The Installation meeting is in November.
The Founding of a Masonic Lodge is a serious undertaking at any time but to contemplate such an exercise when the country was involved in a global war must have been a particularly daunting task, especially when one considers the many and varied requirements which would have to be met and bearing in mind the shortage of supplies and the many controls in force at the time. The first practical step was taken at a meeting of Past Masters of Heysham Lodge No. 4108 on 26th June, 1944.
W. Bro. Harold Parker explained that as Heysham Lodge and Sandylands Lodge had no less than sixteen candidates and twenty three candidates respectively awaiting initiation it would appear there was ample scope for the formation of a new Lodge. It was therefore resolved a new Lodge be formed by Heysham Lodge, the founders of which should be limited to Heysham and Sandylands Lodges.
W.Bro. Harold Parker should be the first Worshipful Master of the new Lodge.
W.Bro. F. Clayton should be the first Immediate Past Master of the new Lodge.
The decision was reported to the Province and the Group. And this having been done a second meeting was held on 3rd July at which it was reported that the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, W.Bro. T.W. Helme P.G.D. and the Group Chairman, W.Bro. T. Atkinson, P.A.G.D.C. had signified their approval of the enterprise. Present at this meeting were W.Bro. H. Parker (in the chair), W.Bros. F. Clayton, G. Kirkby, F.E. Child, C. Hardy, F. Bland, R. Todd, J. Edmonson, H. Gee, J.H. Beaumont and Bros. J. W. Gregory and W. Lupton. Further discussion resulted in the decision that, along with W. Bros. Clayton, Kirkby and Parker, six additional Past Masters should be chosen as Founders and the following were elected by ballot :-W. Bros. F. land, J. Edmonson, H. Gee, C. Hardy, R. Todd, F.E. Child.
Invitations to join the Founders were issued to Bros. H.E. Brown, P. Stocks, W. Smith, A.S. homas and F.H. Lamb (Heysham Lodge) and H. Pickles and W.C. Swaits (Sandylands Lodge). Finally Bro. H. Brooks, S.W. of Sandylands Lodge was invited to become Acting Secretary to the Founders until the Consecration of the Lodge, an appointment he graciously accepted.
Choice of name for the Lodge to be considered later.
To apply through the Provincial Grand Secretary for permission to present a petition.
To acquaint the Assist. Prov. Grand Master, the Chairman of the Group and the other Lodges in the Town of our proposals.
To apply to the Masonic Hall Committee for permission to use the rooms and furnishings.
To ask Sandylands Lodge for the loan of Collars etc.
To ask Heysham Lodge to sponsor the new Lodge.
To appoint the first Officers of the new Lodge.
That the new Lodge should meet on the second Friday of the months January to June, October, November and December, and the Practice meetings be held on the first Tuesday of each of those months.
This name is singularly appropriate for a daughter of Heysham Lodge; it also derives from the Runic Stone preserved in Heysham Church Yard. W.Bro. F. Bland kindly offered to design a badge for the Lodge.
Progress continued on 11th September when the Founders met to sign the Petition received from the Provincial Grand Secretary on the authority of the Provincial Grand Master. Also at this meeting W.Bro. F. Bland presented his proposed design for the Lodge Badge. This was adopted with hearty thanks and commendation for the excellence of the design.
Friday, 10th November, 1944 marked several important developments.
It was reported that approval had been received for the foundation of the Lodge and that it would be number 6019 on the Register of the United Grand Lodge of England. The Consecration Ceremony. took place on the 13th December and the time 2-30 p.m.
The By-laws, as drafted by the sub-committee, were adopted by the Founders on 28th November.
A Committee was formed to interview and report on candidates. Whilst considering the admission of Joining Members and Candidates for Initiation the view was expressed that, providing for a succession of worthy masters, numbers should be restricted “so as to secure the hope of advancement to men returning from service in H.M. Forces, for whom the Lodge was mainly formed”.
Brethren assembled on the Central Pier, Morecambe, for the Consecration of Runic Lodge No. 6019 on Wednesday, 13th December, 1944 at 2-30 p.m.
The Consecrating Officers were as follows :- Rt. W.Bro. Arthur Foster, P.G.D., Provincial Grand Master, Installing Master Rt. W.Bro. W.S.S. Hannay, P.G.W., Deputy Provincial Grand Master, assisted by Grand and Provincial Grand Officers. In addition to the Founders and elected members of the Lodge there were two hundred and twenty visiting brethren to witness the occasion.
The deputy Provincial Grand Master, Rt.W.Bro. W.S.S. Hannay, P.G.W. took the chair and installed W.Bro. Harold Parker as the first Worshipful Master of Runic Lodge.
Rev. C.J. Stranks, Vicar of St. Barnabas Church, Morecambe.
Mr. J. Steel, Master of Dredging Craft at Heysham Harbour.
The dreams and aspirations of a group of enthusiastic brethren, first mooted on 28th June, 1944, assumed reality on 13th December that year, after months of dedicated toil and individual examples of generosity, thereby helping to overcome the shortages and restrictions of wartime conditions.
W. Bro. H. Parker, P.G.D.
W. Bro. G. Kirkby, P.G.St.B.
W. Bro. G. P. Cousen, P.J.G.D.
W. Bro. J. A. Edmonson, P.J.G.D.
W.Bro. Parker is especially notable for service to the Craft in this District. Not only could he be called the founding father of Runic Lodge but, in addition, he served the Lancaster and District Group its representative at the Alpas Festival in 1950, as Vice-Chairman the Group from 1952-1957 and Chairman from 1957-1970.
W.Bro. G.P. Cousen has held the Office of W.M. of Runic Lodge on two occasions, in 1973/4 and 1990/1. He also held the office Secretary of the Group from October, 1986 to May, 1988, Vice-Chairman, to 1996 and Chairman 1996 to 2004.
Family connections within Runic Lodge have been, and still areprominent among its membership.