IRISH FREMASONRY AND ME
A Reminiscence by W Bro Reg Cooley, ODGR PAGSwdB (EC)
Sometime ago the Provincial Grand Master asked me if I could say something about my two periods with Lodge St Patrick, between 1957 and 1959, and again from 1965 to 1968. Whilst in the fullness of time memories have grown rather dim, there are a few memories I shall be happy to share with you. Memory, of course, often plays tricks, particular when one is ninety, so I have to be careful that I do not stray too far into the realms of fantasy, bearing in mind there are at least three good friends of mine still with you, Neoh, Baey Lian Peck and Wong Yew Kee.
I shall ever be indebted to Thean Hup for his kindness and generosity to my wife, Peggy, and myself on our return visits to Singapore. He always pointed out to me that he had been my Steward when I was Master in 1967-8, and still considered himself as such! My heartfelt greetings to him and his lovely wife, Ti Ho.
My love affair with Irish masonry began in Bermuda Garrison Lodge No.580 at least a year later than it should have done. I knew my closest friend there, Bro John Purnell, was a mason and waited a year for him to ask me, until in desperation, I summoned up courage to ask. This was prompted by two events – a summons blew up to my back door – yes, really! – and I dreamt I had been made a mason, but, infuriatingly, could not remember the smallest detail of the experience. That did it! I asked and his reaction was, 'About bloody time!'.
I was initiated on 8 October 1951 and only then discovered that I was an Irish mason! As I was born in Dublin and have Irish relations, this was the icing on the cake, so to speak! Coincidentally, John also became a member of St Patrick for part of the time I was there, and on his leaving presented me with a Masonic case formerly the property of a Bro CK Edwards, who had died earlier. I have it still, engraved with the initial CKE and RKC, set out in the form of a square.
I was introduced to Lodge St Patrick in January 1957 by W Bro Eric Pappakis, with whom I had served in Bermuda. At the time I joined VW Bro WF ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson was our Grand Inspector and W Bro A Rhind was in the chair, followed by Freddie Kunz, a Swiss and I believe Yeo Thiam Siew was his Inner Guard. In or about 1964 Freddy suddenly departed from Singapore, and we never heard of him again.
Yeo Thiam Siew was a wonderful man and another great friend; I cherish the copy of the autobiography he sent me many years later. We had a twofold connection – Thiam Siew was Chairman of the Singapore Association for the Blind, for which my wife worked as a volunteer and also got to know him well.
Neoh of course is affectionately known as Paddy Hup. I can tell you that this sobriquet was conferred on him by Bro George Sharpe, a long-standing military comrade I proposed into the Lodge in, I think, 1957/58. Coincidentally, George also returned to Singapore during my second tour, and was my Junior Warden. He was elected following an unprecedented contest with a brother who although next in line, had not attended during his tenure as Senior Deacon. George was disappointed the following year when the committee felt that, as George’s tour would not have permitted his doing a full year as WM, he was not to be SW. I am afraid that as WM elect I had the duty to tell him. But we remained very good friends! He finished his army career in York, when we became members of the same lodge and chapter until his death. We were also both members of a London lodge where I was Master in 1962 and George in the 1970s.
George had one other claim to fame – it was at his suggestion that we organised the first Ladies Night, held at the Dutch Club. This was in 1958, during Charles Mortimer’s term as Master. Charles was an airline pilot with Cathay Pacific. The ladies’gift, a small EPNS sweet tray engraved with a shamrock and ‘1958’ was made and supplied by Freddy Kunz. We still have ours.
Incidentally an oft-told tale at the time concerned the nearby Fire Station. Apparently in the early days of the lodge some of the brethren would enjoy themselves rather noisily after the evening’s proceedings, to the extent that one night the fire chief was moved to come round and complain that they were keeping his firemen awake. It never happened again!
