Continuation

Last updated :
09 March, 2007

The Lodge was predominantly composed of employees of the Power Co., but in October 1936 the first outsider was admitted - a Master Baker from Marlpool. However, for some time after the Consecration, Initiates were generally divided between employees of the electrical industry and British Celanese Ltd.

The Lodge increased its membership by 14 and celebrated its first anniversary on 27th September 1937. The senior officers were drawn from several Lodges around the Province and elsewhere. As Mundy Grove's traditions dating back nearly a century, the new lodge's early ceremonies reflected their long-established methods of working. It was some years after the Consecration that representations to the Provincial Grand Lodge preceded the adoption of the system of Emulation.

Progress continued uninterrupted until the declaration of War in September 1939. The lodge considered holding future meetings on Saturday afternoons, but took no action until November 1940. By then the Wartime Emergency Regulations were biting, particularly with respect to the provision of heating and meals. Consequently, we accepted the kind invitation of the Mundy Grove Lodge to hold meetings at the Boat Inn, Shipley Gate, from Saturday 25th January 1941.

To enable the brethren to travel in daylight, winter meetings were changed to summer for the duration of the War. Arrangements were also made with the then L.M.S. railway, to halt certain trains to and from Nottingham, at Shipley Boat station - 50 yards from the Inn. The meetings at the Rutland Hotel were resumed in September 1945.

From then until now, several special events have been held:

	To commemorate the 10th Anniversary, a religious service was conducted on Sunday 24th March 1946 at St. Matthews Church, Morley by the Rector, who had joined the Lodge in 1944.
	At the 21st Anniversary in 1957, the First Degree Tracing Board was presented for the first time in the Lodge. The formation of the Lodge was described, and a full Grand Lodge Certificate was presented to W. Bro. Eric Wright (who has contributed to the formation of this web-site).
	A second religious service was held on Sunday 11th June 1971, also at Morley Church and conducted by the Prov. Grand Chaplain of Derbyshire. The lessons were read by the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, and by the Worshipful Master, Eric Wright.
	A third church service was held on Sunday 24th April 1983 at the Dale Abbey Methodist Church conducted by the Past Prov. G. Chaplain and a member of Cantelupe Lodge. The readings were given by the Lodge Chaplain, and the Worshipful Master.

New Lodges:

On the 24th June 1968, a meeting was held to receive a Petition to form a new Lodge and to consider the formation of a Lodge of Instruction, attached to the Dale Abbey Lodge. As a result, the Cantelupe Lodge was consecrated on 23rd October 1965, sponsored by the Dale Abbey Lodge. The Lodge of Instruction held its first meeting on 9th April 1969, and recently replaced all the Officers' collars and refurbished the jewels.

At the Annual Festival on 23rd September 1968, a Commemorative board donated by two late brethren, was unveiled to record the names of the Past Masters of the Lodge. This board now hangs over the stairway leading to the ground floor.

New meeting place:

Without doubt, 1980 saw the greatest upheaval the Lodge has experienced in its 60 years' existence. The Brewery Company which owned the Rutland Hotel at llkeston, was taken over by a Cheshire Company. For several meetings, access to the temple was hazardous, as extensive interior structural work was undertaken. Also the former dining room was being converted to a modern disco setting, forcing the Festive Board to be held at the Regency Rooms, Ilkeston, when available.

It became obvious that even when the work was completed, the premises would not be acceptable for Masonic purposes. Indeed, a brewery representative wrote to the Secretary of the Masonic Hall on 19th December 1980 saying, "I am afraid that our respective activities are rather like chalk and cheese"; he didn't state the difference.

However, during this unhappy period some of us were privileged, on 26th November 1980, to witness the Installation of the R. W. Prov. Grand Master of Derbyshire, at the Regency Rooms.

During the early part of 1981, the future not only of this Lodge, but also the others who were meeting at Ilkeston was decided. As a result, the Management of Dale Abbey Lodge accepted the kind offer of Long Eaton Masonic Hall Association to move permanently to Elm Avenue, after a ballot in Open Lodge in April 1981. We had previously enjoyed these facilities during alterations to the Ilkeston premises, and on two occasions when the floor at Ilkeston Temple was in danger of collapse; it probably never recovered from the excessive weight at the Consecration. The first regular meeting was held in this temple in September of that year.



For queries and comments about this website, email to inoweb@rileys27.freeserve.co.uk Our thanks to W. Bro Paul Riley and the late W. Bro Eric Wright for their donations to make this site possible.