Yesterday saw the publication of my latest book, BROTHERS IN ARMS AND BROTHERS IN THE LODGE: THE STORY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GROVE PARK LODGE (No. 2732) WHO SERVED DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR (ISBN 978 1 291 98955 7).
I wrote this book to mark two major events. The first was the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, and the second was the 50th anniversary of the Initiation into Freemasonry of the most senior Brother in my Mother Lodge. He has never missed a meeting of the Lodge in all his years as a member, a record that is – to my knowledge – unique.
The book was written with the help of the members of the Lodge of Instruction, my wife – Sue – who is a very gifted amateur genealogist, and the staff of the Library of Freemasonry at Freemasons’ Hall, London. It is split into two parts. The first part covers the history of the Lodge from 1914 until 1919, and the second part deals with the individual histories of the ten members of the Lodge who served in the armed forces during the First World War. They were:
The book also contains three appendices that explain some of the Masonic terminology used in the book as well as the Medals, Stars, and Commendations mentioned in the text.
The book costs £5.00 and is currently available for sale from Lulu, and will be available from Amazon in the very near future. The profits from all sales of the book will be donated to the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys, a charity funded by Freemasons 'to relieve poverty and advance education for children and young people'.
I wrote this book to mark two major events. The first was the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, and the second was the 50th anniversary of the Initiation into Freemasonry of the most senior Brother in my Mother Lodge. He has never missed a meeting of the Lodge in all his years as a member, a record that is – to my knowledge – unique.
The book was written with the help of the members of the Lodge of Instruction, my wife – Sue – who is a very gifted amateur genealogist, and the staff of the Library of Freemasonry at Freemasons’ Hall, London. It is split into two parts. The first part covers the history of the Lodge from 1914 until 1919, and the second part deals with the individual histories of the ten members of the Lodge who served in the armed forces during the First World War. They were:
- Edwin Arthur Norman
- Henry King Nicholls
- George Woodfall Bourne
- William John Graham
- Frederick Charles Rosendale
- Hugh Bourne
- Hugh Probyn Malet Lord
- Henry Charles Bradshaw Good
- Sidney Herbert Crapp
- Charles Ernest Stacey
The book also contains three appendices that explain some of the Masonic terminology used in the book as well as the Medals, Stars, and Commendations mentioned in the text.
The book costs £5.00 and is currently available for sale from Lulu, and will be available from Amazon in the very near future. The profits from all sales of the book will be donated to the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys, a charity funded by Freemasons 'to relieve poverty and advance education for children and young people'.
Well done, Bob!
ReplyDelete..both for writing this work, and for putting the proceeds to a worthy cause.
-Steve
Nice one Bob.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Pete.
Steven Page,
ReplyDeleteI just do the best that I can - whatever it is - and if I can help others whilst doing it, then I have made a difference, however small that difference might be.
Relief, Truth, and Brotherly Love; as you know, these aren't just words, they are our guiding principles.
(Sorry if all that sounds a bit pompous and preachy, but I do try to abide by them all the time.)
All the best,
Bob
Pete.,
ReplyDeleteI just do what I can, and if it makes a difference, I find that very rewarding.
All the best,
Bob
Congratulations. I will send off for a copy.
ReplyDeleteCo-incidentally we are giving out a 60 year certificate in my lodge on Monday to one old boy and next October we have a second. I have asked a provincial big wig along to give it to him. Both of these brothers turn up to all the meetings, LOI's etc and are hugely knowledgeable and helpful. The one next year is still our chaplain and is almost unsackable!
He spent his time in the war bombing Germany so he's hardly going to take any notice of me as the secretary.
S&F
Guy
Guy,
ReplyDeleteI hope that you enjoy reading it as much as I did doing the research. I read all the Lodge Minutes from 1914 to the mid 1960s as well as paying visits to the National Archives and Great Queen Street.
Two 60 Year Certificates in one year is quite something. I would have hoped that your PGM or DPGM would have been asking to come along to do the presentations rather than you having to ask someone from Province to do it ... but all Provinces do things differently.
It sounds as if these two senior Brethren are real characters. It is amazing how many such people one meets in The Craft ... and how active they are. I only hope that I am as active when I become a 'mature' Freemason!
S&F
Bob
Well it was an enjoyable night as we did an initiation and gave out the 60 year certificate. I had done a bit of research on him with the assistance of 3 provincial secretaries from the provinces where he had been in lodges so I had a pretty decent CV for the provincial chap to crib from.
ReplyDeleteAt the conclusion Bro B who got the certificate then insisted on sitting next to the initiate and 'beamed'. It was well worth all the effort. Masonry seems one of the very few organisations these days where young and old men of all persuasions mix successfully.
Guy
Guy,
ReplyDeleteAn Initiation AND a 60 Year Certificate in one meeting! What a wonderful start to the EA's entry into The Craft ... and what a great thing for the Brother who got the Certificate to do.
You are right about the way young and old, new and experienced, senior and junior brethren mix so well in and out of the Temple. At our recent meeting we had a recently Raised MM from Sheffield who had never seen so much dark blue.
All the best,
Bob