© 2021 Provincial Grand Court of Wessex
Court of ÆĐELRED No. 66
Meeting at The Masonic Hall, off High Street, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset. TA8 1NX
Regular meetings of the Court are held on the 3rd. Monday in March,
May, and October (Installation).
CONTACT SECRETARY: W. Bro. David R. Attwater, ProvJGW
PROVINCIAL GRAND SECRETARY
100 Avonmouth Road, Bristol, BS11 9NA
(Home Phone: 01179 38 0271 Mob: 07443 54 9721
e-mail: dattwater50@sky.com
ORATION : THE COURT of ÆĐELRED No. 66, 3rd. July 2010
by W.& Em.Bro. Colin Lowther, Acting Provincial Eminent Grand Prior of Wessex
And God said, Let there be Light and there was Light.
Everyone here today will have heard that phrase at some time in his
Masonic career. Brethren, we are gathered here today in harmony and
peace, and privileged to be present at, and to participate in, the consecration of the newest Court of Athelstan, the fourth
Court in the Province of Wessex.
Yet, Brethren, you are but camping out in this Temple at Nailsea. Temporary residents waiting to move on.
This
is
not
to
be
the
permanent
home
of
ÆĐELRED
Court,
for
that
is
to
be
further
South,
about
20
miles
away
at
Burnham
on
Sea.
Most, if not all of the founders of ÆĐELRED Court, will be familiar with the Masonic Temple in Burnham.
The address in the Somerset year book is given as "Up a lane opposite the Somerset & Dorset Public House", Burnham on Sea.
That building, which is so easy for a regular visitor to find, but so difficult for a first time visitor.
It is tucked away, out of sight in one of the many side streets and alleyways leading off the High Street in Burnham.
Yet that building, like Burnham itself is steeped in history.
Craft,
Royal
Arch
Chapter,
Mark,
Royal
Ark
Mariners,
Red
Cross
of
Constantine
and
the
Operatives
all
meet
there.
Now
another
chapter is to be added to the history of the Masonic Temple at Burnham on Sea.
The founding of a new Court of the Masonic Order of Athelstan. The newest Court in the Order of Athelstan.
The
town
of
Burnham
can
trace
its
history
back
to
Roman
Times.
There
are
ancient
records
of
a
settlement
at
the
mouth
of
the
River
Parrett
where
it
meets
Bridgwater
Bay.
A
small
village
until
the
late
1700`s
when
tourism
found
it.
Reclaiming
the
land
on
the
Somerset
levels
has
taken
place
in
that
area
from
time
immemorial.
The
biggest
set
back
in
the
reclamation
of
the
land,
was
without
a
doubt,
the
great
flood
of
1607
and
it
is
probable
that
the
surge
of
water
reached
as
far
inland
as
Nailsea
itself,
where we meet today.
Burnham on Sea, is well known for its Lighthouse or Lighthouses.
The
first
recorded
Light
was
on
top
of
the
tower
of
the
14th
century
church
of
St.
Andrews,
later,
in
the
1800's,
to
be
replaced
with a purpose built Lighthouse.
There
are
three
lighthouses
in
Burnham,
four
if
you
count
Burnham
Lighthouse
Assemblage,
although,
apart
from
the
Assemblage, only one Lighthouse functions, the old wooden lighthouse on the sands.
Somerset,
and
Burnham
in
particular,
has
ancient
Masonic
connections.
The
Masonic
Province
of
Somerset
was
founded
in
1770
and
the
Rural
Philanthropic
Lodge,
now
number
291,
although
it
has
had
at
least
five
numbers
in
its
chequered
history,
meeting in the Temple at Burnham, was founded in 1793.
The
Masonic
Order
of
Athelstan
is
young
by
comparison.
Yet,
like
Freemasonry
some
200
years
ago,
the
Order
is
thriving
and
moving from strength to strength, growing month by month and year by year.
The
new
Court,
ÆĐELRED
Court
number
66,
takes
its
name
from
a
well
known
but
not
very
popular
Anglo
Saxon
King,
Ethelred
the II or, as he is better known, Ethelred the Unready.
Born
in
968,
King
of
the
English
from
March
978
until
his
death
in
April
1016.
