History of The Lodge of Fraternal Unity No. 7330
The Lodge of Fraternal Unity was formed (consecrated) in 1954. W. Bro.
Frank Smith wrote the original chapters up to the Lodge’s 40th anniversary in
1994. W. Bro. Mitchell Wax and W. Bro. Brian Skinner continued the work and
have added new chapters to the History.
It will never be complete and the Lodge is successfully moving forward
to shortly celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2024.
The following history provides a brief glimpse into the past and looks
promisingly to the future.
History
When the blast and dust of the Second World War had abated, certain
members of the Silver Jubilee Lodge thought they should form a daughter lodge
to accommodate ex-members of the West Central Jewish Boys Club of Fitzroy
Square and ex-pupils of the Westminster Jew’s Free School in Hanway Place.
Not all of the Founders, however, qualified under both of the headings. But, among those that who did were W. Bro. Philip Taylor, W. Bro. George Dessar, W. Bro. Jack Goodman, W. Bro. Michael Goldberg, W. Bro. Sam Conway, to name but a few. The complete names of the Founders always appear in the Lodge Summons. The following diagram shows the genealogy of the Lodge.
A History of the Formation and Development of the
Lodge of Fraternal Unity No. 7330
on the Register of the United Grand Lodge of England
Lodge of Tranquillity No. 185
Consecrated 1787
Samson Lodge No, 1668
Consecrated 1877
Silver Jubilee Lodge no. 5535
Consecrated 1935
Lodge of Fraternal Unity No. 7330
Consecrated 1954
The first Master of the Lodge, W. Bro. Philip Taylor, initiated his son
Derek Taylor into Freemasonary. At the third meeting, Harry Errington, holder
of the George Cross for bravery, together with Major Josh Stevens were initiated.
At the November 1956, a Banner was presented to the Lodge by Brother
Charles Abraham’s and was dedicated by V. W. Bro. The Reverend G. W. Page P. G.
Chaplain and others. All assisting
officers were members of the Silver Jubilee Lodge, our mother lodge. This
Banner is still used in our meetings.
In the April 1962 meeting, the first initiate of the Lodge, Bro. Derek
Taylor was installed as Master of the Lodge.
In May 1963, Bro. Mitch Wax was initiated.
In April 1966, W. Bro. Sam Lazarus, father of W. Bro. Tony Lazarus, was
installed as Master. At the same meeting, W. Bro. Philip Taylor, who had by
then been promoted to P.A.G.D.C. in Grand Lodge and who had been the guiding
light in the Founding of the Lodge and was its first Master, Chaplain and Secretary,
was elected as an Honorary member in recognition of his services.
During the subsequent decade, most of the original Founders passed onto
the Grand Lodge above. Amongst those who were called were W. Bro. Michael
Goldberg, W. Bro. Charles Abrahams, W. Bro. Philip Taylor and W. Bro. Dave Wax.
In April 1976, Bro. Louis Jeffries was installed into the Chair of King
Solomon, W. Bro. Frank Smith was appointed as Secretary and W. Bro. Ben Stock
appointed as Charity Steward, the first year of the Office of Charity Steward.
Mr. Lewis Lane was balloted as a candidate for Freemasonary.
In April 1977, it was announced that another one of our Founders, W.
Bro. Bernard Herson had been appointed PAGDC.
The 100th meeting was held in October 1977, where Mr. Anthony Lazarus
was successfully balloted for.
Mr. Anthony Price was initiated in January 1979, with W. Bro. Derek
Taylor delivering the Charge to the Initiate.
1979 was also our Silver Jubilee year, with W. Bro. Mitch Wax who
introduced the proceedings by recalling the names of the Founders of the Lodge
who had been called to the Grand Lodge above.
In early 1982, the Lodge Secretary W. Bro. Albert Tanner died suddenly
and W. Bro. Louis Jeffries stepped into his breach. In May 1983, W. Bro. Sid
Levine retired as Lodge of Instruction Preceptor. W. Bro. Manny Silverton was
duly elected as Preceptor with W. Bro. Mitch Wax as deputy Preceptor.
April 1985 saw the installation of Bro. Lewis Lane to the Chair. At the same meeting, a proposition for initiation was read in respect of Mr. Brian Skinner. At the installation of Bro. Stanley Warren in April 1986, it was sadly announced that one of our two remaining Honorary members and Consecrating Officer, R. W. Bro.
Tommy Langton M.C., D.L., Provincial Grand Master of Hampshire had
passed away.
