Since masonic records began, never has a single lodge caused such disruption in Grand Lodge as the Country Stewards.
    The story begins with the Grand Feast, held in London for many years and presided over by the Grand Master. It was thought that a Country Feast might also be held, both to honour the Deputy Grand Master and to provide an enjoyable day-out of fund raising for masonic charities. The first was held in 1735 and its success might have led one to imagine it would continue forever, but for the events which I shall now relate.
    The Feasts brought in senior Grand Officers attending in State, as well as Masters and Wardens of Lodges in and around London: some 200 in all. While Revolution burned its way across the channel in France, eight Past Country Stewards decided in 1789 to form their own Lodge (No 540, becoming 449 in 1792) “the better to regulate and manage the Country Feast of this Society”. Its members were Country Stewards only, with no initiations. They met at the Guildhall Tavern and Coffee House, Gresham St, London.
    Grand Lodge announced that members of the Lodge could wear a suitable jewel, pendant to a green collar “in consequence of the trouble of having attended the Office of Steward for the Country Feast of the Society”. Five of these medals are known. Grand Lodge has three (Thomas Schabner 1792, Joseph Seward 1796 and John Shallie 1797). Worcestershire’s collection has one (Samuel Clanfield 1790) – and I have the other: that of Henry Parry, dated 1795. Not content with this, members of the Lodge petitioned Grand Lodge for permission to place a green silk border around their aprons, instead of white. In November 1795, after much debate, Grand Lodge passed the petition. However, at the Grand Lodge meeting of the following February, the minutes with respect to green aprons passed the previous November were thrown out. Nevertheless, the Country Feast of 1796 went ahead as normal and was a huge success, but for the absence of the Deputy Grand Master. In spite of being warned to let the matter rest, the Country Stewards re-presented their petition at Grand Lodge’s November 1796 meeting, stating their belief that the first resolution of November 1795 had been either misunderstood or rejected for “motives incompatible with the pure and genuine Principles of Freemasonry.” The second petition was immediately passed. Someone had mislaid the official amendment postponing the discussion as the Deputy Grand Master was away. At the next meeting of Grand Lodge, the minutes concerning green aprons was thrown out again. Mayhem ensued. There was too much turmoil even for a show of hands; a proposed division proved impossible. The Grand Master in the Chair (George Porter, Senior Grand Warden) could only adjourn and close Grand Lodge.
    At the April meeting, a huge attendance witnessed Acting Grand Master the Earl of Moira propose that the Country Stewards second petition be removed from Grand Lodge Minutes. The proposal received a 95 majority, leading to two Country Stewards, either out of annoyance or sheer frustration, calling for the withdrawal of the privilege of wearing green collars and special jewels. This too was passed. A week later, the Deputy Grand Master, Sir Peter Parker, wrote to the Grand Secretary, William White, that the Country Stewards Lodge had been most inconsiderate and that patience would have eventually secured their wishes. William White opined that the Country Feasts should be omitted for one or two years, for “the most turbulent spirits among the Country Stewards to cool a little”. Feasts should not be held without the Deputy Grand Master, who should confirm this in writing, showing how extremely unhappy they were about the disruption in Grand Lodge.
    A “Special Emergency Meeting” of Country Stewards was called (a summons to this has, amazingly, survived) and decided to see the Grand Secretary personally and to request a copy of the letter for themselves. In defiance of implicit instruction, the Country Feast was held and was again a great success – jewels or no jewels, with funds going to the Female Charity School. Grand Lodge declared that no Official Country Feast had taken place! The next meeting of Grand Lodge saw their petition to wear jewels again granted, whereupon the Secretary of the Stewards sent a list of eight Stewards and 12 tickets for the next Country Feast in the hope of a return to normality. The reply was that no Stewards could have been appointed as “no Country Feast was held last year”, and promptly returned the tickets in disgust.
    A final ‘unofficial’ Feast was held in 1798, but with no Country Stewards having been appointed for two years, and a high ‘drop-out’ rate, the Country Stewards Lodge must have reached a stage of near paralysis. The last we hear of the Lodge is in the attendance book for a Grand Lodge meeting in the middle of 1799. The Lodge, however, was not erased, its Warrant being transferred in 1802 to the Royal Lodge of Faith and Friendship No 270, Berkeley, Gloucestershire.

Trevor Harris is an avid collector of masonic jewels. He will be pleased to answer any questions or queries concerning masonic jewels or medals. He is a Past Master of Cheyne Lodge No 4443, and a member of Neptune Lodge No 22. He can be contacted at PO Box 624, London NW4 3NJ. Tel/Fax: 0181 209 1464.