The First Initiate

The very first Initiate of the Lodge was George Marrs, who was Proposed and Seconded respectively by Bros. Edward Alfred Brown, a Corn and Coal Merchant and Alfred Henry Gale, a Builder – who were both Founders of the Lodge.

George Marrs was an Iron Merchant who lived at Walton on Thames – he became a member of the Lodge at the age of 36 years and Initiated at the first Regular meeting after the Consecration at the Oatlands Park Hotel on 11^th December 1894 He was Passed a month later on the 15^th January 1895 and finally Raised to the sublime Degree of a Master Mason on 12^th March 1895.

Sadly the Minutes of the Regular meeting held on the 11^th October 1904 record his resignation, no reason being given.

The Lodge has in its archives, a handwritten ‘volume’ of no less than 308 pages in beautiful script containing Masonic lectures, ceremonies and hymns – this book was presented to Bro. George Marrs ‘as a mark of Esteem and Regard’ by Bro. CL Nelson, PM in October 1902. It is bound in leather with gilt-edged pages secured by a lock and key.

At the end of the book, a cipher inscription, using the ‘Masonic Alphabet’, reads;

Dear Bro. Marrs,

I fraternally ask your acceptance of this Volume, written by myself, containing much useful information, which I hope will be of some service to you in your Masonic career.

This, please receive as mark of esteem and regard.

With best wishes, yours faithfully and fraternally

Charles L Nelson

It came into the possession of W. Bro. Maurice Parr in the early 1950’s until his death in September 1983 when it was given to W. Bro. LAC Barnard for safekeeping; it was formally presented to the Lodge by his son, Bro. Paul Barnard in February 2003.