Freemasonry in Flint, North Wales

History of Flint Lodge

Extract from a short history of Flint Lodge, published on the occasion of the 75th Anniversary.

The first record we have of the formation of Flint Lodge is in the hand written minutes of a Meeting of Masonic Brethren held at the Swan Hotel on Friday, 18th February 1921 to consider the desirability of forming a Craft Lodge for the Borough of Flint. Eleven brethren were present, from Lodges including Sir Watkin 1477, St Mark's 2423 and Basingwerk 3753. W.Bro. John Kerfoot-Roberts took the chair.

The minutes report the receipt of a letter of support from a Brother unable to attend, and that "after some discussion it was proposed by Bro. J. Bibby Denny, seconded by Bro. R. P. Bellis & carried unanimously "That it is desirable that a Craft Lodge be formed in Flint." Bro. Thomas Moore was appointed Secretary pro tem and was "instructed to communicate" with a number of local organisations, including the Chester Northgate Brewery Coy Lim "& ascertain some particulars about a room suitable for a Lodge and report to the next meeting". A name for the proposed Lodge was discussed, but it was resolved that it should be decided at a later meeting.

The next meeting was held, this time at the Kings Head Hotel, on 26th April 1921, and sixteen brethren heard and confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting. It appears that the search for a room had not been entirely successful, for after "long discussion" a committee was appointed to "examine the Assembly Room, Kings Head, & any other room likely to suit the requirements of the Brethren, & if suitable to report at a later meeting. Seven brethren were chosen, and the meeting closed. Another meeting was held at the Cross Foxes Hotel on Friday 13th January 1922. Only six brethren were present, and a number of apologies were received. The special committee appointed in April 1921 reported that the most suitable room was one at the Cross Foxes Hotel, provided the promise to renovate it was fulfilled. The decision to apply for a warrant was taken, the name of the Lodge to be "Teganigl" (sic) or Earl of Flint. It was also proposed that the meetings would be held on the second Wednesday of the month.

The Cross Foxes was again the venue for a meeting of twelve brethren on 17th February 1922 when a proposition was carried that the Lodge should be named "Earl of Flint". W.Bro. Kerfoot-Roberts was elected as the first Worshipful Master, with Bro. Evan Davies Evans and Bro. James Robertson Alexander as Senior and Junior Wardens respectively. Other officers were elected and a number of names submitted as wishing to be Founders. Donations of furniture were promised and "A most enthusiastic meeting closed in peace and harmony". The decision to submit a petition for a Warrant of Constitution and the subsequent election of officers appears to have added impetus to the process. Fifteen brethren met again on the 10th March 1922, heard correspondence from the Provincial Grand Secretary, and reviewed Grand Lodge minutes with regard to petitions. The Founders fee was fixed at Five guineas, which was to include the jewel and subscription for the first year, but this was to be waived for any Brother presenting furniture to the Lodge of equivalent value. The Initiation fee was to be Fifteen guineas, inclusive of Apron, Case and Ritual, and the Joining fee was set at Three guineas. The fixing of the annual subscription was deferred.

Six days later sixteen brethren heard W.Bro. Kerfoot-Roberts report that he had visited Freemasons Hall in London and discussed the proposed new Lodge for Flint. He was of the opinion that the name "Earl of Flint" would not be allowed, and after some discussion the new Lodge became, by unanimous vote, "Flint" Lodge. At the same time the annual subscription was set at Three guineas, to include contributions to the A and B funds and refreshments. The reason why Grand Lodge thought the original name inappropriate is not mentioned, but it is worth noting that W.Bro. Henry Taylor, in his "Historic Notices of Flint", refers to that portion of the county comprising Coleshill, Prestatyn and Rhuddlan being known in Roman times as "Tegangle".

Here the minutes are incomplete. The next record we have is of a meeting on 11th October at the T. W. Hughes Memorial Hall, when a letter from W.Bro. Henry Taylor was read stating that it was fifty years since he had been initiated into Freemasonry in 1873, and that he intended being present at the consecration, for which he had cancelled several important engagements. Thirteen candidates for initiation were proposed and seconded before the meeting closed. On 15th December 1922 the search for suitable rooms ended when the committee reported that the T. W. Hughes Memorial Hall had been secured at a rent of £20 per annum, and sought confirmation from the brethren. The joining fee was adjusted at this meeting from Three to Five guineas.

