Lodge of Instruction
From the earliest days the importance of creating an effective Lodge of Instruction was recognised and a Proposition to form an Instruction Lodge ‘under the sanction of the Lodge’ was introduced at the Installation meeting 11th October 1898, initially to meet during the winter months at the Oatlands Park Hotel.
Subsequently, meetings took place at various locations including the New Council Offices, Walton on Thames, (1925 to 1927), The Parish Room, Weybridge (from 1927), The Ship Hotel, Weybridge (to 1936), the Hand and Spear Hotel (to 1939), The New Council Buildings, Walton-on-Thames, the St. Albans Hall, Weybridge (to Jan 1958) and then at the Conservative Club, Weybridge before moving in 1965 to the Committee Rooms, Church Street, Weybridge but in 2006 Elmbridge Council reasigned this location and the Lodge of Instruction was obliged to relocate to the Chertsey Masonic Centre, where it meets to this day.
Since its formation the Lodge of Instruction has been one of the cornerstones upon which the standards of excellence we now associate with Noel Money Lodge have been founded. This is due in no small part to the dedication and selfless manner in which members of the Lodge have given freely of their time to assist in helping ‘junior’ members to rehearse and master the ritual.
The Minutes of the Regular Lodge meeting on 25th February 1935 recorded the hearty congratulations of the members to the Preceptor, W. Bro. CE Puttock on his having that evening completed 21 years membership of LoI during which period he had never been absent from a single meeting! Over the years, other Preceptors have given freely and selflessly of their time, notably W. Bros. ‘Monty’ Felmingham, Cliff Butterfield, David Cawsey and ‘Dickie’ Lowne and the Lodge owe them an enormous debt of gratitude.
Although not its principal purpose, charity has traditionally been a feature of the Lodge of Instruction – in November 1900, a Benevolent Fund for the Instruction Lodge was established and in 1954 became a Patron Lodge of the Royal Masonic Hospital by the gift of 100 Guineas – present day value £1673! To this day the Lodge of Instruction continues to make charitable donations - albeit on a more modest basis!
It was recorded that an Instruction Lodge Dinner took place on 26th March 1901, the first mention of such an occasion. During the 1920’s Annual Dinners became a feature of the social calendar, usually at Christmastime, being held at Nuthalls Restaurant and Banqueting Rooms, Kingston on Thames ( now Millet’s) and in later years at The Ship Hotel in Weybridge. In 1927 it was recorded that the cost of the annual dinner was 6/6d, equivalent this day to approximately £14 – still extremely good value. It is not noted whether this included wine!
The importance of the Noel Money Lodge of Instruction in creating and nurturing the high standards of work for which Noel Money is justly proud, cannot be overemphasised. The present-day Preceptors and members of the Lodge of Instruction continue to work diligently to maintain and uphold these traditions upon which are founded the reputation of the Lodge itself.
Subsequently, meetings took place at various locations including the New Council Offices, Walton on Thames, (1925 to 1927), The Parish Room, Weybridge (from 1927), The Ship Hotel, Weybridge (to 1936), the Hand and Spear Hotel (to 1939), The New Council Buildings, Walton-on-Thames, the St. Albans Hall, Weybridge (to Jan 1958) and then at the Conservative Club, Weybridge before moving in 1965 to the Committee Rooms, Church Street, Weybridge but in 2006 Elmbridge Council reasigned this location and the Lodge of Instruction was obliged to relocate to the Chertsey Masonic Centre, where it meets to this day.
Since its formation the Lodge of Instruction has been one of the cornerstones upon which the standards of excellence we now associate with Noel Money Lodge have been founded. This is due in no small part to the dedication and selfless manner in which members of the Lodge have given freely of their time to assist in helping ‘junior’ members to rehearse and master the ritual.
The Minutes of the Regular Lodge meeting on 25th February 1935 recorded the hearty congratulations of the members to the Preceptor, W. Bro. CE Puttock on his having that evening completed 21 years membership of LoI during which period he had never been absent from a single meeting! Over the years, other Preceptors have given freely and selflessly of their time, notably W. Bros. ‘Monty’ Felmingham, Cliff Butterfield, David Cawsey and ‘Dickie’ Lowne and the Lodge owe them an enormous debt of gratitude.
Although not its principal purpose, charity has traditionally been a feature of the Lodge of Instruction – in November 1900, a Benevolent Fund for the Instruction Lodge was established and in 1954 became a Patron Lodge of the Royal Masonic Hospital by the gift of 100 Guineas – present day value £1673! To this day the Lodge of Instruction continues to make charitable donations - albeit on a more modest basis!
It was recorded that an Instruction Lodge Dinner took place on 26th March 1901, the first mention of such an occasion. During the 1920’s Annual Dinners became a feature of the social calendar, usually at Christmastime, being held at Nuthalls Restaurant and Banqueting Rooms, Kingston on Thames ( now Millet’s) and in later years at The Ship Hotel in Weybridge. In 1927 it was recorded that the cost of the annual dinner was 6/6d, equivalent this day to approximately £14 – still extremely good value. It is not noted whether this included wine!
The importance of the Noel Money Lodge of Instruction in creating and nurturing the high standards of work for which Noel Money is justly proud, cannot be overemphasised. The present-day Preceptors and members of the Lodge of Instruction continue to work diligently to maintain and uphold these traditions upon which are founded the reputation of the Lodge itself.
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