1988 was also a bad year for losses as we learned that W. Bro. Stanley
Waterman had passed. 1989 also saw our Grand Officer and Founder W. Bro.
Bernard Herson PAGDC. had departed this life.
In the meeting held in May 1990, a wonderful explanation was presented
to the Lodge by Brothers Barry Capal, Brian Skinner, Anthony Lazarus and W.
Brothers Mitch Wax, David Graham and the Master, W. Bro. Adrian Scheps.
In April 1991, Bro. Barry Capal was duly installed into the Chair of
King Solomon.
In January 1992, another of our Founders W. Bro. Jack Goodman passed on,
leaving just two surviving Founders W. Brothers Ben Stock and Sid Levine, who
were duly elected to Honorary Membership.
In October 1992, a jewel commemorating the 275th Anniversary of the
formation of Grand Lodge was presented to the W. Master, W. Bro. David
Aminzade, which was affixed to the Masters Collar.
We commemorated our 40th Anniversary in April 1994, which coincided with
the installation of Bro. Brian Skinner, in the Grand Temple. During the
fortieth year, Honorary membership was extended to W. Bro. Sam Lazarus LGR and
to Brother Harry Errington.
In 1995, W. Bro. Brian Skinner duly installed Bro. Michael Myers into the
Chair of King Solomon. Also in 1995, W. Bro. Mitch Wax was elevated to the
dignity of Grand Office.
1996 saw W. Bro. Michael Myers install W. Bro. David Graham LGCR as
Master of the Lodge.
1997 saw the passing of W. Bro. Frank Smith and in 1998 saw the untimely
passing of W. Bro. David Graham LGCR.
W. Bro. David Graham’s son was initiated in October 1999. During the
subsequent years, other sons have joined the Lodge, for instance; Scott Price,
Jonathon and Adam Capal, Michael Aminzade, Eirun and Assaf Arbiser, Ben and
Barnaby Skinner. The family characteristic being that fathers would initiate
their sons into Freemasonary, wherever possible.
As preparations were being carried out for The Golden Jubilee of the
Lodge of Fraternal Unity, our Fiftieth year, we sadly learned of the passing of
W. Bro. Ben Stock SLGR.
During the Mastership of W. Bro. Steven Sandler, a steering committee was formed to form a structure to the proceedings required for the celebration of the lodge’s fiftieth year.
The Golden Anniversary was held in March 2004 on the actual fiftieth
anniversary of our first consecration meeting in 1954. The ceremony was adorned
with new extended workings, which have become a trademark practice within our
Lodge.
The Metropolitan Chairman of our Group, W. Bro. David Taylor PJGD,
graced the Lodge with his presence, accompanied by his Director of Ceremonies
W. Bro. David Wilkinson PAGDC, and our own visiting officer W. Bro. Neil Mills
PAGPurs.
The newly installed Master, W. Bro. Michael Bennett, then called W. Bro.
Sid Levine to preside over the Jubilee ceremony. The subsequent Festive Board
was also truly memorable, with the Toast to Visitors given by W. Bro. Derek
Taylor, the son of the Founder and First Master, W. Bro. Philip Taylor.
In 2007, Bro. Anthony Cohen was installed into the Chair with Bro.
Daniel Graham following a year later.
The following five years were blessed with more sons in the form of Bro.
Adam Capal installed in 2012, Bro. Michael Aminzade in 2013, Brothers Ben
Skinner and Barnaby Skinner in subsequent years 2014 and 2015, and Bro. Anthony
Lane in 2016. I
In 2014, the Lodge celebrated its sixtieth year anniversary during W.
Bro. Ben Skinner’s year.
2017 saw Bro. Neil Martin being duly installed with Bro. Justyn Lucas
being installed in 2018.
During the intervening years between 2004 and 2020, a succession of
Masters have graced the Chair of King Solomon, among them Worshipful Brethren,
presiding a second time over the Lodge and newly installed Brethren. Of the
Worshipful Brethren were; W. Bro. Barry Capal in 2005, W. Bro. Mitch Wax in
2006, W. Bro. Anthony Price in 2009/10, W. Bro. Brian Skinner in 2011, and W.
Bro. David Aminzade in 2019. This brief history is an
attempt to encapsulate sixty plus years of life in the Lodge. At best it can be
only taken as a brief summary or representation of the rich tapestry of events
of our Lodge. For further information, please refer to the “Lodge of Fraternal
Unity No. 7330 – The First Fifty Years” booklet, as produced by W. Brethren
Frank Smith and Mitch Wax.
