AProvGM, W.Bro. Timothy Clark, accompanied by his Provincial escort, lead the 60 year celebrations at Aelwyd Lodge No. 7982, at Merthyr Tydfil Masonic Hall, for a very special historic and momentous occasion.
W.Bro. Howard Casey, a Past Master of Aelwyd Lodge gave an insightful and historic account of the history of the Lodge which went as follows:
On an icy night in the bleak midwinter of 1963/64, a group of Merthyr Freemasons and their wives gathered around the open coal fire in the saloon bar of the Eagle Hotel, situated in the appropriately named Masonic Street, in Merthyr Tydfil. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the formation of a new Masonic Lodge in Merthyr. At that time there were only two Lodges, Loyal Cambrian No.110 and North Glamorgan No.4055 in the town. Both Lodges had waiting lists for aspiring Masons of at least five years and also the policy then was to increase the opportunities for active Masons to achieve the Chair of King Solomon. The solution was to form a new Lodge in Merthyr Tydfil.
There are several things about that initial meeting which, less than fifty years later, appear very unusual. The gathering was held in the Eagle Hotel because, although the Merthyr Tydfil Masonic Hall had dining facilities, in those days it did not have a licensed bar. The wives of existing Masons were not only present, but took a full part in the discussions. In those days, Masonic wives purchased, prepared, and cooked all food for the Festive Board, and nothing was going to happen without their input!
In view of the obvious need for a new Lodge, the decision to Petition for one was easily made. When discussion turned to the name for the new Lodge, one of the Masonic wives pointed out that they were all staring at it. ‘Aelwyd’ is the Welsh word for the hearth’. However, ‘Aelwyd’ means more than just the physical object. It also conveys the warmth, security and friendliness associated with a coal fire blazing in an open hearth. Whilst many current and future Masons may now be unfamiliar with hearths or even coal fires, or even coal, it is no accident that electric and gas fires still attempt to capture the spirit of the hearth with fake coal fire effects. Thus, ‘Aelwyd’ Lodge, it was to be.
Continuing the theme of warmth and friendship, a Past Master of North Glamorgan Lodge with a significant Masonic career then still in front of him, W.Bro. Ken Adams Morgan, proposed the Lodge Motto should be ‘Yn gytun yn yr un lle’ which means with one accord in one place’. This Motto was taken from Verse 1 Chapter 2 of the Book of The Acts of the Apostles – ‘And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.’ Unusually for a Masonic Lodge, the Motto was taken
The Sponsoring Lodge was North Glamorgan Lodge, which then became the Mother Lodge, with Loyal Cambrian Lodge, the Grandmother Lodge. However, the moving spirit behind the Lodge was undoubtedly Ken Adams Morgan, who became its Master in 1966. He can justly be described as the ‘Father’ of the Lodge. Without his drive and enthusiasm for all things Masonic, it is doubtful if Aelwyd Lodge would have come into existence, certainly not in the form it took.
Once the Petition had been approved and a Lodge number allocated, a Banner was designed by Miss Nan Thomas, a local Art Teacher who, for many years, was regarded as an ‘honorary widow’ of the Lodge. At the centre of the Banner is the hearth with a blazing open coal fire and an empty armchair placed in front of the fire, symbolising the welcome for visiting Freemasons. The Banner was sown by nuns living in an English Convent who, unlike many of our own Members, found no difficulty with the Welsh spelling.
The Consecration Ceremony took place on 2 June 1964, at the Masonic Temple in Merthyr Tydfil. The full Provincial team was present led by RWBro R P St John Charles, ProvGM. The Consecration Banquet was a six course dinner, with turkey (in June!) as the main course. In the 1960s, turkey was still a great luxury, reserved for Christmas and other special occasions.
Musical entertainment at the Consecration Ceremony was provided by Bro’s William Arnold Davies (‘Bill Baritone’) and Haydn Adams Morgan, the father of WBro Ken Adams Morgan.
The Founder Master was WBro Col Reginald Freedman, a local Solicitor and Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Glamorgan. At that time, Col Freedman was virtually blind, and he is still remembered for nearly ‘braining’ a Candidate during a Third Degree Ceremony!
Over the years, the Lodge has developed its own traditions including a Loving Cup Ceremony. Before the days of health and safety concerns, the cup would be passed around after Installation Ceremonies filled with Malaga wine. At first only the Lodge Founders partook, then PMs and finally all Members. No one knows why Malaga wine was chosen. In those early days of continental holidays, someone probably brought back a bottle from Spain! The closing of each Lodge Meeting is marked with the singing of the Welsh hymn ‘Nefol Dad’.