The Origin of "Earl's Court."

A brief description of the area in South West London from which the Lodge took its name should prove of some interest.

It was originally known as the "Manor of Earls Court", the records of which go back to the Norman conquest.  It was named after the Lords of the Manor, the Veres, Earls of Oxford, who held their Courts there for many years.

The name appears to have altered slightly over the years, as in 1558-1579 it was known as Earls Court, from 1593-1609 it was known as Earls Court in Kensington, and in 1623 as Earles Court, in later years the second was deleted.

A very interesting document is "The ancient customs between the Lords of the Manor of Earls Court and the tenants belonging to the same Manor " (1610).  In this is set out sixteen items of agreement in picturesque if somewhat archaic English.  In the year 1610 A.D. Sir W. Cope, a favourite of James I and one of the chamberlains of the exchequer, purchased the Manor of Earls Court from the Argyle family.

Another piece of Earls Court associated with history lies opposite what is now the Bolton Hotel. This area, now Colhearne Court, can be traced back to Charles I and the house that stood there belonged to Sir William Lister, whose daughter married Gen. John Lambert, one of Cromwell's ablest soldiers.  A later tenant of Colhearne House was the Hon. Lady Ponsonby, whose husband, Gen. Sir W. Ponsonby, fell at Waterloo.

The Manor of Earls Court embraced Chelsea, Kensington, and St. Margarets, Westminster.

The position now occupied by Earls Court underground station was once a farm complete with outbuildings, hayricks, etc., a picture of this may be seen on the stairway of the Kensington public library.

The Famous Earls Court Exhibition was built in 1887, with which several of our Founders were connected.  It was for many years one of the most attractive rendezvous in London, with its well-known “Giant Wheel ", water shute, and spectacular shows, a place often visited by nobility and humble folk alike to bask in its friendly atmosphere.

Formation of the Earl's Court Lodge,

The Petition for the formation of the Earls Court Lodge No. 2765 was dated 19th May, 1899, and was signed by the Masters and Wardens of the Kensington Lodge who sponsored the Petition

They were James W. Facey, W.M., Frank Norman, S.W., Lewis Beale, J.W.

The original meeting place was entered as the Greyhound Hotel, Kensington Square (later to become a meeting place of the Earls Court Lodge of Instruction), but this was replaced by the Royal Palace Hotel, Kensington. The Lodge was to be known as " The Royal Earls Court Lodge " but the Royal ' had to be omitted by order of Grand Lodge, and the warrant was granted on June 5th, 1899.

Analysing the list of founder members it seems a little surprising that the Dalhousie Lodge with its ten members against Kensington's five did not sponsor the petition. The Kensington Lodge No. 1767 was founded on September 20th, 1878, and was an offshoot of the Zetland Lodge No. 511 which was founded in 1845 and had only eight founder members.

It would seem to be more than a probability that the formation of an Earls Court Masonic Lodge was originally discussed in the "Welcome Club " of the Earls Court Exhibition, as a number of the members were connected with it one way or another, the famous Imre Kiralfy being lessee of the Exhibition at that time. To those who never visited that wonderful institution it is rather difficult to describe in print the atmosphere, the jollity, the friendliness, the care-free abandon to fun, where friends from the ends of the earth could meet and sit in comfort to discuss their varied interests : surely a very fitting birthplace for such a friendly bpdy as the Earls Court Lodge, a place that was honoured by a visit from the Most Worshipful Grand Master, H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, later Edward VII.

Comparisons are odious, but it is interesting to note that at this time food was plentiful, the Boer War was in progress, Horse Buses were public transport and Income Tax was 8d (old pence) in the £.

The Consecration.

Τhe Warrant of Constitution was signed by the Most Worshipful Grand Master, His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, K.G., etc. (later King Edward VII), who wrote through his Comptroller, His Royal Highness the Very Worshipful Bro. The Duke of Connaught, his regret at his inability to attend the Consecration owing to his many engagements.

The Ceremony took place at the Royal Palace Hotel, Kensington, on Friday, July 7th, 1899, at 5:00p.m. and was conducted by the following Worshipful, Brethren:

The organist who was responsible for the musical arrangements was W. Bro. H. Wharton Wells, Mus. Bac., F.R.C.O., L.R.A.M., a Putney Church Organist for fifty years and a very keen mason, being P.A.G.D.C.

He was a founder of the Putney Lodge No. 2766 and belonged to many other Lodges among his numerous Masonic activities, too lengthy to mention here.

The Lodge was honoured by the attendance of no less than seventeen Grand Lodge Officers.

The Ceremony of Consecration was carried out in a very impressive manner, and the consecrating officers were made honorary members of the Lodge.  A special Treasurer's Jewel was presented to Bro. J. Cox and a special Secretary's Jewel presented to Bro: J. W. Facey in recognition of their services in the formation of the Lodge.

Propositions for the following meeting were made, one joining member and five for initiation, also two initiations for the November meeting which was an encouraging start.

After the ceremony a banquet was held which, in the subsequent days of rationing and world shortages, seemed like an extract from the Arabian Nights; let us reflect on this:

MENU.

Queue de Boef.

Petit Marmite.

Saumon, Sauce Hollandaise.

Blanchaille Frite.

Pate de Pigeon A L'Anglaise.

Caisse de Ris de Veau a la Regence.

Baron d'Agneau Roti, Sauce Menthe.

Haricot Panachee.

Puree de Navets.

Caneton Roti Aux Petit Pois.

Sauce Aux Pommes.

Salad Romaine.

Tartes Aux Fraises.

Bombe Nesseloide.

Gaufrettes.   Petits Fours.

Canape a L'Indienne.

Dessert.

Our Lodge Family Tree (zoom in for more details)