“Large streams from little fountains flow” “Tall oaks from little acorns grow”

Such undoubtedly applies to the origin of this Lodge, arising, as it did from casual conversation at a local cricket club dinner and like ‘topsy and turvy’ the idea just ‘growed’, and at the same time it became clear that special circumstances were present in a situation providing a challenge to the founders. One such fact was that of the founder members in the area three at least were members of long standing in Masonry. The founder Senior Warden, Junior Warden, and Senior Deacon were initiated in 1918, 1923, and 1945 respectively, a combined Masonic age of 109 years. These brethren had served more than once as Wardens but the conditions of their daily avocations had compelled them to move before reaching the chair of King Solomon. Despite this handicap however, the Senior Warden W/Bro Dick
Canning had been honoured by the bestowal of the Thirty Three Degree for services in other branches of Masonry throughout the Commonwealth. In the introduction to this record the Rev J.E. Penney relates some facts about the conception of founding a craft Lodge in Wisborough Green, also one of the reasons for its foundation. The reasons and principles which prompted the submission of a petition are explained in an article extracted from the Masonic
Record in Feb 1966.

Off the record discussions with the R.W. Prov Grand Master Arthur Jolly so impressed him, that should a petition be presented to him he would give his wholehearted support.

Contact was then made to all known masons having connections with Wisborough Green and sixteen agreed to become founder members, and a petition was submitted to Prov Grand Lodge and approval was given by Grand Lodge and Prov Grand Lodge and arrangements were made for the consecration of the Wisborough Green Lodge No. 8049, Midhurst Lodge
having agreed to become the sponsoring lodge.

Our first initiate had applied to the Pentalpha Lodge for membership, but when he heard that Wisborough Green Lodge was a reality he expressed a desire to be initiated into and become a member of the Lodge in the village of his residence and business. Pentalpha Lodge was most accommodating and readily agreed to release him. It is interesting to note that this initiate was initiated on the 19th November 1965 and that he was installed as Master in
May 1970 and stay in the chair for a second year 1971.

The consecration of the lodge is very well documented in an extract from the Masonic Record (Extract).

On Tuesday 26th October the R.W. Provincial Grand Master of Sussex Bro Arthur Jolly, assisted by Officers of Provincial Lodge consecrated the Wisborough Green Lodge at the Masonic Temple Horsham. The temple was filled to capacity and many brethren who would have liked to be there were unable to gain admission because of space. A great deal of the preliminary work of bringing the Lodge into being was done by that untiring and energetic
Brother, the Vicar of Wisborough Green W/Bro the Rev J.E. Penney, there were sixteen founders, and it is interesting to note the reasons for the Lodge.

(1) To provide a Masonic home for many Masons who had retired to the district of Wisborough Green. As many of these have fixed incomes and are most hard hit by the constant devaluation of money, the aim was to run the Lodge as simply and economically as possible, particularly at the festive board.

(2) Many of the founders, through a life of travel abroad, have never been long in one place to reach the Chair of any Craft Lodge, so priority of progression will always be given to such brethren.

(3) The Lodge is to meet in the village Hall of Wisborough Green a lovely Queen Ann building converted from an old workhouse.

The founders of the Lodge were:
W/Bro J.E. Penney, M.A., P.A.G.Ch.,P.P.G.Ch., Middlesex Prov G.Ch., W/Bro C. Hodgson, W/Bro H.Gough, L.G.R.,W/Bro Wallace, P.Dis.G.W.(Ceylon), W/Bro F.Smith, L.G.R.,
W/Bro J.C. Shaw, O.B.E., W/Bro R.F. Donaldson, W/Bro W. Wareham, P.P.A.D.C.,
Bro R. Canning, Bro V.M. Claise, Bro F. Williams, Bro C. Walker, Bro L.H. Leston,
Bro J. Robson, Bro J. Evans, Bro R. Ramsey Rae.

