Following a visit from brethren of the Royal Sussex Lodge of Hospitality No 187 from Bristol in February 2025, to Merchants’ Lodge No 241, in the Liverpool Group, brethren from Merchants’ Lodge paid a reciprocal visit.
Royal Sussex Lodge of Hospitality was warranted on 12 of August 1769 and granted a centenary warrant in 1874. The lodge originally met at the Shakespeare Tavern in King Street, Bristol. Although its roots can be traced further back to the Bush Lodge of 1740 having been named after their meeting place, which was custom in that period.
The lodge became Royal Sussex Lodge of Hospitality in April 1814 after receiving Royal patronage from the Duke of Sussex, the sixth son of King George III, and the then Grand Master. The lodge received its bi-centennial warrant on 22 October 1969, and in its long history has produced four Provincial Grand Masters and seven Deputy Provincial Grand Masters.
Visiting brethren from Merchants’ Lodge were; the WM Mogan Athmanathan, senior warden Jun Ranario, Kevin Dempster, Ray Fitzsimmons and Neil Francis. The brethren from Merchants were met at Bristol Masonic Hall by the lodge secretary Paul Hankinson. The building itself is notable for its pillared classical entrance, with tall columns framing the doorway. Paul gave a conducted tour of the building to the visiting brethren and a brief history of the Province of Bristol.
Bristol Craft ceremonies are believed to date from a period long before the Union of 1813, one authority has suggested from about 1724. They are considerably different from those worked in the rest of the English Constitution, being more elaborate and dramatic. They have affinities in many respects with Irish and American workings.
These differences are what draw so many visitors from all parts of the country, and from abroad, to witness the Bristol working. They are also the reason why Bristol lodges are so frequently asked to perform demonstrations in other Provinces. The Province of Bristol is now composed of 38 Craft lodges and 14 Royal Arch chapters, all these lodges and chapters meet in the same building, which was rebuilt in 1957 after having been destroyed by enemy action in 1940.
Brethren from Merchants’ Lodge entered one of the several well-furnished lodge rooms to await the opening for a double second degree ceremony. The WM of the Royal Sussex Lodge of Hospitality entered the lodge room carrying a bicorn hat. This is a unique tradition within the lodge as the other WM’s within the Province of Bristol wear the bicorn hat on entering their lodge. The bicorn hat is part of the seafaring history of Bristol when captains formed lodges in the port.
The lodge had the honour of the presence of Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Dr Jonathan Hayes, and along with the brethren from Merchants’ Lodge were warmly welcomed. It was a very interesting ceremony with unusual ritual. One could paraphrase Eric Morecombe when comparing the Merchants’ ritual with that of Bristol; “All the right ritual, but not necessarily in the right order.”
Following the ceremony, all the brethren retired to one of the outstanding dining rooms for an excellent meal and companionship. Brethren from Semper Fidelis Lodge No 5052 joined for the festive board and together with masters from other Bristol lodges, there was a fantastic atmosphere. A toast was made to the visiting brethren and Mogan Athmanathan gave an admirable response. Before the tyler’s toast, all the brethren sang that famous West Country song. ‘Uncle Tom Cobley and All’, with the different tables singing different verses! The Merchants’ Lodge brethren had a fantastic evening in Bristol and all agreed to return in the near future.
Report by Neil Francis.
With acknowledgements to the Province of Bristol.