Edmund Reid

John George Littlechild was Initiated as an Entered Apprentice in Zetland Lodge on 7 November 1894 and is
listed as a “Retired Inspector Police C. I. Dept.” He Passed into Fellowcraft on 5 December 1894 and was Raised
as a Master Mason on 6 February 1895. 19 He resigned from Zetland Lodge on 11 March 1912.
By 1902, Littlechild must have been a member of Zetland Lodge for several years as he was rising through the
official positions in the Lodge, and was at this time Junior Warden. He remained at this rank by 5 November 1902,
when the next Minutes are recorded. Abberline is also listed as attending. However, by February 1903 Littlechild
had been promoted to the next rank of Senior Warden, one rank away from becoming Worshipful Master of the
Lodge. Brother Abberline is again listed as attending.
On 1 April 1903 Abberline attended the meeting and
Bro Littlechild is still Senior Warden. This same status is
also subsequently recorded in the Minutes of 4 November
1903. 20 Littlechild most likely became Worshipful Master
in 1904 when Abberline left. Hopefully, a perusal of the
original records next year will confirm this and indeed
who proposed both Abberline and Littlechild as members
initially.
Minutes of a meeting of Zetland Lodge meeting held on 1 April 1903
Strangely, no initials are listed next to Bro Abberline’s
name in any of the Minutes to indicate an official rank
in the rise to become head of the Lodge (seven or eight
ranks/positions have to be worked before top role can be
achieved). Therefore, while one might presume Abberline
did not wish to go through the Officer ranks, this is not
the case, as confirmed by a reference I discovered in an
issue of the Freemasonic periodical The Freemason dated
14 November 1896. 21 In this journal, within the latest
information pertaining to Zetland Lodge No 511 we are
told “the newly installed Master Brother Thwaites then
invested his officers to their various roles.” 22 F G Abberline
was created A.D.C., which stands for Assistant Director
of Ceremonies. This was an important masonic post,
which even today is held by someone who has been a Past
Master of a Lodge, as the role involves knowing in-depth
knowledge of Lodge rituals, and being well-versed in the
rules of procedure laid down in the Book of Constitutions.
As an Assistant Director of Ceremonies it would have been
Abberline’s duty to assist the Director in ensuring that
ceremonies were conducted properly.
Also in the above article we are told that Bro J G Littlechild took part in “a most excellent programme of
music”. 23 What exactly Littlechild’s role was is not specified, but most likely he was a musician or a singer. 24 His
musical talents would seem to be confirmed through his membership of Mendelssohn Lodge No. 2661, which he
joined in 1902. The register lists his Initiation date as 6 December 1902 and his Profession being a ‘Confidential
Agent’. His address is listed as No. 8 The Chase, Clapham Common. 25 At the time of his membership, meetings were
held in the Holborn Restaurant, High Holborn. 26 He paid his dues to at least 1921, the last date of the registers.
19 See Freemasonry membership records on www.ancestry.co.uk.
20 Minutes of Zetland Lodge, W. Bro Barry Mitchell op.cit.
21 The Freemason, 14 November 1896, p.9.
22 Ibid.
23 Ibid.
24 Littlechild was a prominent member of the Metropolitan Police Minstrels, a troupe giving concerts in aid of police charities.
25 Freemasonry membership records at www.ancestry.co.uk.
26 Lane’s Masonic Records: The Library & Museum of Freemasons website (www.hrionline.ac.uk/lane/record).
Ripperologist 147 December 2015 19