There was a full team of officers from the Province including a Provincial Grand no less a personage that W/Bro Harold Williams P.P.G.D. who for many years has been connected with grand opera at Glyndebourne and Dublin. His rendering of “how beautiful are thy dwellings” was superb and a joy to all present.

W/Bro the Rev B.F.F. Crane P.P.G.Ch acted as P.G.Ch to enable the Rev J.E. Penney to take his part as a founder of the Lodge.

W/Bro Crane’s oration was most inspiring and educative and will form a treasured record in the annals of Wisborough Green Lodge.

In his opening speech R.W. Bro Jolly said how pleased he was that a new lodge was being formed in the North West Corner of his province to add to the existing family of Midhurst, Petworth and Pulborough. He thought a Lodge meeting in a village hall in a small community such as Wisborough Green was likely to make a greater impact on the community than one in a large town. They presented the new lodge with a great challenge and responsibility. The
members living together in such a community would inevitable meet each other much more frequently. A special quality of Masonic fellowship should thereby be created and built in the best tradition of the craft.

The brethren appointed and invested were as follows.
W.M. Bro C.C. Hodgson
I.P.M. Bro J.A.F. Wallace
S.W. Bro H.G.R. Canning
J.W. Bro V.M. Claise
Chaplain Bro Rev J.E. Penney
Treasurer Bro J.G. Shaw
Secretary Bro H. Gough
D.C. Bro F. Smith
S.D. Bro C. Walker
J.D. Bro L.H. Leston
A.D.C. Bro F. Williams
Almoner Bro J. Robson
Asst Sec Bro J. Evans
Stewards Bro’s Ramsey Rae and Donaldson
Charity Steward Bro W.H. Waregan

We were fortunate in the acquisition of our furniture. Manor of Bosham Lodge No 6297 having transferred its meeting place to the Masonic hall at Chichester offered on permanent loan their Master’s jewel is peculiar to Wisborough Green Lodge as having a green ribbon instead of the usual blue of other Lodge’s.

Ladies Night – to be informal and to be more of a family night again in keeping with our principle for simplicity.

A. Price P.P.G.S.W. (1990) furniture, which was gratefully accepted. Founder members provided other forms of equipment as indeed did some of our guests. These gifts and loans save the expenditure of large sums and materially helped the Lodge maintain one of its principles (keep all expense to a minimum consistent with efficiency).

During the afternoon preceding the meeting a small party of brethren meet at the village hall to set the Lodge furniture and afterwards dismantle and stow away, a practice we still carry out today.

Finance – Founders fees were fixed at £7-7-0d and annual sub’s £2-2-0d Fees for initiation £15-0-0d.

Catering – This was carried out on a Do It Yourself basis with member’s wives contributing to the kitchen work with the meal being cooked on a very temperamental electric cooker. Stewards doing the serving and our own Ass Provincial G. Master always served the soup, and even called upon PGM’s representative at installation meetings and they usually did. The cost of the meal was seven shillings for a three course meal followed by coffee. Cheese
and biscuits. Beer and soft drinks were to be the only drinks served at the festive board in line with our principle of low cost and simplicity.

Toasts and Speeches Unless the lodge was officially visited by a Representative or Prov’ grand Lodge the obligatory toasts are proposed in the manner laid down by G.L. The practice of “taking wine” or greeting individuals be they Grand Lodge Officers or others is strictly taboo. Brethren prefer to chat to their neighbours and eat their meal in peace. If a visitor wishes to reply to his toast he is tactfully advised that long speeches are not called for.

The Past Master’s jewel is peculiar to Wisborough Green Lodge as having a green ribbon instead of the usual blue of other Lodge’s.

50 years on:

While the need for the founding of our Lodge is not as great today, in so far as we now have many younger brethren being initiated into our ranks, yet the underlying principle of “no fuss”, and simplicity still prevails, and we believe is the envy of some other Lodges, and we are pleased to know we have the strength coming through our members to maintain it in that mould for many years to come.

A. Price P.P.G.S.W. (1990)