HISTORY
HISTORICAL RESUME
The banner of the District Grand Lodge of Barbados and Eastern Caribbean
It is generally believed that Freemasonry was brought into North America early in the 18th century and that immigrant Freemasons soon established lodges at several places, which they worked without the sanction of warrants. A lodge in Boston was the first in America to be regularly constituted under a lawful warrant from the Premier Grand Lodge of England which itself had only been formed in 1717. You may be interested to learn that a lodge in Montserrat was second. The American "Weekly Mercury" for the 24th December 1734 recorded that on the 1st October preceding, the Earl of Crawford, Grand Master of the Society of Freemasons, has signed an instrument for establishing a lodge of masons in the island of Montserrat.
Alexander Irvine introduced Freemasonry into Barbados by founding St. Michael's Lodge No 186 under the Premier Grand Lodge in 1740 and shortly thereafter Thomas Baxter was issued with the appropriate patent to be Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Barbados. Alexander Irvine is buried on the south side of the Cathedral. Albion Lodge is pledged to maintain the vault in good order.
The established ritual for the ceremonies of opening and closing Grand Lodge is the same, with the appropriate title changes, as that used in Provincial and District Grand Lodges and has been in use for a great number of years. The pursuivant, or inner guard in replying to the question answers that his duty is to give a due report of all approaching brethren, and to see that they are properly clothed and ranged under their respective banners. Although it is no longer a practical proposition to display several thousand banners at a meeting of Grand Lodge, banners have always played an important part in English Freeamsonry. In the 18th and 19th centuries it was normal for Freemasons to carry their banners, clothed in the regalia and badges of the order, in public procession to celebrate special civic and national occasions.
The Provincial Grand Lodge of Barbados had a banner. When the Province ceased to exist with the failure of Grand Lodge to appoint a successor on the death of Sir Robert Bowcher Clarke in 1852, the banner was carefully preserved by W. Bro. James Fraser of Albion Lodge 196.
In 1866 Provinces outside of England became known as Districts and in 1890 the District Grand Lodge of Barbados was formed to rule over Albion 196, Victoria 2196, ans St. Michael's 2253. The new District was inaugurated in the Parliament building in July 1890, and during the ceremony the former Provincial banner was presented by W. Bro. James Fraser, and it remained in use for several years thereafter.
About the turn of the century, a new banner was designed and fabricated. This remained in use for over 100 years until April of 2001. The design incorporated part of that of the colonial seal of Barbados and this, along with the change of name which took place in 1984, suggested it was time for a new banner, with a design more appropriate to the enlarged District and to the present circumstances.
This in turn led to the suggestion in 1997, that if a new banner was to be designed, why not shorten the name of the District, to that of the Eastern Caribbean. This led to considerable, and aften heated, discussion. The question was only resolved through a referendum, in which slightly more than 1/3 of our membership were in favour of retaining the existing name, slightly less than 1/3 wished for the change and 1/3 did not feel inclined to vote. The Board of General Purposes thereafter discussed the subject on several occasions, but it was only in March 2000 with the actual submission of designs by W. Bro. Gerald DeFreitas, Unity Lodge of Instruction in Anguilla and myself that serious action was taken.
The final design was a composite of many ideas. It incorporates much symbolism and heraldry depicting what our District has become. The columns depicting Boaz and Jachin were retained as on the previous banner surmounted by the celestial and terrestrial globes. The terrestrial globe however, was turned to centre on the Caribbean. Pelicans are indigenous to the Eastern Caribbean, except now in Barbados, but Pelicans are common throughout the area as a heraldic device such as in the coat of arms of Barbados and the University of the West Indies. There were long discussions before it was finally decided to have a Pelican in flight depicted, circling the Eastern Caribbean, rather that walking across it. The islands where our Lodges meet are all shown, with the light of masonic knowledge from the East blending into the blue Caribbean sea
B.D. Parsons
18th July 2001
The District's 18 Lodges have a total membership of approximately
1200. St. George 2616 celebrated their centenary in 1996, Abercrombie 2788 celebrated its Centenary in March 2000, Caribbee 2829 celebrated theirs in the following November, and Lodge St. George 3072 celebrated theirs in 2004.
ANTIGUA HISTORY
In response to Chris Spurrier’s letter “Masonry in Antigua” in issue 16 of the magazine, the Premier Grand Lodge of England (The Moderns) issued a Warrant on 31st January 1738, for Parham Lodge No 154 to meet in St. John’s, Antigua. Further Warrants were issued to Court House Lodge No 164 on 22 nd November 1738 and Bakers Lodge No 170 on 17 th March 1739. William Isaac Matthew was issued with a Patent in 1739 as Provincial Grand Master for the Leeward Islands, which in those days included Antigua. Those then were the three Lodges of Free and Accepted Masons of Antigua who participated in the laying of that stone which Chris Spurrier found in the ruins of Fort James in the North of St. John’s harbour. However, 1739 would have to be the date which perhaps over the years can be read as 1730.
Of further interest is that Parham Lodge failed to remit dues after 1781, although it was kept on the roll until 1813 and ended up as No 52.
