The founders of Clerestory Lodge believed there was a need for a lodge of a type like a school lodge, but which was not restricted to old boys of one school, and for professional men not limited to a single profession. The members of those “closed” lodges were at that time, unable to bring forward suitable men who were anxious to join the Craft but were not eligible for such lodges. This intention was summarised in a preamble to the first by-laws, which may have reflected the mores of the day and remains there but has now rightly become a dead letter. It reads, “…The Lodge is primarily formed for gentlemen who are members of the professions or who hold or have held regular commissions in H.M. Armed Forces or who were educated at Public Schools or the ancient Universities…”. No red brick was allowed! The words “Dark Suit or Uniform…” continued to appear on the Lodge Summons, another survival from the earliest days.
Clerestory Lodge was sponsored by the Midland, Oxford and South-Eastern Bar Lodge, No. 2716, (Warrant now surrendered) after an unsuccessful attempt by the late W.Bro. G. Paul B. Smith to persuade his old school Lodge, Cholmeley, No. 1731, to act in that respect.
Clerestory Lodge, which took the registration number No. 6551, was consecrated at Freemasons Hall on the 17th. October 1947 by the Assistant Grand Master, Right Worshipful Brother Brigadier-General W.H.V. Darell. C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., assisted by Very Worshipful Brother. Sir Ernest Cooper, D.L., President of the Board of General Purposes as Senior Warden; Worshipful Brother F.W. Wallace, P.A.G. Reg. as Junior Warden; Worshipful Brother. The Revd. C.L. Waller, R.N., P.A.G. Chap. as Chaplain; Very Worshipful Brother. S. A. White, M. V. O., Grand Secretary, as Secretary; Very Worshipful Brother P.A. Bull, D.S.O., T.D., Grand Director of Ceremonies, as Director of Ceremonies and Worshipful Brother. R. Parker Chambers, P.A.G.D.C., as Inner Guard.
The profiles of each of the eighteen founder members who were signatories to the original petition, which was signed and duly attested by the sponsoring Lodge on the 11thf July 1947, are presented here.
