A History of Horncastle Part 18

Babington, F. Gilliat, F. W. Tweed, J. R. Banks, and most of the chief tradesmen and residents in town and neighbourhood.

[Picture: The Stanch]

The Muster Roll, which is still preserved, of the corps then formed, and designated the "G Company of the 1st Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment of Volunteers," has at its head the name of Henry Francis Conington, as Captain, March 9th, 1860, with Richard W. c.l.i.therow and Robert Jalland, as officers under him, at the same date; then follows a long list of non-commissioned officers and privates, numbering, in the course of a few years, more than 2,000 names. Captain Conington, promoted Major in 1870, was succeeded in due course, on his going abroad, by Captain, afterwards Major, Robert Clifton Armstrong, who had begun service as Sergeant, and then Lieutenant; having under him, as Lieutenants, Messrs. W. Jeffery and W. S. c.l.i.therow, who were succeeded by Richard W. c.l.i.therow and Robert C. Isle; with Dr. Hugh George as surgeon.

Mr. Arthur Ellwood, of Mareham-le-Fen, who had joined the corps in 1865, succeeded to the command in 1891, with Dr. Keogh, of Coningsby, and F. S.

Dymoke, Esq., as Lieutenants, Dr. Hugh George still acting as Surgeon; Ellwood was promoted as Captain in 1891, succeeded to the Colonelcy of the head-quarters staff in 1894, and is now Hon. Colonel of the Battalion, ent.i.tled to wear the regimental uniform.

In 1894 Mr. H. Tweed succeeded to the command as Captain, with Messrs. T.

Levett and Granville Sharpe acting as Lieutenants (Mr. F. W. S. Heywood, of Holbeach Hall, being temporarily attached). In 1899 Granville Sharpe succeeded to the command, but his health failing, he resigned after a year's service. He was succeeded in 1900 by Dr. J. W. Jessop as Captain, who had joined in 1895, and was in 1906 promoted Major of the Battalion; A. A. Ellwood becoming Lieutenant. Dr. Herbert A. Howes, who had joined in 1900, succeeded in 1906 to the command, which he still holds, 1908.

Senior officers in command of the Battalion have been Col. Amcotts (deceased), Col. Seddon (deceased), Col. Preston (deceased), Col. J. G.

Williams of Lincoln, and at present Col. J. Ruston of Lincoln. Clergy who have served as Chaplains have been Revs. S. Lodge; C. Reginald Blathwayt, Vicar of West Ashby; A. Scrivenor, Vicar of Horncastle; H.

Benwell; and at the present time (1908) Paul O. Ashby, Inc.u.mbent of Revesby.

Among those who have done good service in the corps, we should mention the first Drill Sergeant Beeton, who had previously served in the 22nd Regiment of the Line (the Old Cheshire), and afterwards in the South Lincolnshire Militia, as Colour Sergeant. He drilled the corps during about 20 years; dying in Horncastle, after about 40 years service. He was followed by Sergt. Major Bartlett; then by Sergeant Doggett, who had been Colour Sergeant in the 1st Royal Suss.e.x, and previously to that in the 2nd Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment (the old 98th). He still resides in Horncastle. In later years the post has been held by Sergeants Towne, Ashley and Bamber.

As to the buildings connected with the volunteers, their history is briefly this: In the early years of the corps' existence drill was carried on in the Corn Exchange. After a time the building adjoining the north-east corner of the Wong, which had been a British School, was secured; and this, after structural renovation, was used for several years as the head-quarters. It is now in the occupation of Messrs. Danby and Cheseldine, Coach Builders; as in 1901 a new site was obtained at the south-east corner of the Wong, and here on the 13th day of June in that year the foundation stone of the present Drill Hall was laid, with much ceremony, by the Earl of Yarborough, supported by other public functionaries. We here give, in full, the official programme of the proceedings, which may be worthy of preservation, in memory of this important occasion.

PROGRAMME OF THE CEREMONIAL TO BE OBSERVED IN LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE NEW VOLUNTEER DRILL HALL, THE WONG, HORNCASTLE, On Thursday, the 13th day of June, 1901.

THE STONE WILL BE LAID BY THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL THE PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER OF LINCOLNSHIRE, THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF YARBOROUGH, P.C., D.L., Past Grand Warden of England, R.W. Provincial Grand Master; a.s.sISTED BY THE WORSHIPFUL THE DEPUTY PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER, BRO. W. H. SISSONS, D.L., J.P., And Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge.

