The Lodge was consecrated on 22nd November 1913 by MW Pro Grand Master, Rt Hon Lord Ampthill at the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Reading. The Master Designate being R W Bro T J Morland, PGM Berkshire, and J W Martin, Deputy PGM as SW Designate.
They certainly knew how to dine. There was a seven course meal, with a choice of four different meats under “Removes”. The dictionary states in this context, “Removes – a dish to be changed whilst the rest of the course remains on the table” (What ever that might involve!). The cost of the banquet was 6/- , but did not include wine. There was also an organ concert and a programme of music “rendered by The Royal Windsor Glee Singers” thrown in. Unusually for a menu of this period, there is no mention of cigars or cigarettes (frequently Balkan Sobranie)
It is interesting to note that the Founders Fee was 1guinea, and the annual fee was also set at 1 guinea (and remained so for 45 years until 1958 when they were increased to 1 ½ guineas). Before somebody puts a proposition at our next meeting that we should return to the original sub, it is pointed out that at today’s value this represents £83.90. It is surprising that so many Brethren wished to be Founders.
The driving force behind the formation of a Masters Lodge was a W Bro E.O. Farrer. In the Reading Standard of June 30th 1935 there is an article about him when a presentation was made to thank him for his work as Founder and Secretary of Berkshire Masters’. He was Initiated into Greyfriars Lodge in 1889, and was Secretary for 21 years. He was a retired Bookseller and combined this with being Mayor of Reading, a J.P., Chairman of the Reading