United Grand Lodge
of Antient, Free and Accepted Masons
of England


 
Province of
South Wales Eastern Division

Feature

A worthy Mason of yesteryear  Edward John Hutchins  Provincial Grand Master of South Wales (1848-56) by Peter Davies, Glamorgan Lodge, No. 36 First published in the Winter 2005 edition of the Province's magazine "Guildford Gazette" Following the resignation of Sir Josiah John Guest as Provincial Grand Master of South Wales in 1848, little time was lost in appointing his successor. The Patent appointing his nephew, Edward John Hutchins, P.G.M. for the new Province of South Wales Eastern Division was signed on 30th June 1848. Hutchins was born on 27th December 1809; the son of Edward Hutchins of Briton Ferry and Sarah Guest, sister of Sir Josiah John Guest, and was educated at Charterhouse and at St. John's College, Cambridge. He was married in Ireland in 1838 to Isabel Clara, daughter of the Chevalier Don Juan de Bernaben, of Alicante, Spain and to mark the occasion, the brethren of the Loyal Cambrian Lodge Merthyr Tydfil, 'resolved to send him a congratulatory address.' His early career involved him with his uncle, Sir J. J. Guest, in the organisation of the Dowlais Iron Works. In due course he acquired two shares in the Company, which he eventually sold in July 1851 to his uncle for £58,000, thus making Guest the sole owner of the Works. In the same year Hutchins became the Chairman of the Rhymney Iron Works, a position he held until his resignation in 1875. Some indication of his personality may be gained from the following extract, taken from 'The History of the Iron, Steel, Tinplate, and other Trades of Wales', by Charles Wilkins and published in 1903: - "He had been given a good insight into ironmaking at Dowlais, and though not so practically competent as his uncle, who could cut a ton of coal, or puddle, or roll a rail with anyone, he was untiring in the acquisition of knowledge. Kindly disposed, he yet had a leaven of the autocrat in his composition; and, being somewhat spoiled by the extreme deference of workmen, given unstintedly to the employers, he could not brook the assertion of independent minds. One illustration of his virtues is quite worth recording. It was in the days when Mr. B. R. Jones was manager of the blast furnaces at Rhymney, and Mr. Hutchins, coming there on one occasion, said to him. 'I see you have increased the make; but mind, keep the quality!' Rhymney Ironworks had a good character for its iron, and Mr. Hutchins, like many of the old-fashioned ironmasters, knew that this was of the first importance." In addition to his involvement with the iron industry, Hutchins was a director of the South-Western Railway, a magistrate and deputy-lieutenant for Glamorganshire, and a magistrate for Brecon and Monmouthshire. He also had political aspirations. A Liberal, in favour of the ballot and opposed to all State endowments of religion, having converted to Roman Catholicism at an early age, he was returned by the Roman Catholic vote as one of the members for Marylebone and Hampstead, in the first School Board for London. He sat first as an M.P. for Penryn and Falmouth from January 1840 until the general election of 1841, when he unsuccessfully contested Southampton; and although his opponents were subsequently unseated on petition, he did not obtain the seat. He was unsuccessful once again in July 1847 when he attempted to become the member for Poole. Finally he was returned for Lymington in April 1850, a seat which he held until his retirement from Parliament in 1857. Hutchins first became involved in Freemasonry in 1831, when on the 3rd February he was initiated in the Loyal Cambrian Lodge, Merthyr Tydfil. He was Passed on 3rd March 1831 and Raised and Installed as W.M. of the Merthyr Lodge on 20th December 1832. He was re-elected Master of the Lodge the following year on 27th December 1833. During this period he was masonically superior to his uncle, Sir J.J. Guest, who was not Raised until 20 October 1836 - the same day as the Patent appointing him Provincial Grand Master of South Wales was signed! When Guest was eventually installed as Provincial Grand Master at Swansea on Tuesday, 18th August 1840, he invested Edward John Hutchins as his Deputy, a position he was to hold until his own appointment, on June 1848, as Provincial Grand Master of South Wales Eastern Division. There was little delay on this occasion before the Installation, which took place on Tuesday, 8th August 1848 in the new Masonic Hall at Neath. This was a particularly important day in the History of the Province, for it not only marked the commencement of the Eastern Division of South Wales, but after the installation of the P.G.M. there followed the Consecration of the Masonic Hall by the new P.G.M. The Hall was built by John Townsend, Contractor, to designs of Egbert Moxham, Architect, for the Cambrian Lodge No. 364. It was opened with an entertainment, on 6th June 1848, the Worshipful Master, Bro. Matthew Whittington, being in the Chair. In the report of this entertainment in the "Cambrian," of 9th June, it was described as 'the only Hall specially devoted to the use of the Order in the Principality'. A report of the Provincial Grand Lodge proceedings was published in the 'Cardiff & Merthyr Guardian' on Saturday, 12th August:- NEATH - on Tuesday morning last our town was much enlivened by the appearance of various vehicles, conveying members of the Masonic Order to witness the installation of the P .G. Master, and the dedication of our new Masonic Hall. At eleven