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Even though Irish Masonry reached the Chinese coast in 1919 with the establishment of Erin Lodge No. 463 I.C. in Shanghai on 4th Oct. 1919, it was not until 1952 that positive action was taken to establish an Irish Masonic presence in Singapore, when R W Bro H E Swabey, Grand Inspector of the Inspectorate Area of Ireland for Hong Kong & China, wrote to W Bro W E Hutchinson suggesting that a Lodge under the Irish Constitution should be founded in Singapore. The views were sought of the Sister Constitutions, both of whom replied that a Lodge under the Irish Constitution would be welcomed. At the same time the Masonic Hall Board agreed to place the present facilities in the Temple at Coleman Street at the disposal of such a Lodge, if it were formed. Accordingly, a meeting of Brethren associated with the Irish Constitution was held on the 2nd of April 1953. At this meeting, which was also attended by some Brethren from the Sister Constitutions, it was decided that action should be taken to establish a Lodge. The decision was taken at a subsequent meeting, that same year, to open a Petition for a Warrant and settle the issues of Dues and so on. A decision was finally taken late in 1953 to proceed with the project. The Petitioners met in January 1954 (some forty Brethren had signed the Petition) and the name Lodge St.Patrick was adopted as that of the proposed Lodge. The founding officers designate were elected, viz:
Those Brethren elected to the three Principal offices were all Initiates of Irish Constitution Lodges. The Petition, finally signed by over 50 Brethren, was forwarded to R W Bro Swabey in Hong Kong and the news was received in March 1954 that the Warrant had been granted at a meeting of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, held in Cork, in March 1954. It is interesting to note that the Petition included the names of such well known Singapore Freemasons as W Bro B C J "Buck" Buckeridge and W Bro Derek Coupland. Lodge Singapore No. 7178 E.C. and Lodge St.Andrew No. 1437 S.C. supported the Petition and, to this day, play a role in the Installation ceremony of the Master-elect of Lodge St.Patrick. The Constitution and Dedication Ceremony of Lodge St.Patrick No. 765 Irish Constitution was held in the Temple at Coleman Street, Singapore on 5th June, 1954, presided over by R W Bro Swabey, and assisted by Brethren of the English and Scottish Constitutions. The foundation of Lodge St.Patrick resulted in the boundaries of the Inspectorate Area of Hong Kong and China being extended to encompass Malaya. Following the death, in 1956, of R W Bro Swabey; W Bro G F Rhodes was appointed Grand Inspector, with Bro A W S Smith as Assistant in Hong Kong and Bro Dr Charles B Wilson as Assistant for Singapore. Charles recounts that his Masonic career began in Northern Queensland when he was serving in Mobile Operational Naval Air Base No. 6, a unit whose role was to test fly planes arriving in kit form from the USA. He was involved in a couple of serious "prangs", including one which, in his own words, "he was lucky to walk away from". He continues "I got to know the local doctor, dentist, solicitor and publican quite well and we went sailing, fishing and hunting together. I could not understand when, on a certain day, they would all disappear. I queried them and discovered they were all Masons. So I said you all seemed to be decent chaps if you are all Masons and I would like to be one too. They thought that this would be a good idea" Charles then wrote to his parents in Ireland and casually mentioned that he was going to become a Freemason. His father's reply by telegram was both terse and swift "You are an Irishman, you will be an Irish Mason!". No discussion. He continues "I did not realise that a telegram like this went out as a signal to the fleet, so all the naval establishments and ships got to hear about it." Charles subsequently joined HMS Glory, the war ended and he returned to Ireland and finally ended up in Singapore in private practice as a GP. After some time he noticed the Masonic Hall and presented himself with the declaration that he wished to become an Irish Freemason. "Well that is just too bad" was the reply "there are no Irish Lodges here". At this point enter Dr John Grove-White and the rest, as they say, is history. Bro C B Wilson became the very first Initiate of Lodge St.Patrick and subsequently enjoyed an active Masonic career, achieving the honour of being appointed Grand Inspector for the Inspectorate Area of South East Asia. He was also the brother-in-law of the founding Senior Warden of Lodge St.Patrick, Bro R J Grove-White - I suspect his connection with Lodge St.Patrick is therefore far more than mere coincidence. R W Bro Wilson is alive and well and enjoying retirement, not in his native Ireland, but in England. In 1966 Lodge Emerald in the East No. 830 was erected in Kuala Lumpur, thereby extending the Inspectorate Area of the Inspectorate of Hong Kong and China. It was then decided that the Inspectorate Area of Hong Kong, China and Malaya should now split into two, the Hong Kong Lodges forming the Inspectorate Area of the Far East and Lodge St.Patrick combining with Lodge Emerald in the East to form the Inspectorate Area of Singapore and Malaysia (later renamed South East Asia). R W Bro C B Wilson was appointed Grand Inspector and V W Bro D A J Bruford his Assistant. In 1977 R W Bro Wilson was succeed by R W Bro C T Sun. R W Bro Sun subsequently by R W Bro Paddy Neoh Thean Hup until he handed over the Inspectorate Area to R W Bro Lim Boon Par, present day Grand Inspector. The present Assistant Grand Inspector, V W Bro Eddie Kang, is an Initiate and Past Warden of Lodge Emerald in the East. Overseas District Grand Rank Alive & Well |
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