Richard Collyer Lodge No. 4905

Adapted and updated from a booklet published in 2006

It was not until 1958 that members of the Richard Collyer Lodge who had been exalted into the Royal Arch (and those who wished to be exalted) were to have the opportunity of assembling under a Chapter exclusively for Old Collyerians. The main reason for the founding of the Chapter was clearly to provide a dedicated “home” for Old Collyerians (as with the Lodge, Old Collyerian Royal Arch Masons would hitherto have had to pursue their interest through the March and Darnley Chapter or some other Chapter of their choice). A subsidiary reason might have been to create opportunities for Companions to have another chance at or to accelerate their chances of gaining office if the waiting time in their own Chapter appeared unreasonably long.

Discussions for forming a Chapter had originally started as far back as 1951 but it was only in 1956 that the idea gained momentum and it was formally considered at the Lodge GPC meeting in January 1957 where it was agreed that letters should be sent to all Lodge members canvassing their support for such a move. The results of this exercise were discussed at the February GPC when it was announced that 14 Lodge members were willing to act as Founders and 7 as candidates for Exaltation whilst others had expressed interest in considering joining. A sub-committee was duly formed to progress matters and by the October GPC meeting the Founders had met and a Petition submitted to the Sussex Provincial Grand Chapter requesting approval to open the Richard Collyer Chapter.

Official approval was subsequently granted and the date was set for the Consecration of the new Chapter – Friday April 18th 1958 – at the Sussex Masonic Temple in Brighton. The sub-committee met again in April 1957 to recommend the arrangements for the Chapter. There would be three meetings a year on the Saturdays before the second Mondays in April, June and December (this was later amended in the original By-laws to the Saturday before the second Monday in April, the second Saturday in June and the Saturday before the second Monday in December, which arrangements have been preserved to the present time), although in 1962 there was an abortive suggestion to move the June meeting to November. Problems with Easter have occasionally necessitated a change by dispensation of the April meeting date, on occasions to March. The founding committee decided that no Founders jewels would be purchased and the Chapter would meet at The Horsham Masonic Hall. Old robes would be purchased from March and Darnley Chapter, but in the event these were shared. A guest Janitor would be engaged and Comp.S.C.Worsley of March and Darnley Chapter agreed to fill this office. A more formal business meeting was held in March 1958 to finalize the arrangements. The fees were fixed as follows:- The Exaltation Fee to be Three Guineas and the Joining Fee, Two Guineas, such fees to be exclusive of subscription. The annual subscription to be Two Guineas, except for members residing outside Great Britain who will pay One Guinea. The first officers were nominated and it was further agreed to appoint the Seven Consecrating Officers as Honorary members. A final committee meeting was held in April to complete all of the necessary arrangements for the successful enactment of the Consecration ceremony. A cocktail reception was planned on the day at the Brighton Masonic Club for the Official guests, Founders and Consecrating Officers.

The Ceremony was in two parts – the Consecration followed by the Induction of the Three Principals together with other regular business. A total of 125 Royal Arch Masons were in attendance.

The 14 Chapter Founders:

E.Comp. J.R.D.Greenop PPrGSN
E.Comp. G.C.Cole PAGDC
E.Comp. W.F.Clark PPrGStB (Surrey)
E.Comp.R.O.Martin PPrGSN (Suffolk)
E.Comp.R.Griffiths
E.Comp. C.G.Jones PPrGStB
E.Comp.A.D.Saward
E.Comp. J.Ireland Eager PPrGDepR
E.Comp.E.J.H.Groves
E.Comp.W.H.Saunders
E.Comp.T.L.Lane
E.Comp.A.S.Hoad
E.Comp. R.C.Agate PPrGReg
E.Comp. C.A.Keen PDAGDC (Bengal)

The Consecrating Officers:

Z : E.Comp. C.H.Wallis (Provincial Grand Superintendent)
H : E.Comp. Dr. W.B.Heywood-Waddington (Provincial 2nd Grand Principal)
J : E.Comp. H.Myerscough (Provincial 3rd Grand Principal)
Scribe E: E.Comp. H.B.Thyer (Provincial Grand Scribe E)
Scribe N: E.Comp. A.Cree (Provincial Grand Scribe N)
DC: E.Comp. E.S.C.Heathcote (Provincial Grand DC)
Prin.Soj: E.Comp R.V.Clarke (Provincial G.Prin.Soj)
1st Asst. Soj: E.Comp. J.Turner (Provincial 1st Asst.Soj)
2nd Asst.Soj: E.Comp R. Carrow (Provincial 2nd Asst..Soj)
ADC: E.Comp H.H.Ridge (Provincial DepGDC)
Organist: E.Comp. J.M.Hooker (Provincial Grand Organist)
Janitor: E.Comp. J.C.Friend ( Provincial GJ)