o'clock the Grand Lodge was opened and W. P.G.M. was Installed. After that ceremony the brethren, to the number of eighty, or upwards, formed a procession, attended Divine service in our parish Church. Prayers were read by the Rev. Walter Griffiths, and a sermon was preached by the Provincial Grand Chaplain - the Rev. D. Jeffreys. Afterwards the procession re-formed and walked to the hall, preceded by a band of music. The members of the Grand Lodge especially attracted the admiration of the assembled crowds, by the splendour of their dress and decorations. The Grand Lodge having been formed, the ceremony of dedication ensued; and admirable addresses were delivered by the Provincial Grand Master, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Bristol, and the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, Mr. Michael, of Swansea. In the evening, the brethren sat down to a sumptuous dinner provided for the occasion by Mr. Savours, of the Coast Hotel. The weather proved propitious throughout, and added much to the gratification of the numerous parties that had come together from considerable distances to witness the consecration of the first building in the Principality to the purposes of Masonry. All appeared highly gratified, and after a very pleasant and agreeable meeting, the party broke up early in order to allow the brethren to return to their respective homes. During the ceremony, The Cambrian was particularly honoured by the appointment of a number the members to Provincial Office as follows: - Bro. David Jeffreys, Provincial Grand Chaplain; Bro. G. Evans Aubrey, Provincial Grand Treasurer, Bro. John Jones, Provincial Junior Grand Deacon; Bro. Frederick Ashmead, Provincial Grand Organist and Bro. William Dossan, Provincial Grand Tyler. The first annual Provincial Grand Lodge under Edward John Hutchins was held under the Banner of Glamorgan Lodge No. 36 at the Cardiff Arms Hotel on Thursday, 17th October 1850. For this event, Glamorgan Lodge was particularly grateful to the Loyal Cambrian Lodge at Merthyr for the loan of some of their furniture. There was the usual public procession in 'full Masonic costume' to St. John's Church, when a sermon was preached by the Provincial Grand Chaplain, the Rev. D. Jeffreys. There was, however, some discontent at the banquet in the evening, where it was reported in the 'Cardiff & Merthyr Guardian': - 'A deal of confusion occurred, not only as regards the quality of the wine, but also to the supply of this item and we feel bound to say that in both the arrangements were very defective"! The following year Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Thursday, 24th July at Swansea, under the banner of The Indefatigable Lodge. In the report of the 'Cardiff & Merthyr Guardian’ on Saturday, July 26th 1851, we have the first reference to ladies being admitted to apart of the proceedings! "On the motion of the Grand Master, the Grand Director of Ceremonies was requested to introduce the Ladies, and the Lodge was honoured by the company of the fairest of Swansea ladies, proverbial as the good town is for fair dames. Brother William Donne Bushell1 addressed them humorously and eloquently; and, at some length, expatiated on the benefit of Freemasonry, urging the Ladies at all times to choose Freemasons for husbands. Dr. Bird2; also, at the request of the Grand Master, addressed the ladies, and "God save the Queen," having been sung by the brethren, led by Brother W. Bowen, the Ladies retired, much gratified by the attention shown them." On October 1st 1852, a Provincial Grand Lodge was held in Neath under the banner of The Cambrian Lodge. In the report of this event in the "Cambrian" of 8th October 1832, there is enter reference to "the ladies being admitted and sewed in the neat little gallery attached to the all." This gallery was situated at. the West end of the Temple, and was removed during the' alterations carried out in 1870. Edward John Hutchins continued to preside at the annual meetings of Provincial Grand Lodge: 30th preside 1853 at Merthyr Tydfil (Loyal Cambrian Lodge; 15th August 1854 Cardiff (Glamorgan Lodge) and finally 2nd August 1855 at Swansea (Indefatigable Lodge). He resigned as P.G.M, in 1856 (His resignation was announced in Glamorgan Lodge on 14th April) and he was succeeded by Colonel Charles Kemeys-Tynte of Cefn Mably. He died, 'after a lingering illness' at Hastings on 11th February 1876 and an obituary was published in the 'Western Mail' on Monday, 21st February 1876. Notes: 1. - William Donne Bushell: Member of Royal Sussex Lodge of Hospitality No. 221 (now No. 187), Bristol, Past D.P.G.M. for Bristol (1847); Managing Director Taf Vale Railway Company; Treasurer o{ The Cardiff Infirmary; Joining member of Glamorgan Lodge (2nd March 1852). 2. - Dr. Bird: George Gwynne Bird, WM. Indefatigable Lodge Swansea, 1832, 1845 and 1848, D. P.G.M. South ales Eastern Division 1851-1863. References: 'Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume 1, 1832 - 1885, Harvester Press 1976 'The History of the Dowlais Iron Works 1759 - 1970, John A. Owen, The Starling Press, 1977 'The History of the Iron, Steel, Tinplate, and other Trades of Wales,' Charles Wilkins, F. G. S.; Published & Printed by Joseph Williams, Merthyr Tydfil, 1903 'The Illustrated History of the Loyal Cambrian Lodge'; James Fraser Published Merthyr 1914. 'History of the Indefatigable Lodge, William Henry Jones, Spurrell, Carmarthen 1923 'Cambrian Lodge, No. 364, 1821 -1921, Bro. Glen A. Taylor. © 2005 - Peter M Davies, Glamorgan Lodge No. 36