Meeting Times Lodge meets 3rd Wednesday in January, March, May, July, September & November. Installation is in March.
Contact W.Bro. M.V. Taylor 5 Clydesdale Road BRAINTREE CM7 2NX Tel: 01376 325764 or 07811 863796 E-mail: fhs@meerkat-hedgehog.co.uk

History

LODGE CREST Halberds in saltire over a Square and Compasses.

LODGE NAME The Lodge takes its name from Oliver Cromwell who lived on the edge of Felsted village and sent his sons to the Public School. One son is buried in the village churchyard.

The Consecration Ceremony was on Wednesday 31st May 1950 at Braintree under the Banner of the sponsoring Lodge, The Lodge of St. Mary. The Lodge was opened in solemn prayer by the Worshipful Master, W.Bro. F.A. Dance. The Consecration Officer was W.Bro. John F. Taylor, Assistant Provincial Grand Master. The Provincial Grand Chaplain made a special mention of the motto of Felsted School “Garda ta Foy “Guard thy Faith and Oliver Cromwell as a Defender of the Faith. After the Lodge was consecrated, W.Bro. Taylor vacated the chair in favour of W.Bro. Rev. R. Stafford, who then installed W.Bro. Frank Ernest Thornhill into the Chair of King Solomon.

The eighteen founders and early members were drawn mainly from local Lodges, in particular The Lodge of St. Mary and Rosslyn Lodge. The “grand originals” were proud of their mixed backgrounds, with many varied occupations represented, including a doctor, school masters, farmers, policemen, tailors, retailers, licensees, furnishers, builders and a bookmaker. That variety of source for membership has continued over the years and is now even greater.

This evolution is being seen in other forms too. A “Burns Night” has become a regular feature following our January Meeting, a Cromwell family lunch at Christmas is always well supported and the Raft Race as well as other group events too.

LODGE RITUAL The workings in the Lodge is Emulation with variations.

LODGE MEETING DATES and TIMES The Regular Meetings of the Lodge were held on the second Thursday in January, March [Installation], May, July September and November 4.45 p.m. for 5.00 pm. The Annual Subscriptions were due in advance in May. The Memorial Hall not being available, the meeting in November 1959 was on a Tuesday and the following year all were held on a Friday. Then in 1961 the meetings moved to the third Wednesday which has continued until to this day. The times also moved over this period to 5.30pm and now at 6.00pm except Installation Meeting which begins at 5.00pm.

LODGE MEETING PLACES The Lodge originally met at the Old Schoolroom Felsted from May 1950 to April 1959. With growth it was decided the first move should be to the Memorial Hall Felsted, before taking up residence in The Howard Hall, Braintree in January 1979.

LODGE of INSTRUCTION MEETING PLACE, DATES and TIME These meetings were held at the Swan Hotel, Felsted, on the first Wednesday in each month at 7.30 p.m. In July 1959 the meetings increased to the first Thursday and third Wednesday before moving to the Memorial Hall, Felsted on 7th September 1961. Another change took place in January 1962 when it moved the first Thursday to the first Wednesday and in June 1973 met at Felsted United Free Church Hall. Surprisingly, the Lodge of Instruction did not move to Braintree until May 1993.

BANNER and DEDICATION The Banner was presented by Bro. Solly Brewer and the Dedication Ceremony took place on 21st January 1970 and consecrated by Bro. Rev.D.O.R.Parry, Provincial Grand Chaplain. The Cromwell Lodge originally met in the old part of Felsted School; this is depicted on the Lodge banner.

INSTALLED MASTERS’ BOARD On the 17th March 1982, a carved board of Installed Masters given by W.Bros. D.S. Speaight, P.A.L. Martin and J Dove to the lodge, was presented on their behalf by W.Bro.Speaight. W.Bro.Speaight said that they had been considering the presentation for a number of years but only since holding our meetings at the Howard Hall had the idea become practical. He continued by saying this presentation cannot be repeated until the year 2024 when this board is completed with the addition of another 42 names, many of which will be those members present. The board will remind us of occupants of the Master’s chair, past and future, who have and will continue to ensure the continuation of Cromwell Lodge traditions. The board was unveiled and received by W.Bro. F.E. Thornhill, the first master and founder of the Lodge, on behalf of the Lodge. W.Bro. Thornhill referred to the Board as a sacred trust to be transmitted annually, pure and unsullied. It is a chronological record of Past Masters, many still with us whilst others have passed on to the Grand Lodge above. He said it is well sited being diagonally opposite the more recent initiated members to whom it should be a spur or challenge such that their names may eventually be added to it. W.Bro. Thornhill thanked the donors on behalf of the lodge and visited each to add his personal thanks.