He
had
succeeded
to
the
throne
at
the
age
of
10
following the murder of his half brother Edward, in nearby Corfe Castle.
Edward was later to become Edward the Martyr.
Ethelred, was crowned King of the English at Kingston upon Thames where Athelstan and five
other Saxon Kings, were also crowned.
A stone, believed to be a Coronation Stone has been recovered and now stands in the High Street at Kingston upon Thames.
History has been unkind to Ethelred the II. Modern historians suggest that the title, "The Unready",
was not justified.
A
strict
interpretation
of
the
Anglo
Saxon
words,
unraed
or
unraedy
is
"ill
advised".
The
name
Ethelred
is
interpreted
as
Good
Counsel. A true interpretation of the name Ethelred the Unready is,
"Good Counsel, ill advised".
Many historians now believe that Ethelred II was the victim of circumstances.
Historical research completed in the late 1980
f
s suggest that it was not Ethelred who was the
"unready", but his advisors.
They
were
looking
after
the
interests
of
the
wealthy
landed
gentry,
who
in
turn
were
trying
to
recover
the
losses
incurred,
when
Ethelred's
predecessor,
Edward
was
on
the
throne,
and
who
had
handed
most
of
their
lands
and
family
treasures
to
the
Monasteries.
Ethelred was once described as
"A young man in respect of years. Elegant in his manners, with an attractive face and handsome
appearance".
Not unlike the new Worshipful Master of ÆĐELRED Court.
Like
the
remaining
lighthouse
in
Burnham
on
Sea,
which
shines
its
brilliant
light
outwards
across
Bridgwater
Bay,
may
ÆĐELRED
Court
become
a
powerful
light
in
the
Order
of
Athelstan,
shining
inwards
over
the
Somerset
Levels
and,
under
the
direction
of
Right
Worshipful
Brother
Malcolm
Burns,
the
Provincial
Grand
Master
of
this
Province
of
Wessex,
lead
the
Order
of
Athelstan
on
from
Strength to Strength.
Brethren, may the Light of God, shine upon this Court, until time shall be no more.
© 2021 Provincial Grand Court of Wessex
Court of ÆĐELRED No. 66
Meeting at The Masonic Hall, off High Street,Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset. TA8 1NX
TA8 1NX Regular meetings of the Court are held on the 3rd. Monday
in March,
May (Installation), and October.
CONTACT SECRETARY: W. Bro. David R. Attwater, ProvJGW
Provincial Grand Secretary
100 Avonmouth Road, Bristol, Avon. BS11 9NA
(Home Phone: 01793 80 0271 Mob: 07967 69 0263
e-mail: dattwater50@sky.com
ORATION : THE COURT of ÆĐELRED No. 66, 3rd. July 2010
by W.& Em.Bro. Colin Lowther, Acting Provincial Eminent Grand Prior of Wessex
And God said, Let there be Light and there was Light.
Everyone here today will have heard that phrase at some time in his
Masonic career. Brethren, we are gathered here today in harmony and
peace, and privileged to be present at, and to participate in, the consecration of the newest Court of Athelstan, the
fourth Court in the Province of Wessex.
Yet, Brethren, you are but camping out in this Temple at Nailsea. Temporary residents waiting to move on.
This
is
not
to
be
the
permanent
home
of
ÆĐELRED
Court,
for
that
is
to
be
further
South,
about
20
miles
away
at
Burnham on Sea.
Most, if not all of the founders of ÆĐELRED Court, will be familiar with the Masonic Temple in Burnham.
The
address
in
the
Somerset
year
book
is
given
as
"Up
a
lane
opposite
the
Somerset
&
Dorset
Public
House",
Burnham on Sea.
That building, which is so easy for a regular visitor to find, but so difficult for a first time visitor.
It is tucked away, out of sight in one of the many side streets and alleyways leading off the High Street in Burnham.
Yet that building, like Burnham itself is steeped in history.
Craft,
Royal
Arch
Chapter,
Mark,
Royal
Ark
Mariners,
Red
Cross
of
Constantine
and
the
Operatives
all
meet
there.
Now another chapter is to be added to the history of the Masonic Temple at Burnham on Sea.
The founding of a new Court of the Masonic Order of Athelstan. The newest Court in the Order of Athelstan.