I quickly found that the working of the degrees bore scant relationship to the ritual used in Bermuda but was later told by the Bermuda secretary that the Grand Secretary had visited the Lodge, seen it, was horrified and told them to scrap it and work the authorised ritual. One never remembers much of one’s first degree (or any of the others,) but two things do stick in my mind. The first was the Striking Lesson. After the obligation, the candidate is sat at the Secretary’s desk and invited to write down anything that impressed him so far in the ceremony. As most did, I fell for it. Mind you, I had no idea what I was going to say but thought at least to show willing and wrote one word, ‘The’. The Secretary stood to report ‘Worshipful Master, the candidate had failed his obligation.!’ Well, I thought I had had it – out! But it was, of course, only a warning. I know of only one man during that time who passed! This bit of ritual is I believe still used in some workings, notably in the Baldwyn Rite in Bristol.
The other thing I remember, and I find that this characterises Irish working, was the friendly and informal way in which the ritual was explained. At that time in the Lodge the Conductor did virtually all the floorwork. For the first eighteen months of my tour this was done by a Bro Wark who, on being posted back to England, asked me (in the toilet, as it happens!) if I would like to take over from him. Since there was no competition I was delighted to accept for the remainder of my own tour of duty. It was a most rewarding job.
At this time the ritual was in the hands of the Secretary, referred to as the ‘Notes’ and of course, printed rituals were strictly forbidden. It was realised that to concentrate so much of the work in one person, and particularly in an expat, was not a good thing, and that some of the work should be permanently farmed out . At this point, Bro Eddie Owziak, who had a printing business on Orchard Road, suddenly produced a written ritual for us, which proved invaluable. I still have my tattered copy, shot through with pencilled initials and brackets indicating the allocations of work! Later we received a very nicely produced ritual from Hong Kong.
Apart from the brethren already mentioned during my first tour of duty, there were the unforgettable Charlie Wilson, and the hardworking Jimmy Bruford. Both are alas, no longer with us, though we are still in contact with Jimmy’s charming wife, Maria, living in Canada. One of the memory ‘clips’ I have of this time was of Jimmy and my brother, Mike, acting as deacons. Both were the same height and their right arms and wands formed two perfect squares as they marched round the lodge! My brother, who was a London mason was a member for about eighteen months.
I remember Charlie telling me that Grand Lodge had suggested that we be placed under the PGL of the Far East, but he said his reply was that Hong Kong was a thousand miles away and how would Grand Lodge like to be under Rome! Whether true or not, the question never arose again!
1958 was also an important year in both the English and Irish Constitutions. The District Grand Lodge of the Eastern Archipelago celebrated its Centenary in fine style, under the patronage of the Assistant Grand Master, Maj Gen Sir Allan Adair, who captivated us all with his friendly and outgoing manner. Some of us in St Patrick were pleased to act as ushers at the Grand Ball held at the Victoria Hall. Several of us also became founder members of Centenary Lodge. I believe I am now the only subscribing founder left. The other event of moment was the consecration of our Chapter. This was achieved mainly through the sterling efforts of Ex Comp Wesley Clark who was the only Irish Chapter mason in Singapore. The founders, including myself, were all either English or Scottish companions. Some months later a party of members of one of the last Irish military lodges, No.571, then in KL with the regiment, obtained their own warrant, and we exalted about twelve in one sitting. Alas, we heard later that it had given up for lack of support, and not long after the Lodge itself disbanded. Only one such Lodge, of which more later, which carries the warrant with the Regiment, still exists.
Charlie Wilson followed Mortimer into the Chair in 1959. Unfortunately, Charlie’s wife Jean had had to return to Ireland on family business, and, to her surprise, he invited my wife to act as his consort for his Ladies Night. They were well-known to each since Charlie was medical officer for the Blind Association at the time. We little knew that about eight years later she would again be replying to the Ladies Toast , this time in her own right, and in the same hotel!
It was of course with many regrets that I returned to England in the spring of 1959, but in 1960, my Masonic career began to take off as I became founder of a London lodge and was installed as Master in 1963. Several ex-St Patrick’s brethren were able to attend, including VW Bro Hutchison. Shortly afterwards, through Bermuda Garrison Lodge I was appointed an Hon Pm in the Irish Constitution. I didn’t know at the time, of course, but this qualification would, in 1967, lead to my being elected as Master of St Patrick. Of course, I was absolutely delighted at such an unexpected honour! The vacancy had occurred because no one was qualified by reason of having served as a Warden. I was installed by Charlie Wilson as Grand Inspector; Jimmy Bruford, then DC, was informed during the evening of the birth of his first son, Robert! Coincidentally, a similar situation occurred in the Chapter, and I also became Excellent King as well. A very busy, but most enjoyable, year awaited me!
