Neptune 5150
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Very Brief History of Freemasonry in General
The origins of Freemasonry are still the subject of intense speculation, but as research into Freemasonry increases it is more certain that it descends from the organization of operative stonemasons who built the great cathedrals and churches in the middle ages, despite all the tittle-tattle from romantics that it has a more exotic history, like for example, since time immemorial, or the Knights Templar. A pre-1723 set of Constitutions – known as the Roberts Constitutions, named after the publisher – clearly show the principles and tenets of operative Free-Masons that formed the basis of the first acknowledged Grand Lodge in London, England’s Book of Constitutions published in 1723. As small town and village based stonemasons travelled from one build to the next, working throughout the day and staying on site in lodges during the night, the term Lodge became to mean a group of stone masons and still does today. Some of these stonemasons would have eventually settled, depending on the duration of any particular construction project, especially a grand cathedral; others, of course still travelled, whilst others were city based. These travelling stonemasons knew they could rely on the support of those city based and those that had settled, and were welcomed in these local, fixed, lodges. Thus began what is now a natural part of masonic life, i.e. visiting other lodges. In the course of time stonemasons welcomed non-stonemasons into their lodges, these men soon became known as “Free and Accepted Masons,” the name still in use today.
Some proof that non-stonemasons were admitted into stonemasons Lodges can be found published in the Scots Magazine, August 25 1757 under the title ‘Act of Associate Synod concerning the MASON-OATH,’ a time when the ‘Associate Synod of Scotland’ pursued Church members who had taken that oath, viz:
And whereas the generality of the sessions have, since the aforementioned periods, dealt with several persons under their inspection about the Mason oath; in the course of which procedure, by the confessions made to them, they have found others, beside those of the Mason Craft, to be involved in that oath;,,,
The full account of the above can also be found in a book by a Freemason named William Hutchinson entitled ‘The Spirit of Masonry in Moral and Elucidatory Lectures’ by and first published in 1775.
Library & Museum:
There is a library and museum at Freemasons Hall in Great Queens St, London that ‘contains a comprehensive collection of printed books and manuscripts on every facet of Freemasonry in England as well as material on Freemasonry elsewhere in the world and on subjects associated with Freemasonry or with mystical and esoteric traditions. The collections include Masonic music, poetry and literature. There are a number of notable examples of fine eighteenth and nineteenth century bindings.’ Entry to the library & museum is free.
History Neptune Lodge N0 5150 in Particular
The Founding:
Neptune Lodge 5150 was named in 1929 and consecrated on February 17th 1930; a daughter lodge of Portsmouth Temperance Lodge N0 2068. A family tree links Neptune back through Temperance Lodge No 2083, Prince Edward of Weimer Saxe No 1903, Portsmouth Lodge No 487 to the Royal Sussex Lodge No 342 (named after the Duke of Sussex, Grand Master at the time the lodge was formed in 1814). The Royal Sussex Lodge No 342 was formed just 1 year after the union of the two Grand Lodges in 1813.
Neptune’s consecration was a grand affair, presided over by the Provincial Grand Master and the ceremony was followed by a banquet, the front page and menu shown below.
There were no less than 146 Masons in attendance (13 provincial Officers, 17 Neptune Officers (founders) and the rest visitors). The first meeting followed quickly on February 25th and on the agenda was a ballet for two candidates for initiation and 5 joining members, this trend continuing for the ensuing meetings. The founders and initial members were truly a mixed bunch, their professions and occupations included a draper, a Wesleyan Minister, a market gardener, an art master, a coal merchant, a plumber, a civil servant and many more. The average price for the meal (supper) was around 3/6d (17.5p), light refreshments often replaced supper for 1/6d (7.5p) and annual subscriptions for 1932 were £2 2s 0d (£2.10p). An annual guest night was held in the autumn. Recognition of the lodge status as a Hallstone lodge appeared on the agenda in September 1932. A replica die of the Hallstone Jewel was noted in April 1933 for use in printing the agenda. The Hallstone Jewel was awarded to lodges who contributed to the building of a new Temple in memory of those Brethren who made the supreme sacrifice in the cause of their King and Country during WW1. Neptune was also on route to become a Patron Lodge of the Royal Masonic Hospital after the first donation of £26.5s (£26.25p) in November 1935 (100 guineas (£105) was the target) and this target was achieved. Neptune first met at Masonic Hall, Lake Road, Portsmouth, then moved to Masonic Hall, Derby Road, North End, Portsmouth in 1941, finally to rest at the Masonic Hall, Albert Road, Cosham, Portsmouth in 1964 where it currently meets today.
The war (WW2) years:
These sad years brought about the cancellation of all lodge meetings with an order from HM Government, via Grand Lodge, on September 4th 1939, which resulted in the cancellation of the September meeting. This order was quickly revised and rescinded during the same month and, with certain conditions, meetings were resumed. An amendment to the agenda was the location of the nearest air raid shelter (being the junction of Lake Rd. with Commercial Rd. for the Brethren of Neptune). In June 1939 the lodge moved to Derby Rd, Portsmouth, the air raid shelter now being in Pitcroft Rd. Lodge meetings continued unabated throughout the war, even with a normal meeting (Initiation) on May 8th 1945 (V-E Day) and again with a progression on August 14th 1945 (V-J Day). The Legacy of the Holocaust on Freemasonry was, according to a special article from Insight Magazine, that 200,000 Freemasons also died as a result of Hitler and his henchmen linking Freemasonry to Judaism.
Other insights:
As with many Lodges, Neptune prides itself with its little variations. These were collated in a small booklet entitled “Variations to the Emulation Ritual” by a Past Master, W Bro SG Mortimore, and revised in 1994 to incorporate the other anomalies that appear to have crept into our ceremonies. In 2023 this was turned into a full ritual booklet detailing the whole of the three degrees of Neptune’s Ritual, complete with all perambulation detail so future Neptune Officers have their own ritual book; for use in Neptune only, of course.
From its humble beginnings in 1930 it was clearly apparent that Neptune had set its heart firmly in the most fundamental sentiments of integrity, virtue and charity, and this concept is continuing to this very day.
