History Re-Written

The small booklet seen in the image on the right was the last published history of the Logic Ritual Association (LRA), which was published in 1984. However, much of the content of this booklet was taken from an address regarding the history of the LRA presented by W.Bro. Stanley Rae (PAGSwd.B) at their AGM in 1973. The content of that address was taken from a previous history booklet distributed to members of the LRA in 1932.

Owing to the loss of Minute Books and Records as a result of enemy action in 1940, it was not possible to compile a complete and detailed history of the LRA,  and as such, material for the previous booklets was taken from some personal notes of LRA members, together with a few odd jottings and a small amount of further information on the two principal Founders, Bros. Maclean and Buckland, through the Lodge of Asaph, and on Bros. Quicke and James by the Kentish Lodge, together with verbal information elicited through conversations with previous members, various Past Masters of Constitutional lodge and a number of other personal contacts made on visits to the Club during the decade before the Second World War.

The record of events in the booklet are clearly divided into four distinct periods, viz: the formation and firm establishment of the Club during the years 1881 to

1918; the "golden age" between 1918 and 1939; the struggle and decline between 1942 and 1968; there-constitution and re-vitalisation in 1969 and its progress to 1973.

When it was decided to reprint this History in 1984, W. Bro. John Everett, PAGDC and W. Bro. Fred Humphries, PAGDC, undertook to record the happenings of the past decade as recorded in 'Period V'.

When I became a Freemason and eventually got my Logic Ritual Book (Revised 1988 Edition), I found it fascinating that a previous member of my lodge, (J.E.Poole) was listed in the inside cover of the book and felt it was incumbent on me to continue that connection, and so I joined the Logic Ritual Association.

I soon took on the task to research the History of the Logic Ritual Association incorporating the Logic Club, with my intention being to try and add some detail to the existing elements, knowing that previous written documents had been destroyed in 1940. 

Having spent considerable time within the Library at Freemasons Hall, it was with great joy that I was able to find images of the founders, along with some old Logic ritual books, the oldest of which was dated 1899, which in themselves, gave a great insight into the 'evolution' of Logic Workings.

However, what I was also able to discover were inaccuracies in some of the previously written history and as a result, I have taken it upon myself to address those inaccuracies and re-write the History, along with trying to bring in some more modern updates to highlight some of the excellent work the LRA has taken on and engaged in.                                                                      

W.Bro. David Varney -  SLGR

The Kentish Lodge 3021