On July 5th 1923 the minutes are headed "Flint Lodge No. 4544", the first appearance of the Lodge number. Twenty-five Founders heard that after a visit to Liverpool suitable furniture had been decided upon, decisions were taken to open the Lodge from September to May, and to hold a banquet at the Town Hall after the Consecration. Three weeks before the Consecration a meeting on 5th October decided to purchase the furniture at a cost of £137.11.11d, and on 18th October 1923 twenty-two of the Founders had the proceedings for the Consecration explained to them by W.Bro. Kerfoot-Roberts, then rehearsed opening and closing in the three degrees before concluding the meeting, and here the records end.

Flint Lodge No. 4544 was consecrated by W.Bro. James Porter, J.P., P.G.D., D.Pr.G.M. on 31st October 1923 in the presence of Grand Lodge Officers, Provincial Grand Lodge Officers, Worshipful Brethren and Brethren to the number of 135. Following the consecration ceremony W.Bro. Kerfoot-Roberts was installed as the first Master. In 1925 W.Bro. Kerfoot-Roberts became Master of Ceremonies, an office that he was to occupy for the next twenty-two years.

The 1st Annual Picnic, June 25th 1924.

Membership increased quite rapidly during the first few years due to a large influx of joining members as well as a steady flow of initiates. Once this period was over, however, there was little further growth during the twenties and thirties and membership never exceeded sixty brethren. A surviving document from that period tells us that the Annual Ladies Evening was to be held at the Grosvenor Hotel, Chester, on February 1st, 1933. The programme included an hour of whist after dinner, and dancing from 10.30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Conveyance by charabanc was included in the cost of 10/6 (53p).

The beginning of the war was marked by the only break in regular meetings in the history of the Lodge - there were no Masonic meetings during September 1939. After this, however, Lodge meetings continued as usual. As the war years went by attendances fell, and there were few initiates. In May 1942 the Master, W.Bro. Llewellyn Closs-Davies was called up for military service and a Past Master occupied the Chair for the remainder of his term of office. A number of other brethren were also serving in the forces, their names being recorded each month on the summons. In July 1945 a Masonic Service of Thanksgiving for Victory held in St Asaph Cathedral was attended by the WM and Brethren of Flint Lodge.

Following the final conclusion of hostilities a report was made to Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes that concluded: "It is very pleasing to record our heartfelt thanks to the Great Architect of the Universe that none of the brethren in any of the services paid the supreme sacrifice and that only one brother, Worshipful Brother Llewellyn Closs-Davies, suffered any disablement."

In the years following the war there was a rapid growth in membership and so great was the demand that, for a time, members were initiated, passed and raised in pairs. This practice is no longer allowed but, no doubt, some initiates found it very comforting to have someone besides them who was equally "in the dark" when they first entered the lodge. In 1946 an opportunity arose to purchase the building known as the Armoury at a cost of £1,450, and Masonic Buildings Ltd was formed for this purpose.

John William Barker (Head Gardener, Courtaulds) & Louisa Barker at The Armoury, 1953.

We are indebted to W. Bro C. M. Ley for his kind permission to use the above photograph

It was hoped that it would be possible to convert the old building into a Masonic Temple and, although this eventually proved to be structurally impossible, the grounds provided a site for the present Lodge room, and the Armoury itself became a very useful annex. However, many years were to pass before these plans came to fruition. In the meantime, one room was used for rehearsals and meetings and the rest of the building was let for its original purpose. The heating in the Armoury was rather primitive, and a rota was established for "volunteers" to attend rehearsals early and light the coal fire.

Membership exceeded one hundred for the first time in 1949 and during the fifties it became apparent to members that it was time that we had a home of our own. The Memorial Hall was becoming increasingly inconvenient. The Lodge furniture had to be moved in and out each month and changing accommodation was inadequate. It was, at the time, part of the Tyler's duties to attend to the heating system, and candidates were prepared in the boiler room. They must have been confused by the necessity for the Tyler to halt their preparation and stoke the furnace. The "fourth" had to be taken elsewhere. For a time it was at Davies's Cafe and, latterly, at the Raven Hotel. There was also a growing need for a new Lodge to be formed. Many worthy men were still seeking admission into Masonry, and Flint Lodge was becoming too big to absorb many more.

