Five Orders Lodge was born out of a chance meeting in Bishopsgate one afternoon in May 1913 between Bro. Cordell, then I.P.M. of New Concord Lodge no. 813 and two of its lay Brethren, Bro. Bassett and Bro. Short. It was suggested that a new lodge might be considered and they would sound out some of their friends. The idea was warmly received and of the eventual twenty Founders, there were eight Past Masters, including one Grand Officer, Bro. Vernon Taylor, Past Dep. Grand Organist, and twelve brethren with memberships scattered over a similar number of London Lodges.

In a preliminary interview with Sir Edward Letchworth, the Grand Secretary, they were asked how the name had been selected and what was its significance. Bro. Cordell reminded him that the reference to "the Five Noble Orders of Architecture" was contained in the Explanation of the 2nd Tracing Board and on that Sir Edward warmly commended them on the choice and said that the name would surely add dignity to their lodge; that has certainly been the key feature after its "teething troubles" had been endured.

The Master Designate was Rupert Cordell with Bro. Short as Senior Warden Designate and Bro. R.H. Batchelor, Junior Warden. Bro. Bassett, the other of the original three, did not take office. The Warrant was dated 21 October 1913 and the Consecration by the Grand Secretary took place at Frascati's Restaurant in New Oxford Street just three weeks later, a mere six months from that chance meeting in Bishopsgate.

It is possible that Rupert Cordell was a forceful character and difficult for some brethren to appreciate and there must have been a clash of personalities in that first year which caused the resignation of four Founders and their first Joining Member. Among the Founders who resigned was one of the three, Bro. Short the Senior Warden, and that resulted in Cordell being re-elected as Master for the ensuing year, although that vote was a majority verdict showing that it is a complete truth to say “Freemasonry does not transcend the frailties of human nature”.

But Cordell was a truly staunch supporter of the Lodge and all of its affairs. He received London Rank, as it was then called, and was the first member of the lodge to wear that rank though it came not from Five Orders but from one of his other lodges. He served the Lodge in many ways, his main contribution being his efforts in steering the lodge to becoming a Hall Stone Lodge in contributing the appropriate amount towards the Million Memorial Fund to build the present Freemason’ Hall; the jewel for which is worn by the Master of the Lodge on all Masonic occasions during his year of office. Cordell received a special Collectors Jewel for that effort. He was Secretary of the Lodge from 1923 to 1934 when he died, but in 1929 he was honoured with Grand Rank as Past Asst. Grand Standard Bearer. His brilliant record in Freemasonry was reproduced in the brochure compiled by Bro. “Billy” Peterson to commemorate the Twenty-First Anniversary when he was Master of the Lodge in 1934. Bro. Cordell died 12th November 1934, twenty-one years to the day, after the Consecration of the lodge and was thus unable to attend that celebration.

Bro. Alex Russell was the Acting I.P.M. for the first year and then served as Secretary for five years. He received London Rank and then was the first member to be appointed to Grand Rank as in 1925 he was invested as Past Asst. Grand Standard Bearer, four years earlier than Cordell. The reason Bro. Russell served only one year as acting I.P.M. was that he took over from Bro. Greenwood who was the Founding Secretary, and when Batchelor moved up from Junior to Senior Warden, Greenwood took office as Junior Warden. Arnold Greenwood kept very close contact with the lodge but in his later years arthritis and failing health prevented his attendance. His picture appears in the brochure that was prepared by Douglas Hall to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Five Orders Lodge when Bro. Frank Hall was Master. Arnold Greenwood was looking forward to attending that event and transport had been arranged, but sadly he died on the eve of that meeting so as a mark of respect his chair at the dinner table was left vacant.

Dr. Montague Smith was the Founding Senior Deacon and reached the Chair during the Great War for he was Master in 1917/1918. He followed John Anley, who was the Founding Director of Ceremonies, and filled that office from 1922 to 1936 and during that time received London Rank and appointment to Past Asst. Grand Director of Ceremonies. A rather interesting complication arose from that. There were two Doctors in London with the same name but members of different lodges and the letter from the Grand Secretary enquiring whether the brother would accept the honour that the Grand Master proposed to confer unfortunately went to the other Dr. Montague Smith. He returned the letter with a courteous note to the effect that a mistake must have occurred as his personal Masonic record thus far did not merit such recognition. The error was corrected, no doubt with blushes all round, and our Dr. Montague Smith was duly invested by the Duke of Connaught at the Especial Grand Lodge held in the Royal Albert Hall in July 1933 to commemorate the completion of the Masonic Peace Memorial. Incidentally it was at that meeting that the Prince of Wales was invested as Provincial Grand Master in and over Surrey, and the Duke of York (afterwards King George VI) invested as Provincial Grand Master for Middlesex, and Prince Arthur of Connaught Prov. Grand Master for Berkshire being in attendance. It was the day before the dedication of the new Temple – Freemasons’ Hall in Great Queen Street. Dr. “Monty” had a charm of his own and the Toast to the Initiate was his special gift. I met him in the ante room before I was initiated and he, of course, gave that Toast tome later that evening; we became firm friends.