I had returned in August 1965 to a great welcome from the brethren and very quickly settled back into our Irish working, and always had something to do. During this time we had an American brother, Perry, and he started giving us short homilies on freemasonry at the Festive Board, which were always well received. Not long after I started writing short humorous verses on Masonic subjects which I, too, delivered. I attach a sample.
In those days, we had toasts to returning brethren (from leave in England, usually). I have always remembered Bro Leslie Jolliffe’s story of his experience on the outward journey. He decided to see if there were any masons on the ship and so put a notice on the purser’s board to the effect that anyone wishing to drink the Tyler’s Toast was invited to his cabin at 6 pm. He reported that he had a response from three brethren and a lady who said that she didn’t know who Mr Tyler was but she’d have a drink with anyone!.
After meetings and before we sat down to the meal, we got our drinks from a small bar in the corner of the dining room and when we were all charged, the toast ‘To Irish Freemasons All Over the World!’ was honoured with gusto!
The biggest event of my year in office was of course the consecration of Lodge Emerald in the East No.830, the majority of whose founders were of course members of our Lodge. Some of us made two or three flights up to KL offering plenty of guidance and advice and getting to know Kingsley Oorloff very well as the ‘founding father’ of the Lodge, a lovely man whom it was a privilege to have known.
I am afraid that I have no clear remembrance of the Consecration itself, though I do recollect that the hospitality on our visits was most generous. On one occasion Jimmy Bruford (who I am sure was our DC at the time) myself, George Sharpe and another brother went up to KL and, after a very hospitable Saturday evening, turned out next morning to run through the Third Degree with Emerald brethren. None of us was in the best of health that morning, but at least the ceremony went off without a hitch. My other recollection was that of being asked to act as DC at the later Installation of the Master, as Jimmy had fallen ill. This was the first and last time I have ever acted in that capacity. I think I enjoyed it!
As my term as Master closed, so did my last tour of duty in Singapore. This gave rise to a very interesting masonic event. One of my last duties as Master was to raise Bro Wong Nang Jang. I told him that I was sorry I would not be able to present him with his Certificate as I would be leaving for home. Nang Jang told me that he would also be away as he was going to New York to work in the First National City Bank. Well, it happened that my travel plans included crossing the States by Greyhound and sailing home from New York. I quickly got in touch with a very good friend in NY who happened to be a Past Deputy District Grand Master of a Manhattan District., W Bro Monte Kandel. My wife and I stayed with Bro Wong and his charming wife and on 27 May 1968. I presented an Irish Grand Lodge Certificate to a Singapore Chinese brother in an American Lodge! That is Masonry Universal!
Normal Lodge No.523 was being held to present a 50-years pin to a brother. On entry into the Lodge we were conducted to the altar in the centre of the room, and asked to give an account of ourselves. I gave the reasons for our request and explained what a Grand Lodge Certificate was as they are not generally used in American Freemasonry, after which I presented it in the usual way.
Among the many regrets I had in leaving Singapore, the main one masonically was that felt it would be a very long time before I got involved in Irish freemasonry again. I was wrong! My next job was in Germany and I found to my delight that the only regiment in the British Army with an Irish Warrant actually with the regiment was in the next Barracks. This was St Patrick Lodge No,.295, warranted in 1758, in the 4/7 Dragoon Guards (now known as the Queen’s Dragoon Guards).
I shall digress for a moment to explain that in the 18th and 19th Centuries Ireland was heavily garrisoned by British troops at a time when freemasonry was steadily growing. It began to attract those soldiers who saw in freemasonry a far better alternative to drink and brothels, about the only general diversion open to most of them. Although some officers also joined, they did have access to local country society, with hunting and field sports.