Assisted by E.Comp. P.Swan (Provincial GSwdB)

Consecrating Officers Elected to Honorary Membership at the Meeting:

E.Comp. C.H.Wallis (Provincial Grand Superintendent)
E.Comp. Dr. W.B.Heywood-Waddington (Provincial 2nd Grand Principal)
E.Comp. H.Myerscough (Provincial 3rd Grand Principal)
E.Comp. H.B.Thyer (Provincial Grand Scribe E)
E.Comp. A.Cree (Provincial Grand Scribe N)
E.Comp. E.S.C.Heathcote (Provincial Grand DC)
E.Comp. H.H.Ridge (Provincial Grand DepDC)
E.Comp. J.M.Hooker (Provincial Grand Organist)

The Consecration followed the traditional ceremony laid down by Supreme Grand Chapter and thereafter the first Three Principals were Inducted and the first Officers appointed for the period until the first proper Installation ceremony in December of that year. The Treasurer and Janitor were on this occasion elected without the usual ballot; A committee was appointed to draw up the Chapter By-Laws. Proposals were submitted for four candidates for Exaltation. The Companions then retired for the Festive Board at the Brighton Masonic Centre.

The first regular meeting took place in June which featured a double Exaltation ceremony (an event only ever repeated once again in April 1959). It became a custom of the Chapter for the Historical, Mystical and Symbolical lectures to be given at each Exaltation. The By-Laws which had been drafted by the sub-committee were approved. The Financial Year –end was set as October 31st – which remains to this day. A reduced subscription of One Guinea was approved for any Exaltees joining in June. The first regular Installation meeting took place in December 1958 at which E.Comp.Bob Greenop was elected Charity Steward (never an official Chapter office). A presentation was also made by E.Comps. W.F.Clark and J.H.Stoneman (Royal Albert Edward Chapter No. 1362) of a wooden Charity Box.

The Chapter thereafter settled into a routine of the three meetings a year (December being the Installation meeting) and ceremonies of Exaltation became the norm for the April and June meetings. The Chapter obviously included a number of keen golfers in those days as one of the earliest recommendations was to invite the Lodge representative for the Sussex Masonic Golfing Association also to act for the Chapter. Towards the end of 1959 a set of Officers’ collars and jewels was purchased partly from Chapter funds and partly by donations from the members. A Chapter of Instruction was also set up to meet at Collyers with 7 meetings a year (three officers’ rehearsals on the 1st Tuesdays of April, June and December) and four other meetings on the 4th Tuesdays in March, May, September and November). From its first meeting in January 1960 the Chapter of Instruction actually only met at Collyers up to November 1961, thereafter meeting at Denne Road. The number of meetings varied each year as did the attendance (from 4 to 12) until in recent years there have only been three officers’ rehearsals a year.

As touched on earlier, throughout its existence the Chapter has shared furniture and equipment with March and Darnley Chapter, although consideration was given in 1961 to the possible purchase of furniture from Honor Deo Lodge, but in the event it seems there was none available (In 1975 the Chapter contributed 50% to the cost of new Principals’ robes and similarly in 2006 to a set of new Ensigns and Central (Triple Tau) Banner – on other occasions it has contributed towards repairs). The Chapter was fortunate in attracting candidates for Exaltation for every regular meeting right through to 1972. In addition there were four Joining members during that same period. Membership climbed to 39 by 1972 and attendances were generally quite good during that time. Average attendances at the April and June meetings to 1972 were 28 (members: 18; visitors: 10) and at the December Installations, 40 (members: 20; visitors: 20). The highest Installation attendance in the years to 1972 was 69. The highest for a regular meeting was 38 although two meetings exceeded this figure. In March 1966 (date changed from April by dispensation) the Chapter was honoured by visits from the Grand Superintendents of both Sussex and Surrey (they also later attended the December 1969 Installation) with numerous Provincial officers and an all-time record attendance of 72 was recorded.

In April 1969 the first visit occurred of Companions from the Surrey Arts & Sciences Chapter No.5310 from Croydon which attracted an attendance of 47. The initiative for this relationship came from the friendship of the Chapter’s DC, E.Comp.W.F.Clark and E.Comp.W.Camp from Surrey Arts & Sciences. Members of Richard Collyer Chapter made their first official visit to Croydon in February 1969 with Surrey Arts & Crafts members visiting Horsham in that April. The relationship thereafter settled into an annual visit: Richard Collyer members attending their February convocations in “even” years and Surrey Arts & Sciences attending our April convocations in “odd” years. In the 1960s and 1970s this exchange was strongly supported by members of the Provincial Executives of both Provinces. Sadly since the mid 1990s these visits have lapsed.