Bro. John Anley was the Founding Director of Ceremonies and an excellent guide on ritual. Maybe that was because he was a member of Domatic Lodge no.177 where, in both lodge and chapter ritual had always been a prominent feature from the late 18th century. Brethren of Five Orders, attended the Lodge of Instruction held under the auspices of New Concord Lodge at a Hotel in Amhurst Road, Hackney. Later they moved their allegiance to one under the Cyclist Lodge in Stoke Newington and that one eventually became attached to Five Orders. Because many of the brethren lived in that area of London I suppose it was natural for them to work “North London Working”. John Anley was eventually elected as an Honorary Member and that and the age factor must have affected his influence because in the 1930’s a switch was made and Emulation was adopted for future working. But the decision could not possibly have been unanimous as regrets were still being voiced when I came to the lodge in January 1938. However, that subject became a victim of the Second World War as it was not mentioned afterwards.

That was not the only casualty for on the outbreak in September 1939 masonic meetings were suspended on the authority of Grand Lodge, together with at first the closure of theatres, etc. Soon afterwards the suspension was lifted but it was desirable to change our lodge meetings from evenings to daytime and from Wednesdays to Saturday. Holborn Restaurant could not meet the requirements so the venue was changed to the Manchester Hotel in Aldersgate Street where the Lodge of Instruction was held. Charles Sadler was due to have been installed in September and that took place in December in the new venue. Soon after that the Wednesday meetings were resumed but when I arrived for the meeting in January 1941 the building had been razed to the ground by enemy action thirty-six hours before. All the books and equipment of the Lodge of Instruction were lost but the lodge box was recovered; the books of the lodge were in the hands of the Secretary and Treasurer respectively so the records remained intact. That lost meeting was held the next month at Freemasons’ Hall which was to become our permanent meeting-place from then on. That was the last meeting that I attended before being called for Naval Service in May 1941.

The Lodge of Instruction continued with the “same old faces” in some extremely informal circumstances and venues from business offices, to fire-watching duties on roof tops, to private residences but standards were maintained which would have pleased those original martinets.

Another Founder must receive mention and that is Bro. H.G. Fisher who was a Founding Steward. He reached the Chair in 1921 and eventually was honoured not only with London Rank but Provincial Grand Rank in Essex. He was later appointed to Past Grand Standard Bearer and thus became the fourth of the twenty Founders to attain Grand Rank.

Of the three brethren who were initiated at the meeting following Consecration in 1913, Bro. Orchard was the only one to become Master. He received London Rank and because he was involved in Masonic affairs in Hertfordshire was there appointed to the rank of Provincial Senior Grand Deacon.

The first of Five Orders Initiates to attain Grand Rank was Bro C.F. Day, or “Father Day” as we called him to so distinguish him from his son Charles who was also a staunch member. I was Senior Warden of the Lodge and together with Maurice Smith who was the Master in 1951 we both received tickets to see “Father Day” invested as Past Asst. Grand Standard Bearer. It may well be appropriate here to say that perhaps coming events cast their shadows before them because in 1971 I was duly invested with the Chain of that rank as an Acting Officer of the year by H.R.H. the Duke of Kent. I have since received two promotions and now hold the highest rank that has come to Five Orders Lodge so far, but I cherish the hope that Bro. Dennis Sorrell who now has the rank of PAGDC will in due time come to the notice of the Advisers to the M.W. the Grand Master who will consider that he merits a similar promotion in rank, he certainly has age on his side.

Presenting Bibles to Initiates commenced at the April  meeting in 1935 and that eventually inspired Edgar Westley, the uncle of our Eric Bates, to make the bequest that bears his name and enables us to purchase as and when required. My own copy is among the items on display this evening and bears the signatures of all the officers present that evening including two of the Founders, Dr. Montague Smith and H.G. Fisher. I have sat in lodge with two other, Arnold Greenwood and Vernon Taylor. Incidentally, that Bible supplies the answer to the question as to when and why did I become a Masonic researcher and historian. On looking through it within the first week of my Initiation I came to the section which bears the title “The Oxford Bible Concordance for Masonic Use” and realised that there was much more in Freemasonry than meets the eye and from that moment commenced what has been the study of a lifetime.

We live in a changing world and I have witnessed some drastic changes in behaviour, dress, dues and subscriptions, menus, speeches, but the essence of all that we treasure is something that is quite intangible and quite incomprehensible to those who have not been so privileged.