Court House Lodge was also kept on the roll until 1813 but made no return after 1790 and at that time was No 62.
Bakers Lodge similarly was kept on the list until 1813 but paid nothing after 1781. It ended up as No 59. All three Lodges numbered amongst their membership, military officers and several gentlemen of distinction, including the Governor in the case of Parham No 154.
Brian Parsons
Barbados , West Indies
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE DISTRICT
R.W. Bro. Brian Douglas Parsons The Baron of Ormiston DGM
W. Bro. Leslie E.B. Nanton PDSGW DDGM
W. Bro. Herbert C.D. Bonadie PGStdB ADGM
W. Bro. George W. Inniss JP PDSGW ADGM
W. Bro. Trevor S. Thompson DSGW
W. Bro. Dr. Maxwell H. Francis DJGW
W. Bro. Rt. Rev. Dr. A. Kingsley O'R. Lewis EP Fr OD DGChap.
W. Bro. G Llewellyn Gill PDAsstGSec DGTreasurer
W. Bro. Clare K. Roberts PDSGW.
W. Bro. Leroy L. Marchena PDSGW PDBGP
W. Bro. Leonard R. Carty PDSGW District Grand Secretary
W. Bro. Gerald J.R. DeFreitas PDSGW PDBB
W. Bro. L.John Still PDSGW DGDC
W. Bro. Dr. C. Keith Scotland MBE DGSwdB
W. Bro. Robert J. Miller DGSuptWks.
W. Bro. David I.G. Otway DDGDC
W. Bro. Mark G..Prescott DGChStwd.
W. Bro. Anthony F. Brooks DSGD
W. Bro. Rudy A. Dolland DSGD
W. Bro. Antonio E. Elcock DJGD
W. Bro. Keith E. Padmore DJGD
W. Bro. Michael Georges PDSGD DAsstGSec
W. Bro. Brian Constantine DAsstGDC
W. Bro. Edward T. deLagarde DAsstGDC
W. Bro. Richard V.K. Strachan DGOrg.
W. Bro. Michael C.P. Thompson DGStdB.
W. Bro. William P. Ryan DGStdB.
W. Bro. Jean A. Forde DGPurs.
W. Bro. Ronald L. Hughes DGStwd.
W. Bro. J.C. Ferris DGStwd.
W. Bro. Linus S. Thomas DGStwd.
W. Bro. Eldridge Stephens OStJ JP DGStwd.
W. Bro. J. Hallam H. King DGTyler
* Deceased
CHAPTER HISTORY
Royal Arch
The District Grand Chapter of Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean
was created out of four existing Chapters, namely: Mount Lebanon
RAC No. 492, Antigua; Zetland RAC No. 356, St. Thomas; St. Michael
RAC No. 2253, Barbados; and Abercrombie RAC No. 2788, St. Lucia.
The District Grand Chapter was consecrated on October 20, 2001 by
an international team lead by the M. E. Pro First Grand Principal,
The Most Hon Marquess of Northampton DL. The consecration of the
District took place at the Masonic Hall, Belleville, Barbados
and the meeting was attended by in excess of 100 companions. The
initial officers installed at the consecrating meeting were:
Ex. Comp. The Baron of Ormiston MEGSupt.
Ex. Comp. Leslie E.B. Nanton OGCR DGSupt.
Ex. Comp. George W. Inniss JP 2nd DGPrincipal
Ex. Comp. Leonard Earl St. Hill, 3rd DGPrincipal
Ex. Comp. Leroy L.Marchena PDCGP
Ex. Comp. Frederick William Gardiner CStJ PGStB District Grand Scribe E
Ex. Comp. Delisle O. Weekes OGCR District Grand Scribe N
Ex. Comp. Peter Mark Ross PGStdB District Grand Treasurer
Ex. Comp. Kenneth A.P. Monplaisir OGCR CBE, QC DG Registrar
Ex. Comp. Gerald J.R. DeFreitas OGCR DGDC
Ex. Comp. Delisle O. Weekes DGSwdB.
Ex. Comp. Philip G. O'R. Lewis DDGDC
Ex. Comp. Lawrence R. Williams DGAlmoner
Ex. Comp. Mark G. Prescott DGChStwd
Ex. Comp. Dr. Brent E.V.A. Phillips DGSoj.
Ex. Comp. Dr. C. Keith Scotland MBE D1stAsstSoj.
Ex. Comp.Gilbert A. Bodley D2ndAsstSoj.
Ex. Comp. Edward T. deLagarde DAsstGScribeE
Ex. Comp. Keith H.L. Weekes SLPM JP DGStdB.
Ex. Comp. Allan Swire DGOrg.
Ex. Comp. John A. Jones DGStwd.
Ex. Comp. John P. Woods DGStwd.
Ex. Comp. Addison W. Workman DGJanitor
* Deceased
The roll of chapters of the District increased to seven (7) with
the consecration of Victoria RAC No. 2196, Barbados on September
14, 2002 and Concord RAC consecrated on November 21, 2003 and St. George RAC No 3072 consecrated on
October 21, 2005. Plans are in place to consecrate Chapters in Montserrat soon and for Union 7551 to attach one to it.