The 1970’s was a time of stability. In June of that year E.Comp. Bob Greenop (a Founder and the First Z) was offered Honorary membership in recognition of his services to the Chapter (an honour he briefly enjoyed until his death in 1973). In common with the Lodge the Chapter also became an “investor” in Horsham Masonic Halls Ltd, having resolved to subscribe for £20 worth of shares. The December 1970 Installation attracted a larger than usual attendance (70) which was followed by the Chapter hosting the Festival of the Mid Sussex Chapters when companions from March and Darnley, Sinai and Forest Oak Chapters participated, all in the presence of the Sussex Grand Superintendent.

Up to 1973 the Chapter had run very smoothly with Exaltees at all regular meetings and little problem encountered with the succession of members through the ranks to the chairs of the Three Principals (the only hiccup had been in 1964 when E.Comp R.W.Bailey had to stand down for appointment to Z). At the April 1973 (in the presence of the visiting delegation from Surrey Arts & Sciences) meeting a candidate duly approved for Exaltation failed to attend which necessitated performance of a demonstration Exaltation. The same candidate did not present himself at the June Convocation necessitating a programme of lectures to be presented. This has been the only occasion to date in the Chapter’s history of an elected candidate not choosing to be exalted. In December 1973 Honorary membership was accorded to E.Comp.J.Thornton of March and Darnley Chapter who had assisted on many occasions as Guest (or Honorary) Organist due to the unavailability of E.Comp J.Coombes for that purpose.

With the changes looming in the ongoing status of Collyer’s School the question of future membership of the Chapter was considered. Whilst membership had followed the Lodge restriction of admitting only Old Collyerians, in December 1975 this matter was discussed and general agreement was reached that the Chapter should henceforth be willing to accept non Old Collyerians. In December 1976 a road accident prevented E.Comp.A.A.Gorringe from attending the Installation meeting and he became the Chapter record holder for being away from home for the longest period of time on Masonic business and not being fit to attend again until June 1977.

In April 1979 Bro.A.J.Munnery (father of E.Comp.R.A.Munnery) became the first non Old Collyerian Exaltee. Among other members in the news around that time was E.Comp.A.S.Hoad who had moved to live in Belgium for work reasons and so on occasions introduced the Chapter to aspects of Belgian Royal Arch practices (although none was ever adopted). Chapter Membership through the 1970s remained around 38 although the flow of new candidates had slowed considerably (only 11 in 20 meetings) and was unfortunately offset by a number of deaths and resignations. Attendance at regular meetings remained at an average of 28 (still 18 Members and 10 visitors), the higher April attendances in odd years being boosted by attendees from Surrey Arts & Sciences Chapter. Installation attendances averaged 36 (21 Members and 15 Visitors).

The 1980s saw a slight increase in the number of candidates for Exaltation but with deaths and resignations membership levels remained more or less constant in the high 30’s. During this decade more and more Exaltees were non-Collyerians, being candidates from other Lodges known to Chapter members. Subscriptions, which hitherto had remained fairly static, now started to rise fuelled by increased running costs at Denne Road and increased Supreme and Provincial Grand Chapter dues, but this did not seem to have an adverse effect on membership. However, this prompted the introduction of Country Membership from 1982 but this was never taken up by any member.
In 1985 the rent paid for use of Horsham Masonic Hall was increased by one third to offset building repairs. In April 1981 the Mystical lecture was given in catechetical form, the forerunner of what is today now common and approved practice. In 1982 the Chapter was saddened by the death of E.Comp.W.F.Clark, a Founder, Director of Ceremonies and Preceptor of the Chapter of Instruction and the co-instigator of the relationship with Surrey Arts & Sciences Chapter. The Chapter had during its life sought to participate in raising funds for Masonic charities whenever possible and in 1988 qualified as a Vice Patron for the 1989 Festival for the Aged & Sick.

In consequence of E.Comp.Hoad’s involvement with Belgian masonry the Chapter was honoured at the December 1988 Installation by a private visit from the Second Grand Principal of Belgium. In 1989 with the approval of the Masonic Hall Management Committee the Chapter commissioned a Past Zerubbabels’ Honours Board which today hangs on the south wall of the Temple. This cost £ 334.80 + VAT and was made by Luckings of Petworth with members being invited to contribute to the cost. At this time attendances at regular meetings averaged 26 (19 Members and 7 Visitors) and at Installations 35 (22 Members and 13 Visitors).

