Naval & Military Conclave No. 35

The Naval and Military Conclave first began meeting in Portsea at the Masonic Hall, Highbury Street, which the Portsmouth Lodge had moved to in 1860, after the building had been purchased from the Portsmouth Literary and Philosophical Society. It was here that, from that beginning, Craft Masons were welcomed at the after-proceedings, which were held at the George Hotel and, it would appear, gave a connection that helped build the numbers joining the new Order.

It is premised that the Minute Book for the first six years was in the safe-keeping of Mark Masons’ Hall but regrettably the whereabouts of it now is not known. The records held by the Conclave start with the November 1877 meeting when there were 17 attendees; 6 were balloted and 4 admitted that evening.

In November 1877, under Any-other-Business, the members “considered the propriety of removing the Conclave to some more economical premises”; after some desultory conversation it was suggested that the Permanent Council should meet at an early date but meanwhile endeavour to make arrangements for more advantageous terms, prior to the Installation of the MPS Elect in December.

The following Friday, the Permanent Council is convened and, guided by the Intendant-General Charles Knott and the Deputy Intendant-General John Clark, it was agreed to put forward to the Members that:

1. The future meetings be held on 4th Friday of March, June, September and December.
2. That “fees of honour” be charged at 2 guineas for the offices of Sovereign and Viceroy.

Both suggestions were duly ratified by the members at the December meeting. In 1876/77 accounts four Account Examiners signed to confirm the accuracy of the Annual Income & Expenditure of £28.16s.4d. In September 1878, an Eulogy was given in respect of Bro. Knight Robert Wentworth Little, P.Gd.Viceroy, who had died on 12th April 1878, aged only 39 years. His remarkable efforts in the course of establishing the Order of The Red Cross of Constantine in 1865 (shortly followed by the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia in 1866), and his work and charity were much admired.

The June 1879 meeting noted that the annual accounts amounting to £34.19s.4d. were accurate. Grand Conclave Dues were 1 guinea.

In March 1880, a notice of motion was given to move to the new Masonic Hall at 79 Commercial Road, Portsea. This was duly agreed and the Conclave moved to its new home. However, in December 1880, when only 9 members attended, it began to become obvious that numbers have dwindled. By March 1886, the accounts of the Grand Conclave were noted as being in a poor state, due to the lack of payments of dues from some Conclaves.

An interesting note in the membership register shows one person as having “Absconded”; and a copy of the letter sent in desperation to the Treasurer who had neither attended, nor responded to letters, over some while and was therefore abruptly replaced. However, by April 1890 with Illustrious Sir Knight Charles Knott at the helm, the Order was on the move again.

In January 1894, an emergency meeting was held at 109 High Street, Portsmouth and in 1898 proposals made that the annual dues 1895/96 should be waived as no meetings have been held. Over the next 4 years the number of candidates steadily increased. By February 1898 new bylaws were adopted, with the annual dues of 6 shillings plus 2 shillings for rent and an Installation fee of 21 shillings. Candidates for the Appendant Orders were required to hold membership of the Holy Royal Arch. Surprisingly, the accounts presented in February 1899, showed a balance £10.11s.8d. which was the largest total in the proceeding 15 years.

Through the First World War the financial situation remained steady with regular meetings, but by the early 1920s, although subscriptions were still 8 shillings, the accounts were in a better state showing a balance of £234.15s.1d. By the end of the Second World War subscriptions were 10 shillings. These rose to £1 in 1960.

The Conclave moved to 10 Guildhall Walk, Portsmouth, in April 1875 with dues of £3. Here the Conclave remained for 125 years until the building was sold, due to the cost of refurbishment. The original marble honours board . This is still in the former Masonic Hall at Guildhall Walk due to its size and weight, was boarded over.

Moving to Lake Road Masonic Hall, in September 2000, with dues of £35 the Conclave enjoyed a cavernous lodge room on the first floor with chequered floor tiles, where the perambulations of the Divisional Arch of Steel were made more impressive by the echoing footsteps on the hard floor surface.

Due again to the sale of the premises, owing to the cost of necessary maintenance, the Conclave moved to the Royal Navy Club & Royal Albert Yacht Club in 2008. This venue had an impressive dining room but after staff changes, the standard of service and reliability of the catering could not be relied on, while costs rose by 20%.

After some years of discussion as to alternative venues, an enquiry by one of the members led to the possibility of moving to the Phoenix Rooms. A trial meeting was arranged and the opinion of Members discussed, resulting in a large majority deciding to favour moving to there. The decision was made to make the Phoenix Rooms the Conclaves new home.