The
town
of
Burnham
can
trace
its
history
back
to
Roman
Times.
There
are
ancient
records
of
a
settlement
at
the
mouth
of
the
River
Parrett
where
it
meets
Bridgwater
Bay.
A
small
village
until
the
late
1700`s
when
tourism
found
it.
Reclaiming
the
land
on
the
Somerset
levels
has
taken
place
in
that
area
from
time
immemorial.
The
biggest
set
back
in
the
reclamation
of
the
land,
was
without
a
doubt,
the
great
flood
of
1607
and
it
is
probable
that
the
surge
of
water
reached as far inland as Nailsea itself, where we meet today.
Burnham on Sea, is well known for its Lighthouse or Lighthouses.
The
first
recorded
Light
was
on
top
of
the
tower
of
the
14th
century
church
of
St.
Andrews,
later,
in
the
1800's,
to
be
replaced with a purpose built Lighthouse.
There
are
three
lighthouses
in
Burnham,
four
if
you
count
Burnham
Lighthouse
Assemblage,
although,
apart
from
the Assemblage, only one Lighthouse functions, the old wooden lighthouse on the sands.
Somerset,
and
Burnham
in
particular,
has
ancient
Masonic
connections.
The
Masonic
Province
of
Somerset
was
founded
in
1770
and
the
Rural
Philanthropic
Lodge,
now
number
291,
although
it
has
had
at
least
five
numbers
in
its
chequered history, meeting in the Temple at Burnham, was founded in 1793.
The
Masonic
Order
of
Athelstan
is
young
by
comparison.
Yet,
like
Freemasonry
some
200
years
ago,
the
Order
is
thriving and moving from strength to strength, growing month by month and year by year.
The
new
Court,
ÆĐELRED
Court
number
66,
takes
its
name
from
a
well
known
but
not
very
popular
Anglo
Saxon
King, Ethelred the II or, as he is better known, Ethelred the Unready.
Born
in
968,
King
of
the
English
from
March
978
until
his
death
in
April
1016.
He
had
succeeded
to
the
throne
at
the
age of 10 following the murder of his half brother Edward, in nearby Corfe Castle.
Edward was later to become Edward the Martyr.
Ethelred,
was
crowned
King
of
the
English
at
Kingston
upon
Thames
where
Athelstan
and
five
other
Saxon
Kings,
were
also
crowned.
A
stone,
believed
to
be
a
Coronation
Stone
has
been
recovered
and
now
stands
in
the
High
Street
at
Kingston
upon
Thames.
History has been unkind to Ethelred the II. Modern historians suggest that the title, "The Unready",
was not justified.
A
strict
interpretation
of
the
Anglo
Saxon
words,
unraed
or
unraedy
is
"ill
advised".
The
name
Ethelred
is
interpreted
as
Good Counsel. A true interpretation of the name Ethelred the Unready is,
"Good Counsel, ill advised".
Many historians now believe that Ethelred II was the victim of circumstances.
Historical
research
completed
in
the
late
1980
f
s
suggest
that
it
was
not
Ethelred
who
was
the
"unready",
but
his
advisors.
They
were
looking
after
the
interests
of
the
wealthy
landed
gentry,
who
in
turn
were
trying
to
recover
the
losses
incurred,
when
Ethelred's
predecessor,
Edward
was
on
the
throne,
and
who
had
handed
most
of
their
lands
and
family
treasures
to the Monasteries.
Ethelred was once described as
"A young man in respect of years. Elegant in his manners, with an attractive face and handsome
appearance".
Not unlike the new Worshipful Master of ÆĐELRED Court.
Like
the
remaining
lighthouse
in
Burnham
on
Sea,
which
shines
its
brilliant
light
outwards
across
Bridgwater
Bay,
may
ÆĐELRED
Court
become
a
powerful
light
in
the
Order
of
Athelstan,
shining
inwards
over
the
Somerset
Levels
and,
under
the
direction
of
Right
Worshipful
Brother
Malcolm
Burns,
the
Provincial
Grand
Master
of
this
Province
of
Wessex,
lead
the
Order of Athelstan on from
Strength to Strength.
Brethren, may the Light of God, shine upon this Court, until time shall be no more.