The Chapter experienced a relatively uneventful period through the 1990s. The reciprocity with Surrey Arts & Sciences continued apace; subscriptions continued their inexorable rise reaching £28 by 1998. The majority of the candidates coming forward for Exaltation now had no connection with Collyers. In 1987 the Chapter had voted to establish the custom that the outgoing IPZ should serve as Janitor for a year. This practice however only lasted for 10 years when a Guest Tyler was appointed. Membership during the 90’s dipped slightly from the high 30’s to the mid-30’s. Attendances at regular meetings averaged 28 (19 Members and 9 Visitors) and at Installations 35 (20 Members and 15 Visitors).

In December 1997 an invitation was received from the Honor Deo-Cum-Londinium Chapter to consider establishing a reciprocal link but this was never officially pursued. In June 1998 the Chapter was host to the Mid-Sussex Festival of Chapters (which brings together Companions from Horsham, Crawley, East Grinstead and Uckfield) and an advance booking was made to host the 2008 Festival to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the Chapter. In 1998 the then Z, E.Comp.R.J.Phillips, instigated an annual Chapter Christmas lunch for members of both the Chapter and the Lodge, their partners and guests which has continued to the present time and has proved a popular event.

Through individual members the Chapter has established links with many other Chapters in Sussex and further afield. Officially, in addition to its relationship with Surrey Arts & Sciences Chapter, it maintains specific local links with Forest Oak, March and Darnley, Handcross, St.Mary of the Harbour and Sinai Chapters with which it exchanges annual Installation invitations.

The Chapter has also sought to be an active contributor to Charity, both Masonic and otherwise. It has supported various major Masonic causes such as The Royal Masonic Hospital Extension in 1958, The 1966 RMI Boys Festival and the 1978 RMBI Festival, Awarded Vice Patron for the Foundation of the Aged and the Sick. The 1997 Sussex New Samaritan Fund and more recently the RMBI 2004 Festival followed by Sussex4Sussex. The Chapter has also tried whenever possible to support local non-masonic charities such as St.Catherine’s Hospice and the West Sussex County Times Horsham Childrens’ Appeal.

A few Chapter Companions have been honoured with Supreme Grand Chapter rank:-
E.Comp. W.F.Clark (PAGDC)
E.Comp.W.H.Saunders (PGStB)
E.Comp. A.A.Gorringe (PAGSoj)
E.Comp.P.R.Ticehurst (PAGSoj)
E.CompR.A.Munnery (PAGDC)

The following Joining members were/are also Grand Chapter officers:
E.Comp.H.J.Booker PGStB
E.Comp P.Flowerday PAGDC

Many members over the years have been honoured with active and past Provincial ranks. E.Comp.A.A.Gorringe was appointed 3rd Provincial Grand Principal (Glos.& Hereford). Three members have served as Provincial Grand Treasurers (E.Comps.O.J.Street, P.Pointer and P.Flowerday), E.Comp.J.Coombes as Provincial Grand Organist and E.Comp.R.A.Munnery as Provincial Grand Scribe N. E.Comp.P.R.Ticehurst has served for a year as Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals. A few Companions have also been active in other Provinces namely E.Comps. R.N.Rapson (Nigeria), C.A.Keen (Bengal), A.A.Gorringe (Glos.& Hereford & Worcestershire) and P.Flowerday (West Kent). The Chapter has been fortunate to have the services of several members who have put in long service as Scribe E, Treasurer, DC or Janitor. The Chapter is particularly grateful to two of those Companions, E.Comps. Tom Tidy for his substantive past services and continued support and Jack Puttock who passed to the Grand Chapter above in 2007. Indeed E.Comp Tidy has also served for several years as Scribe E of the Chapter of Instruction and also seems to have regularly been the candidate at the practices. The Chapter has also been most fortunate in having enjoyed the musical skills over many years of the “three Musketeers”, E.Comps J. Coombes, F.J.S.Dight and J.Thornton who have at various times juggled among themselves the role of Chapter organist. In more recent times this service has been performed by guest organists, E.Comps. B Webb, A.C.Adfield and M.Brinson, to whom we are most grateful.

The Chapter membership currently stands at 30 and has recovered from the decline of the years before and during the Covid pandemic with several new exaltees and joining members. So having weathered the last 66 years rather well and with more members to join us this year, we can look forward with confidence to celebrating its 75 years in April 2033.