Past Minutes of the Stanhope Lodge
	The stanhope lodge Compiled and abbreviated by  W Bro Tudor Morgan SLGR

1903 - 1906

In 1903 due to changes in the Licensing act, Lodges were required to be registered as a “CLUB”. This may have been due to how the festive boards were financed and run using a stock of wine and Cigars purchased by the Lodge and kept by the Lodge rather than have to pay the high prices charged by the proprietors of where they dined. Also in that year Lodges were banned from publishing the proceedings of the Lodge in the Press. 

October 1904

The Lodge met at the Surrey Masonic Hall, Camberwell New Road  at 5pm precisely. They then Passed a Bro A Crome who had been initiated at the previous meeting, before the investiture as Master of Bro Thomas W Standivan the Senior Warden. It should be noted that at this time the working tools in each degree were presented during the installation. The investment of the Treasurer and Tyler plus the other officers of the Lodge then took place. They received a report from the Audit Committee before the Lodge was closed and they dined at 7pm.  A meeting of just two hours duration.

100 years ago a proposition was put to the Lodge that Bro Alfred Beesley Campbell of the Selwyn Lodge 1901 be appointed as an Honorary Member and Organist of the Lodge. This was of course on the understanding that the Honorary part only continued while he was the Organist of the Lodge.

September 1906

At 5.30pm on Tuesday 11th September 1906, 34 members and guests saw the W M Josiah Withers passed his son Bro Joseph Withers to the degree of a FC. It seems that they also delivered the first degree charge as well but to whom I am unsure. September in those days was the meeting when elections took place and at this meeting W Bro J Archer Smith our first member to receive LR (now LGR) was re-elected Treasurer and Bro John Ring elected WM. His father, W Bro Chas Ring a Founder was at the meeting a proud day for him no doubt. The fact that they elected the Treasurer first can be seen as an indication of the importance of that office. 5 Lodge members received their Grand Lodge Certificates. A proposition for an initiate was given for a Mr George Lankester aged 29 a Government Official living in Kingston .

October 1906

October in 1906 was the Installation meeting and this meeting would see Bro John Ring the son of       W Bro Chas Ring a founder being installed as Master. The lodge was due to meet at 4.45pm punctually with the Installation due to start at 5.30p as on the Agenda they had a Passing, Bro George Lankester, and Raising, Bro Joseph Withers, as well.  65 members and visitors attended the meeting held at the Surrey Masonic Centre and from the minutes it seems they Opened in the 1st and got Bro Lankester to answer his questions. Then opened in the 2nd and got Bro Withers to do his. They then opened in the 3rd, and Raised Bro Withers, resumed in the 2nd to obligate the ME, back up to the 3rd and Board of Installed Masters, Installed the new Master and continued the installation, perambulations down to the 1st before resuming in the 2nd to Pass Bro Lankester then back down to the 1st to appoint officers have the addresses and reports before closing the meeting.  Non stop action all the way.

April 1906

The meeting was held at the Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell New Road on the 10th April 1906 and was for a Ballot and Initiation . 20 members and 4 guest attended and the meeting started at 5.30pm.The Lodge was opened in all three degree and then resumed in the first for the initiation of Mr Joseph Withers aged 27 an Electro and Stereotyper living in Clapham. He had been proposed by the WM of the day W Bro Josiah Withers, perhaps his Father. There had been a previous meeting to this one in the March when 4 brethren were raised to the degree of a MM,  they had been initiated in November 1905, passed February 1906 , so it seems in those days there was no restriction on the number of candidates for any of the degrees at one time as there is now.  A Grand Lodge Certificate was presented to Bro G Sleigh. The annual Sub was £ 3. 3s. 0d.  The Lodge had 50 members at that time one of whom, W Bro Chas Ring was a founder.

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