Page 3 - Book 1_Neat

1951 -1961

IN CONTEXT…….

Shenstone Lodge was formed in 1951. Presumably, plans started in the previous year just half
way through the century. It was proposed by Perseverance Lodge No 573 to mark the
Centenary of the consecration of that Lodge in 1850. In 1951 King George VI was on the
throne although he had major surgery pater in the year and died on 6 February the following
year, shortly before the sixth Regular meeting of the Lodge. George VI was initiated in Navy
Lodge No. 2612 on 2 December 1919 and was installed as its Master in 1921. He was an
enthusiastic Freemason and joined several Lodges and different masonic orders.

1951 was also the year of the Festival of Britain and the Lodge was consecrated less that six
years after the end of WWII in Europe. Clement Attlee was Prime Minister until 26 October
when Winston Churchill returned to Downing Street, shortly after the third meeting of the
Lodge. The year saw the introduction of Zebra Crossings and GCE ‘O’ and ‘A’ Levels. The
Goon Show was aired for the first time on radio, The Lavendar Hill Mob was released and
Dennis the Menace appeared for the first time in the Beano.

It was the birth year of Gordon Brown. Kenny Dalglish and my brother.

IN THE BEGINNING…

The Lodge was Consecrated on 3 March 1951 at Halesowen. There were 18 Founder
Members of whom 13 came from Perseverance Lodge. The most senior Founder was W Bro
G N Raybould, PPGD who was designated as the first Master. In addition to the Founders,
13 Officers of Provincial grand Lodge and 81 visiting brethren abd Worshipful Brethren were
present. The alms collected at the Festive Board was £15 6s 6p. This is the equivalent of
£505.39 in November 2021 or £4.50 per brother attending.

The Deputy PGM, VW Bro B L Bunting, appointed Acting Provincial Grand Officers to take
their respective offices in the Lodge namely the Senior and Junior Wardens, Chaplain,
Secretary, Directory of Ceremonies, Senior and Junior Deacons, Assistant Directory of
Ceremonies, Organist and Inner Guard. He then opened the Lodge in the Three Degrees. The
PGM, RW Bro Ben Marsh (PGM from 1950 – 1954) then entered and conducted the
Consecration in ‘pure and ancient form’. He announced that sadly the AsstPGM, W Bro
Sidney Duntoon had died suddenly that morning. The Oration given by W Bro Rev S P
Rowcroft PrGChap.

The PGM handed the chair back to the DepPGM who closed the Lodge in the 3rd Degree. The
Installation of W Bro Raybould then followed the usual format in the 2nd Degree and a Board
of Installed Masters. W Bro Leonard Harper was invested as IPM. The Lodge was resumed
in the 3rd, 2nd and 1st Degrees in usual form with the PGDC presenting the Working Tools.
The