It must be remembered that Irish freemasonry grew from the ordinary people, often of poor education, whereas in England it came down, as it were, from London gentry. This may be why, alone among other workings, every part of Irish ceremonies is carefully explained. Every village or town in Ireland seemed to have its own lodge and it was not long before regiments began to form their own lodges under the Grand Lodge of Ireland. Regiments of course were not stationary, so it became the practice to grant them what was termed ‘travelling Warrants.’ At one time there were over 220, and they served an important role in the development of masonry throughout the world. There is one other lodge still holding a military warrant, but Lodge Glittering Star, once attached to the Sherwood Foresters Regiment, is now static. Its claim to fame is that it was instrumental in the foundation of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, with which it still maintains a close connection.
I soon made contact with the regimental quartermaster having rightly assumed that he would be a mason and not long afterwards he said he had found a building in which the lodge could hold a meeting, which would be a Third Degree. However, this was a sports pavilion closed for the winter and with no heating. The temperature was below zero and had been so for several weeks.
So, with as number of kerosene stoves ‘borrowed’ from our respective stores, we held the meeting. I was asked to do the traditional history but my teeth were chattering so much that I could barely get the words out. Then someone realised that the candidate was turning blue, as he said, so we covered him with an overcoat! Afterwards the Senior Warden commented that it was the fastest Third he’d ever experienced!
The following month the Lodge was held in the Wives Club in a local barracks, where the heating was so high that we worked in our shirtsleeves! We always managed to meet somewhere, eventually settling on a German Gasthaus or pub, both convenient and convivial!
I became a joining member of the Lodge and at the end of 1970 returned to Catterick Camp in the north of England, still a subscribing member. It was not until the mid 1980s that Irish masonry caught up with me again as to my delight, the regiment was also posted to Catterick and soon began holding meetings in a Masonic hall at Richmond, a lovely old market town a few miles away. By now I was in York but was able to travel regularly to the lodge and on two occasions occupied the Chair – once for a Second Degree and one to install the Master. Inevitably the Regiment was moved on again, back to Germany.
So once again I was bereft of Irish masonry! In the meantime, however, I was delighted to be appointed to Overseas District Grand Rank in Craft and Royal Arch, honours which I highly appreciated. I returned to Singapore in 1997 for the Installation to mark the thirtieth anniversary of my own. It was wonderful to be back once again. I was rather surprised to receive my Overseas District Grand Chapter Certificate from Neoh at this meeting!
Three years later I managed to attend the 275th anniversary celebration of the founding of Grand Lodge. A truly impressive and unforgettable experience. In 2001 I received an envelope from my mother Lodge, Bermuda Garrison, containing the 50-years Jewel from Grand Lodge. An invoice was enclosed! As my 60th is due in October I shall have to ask them to do better, particularly as arrangements have been for me to be presented with a 60-years Certificate by the Provincial Grand Master in December! I was further honoured by the award of a 50-years Chapter jewel in July 2008, and, from the Lodge, a another 50-years jewel to mark my fifty years in the Lodge. These were presented to me by VW Bro Duncan Fisken in my York Lodge, Eboracum No.1611. He had very kindly travelled up from the West Country to perform the task. This had been arranged through the kind co-operation of the two Grand Lodges as matters of protocol were involved! Further honours came my way when both the Lodge and Chapter appointed me Honorary Members. Brethren, my cup was full!
Of course, concurrent with my intermittent Irish experiences, I was pursuing my English Constitution duties, attaining London Grand Rank and Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden and, to my great surprise, the appointment to Grand Lodge honours as a Past Asst Grand Sword Bearer in the English Constution.
Then, in 2010, I learnt of the return to Catterick of St Patrick Lodge and quickly made contact with the Secretary. He was surprised to hear from me as he had had a report that I was deceased! I managed to convince him otherwise and am now visiting the Lodge regularly once more. Sadly, earlier this year, their latest initiate, a sergeant, was killed in Afghanistan, where some elements of the Regiment were serving. It is often difficult in the regimental environment to keep to a regular plan of work since (as happened at the last meeting) a candidate suddenly becomes unavailable for military reasons. North Yorkshire is actually the Regiment’s recruiting area and so there are many retired brethren about who are able to keep it going.
And that concludes my story of Irish masonry which, through my personal time, Masonic tapestry, runs like a golden thread!