecife, Lanzarote.

The secretary of the Lodge, W/Bro. Peter Slade, has for some time expressed a desire to try and obtain chairs that would be suited to the  Principles and finally circulated a great number of UK Lodges by letter, phone and Email, asking if anyone could help, with unwanted or redundant chairs. He received many replies but without positive results. Later however, came a case from The Queens College, Taunton Lodge, No 6988 in the same Province as Peters mothers Lodge (St Keyna) with an offer of 3 very old and redundant chairs, whereupon an agreement was made to collect them by Peter who was visiting the UK in June.

With the help of W/Bro. Patrick Cousins from St Keyna Lodge the chairs were collected from the cellars beneath the building, and brought back to Peters home (in UK), then the following day, taken to Heathrow, then to Lanzarote, collected and taken to W/Bro. Robert Hewson (upholsterer) who is in the process of restoring them to their former glory. Whilst at the Queens College Lodge an invitation extended to the brethren to visit Lanzarote, and a number of them took it up.

This however, was prior to the air travel problems that have arisen, which may mean some re-arrangement, but nevertheless a solid link has been formed between, The Queens College Lodge and South Porch Lodge No 59 in Lanzarote with the certain knowledge that many new friends will be made in the true Masonic tradition.

The Chairs have been completely stripped, assembled making good the joints, and ready for varnishing by W/Bro. Arthur Francis. They will then be taken back to Robert for the final touch to be upholstered.

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My Story of the forming of South Lodge No.59, Lanzarote, Islas Canarias

By W.Bro Peter Slade P.A.P.G.M. P.G.D.D.C

It was some time in the year 1983 when my Mother Lodge in the UK gave me permission to make enquires to The Grand Lodge of England requesting to know if there was any Masonic activity in Lanzarote because we had decided to make more use of the Bungalow that we had bought here.

 

The answer I got was from a retired English Major, whose name escapes me at the moment, who was the current Grand Secretary of Spain. There was only one Lodge in the Canary Islands and that was Tiede Lodge No.34 which is situated in the North of Tenerife. At that point I had forgotten all about my Masonry career.
 
The Birth of a Lodge on Lanzarote, at this point unknown by me, was already on the way.

 

Some time later on June 19th 1990, on the Quay at  Arrecife Harbour, I was queuing for the ferry to Cadiz when suddenly I heard a voice behind me saying "Ha! English! now I will have some one to talk to on the voyage". It was a Brother but at that point I wasn't aware of this. We talked on the ferry on a few occasions and he came across to me as a very interesting chap.

 

As we were waiting for the ramp to lower at Cadiz Harbour, to enable us to

dis-embark, my new acquaintance came up to me to say farewell. He asked if I would be interested in forming a Lodge on Lanzarote.

 

I was Speechless. How did he know I was a Mason? It was a subject we hadn't talked about on the journey. Perhaps he will let me know one day, I thought at the time, but since this was written he's passed to the Great Architect above.

 

Some weeks later, when I returned to my home in Lanzarote, our paths crossed again and I learnt that my new friend was a P.A.G Registrar. He enquired at that point if I was still interested in forming a Lodge. I would like to know more was my reply.
 
Later he introduced me to another Mason who was retired from England and also P.Prov.A.D.C (West Lancs) as well as being a W/Bro. from Atlantic Phoenix Lodge in Bermuda. There's universal for you !

 

Later four others joined us and slowly things started to fall into place. W.Bro.Maybury invited me to his home where he was already making the furniture for the Lodge. It was, and still is, beautiful and all hand made. It must have taken months. His retirement from Spanish Masonry after vacating the Chair was a sad loss.

 

However, books and regalia were brought out from England and a Petition was duly signed. We were summoned to Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, for the Consecration on the 4th April 1992. All seven founder Members were present, one had to withdraw due to personal reasons,  some of us hardly knew each other!

 

The Provincial Grand Temple was then situated on the fourth floor, in a little back street of Las Palmas town, but the Ceremony was most impressive, with the M.W.Grand Master M.R.H.Luis Salat Gusils, himself seated next to the Provincial Grand Master R.H W/Bro. Fernando Robania, who was the Consecrating Officer.
 
The original four of us became the first Master, Wardens and Senior Deacon and all passed through the Chair in that order. Each in turn became a Provincial officer, one acting Provincial Grand Sword Bearer and the others a pass rank.

 

Since then South Porch Lodge has gone from strength to strength, with many Provincial promotions.

 

When this story was written we had twenty three Members. However, at today's date we have thirty one, with four Honorary Members, and Candidates for Initiation as well as new joining Members in prospect.

 

At this time the Chaplain, Treasurer, Secretary and Director of Ceremonies were all past Masters of the Lodge with the Wardens both Initiates of the Lodge. At the time of print  one is going around again.

 

Of course,  we have had our ups and downs like any other group of men from different walks of life.

You need to find your way and the more experienced Masons explain that its common with the forming of a new Lodge. Having said that South Porch Lodge is firmly on its way up due to the team work of the members as a whole. We must not forget Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth play a big part in Masonry and that is the base on which to build our future.

 

We are very fortunate to be blessed with a very good attendance of visitors, some offering sound guidance. We cannot remember a Lodge meeting without two or three visitors, in fact, in the early days they out numbered us. Subsequently they were given acting jobs.
 
What of the future? Our main objective was to form a Royal Arch Chapter and this has now been achieved with the help of  both the English and Spanish Lodges to swell the numbers. We are now enjoying a queue for new Exaltes and Joining Members. Who knows, maybe some other side degrees.
 
Finally I would like to thank the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Canary Islands from whom we have received so much support and encouragement over the past momentous years. My thanks also go to two Members of South Porch Lodge for giving me the assistance I needed to compile this article.
 
The Photo's below show our Founder Members in Full Dress and with Visitors.

 

(Left click on any Photo to see an enlarged version)

This Story was written many years ago and will soon be updated because there are many things, which were unknown to the writer at the time, that have since come to light.

Yours Sincerely and Fraternally,

 

V.W/Bro.Peter A.Slade. P.M of South Porch Lodge No.59

The Province of the Canarias. The Grand Lodge of Spain.

 

Contact: south.porch.lodge@telefonica.net