A Masonic Outing in June 1893

 The removal of the Royal Victorian Jubilee Lodge No. 2184. upon the register of the Grand Lodge of England from the Forest Hotel, Chingford, to Bro. Joyce’s hotel, the Phoenix, at Rainham, on Tuesday last, was the occassion of one of the most delightful outings. The weather was simply magnificent, and when, after a nice little dinner at the hotel, the following brethren took their places on Bro. Joyce’s handsome drag, drawn by four horses such as we read but seldom see, the effect was not only memorable but exhilarating to a degree.

The voyagers included Bros. Ringrose, W.M., C.E.Lewis, P.M. and P.P.G.Std.B., C.H.Canning, P.M. and P.P.G.D. and Treasurer of the lodge, C.Jolly, P.M. and Secretary, F.J.Eedle, P.M. and J.W., J.T.Barnes, S.D., S.Carlton, J.D., W.Reynolds, I.G., G.F.Penny, D.C., C.Mollick, Std., J.Joyce, the host of the hotel, W.Barrett, and Bro. Baldock, of Grays.

The route lay through the glorious old forest, rich in its robes of spring; through leafy lanes, with glimpses of lakes, here and there, diminished, however, sadly by the drought that prevails; grand old churches and delightful country residences, till at the Castle, at Woodford, the “coachee”, one of the most civil and delightful toolers that ever gracefully turned a corner or told you – “you” being the inhabitant of the box-seat – the legends of the places you passed through but of that more anon.

Well, man and beast were refreshed at the Castle and then away we went; Woodford Wells and Woodford proper being left behind, Snaresbrook and Wanstead Flats – the latter beloved of snipe and plover in winter – were passed. Ilford,^•with its popular, well, we mean populous – cemetery, was passed, and then the horn sounded a halt, and at Bro. C.Reynolds’, the son of a worthy sire, once again were the failing energies recruited.

Can any lover of Masonry, or anyone on the road, pass dear old Peter Reynolds’ Golden Lion at Romford without sampling, not only his generous hospitality, but a grasp from that iron fist of his, that could fell an ox, or draw you to him in a welcome never to be forgotten? Well, we could not, and didn’t. Bro. Jennings and his “pardner” – dear old “Tom” – gave us a hearty welcome, and then away we sped through Havering to Rainham -“Do you see that bit of a ditch, sir? There’s where Inspector Simmons was murdered.        Yes, he was shot there by Lee, who afterwards hanged at Chelmsford. You see that break in the hedge; it has never been filled up. That’s where Lee and his pals got through, and went away for a time. There was a stir about it; but Detective Rolfe – You’ve heard of him I daresay. Ses he, ‘I’ll have him,’ and he got him; two of ‘um wer hanged over that job. Do you see that old house over there? Well, that’s the house – an old lady’s – Lee and his pals intended to rob, but Simmons stopped ‘um, and was shot. Lord bless you, sir, you could not get near Lee; he always had a revolver, and had killed seven men, but Rolfe ‘copped’ him when he was hard up, and pawned it.” – So our smart young “Jarvie”, who, I noticed had a cock”of^.the little finger of the right hand, the “sign” of the road, for most of the roadsters, beguiled the lovely hours, till with a rush of the steeds, and a triumphal blast of the horn we landed at the Phoenix.

The magnificent lodge room was examined and admired; the adjoining room and billiard rooms were sampled; and everything being pronounced Al, the brethren sat down to a prettily served dinner, to which they did full justice. Bro. Ringrose, W.M., presided, and in the name of the lodge thanked Bro. Joyce for his splendid hospitality both as “carter” and host, and here we may as well say that the coach and dinner were entirely provided at the expense of Bro. Joyce, who expressed himself delighted at the pleasant termination of a pleasant outing. The furniture of the lodge was guaranteed by the brethren present, and the whole affair was and will be a red-letter day in the history of the “Royal Victorian Jubilee Lodge”.