UNITED SERVICE LODGE No. 1428

 

 

 

               

               

                                                                                               

The Lodge meets at the Masonic Hall, Lake Road, Portsmouth on the Fourth Wednesday of every month (3rd Wednesday in December). The Installation meeting is in October.

The Lodge is open for Candidates for Initiation and welcomes visitors from other Lodges.


Please contact the Lodge Secretary, Roger M. Smith on 02392 374599 or e-mail: rmbmsmith@aol.com

In November each year there is a remembrance meeting with buglers sounding the last post and reveille.

 

 

 

History

 

In the bombing attack on the City of Portsmouth on 10th January 1941 the Lodge Building together with many records of the Lodge were damaged or destroyed so that the minutes covering many years are now missing.

 

It is known however, that United Service Lodge No 1428 was consecrated on 5th August 1873 by the Provincial Grand Master, R.W.Bro The Rt.Hon W.W.Beach M.P. at the Southsea Assembly Rooms.

 

The Lodge was sponsored by Phoenix Lodge No. 257 and an early Bye-law states that “this Lodge is founded with the intention of admitting as members, those only who are or have been serving in the Army or Navy”, and a preface to later Bye-laws states “the Lodge is formed primarily for the convenience of those only who are or have been serving in the Royal Navy, Army or Royal Air Force, and who have attained the rank of Petty Officer or equivalent”. In recent years members who are not or have not been members of the Forces have joined although there are still Service connections.

 

It is said that at one time there were over 1,000 members, however no actual record of this number has been found. But a list of members in 1922 shows that there were 911. At an emergency meeting held on 31st May 1922 the list of candidates was: To Initiate 27, To Pass 46: To Raise 33. The Lodge was working 12 Regular meetings a year and as many as 52 Emergency meetings. The Lodge currently has a membership of 73 and still meets every month on the fourth Wednesday (3rd Wed in Dec.).

 

 

 

Building

 

The plans for the first building at Lake Road were passed by the Portsmouth Roads and Works Committee on the 13th November 1903. Several members mortgaged their houses and acted as guarantors to raise the necessary capital. The building was occupied in 1904.

 

On 10th January 1941 our Masonic Building and other adjoining property intended for improvements and extension was completely destroyed by enemy action.

It was a large incendiary raid at first and Bro W.R. Arnold, who was the Club Steward at the time, made a valiant effort to extinguish the incendiary bombs which fell on the roof.  Then came down the heavy stuff. The Masonic Hall practically burned from top downwards. There was not a thing that could be done about it as the bombs had already burst the water mains.

Besides the building all regalia, furniture, books, archives and relics were lost.

The owners of the Masonic Hall, Commercial Road, kindly offered the use of their premises including the use of furniture and regalia.

The Charter of the Lodge had already been sent to Winchester for safe custody, a Photostat copy being authorised for use. Unfortunately the Charter was also destroyed by later enemy action.

A Charter of Confirmation was later granted.

 

 

 

Re-Building the Temple.

 

On 30th May 1950 the Trustee’s reported that the last go-ahead to rebuild the Lodge and Club had been given and the architects had been appointed. This followed numerous meetings with the War Damage and Town Planning Committee, and there were many legal, technical and other difficulties to be surmounted.

 

In early 1951 plans were drawn up for a new building at Lake Road and a Lodge Building fund was set up.

 

The building cost approximately £35,000 and the furnishings a further £3,000. Grand Lodge generously donated £1,000 and the remainder of the money being fund by the Lodge and members.

 

On Wednesday 29th June 1955 the Temple was dedicated by the R.W.Bro. W. Attenborough, M.M., B.S., Provincial Grand Master. Altogether there were 291 Brethren present to witness this moving ceremony.

 

The first meeting in the new Temple was held on 27th July 2955 and was a Past Masters night with W.Bro T. Seymour P.A.G.Std.Br. taking the chair. There was still a very large debt outstanding and each member was asked to subscribe to clear this debt.

 

Towards the end of 1967, twelve years later, we were becoming solvent.

 

 

War Memorial

 

On the 12th November 1897 the GP Committee agreed to the erection of an obelisk in Kingston Cemetery to the memory of Brethren of the Lodge who had dies on Foreign Service. Within a year the obelisk was erected on the second centre mound (small roundabout) in Kingston Cemetery. Time has now changed and it is now regarded as a memorial to all the Brethren of the Lodge who have lost their lives in Service to their Country.

 

At our November meeting each year a Service of Remembrance is held to honour those of our Brethren who suffered the Supreme Sacrifice. V.Wor.Bro. Rev.Dr. Michael Morgan P.G.Chap. has conducted the Service for the past 30 years. Buglers outside the Lodge sound Last Post and Reveille. Now the wreath of poppies which plays a part in the service is laid at the obelisk on the Saturday after the November meeting.

 

The Following decorations were received by members of the Lodge during the 1939/45 war: Distinguished Service Cross – 4, Conspicuous Gallantry Medal – 1, Distinguished Service Medal – 12, Mentioned in Despatches – 28, British Empire Medal – 13, Kings Badge –1, plus a Victoria Cross awarded to Bro Ernest James Pitcher VC  DSM  Croix du Guare  for his gallantry on decoy ships during the first world war.