Building Funds

Fund raising was an important function of the Lodge in the early days. It not only served the purpose of financing the building fund but also gave the Brethren a common goal and brought members and non-members together socially.

In 1903 a committee was formed for the purpose of 'Raising and procuring the necessary funds for the erection of a new Masonic Temple". This committee seems to have had limited success in raising funds and when the building fund first appears on a balance Sheet in 1904, the total credit amounted to £52 14/11d, less than a year later the whole committee resigned.

Straight away the new committee set about organising a grand bazaar to be held at the end of 1906. Fund raising events were held, such as dances, whist's, cake and candy sales etc. to finance the grand bazaar.

The Brethren of the Lodge went to town, literally, to publicise their scheme : posters were put up in all the local villages, adverts placed in newspapers and shopkeepers were encouraged to run stalls. The result was a fantastic profit of £218 3/4d, making £270 13/- . A new Investment Account was opened with £350; £270 13/- from the Building Fund and £79 6/3d transferred from the General Fund. The Building Fund steadily increased its credit up until the beginning of the First World War, when the total had risen to £825 4/6d.

During the war years the account remained steady, but shortly after the war a continued effort on behalf of the committee, coupled with the interest realised from invested monies, resulted in the total rising to £3,044 17/4-21d by 1923. The Brethren voluntarily contributed £587 5/-towards this sum and the Order of the Eastern Star No. 54 Chapter donated £100.

The Halls Committee Balance Sheet of 1925 is of particular interest and clearly lists the Building Fund income against the cost of the building.

Building Fund : Financial Statement to 15th May, 1925

To: £ s d Cost of Building etc. £ s  d
Balance as at Oct. 1922 2,849 14 7 By Purchase of site 285 0 0
Balance from Social 1923 11 9 11 Law Agents? charges 28 2 3
Balance from Watch Scheme 1923 89 12 8 Architect 222 4 9
Balance from Watch Scheme 1925 83 5 10 Builders 1,493 0 0
Balance from Bazaar Nov. 1924 389 10 7 Joiners 950 13 11
Additional Money rec'd 6 0 0 Slaters 188 4 1
Transferred from Lodge General Fund 1924 60 0 0 Steel Work 88 15 9
Decorative Plaster Work 317 10 0
Plaster & Cement Work 78 0 0
Transferred from Halls General Fund as above 169 2 7 Plumber 228 5 9
Interest rec'd from Invests. 120 12 11 Electric Lighting 72 8 3
Electric Cable 7 10 0
3,779 9 1 Heating 199 3 6
Painter 81 12 4
Less Loss on Ju Ju Entertainment 22 4 8 Railings 32 0 0
3,757 4 5 Chairs 131 17 6
Transferred to Balance Sheet 698 4 0 Cost of Piano transferred to Lodge General Fund 48 0 0
Sundries 3 0 4
4,455 8 5 4,455 8 5

 

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Last updated on 08 October 2006

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