CEREMONIAL.

The Members of the Provincial Grand Lodge and Visiting Brethren will a.s.semble at the Wesleyan Schoolroom, Horncastle, at 12 o'clock.

A Procession will be formed at 1215 precisely, in the following order: Two Tylers, with drawn Swords.

Visiting Brethren.

The Lodges of the Province, according to their numbers, Juniors going first.

The W. Masters of the Olive Union and Shakspeare Lodges, with Trowel and Gavel.

Prov. Grand Steward. Cornucopiae with Corn Prov. Grand Steward.

and Salt, borne by Masters of Lodges

Prov. Grand Steward. Ewers with Wine and Prov. Grand Steward.

Oil, borne by Masters of Lodges.

Past Provincial Grand Officers.

The Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works, with the Plate bearing the inscription for the Foundation Stone.

Provincial Grand Officer.

Provincial Grand Deacons, with Wands.

Acting Provincial Grand Treasurer, with Phial containing Coins to be deposited in the Stone.

The Corinthian Light, borne by the Master of the Franklin Lodge.

The Column of the Junior Provincial Grand Warden, borne by the Master of the Witham Lodge.

The Junior Provincial Grand Warden, with Plumb Rule.

The Doric Light, borne by the Master of the Doric Lodge.

The Column of the Senior Provincial Grand Warden, borne by the Master of the Pelham Pillar Lodge.

The Senior Provincial Grand Warden, with the Level. The Provincial Grand Chaplains, bearing the Volume of the Sacred Law.

The Provincial Grand Secretary, with Book of Const.i.tutions.

The Provincial Grand Standard Bearers, with Banner of Provincial Grand Lodge.

Provincial Grand Sword Bearer.

The W. Deputy Provincial Grand Master, with Square.

The Ionic Light, borne by the Master of the Yarborough Lodge.

Prov. Grand Steward The R.W. Provincial Prov. Grand Steward.

Grand Master.

Provincial Grand Tyler, with Sword.

On arrival at the site, the Brethren will divide right and left, allowing the R.W P.G.M. preceded by the Sword Bearers followed by the Acting Officers, to pa.s.s to their positions, and the brethren will then file round the Acting Officers.

The W.M. of the Olive Union Lodge will then request the Provincial Grand Master to lay the Foundation Stone.

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master will deliver the Ancient Opening Address.

HYMN-

Hail! Eternal! by whose aid All created things were made, Heaven and earth Thy vast design, Hear us, Architect Divine!

May our work, begun in thee, Ever blest with ORDER be; And may we, when labours cease, Part in HARMONY and PEACE.

By Thy glorious Majesty- By the TRUST we place in Thee- By the badge and Mystic sign- Hear us, Architect Divine! So mote it be.

The Provincial Grand Chaplin will offer Prayer.

The Architect will then present the Plans for Inspection.

The Acting Provincial Grand Treasurer will then deposit the Coins, &c., in the cavity of the stone.

The Provincial Grand Secretary will read aloud the inscription on the Stone and Plate, which will then be placed in position.

The W. Master, 1304, will then present the Trowel to the P.G.M., who will adjust the cement, and the upper stone will be lowered, with three distinct stops.

The R.W. the P.G.M. will now prove the just position and form of the stone by the Plumb Rule, Level, and Square, which will be successively handed to him by the P.G. Junior Warden, the P.G. Senior Warden, and Deputy Provincial Grand Master. Being satisfied in these particulars, he will give the stone three knocks with the Mallet, which will be delivered to him by the Grand Superintendent of Works.

The Cornucopiae, containing the Corn and Salt, and the Ewers, with the Wine and Oil, will next be handed to the R.W. the P.G.M., who will strew the Corn and Salt, and pour the Wine and Oil over the stone, with the accustomed ceremonies.

Invocation by the P.G. Chaplain.

The R.W. the P.G.M. having inspected the Plan of the intended building, will deliver the same to the Architect, together with the several tools used in proving the position of the stone, and desire him to proceed without loss of time to the completion of the Work, in conformity with the Plan.

The following Hymn will then be sung:-

G.o.d of Light! whose love unceasing Doth to all Thy works extend, Crown our Order with Thy blessing.

Build-sustain us to the end.

Humbly now we bow before Thee, Grateful for Thine aid Divine; Everlasting power and glory, Mighty Architect, be Thine. So mote it be

The Procession will return in inverse order to the P.G. Lodge Room.