First 50 years

 

The following is mainly a précis of a book compiled by E. Comp. Fredk. J. Penn, SE in 1912, covering the years 1855-1913. The Chapter is indebted to the Howe Lodge No. 857 for bringing about it’s existence which was recommended by St. Peter’s Chapter No. 607 at a regular meeting at the Star and Garter Hotel, Wolverhampton in December 1854. At a regular meeting of the Howe Lodge No. 857, held at The Masonic Rooms, Newhall St. Birmingham on 8^th Jan. 1855 it was resolved that consent be given to a Royal Arch Chapter being attached thereto. Accordingly, the Charter was granted on the 7^th February 1855 facilitated by the Most Excellent Companion John Savage who later Consecrated the Chapter and Installed the Principals.  The Chapter was to meet on the second Wednesday in February, May, August and November. The annual subscription was 10s. 6p.  

The first meeting of the Howe Chapter No. 857 was held at the Masonic Rooms, Newhall Street, Birmingham on Thursday the 10^th May 1855. The Chapter was Consecrated, the Principals Installed, and eight Brethren exalted into Royal Arch Masonry, by the Most Excellent Companion John Savage who was afterwards elected as an honorary member of the Chapter.  Companion Benjamin William Goode was first First Principal, Companion Isaac Hawker Bedford first Second Principal and Companion John Thomas Goode first Third Principal. All three were members of the Chapter of Fortitude which had been Consecrated in 1783..

There were 32 Companions present including the eight who had been Exalted and eleven visitors. In the year 1855, there appears to have been only two other Chapters which met in Warwickshire: Fortitude Chapter No. 43 and Shakespeare Chapter.  The Howe Chapter derived its name from the Right Honourable Earl Howe, who had granted permission for the Howe Lodge to assume his name when the Lodge was Consecrated in 1851. The Right Honourable Earl Howe was Provincial Grand Master for Warwickshire at the time.  When it was agreed that the Companions should dine after the Chapter meeting, it was the custom for the three Principals to pay the expenses, but from 1862 it was resolved that each Companion dining should pay 10 shillings. 

In 1863 Bye Laws were framed and a copy given to each Candidate on his Exaltation together with a copy of the Royal Arch Regulations.

 In 1863, on the revision of the register of Grand Lodge, the number of the Howe Lodge was altered from 857 to 587.

In 1866 the numerical strength of the Chapter was recorded maximum at 97 members.

 In 1869 the Chapter started to meet at the new Masonic Hall at Temple Buildings, New Street, Birmingham.

The custom of presenting the retiring First Principal with a P.Z. Jewel appears to have originated in the Chapter in 1873.

The Provincial Grand Chapter honoured the Chapter with visits in 1873,1878, 1888,1899 and 1904

In 1904, E.Comp.T A Bayliss, feeling that the Charities of the Order should be well looked after, presented a novel Charity Box to the Chapter.

 The Chapter attained its Golden Jubilee in 1905, and as a Compliment the Provincial Grand Chapter held their meeting under the Howe Chapter Banner.

 

May 4th 1905 (Golden Jubilee year)

The meeting was held at The Masonic Rooms, Newhall Street, Birmingham.

There were 30 companions present and 5 visitors.

1. Comp. J A Bayliss was installed as first Principal,
2. Comp A D Brooks was installed as second Principal,

and Comp M H Bowater was installed as third Principal

A proposal was made for Bro Robert Owen Hughes a Dentist of the Bedford Lodge No 925 and also Bro Thomas Foster Duggan a Solicitor also of Bedford Lodge No 925 as candidates for Exaltation.

The Chapter was closed but no time recorded.

 

May 6th 1915 (Diamond Jubilee, apparently not recognised.)

There were 33 companions and 3 visitors present.

1. Comp. F H Penn was installed as first Principal,
2. Comp. E Larkham installed as second Principal, and

Comp. J Bowater being on active service his installation into third Principal was deferred.

Bro M Myatt of Swan of Avon Lodge No 2133 was proposed as a candidate for Exaltation.

The Chapter was closed but no time recorded.

 

Special mention is also made of E. Comp. George Beech who was Exalted into Howe Chapter in 1862, became First Principal in 1872, and was Installed as Grand Superintendent of Warwickshire in 1906. He was Installed Provincial Grand Master of Warwickshire in 1913. 

Special mention is also made of E. Comp. W. H. Bowater, P.Z. of the Chapter, who was elected Lord Mayor of Birmingham 1909-1911. 

A Chapter of Improvement was formed in the Province around 1912 and a complete revision of the old Ritual was approved by the Grand Superintendents of Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcester. This became the ritual, which the Howe Chapter used.

Up to 1912, nearly seventy Brethren of the Howe Lodge and a little over eighty from the Bedford Lodge had been Exalted into the Howe Chapter.

 

During the first 57 years there were 365 Exalted, 32 Joining and 11 Founders. Total 408.

 

In 1913 there were 58 Subscribing Members and one Honorary Member.

 

 

The Second 50 years to 1954

 

• In November 1979 it was reported that the original Warrant had been lost about 1927 during the move from the New Street Temple.

The history of this second period will, it is assumed, have been reported in a Centenary Brochure. No copy of this brochure has been found to date.

 

1929    A Charter of Confirmation that Howe Chapter had been established was issued by The Grand and Royal Chapter on 1^st May 1929 as the original Charter dated 6^th February 1855 had been lost. It is this Charter of Confirmation that is displayed during Convocations of the Howe Chapter.

          A photograph of the original Charter is contained in the History of the Howe Chapter issued in 1913.

 

 

Centenary Meeting – Saturday 11June 1955

 

This meeting was held at Francis Road, Edgbaston and consisted of

 the Installation of the Principals,  followed after calling off by the Centenary celebration and a banquet.

50 Jewels were purchased at a cost of £2-7s-6p each.

148 Companions were present including 23 Grand Chapter and Provincial Grand Chapter guests. The Lord Bishop of Birmingham was invited.

A Centenary Brochure was prepared.

 

 

The Third 50 years – 1955-2005.

 

1956   The practice of empowering the three principals to appoint officers for the ensuing year commenced.

 

1961    It was resolved that the Midlands Workings as revised in 1939 and the permitted variations thereto be adopted with the exception that the P.S. and the sharing of the word as from the Old Midlands Workings are to be retained during the obligation.

 

• The last Convocation of the Howe Chapter No. 587 held at the Edgbaston Assembly Rooms, Francis Road prior to their demolition, took place Thursday 3^rd June 1971 when E.Comp. H.J.Tonks was Installed ‘’M.E.Z

 

1980

In March 1980 it was reported that a Square and Compasses engraved with the name of Howe