Chatsworth Lodge No. 9053

The W.M. had asked me, as a Founder, to give a short explanation of the Lodge Banner. Those of you who are Founders will remember the conceptual stages but of course there are new members now, who may find the manner in which the design came about and the reasons for the layout interesting and in years to come when all the old Founders are leaning on the bar in the Grand Lodge above will be able to pass on these recollections to other new members.

Let me take you back 26 or 27 years ago to a meeting the Founders had in the Dining Room at the Eastbourne Masonic Centre when they met to discuss giving a name to this Lodge which they had decided to start up and also work out how much each Founder needed to pay in order to buy Furniture, Collars, Jewels, Minute Book and the purchase and design of a Banner. They sat and tried to think up a suitable name and some good ones were put forward; indeed at one time it was to be called the Willingdon Lodge, or maybe the Devonshire Lodge, again perhaps the Cavendish Lodge. However after much soul searching such names like West Wickham Whippets and Langney Layabouts were dropped and not thought appropriate. They finally decided, unanimously, that Chatsworth Lodge was to be the name. I do not think at the time they had a number for the Lodge which was to come later when Province agreed to the consecration of the Lodge.

The Banner was designed from the coat of arms of the Cavendish Family who are the owners of Chatsworth House in Derbyshire and also the owners of a large amount of land and property in Eastbourne area which is still governed under the title of the Chatsworth Estate, from the Compton Estate Office in Compton Place Road, Eastbourne. The large house in Compton Place, being from time to time the residence of the Dukes of Devonshire and latterly has become an English Language Tuition Centre.

The illustration of the Banner (as seen on the homepage) shows the design inspired by a painting of the Duke of Devonshire's coat of arms. The heraldic content being the Stags at Bay which in the painting supported the Belt of The Order of the Garter with the inscription "Honi. soit. qui. mal. y. pense." with the serpent or snake on a cushion and the motto "Cavendo Tutus" perhaps meaning Cavendish Protects or Guards. It was not possible to use the armorial centre pieces but we took the Stags at Bay to indicate Strength, the Serpent to show Wisdom and the pictorial vista of Chatsworth House depicting Beauty. Those three references being the Masonic equivalent of the three orders of Architecture which are Ionic, Doric & Corinthian, those pillars alluding to Wisdom, Strength and Beauty, which can be seen in front of the pedestals of The Master, the Senior Warden and the Junior Warden.

On our Banner the Stags support the Two Great Pillars which were placed at the Porchway or Entrance to King Solomon's Temple whilst the armorial shield is exchanged for the perspective of Chatsworth House. Finally the serpent on its cushion looking down with wisdom adorns the top between the two pillars. The tableau of Chatsworth House is surrounded by the waves of the sea indicating Eastbourne's position in relation to the coast and sea. This circular frame is also shown on other Banners in the Lodge Room such as Langport Lodge.

When the design was completed a draft copy was sent to the Duke of Devonshire. He suitably replied with a very polite letter stating that he thought the Banner was splendid and he rather liked the name of Cavendish, but it was then explained that the name of the Lodge was to be Chatsworth, which he also felt would be splendid.

It was agreed that the Banner should be made up and Bro. Bill Honey, our first Junior Warden, who later went through the Chair, came up with the name of a very nice lady, Miss. Walton, who he said could produce the Banner, at a cost of around £900. The Founders had all put together funds in the first place to start the Lodge and by this time had held the first Christmas Party at the Pier Hotel and with the many other functions and fund raisers enabled the Lodge to pay for the Banner and other items outright.

It was then agreed that the Lodge would ask the Provincial Executive to dedicate the Banner and I was asked to contact the Duke to see if he could attend a Lodge meeting prior to the Banner dedication. I had found out that he was a Mason although not having been through the Master’s Chair, I telephoned his secretary Rosemary, who transferred the call to the Duke who said he would be delighted to attend, however he did not want a lot of fuss and suggested I should remind him when I collected him from the railway station what the signs were as he had forgotten most of them. This was agreed to and of course all the Brethren were all very excited that he would attend one of our meetings.

The Dedication of the Banner was carried out by Very Worshipful Brother George W. Turner, P.G.Supt.Wks, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master together with the Provincial Team. The Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies at the time was W. Bro. John Furness-Smith, our own Master in the Chair was W. Bro Michael J. Oliver and W. Bro. Tom Boniface the Provincial Grand Standard Bearer carried the Banner into Lodge.

The Duke, or His Grace, as we were told to address him by his personal secretary, was all set to arrive and attend one of our meetings, but as with all things the PGM at that time R.W. Bro. Sir Leonard Barford got to hear of this arrangement and sent a directive to our Secretary, W. Bro John W.E. Howlett, that he too would attend with all his entourage. When His Grace was informed of the change of plans he rang me and said he had problems with his hip and had difficulty walking therefore he would not be able to attend but may visit us on some future occasion.