History
Compared to its sponsoring Lodge, Telephone Lodge No 3301, far less has been handed down to posterity about the Chapter's history. The Telephone Royal Arch Chapter was consecrated on November 30th, 1914. A report on the consecration ceremony and after proceedings appeared in "The Freemasons' Chronicle" of the 5th December, 1914. In this report E. Comp. P. P. Kipping is stated to have been the prime mover in the formation of this Chapter as he had been with the Telephone Lodge.
Our minutes show that, prior to the consecration meeting, three meetings of our founders were held in the Midland Bank Chambers, Queen Victoria Street, E.C. At the first of these meetings a petition for the formation of this Chapter was signed by the founders and subsequently was presented to our sponsoring Lodge, the Telephone Lodge No. 3301, at their regular meeting held on May 16th, 1914. This petition countersigned by the Master and Wardens of Telephone Lodge, was presented to the Committee of General Purposes of Supreme Grand Chapter, by the Grand Scribe E., at their meeting held on July 15th, 1914, at which a recommendation was made that a Charter be granted. This recommendation was approved at the Quarterly Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter held on August 5th, 1914.
The Consecration Meeting was held at the Café Royal, Regent Street, London.
The Consecrating Officer was E.Comp. Sir Edward Letchworth, F.S.A., Grand Scribe E. assisted by:
| E. Comp. W.J. Songhurst, PAGSoj | H |
| E. Comp. The Rev. Dr. Oliver C. Cockram, PGStdB | J |
| E. Comp. T.A. Bullock, PAGDC | SN |
| E. Comp. B. Marr-Johnson, PDepGDC | DC |
| E. Comp. W. Yeo | Grand Janitor |
The Founders and First Officers were:-
| E. Comp. | F.O. Harke, PZ 1339 | MEZ |
| E. Comp. | P.P. Kipping, MEZ 28 | H |
| E. Comp. | F.A.B. Lord, MEZ 55 | J |
| E. Comp. | T. Taylor, PGSwdB | Acting IPZ |
| E. Comp. | L.W.H. Fischer, PZ 5, MEZ 33 | Scribe E |
| Comp. | E.W. Wainwright, 214 | Scribe N |
| Comp. | Capt. A.E. Willmott, 552 | Treasurer |
| Comp. | W.V. Pegden, 3077 | PS |
| Comp. | W.M. France, 3077 | 1st AS |
| Comp. | H.G. Fisher, 2697 | 2nd AS |
| E. Comp. | J. Russell, PZ 28 and 33 | DC |
| E. Comp. | E.J. Reid, MEZ 826 | Steward |
| Comp. | A.F. Paddon, 3077 | Steward |
| E. Comp. | R. Stoneman | Janitor |
As can be seen, Companions came from 9 different Chapters, but this perhaps obscures the key point that most were members of Telephone Lodge. Companions Harke, Kipping, Lord, Taylor, France and Paddon had been Founders of Telephone Lodge in 1908, while Companions Pegden and Reid were also members of the Lodge. Companion Wainwright was the Preceptor of the Telephone Lodge of Instruction. Down the years, many Past Masters of Telephone Lodge have gone on to become First Principals of the Chapter. Photographs of many of these can be found on the Telephone Lodge website.
The Chapter started life during the Great War, but this does not seem to have caused any interruption in the regular meetings. In 1915, a tradition started of organising summer outings for Chapter members and their ladies. Except for a gap in 1917-18, these were held every summer until 1933. They seem to have been very popular and included river trips, visits to places of interest, hotel lunches and teas. The cost of these events was just 25s per head from 1920-1933, but in those days that provided a quite luxurious day out.
Many Chapter members have been honoured with London or Provincial Grand Chapter Rank and a good number have become Grand Officers.
A particular feature that has assisted maintaining high standards in the Chapter has been the longevity of tenure of some Companions in the key offices of Scribe E and Treasurer. E. Comps F.E. Sims, L. Pinder and A.S. Walker were Scribes E for 17, 24 and 31 years respectively. E. Comps W.M. France and F. Martin were Treasurers for 15 and 12 years respectively.
It can be fairly said that upon the foundations laid by the Founders, the members of the Chapter have built a superstructure "honourable to its builders".