Among the blood brothers who have been and are now members of Five Orders Lodge I will cite only those two who bore the name Brigden and unfortunately no longer with us. John Brigden was initiated a few years before his brother Bill, but Bill sadly lost his sight. As he was so keen to on the ritual he was presented with two volumes of Emulation Ritual in Braille, supplied without cost to the National Institute for the Blind by Messs. Lewis. The presentation was made by his brother John who was Master at the 200th meeting of the lodge on Saturday Nov. 5th 1955. It was at that meeting Dr. “Monty” celebrated his 50 years in Freemasonry, a wonderful event. John Brigden was blessed with great powers of oratory and a first class baritone voice. He so often sang solos, or duets with Ernie Money, a fine tenor, at banquets after meetings. In November 1952 it fell to the lot of John Brigden to propose the Toast to the Preceptors at the Annual Dinner of the Five Orders Lodge of Instruction. With customary wit he referred to the great debt the members owed to Bro. Manning and Bro. Furlong who were both held in great esteem and affection. He said the Preceptors lavish upon the members “blood, toil, tears and sweat in order to produce spit and polish – but mostly the former”. In his reply “Bert” Manning said that he had prepared copious notes for his response when he knew that John Brigden was to be the proposer.

He said:
“It would seem that from time immemorial it has become an established custom among the members of Five Orders Lodge of Instruction, once in every year and generally in November, to select from amongst those who are experienced speakers, a brother to extol the virtues or otherwise of the Preceptors. Tonight, Bro. John Brigden having been so elected he, as usual, completely ignores to hold in veneration the rulers and patrons of the Lodge of Instruction supreme or subordinate, but I do naturally congratulate him on the wordy sentiments by which he is actuated, likewise on the inability which in the present instance precludes him from gratifying them.One always expects a wonderful oration from John and he has not disappointed us tonight, and although at one time I used to envy him his mastery of the art, I have since received consolation when I read that “Oratory is the art of making deep noises in the chest sound like important messages from the brain.Naturally I am honoured to be the Preceptor of this Lodge of Instruction and with my good friend and co-Preceptor W. Bro. Furlong plus the advisory whispers from certain Past Masters who regularly attend, enjoy to the full our meetings on Friday evenings and, as it is our peculiar province to communicate light and instruction to the brethren it is only reasonable that we should expect that, as some must of necessity rule and teach, so must the members learn, submit and give the proper knocks in the proper rhythm.I have even heard the Preceptors referred to as corresponding in number to one of the seven deadly sins, and I suppose deadly we must be acknowledged to be as by a natural tendency we so conduce to the cramping of your style and curbing your ebullience that you are reduced to a state of hopeless impotence; but then, brethren as you are not all co-operative Masons but rather carefree, abandoned and half-educated, you must look to your Preceptors for your laurels. Thus the Preceptors teach you to learn your words and actions, to carry all their messages and communications in your heads and await your turn to be a Junior Deacon and even Senior Warden.As for my colleague, George, his duty is to assist in bringing rude matter into due form, to soothe the afflictions of the brethren in the utter confusion into which the absence of the Preceptor may plunge them and in every respect conscientiously discharge his duties as a substitute until time and circumstances shall restore the genuine.And now, brethren, having spent many words in fruitless speech and without having made any discovery of importance, I hasten to restore you to your personal comforts by saying that I, on behalf of the Preceptors, do sincerely thank you for the Toast and assure you that our future conduct will be such as to merit the esteem of the brethren and the gratifying testimony of a clear conscience”. (The Masonic Record January 1955).

Finally, mention must be made of Five Orders Chapter which was founded less than three after the lodge. It was consecrated by Sir Edward Letchworth on 14 June 1916 when the Great War was at its height. Five of the Founders of the lodge were among the eighteen Founders of the Chapter and John Anley, a P.Z. of Domatic Chapter was the Founding First Principal, fully supported by Rupert Cordell, Arnold Greenwood, A.R. Rita, and J.J. Selman. Honours in plenty came to members in the course of the years but perhaps its peak was when the Holborn Restaurant was closed for eventual redevelopment at somewhat short notice. An urgent discussion among the members produced a possible alternative as a meeting place, the Shaftesbury Hotel, but they did not have Royal Arch furniture and equipment. A decision was made to purchase appropriate furniture and allow it to be rented by other Chapters and that business-like action gives an indication of how alive were the members then and since. Of course it was too good to last more than about twelve years as the switching of hotels among speculators brought havoc to London freemasonry, and entailed other changes of venue. The Chapter now meets at the Southgate Masonic Centre and goes on from strength to strength. The two Grand Officers who are subscribing members of the lodge are also Grand Officers in the Chapter and thus the pattern laid down in 1913 by the Founders of Five Orders Lodge has been moulded to suit the changing times but the sincerity of purpose of its members has been of equal quality throughout.

W Bro. Roy A. Wells, P.J.G.D., P.A.G.S.O.J.