A new meeting place was needed, but as the Lodge had to be prepared to undertake a heavy financial commitment this was not a decision that should be hurried, and there were many other problems to be addressed. However, progress was made over the years, work commenced on the present building in the spring of 1964 and was completed that autumn. It was a great achievement and it would be unfair to single out the contributions of individual Brethren. We who now enjoy the comfort and convenience of this building owe a debt of gratitude to those who pressed the scheme forward with tenacity and perseverance. Some brethren generously made interest free loans available, and many were equally generous with their skills and time in assisting in the work involved. The role of the late W.Bro. Tom Foulkes as "Clerk of Works" in co-ordinating the labour of this army of volunteers with their diverse skills and abilities ought to be mentioned. It is fitting that the first Lodge Ceremony to be held in the new building was to install W.Bro. Foulkes into the Masters Chair. The new Temple had been his dream for many years and no-one had worked harder to make it possible.

At first the catering arrangements at the new Armoury consisted solely of a tea urn, and until the kitchens were installed the Ladies of the Brethren prepared cold collations for the festive board. It was the duty of one of our present senior Brethren to purchase supplies for this purpose from an advantageous source. The debt we owe to our ladies is acknowledged annually at our Ladies Festivals, and for this transitory period it was a very real debt indeed.

Plans were now put into action for a daughter Lodge to be formed, and on the 18th May 1963 Coleshill Lodge was consecrated at the Gwynedd School, Flint, by the Provincial Grand Master R.W. Brother the Rt.Hon. the Lord Kenyon and Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge. Our daughter Lodge flourished, and on the 6th January 1973 a third Lodge, Croes Ati, was consecrated in Flint, again by the Provincial Grand Master and his Officers. Recently the Armoury has been extended again to provide much needed storage space, and brethren of Flint Lodge were again active in providing labour and expertise for this project, together with members of the Coleshill and Croes Ati Lodges. Flint Lodge are represented on the Board of Flint Masonic Buildings Ltd, and actively support the many social and fund raising activities held here.

It is not surprising that in a Lodge which is celebrating seventy-five years of existence there should have been many "larger than life" brethren. W.Bro John Kerfoot-Roberts made a great and lasting impression on the lives of many members, and in his twenty-two years as Director of Ceremonies was responsible for establishing the tradition of excellence enjoyed by the Flint Lodge. W.Bro James Savage Jones rigorously maintained that tradition while serving in that office for twenty-one years, and our present Director of Ceremonies, W.Bro Kenneth Roberts, has continued to uphold and strengthen it since 1991. There have been many families who have enjoyed membership. Grandfathers, fathers, brothers and sons have all contributed to the stability and strength of the Lodge, while the "younger" brethren have the friendship and shared experience of the "senior" brethren as an example to follow.

There cannot be a better closing paragraph for this short history than the form of words used by W.Bro. Crossthwaite in commemorating the Golden Jubilee of the Flint Lodge in 1973. Seventy-five years is not a long period in the history of Freemasonry, although it is a lifetime for most Masons. In writing the history of a single Lodge one is inevitably impressed with the continuity of the craft itself. All our founders are now at rest, though some members still have personal recollections of them. - notably of our first Worshipful Master who regularly attended our installations up to the time of his death. At the installation in 1923 W.Bro. Henry Taylor was already celebrating fifty years in Masonry. No doubt some of the brethren who will attend the Flint Lodge Centenary meeting are already members, although not many of us can anticipate being present at that celebration. Let us hope that they will look back on us with the same affection and respect as we look back on our Founders, who brought Freemasonry to Flint, and our Senior Brethren who brought us to where we are today - seventy-five years on.

Note: Acknowledgments to the work of the late W.Bro. Fred Crossthwaite, to the loan of material from a number of Brethren, and to W.Bro. James Savage Jones for allowing the use of his notes on fifty years of Freemasonry in Flint.

Bro. M. Richardson.

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