Banner Timeline
Lodge Management Meeting
Tuesday 15th July 1980
Following an original idea for a Lodge Banner by B.Milton, the matter was first raised at the Management Meeting by C.H.Childs, who had produced a sketch of the Banner. B.Milton had offered to produce and embroider the Banner for the Lodge.
Lodge Management Meeting
Monday 6th. July 1981
C.H.Childs reported that following initial work on sketches and ideas the Banner was now being embroidered by B.Milton.
Lodge Management Meeting
Monday 6th. December 1982
It was decided that the provisional date for the Banner Dedication would be sometime in 1985.The Secretary would write to the Provincial Secretary as to procedures. B.Milton to investigate where to get poles etc. for Banner.
Lodge Management Meeting
Monday 6th. July 1983
B.Milton exhibited progress to date. It was proposed
that the Dedication Meeting now be provisionally arranged for December 1984. The Secretary to check with Cloisters for available date and with Provincial Grand Lodge for meeting format.
B.Milton to discuss with R.D’Arcy (Sherrards Lodge) regarding woodwork for Banner.
C.H.Childs raised question of Banner costs. Proposed by A.T.Childs and seconded by A.E.Oliver that a Banner sub-
Lodge Management Meeting
Monday 6th. July 1983
B.Milton exhibited progress to date. It was proposed that the Dedication Meeting now be provisionally arranged for December 1984. The Secretary to check with Cloisters for available date and with Provincial Grand Lodge for meeting format.
B.Milton to discuss with R.D’Arcy (Sherrards Lodge) regarding woodwork for Banner.
C.H.Childs raised question of Banner costs. Proposed by A.T.Childs and seconded by A.E.Oliver that a Banner sub-
Lodge Management Meeting
Monday 5th. December 1983
It was agreed that the Dedication ceremony be fixed for Tuesday 11th December 1984. B.Milton showed progress to date.
Lodge Management Meeting
Monday 21st. May 1984
The arrangements for the Banner Dedication ceremony were discussed as follows:
That forms be sent with summons, for members to fill in with names of guests.
Cheques to be returned with lists of names to ensure booking of meals.
Duties of Banner sub-
Suggested that extra Lodge of Instruction required prior to meeting.
Suggested that carols be sung at Festive Board.
B.Milton reported that Banner progressing very well.
Lodge Management Meeting
Monday 19th. November 1984
It was reported that the arrangements for the meeting were almost complete.
Background Notes
1) Original idea and design by Bro. B.Milton
2) Colour rough of Lodge Emblem by W.Bro.C.H.Childs
3) Line drawing and finished design by W.Bro.C.H.Childs.
4) Enlarged Photo reproduction by Bro.R.J.Spencer
5) Individual colour working drawings by W.Bro.C.H.Childs.
6) Supply of all materials (i.e. fabric, threads etc.) by Bro.B.Milton.
7) Manufacture and embroidery of Banner by Bro. B.Milton.
8) Design and artwork of Banner Dedication Programme by W.Bro.C.H.Childs.
9) Design, supply of materials, and manufacture of the Banner storage case, together with the crosspiece for the Banner pole, by W.Bro.B.J.Barnes.
At the meeting of the Lodge Management Committee on Tuesday, 15th July 1980 two projects were discussed:The first was a Lodge Honours Board to commemorate in a tangible way the 54 Masters of the Lodge, to date, and also a Lodge Banner.
The idea for a Lodge Banner was first suggested by Bro. B. Milton who had offered to embroider the banner. Preliminary sketches and coloured working drawings were produced and Bro. Milton commenced work in 1981. By 1983 Bro. Milton was able to exhibit work to date at the Management Committee Meeting of 6th July. At this meeting it was proposed that a preliminary date be set for the Banner Dedication Meeting in December 1984. The Secretary, W.Bro. T.Middleton, agreed to check with the Cloisters for an available date and with Provincial Grand Lodge concerning the format of the meeting. W.Bro.A.T.Childs proposed and W.Bro.A.E.Oliver seconded that a Banner Sub-
By the time of the Committee Meeting on December 5th 1983, a date had been finalised for the Dedication of Tuesday 11th December 1984, clearance having been given for this to be held as an Emergency Meeting.
At the Committee meeting held on Monday 21st May 1984 the arrangements for the Dedication ceremony were as follows:
a) That forms be sent with summonses detailing numbers of guests and booking of meals.
b) That the duties of the Banner Sub-
c) That an extra Lodge of Instruction be added prior to the meeting.
d) That as the meeting was to be in December it was suggested that carols be sung at the Festive Board.
W. Bro. Milton, having been installed as Master in January 1984, informed brethren that the banner was almost complete. On Wednesday 5th December 1984 a rehearsal of the Banner Dedication Ceremony took place at the Cloisters under the direction of the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, W.Bro.D.W.C.Thomas, assisted by W.Bro.R.Heskell, Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies, which proved very successful.
The Banner was now complete and together with a wooden case, crosspiece and pole designed and constructed by W.Bro.B.J.Barnes, was stored in an anteroom at the Cloisters.
The Banner Dedication on Tuesday 11th December was conducted by W.Bro. G.B.W.Kent, TD, then an Assistant Provincial Grand Master. He was assisted by the Provincial Grand Chaplain, W.Bro. The Rev. Dr.R.L.MacQueen, TD, Past Assistant Grand Chaplain, who gave the Address and the Patriarchal Benediction, and W.Bro.R.Heskell, PAGDC, Deputy Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies. Ceremonial Music was under the direction of W. Bro. R. Hughes, MBE, PPSGD.
After the Secretary read the Dispensation allowing the Emergency meeting to be held the meeting took place in front of 36 officers and brethren plus a total of 48 visitors, a total attendance of 84 brethren. A copy of the address by W.Bro.MacQueen was subsequently attached to the Lodge Minutes.
The following introductory remarks preceded the Oration given by Bro.MacQueen:
“May I begin by saying how much I appreciate being with you today, and how honoured I feel to be asked to give this Oration on the occasion of the dedication of your Banner.
Who would have thought that the River Mimram and a Viaduct would form the central part of a very super Lodge Banner? I am amazed at the amount of detail which is shown. I feel that whoever designed such a Banner should be congratulated for including so many pieces of Masonic furniture, superimposed by the “all seeing eye”.
l am informed that your present Worshipful Master has been two years actually embroidering it, and I know you will join me, in not only congratulating him but also in thanking him for the many hours of devoted work which he has put in on behalf of this Lodge “
There then followed the Oration on the meaning and symbolism of the Banner which concluded:
“Under the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe, may prosperity ever attend this Mimram Lodge, and may its members go forward in confident hope, with heads held high, that the constant lifting up of this Banner will cause the hearts of all its members to be uplifted in joy, praise and thanksgiving”.
In conclusion, it was particularly apt that W.Bro. Milton, who had spent more than two years embroidering the Banner should be able, as Worshipful Master, to present it to the Assistant Provincial Grand Master for dedication. The Banner which is paraded into the Lodge at every meeting, and out again at the end, remains a central feature to this day in the SE of the Lodge.
