The
port closest to London, Clacton-on-Sea, served as a major shipping
channel in 19th century England. Weather, rocks and shifting
conditions made it an especially treacherous place to navigate and,
as might be expected, the waters there claimed many ships and human
lives. In 1875, Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, Grand Master of the
Grand Lodge of England and later King Edward VII (1901-10), voyaged
to India. Thankful for his safe return eight months later at
Clacton-on-Sea, the Grand Lodge of England decided to make the port
safer by donating a lifeboat in his name. With more than 4,000
spectators in attendance, they dedicated and launched the Albert
Edward Lifeboat on July 10, 1878, amidst pomp and circumstance fit
for the future King. An unknown poet immortalized the event with an
official poem which said, in part:
Built
from henceforth life to save,
Manned
by crew so strong and brave-
Launch
the boat with ringing cheer!
Honour
the name to all now dear!
Honour
the dead in the living son!
Honour
the love so justly won!
“ALBERT
EDWARD," aye to be
The
sailor’s friend on this Eastern Sea!
Honour
“the Craft,” whose generous thought
So
much of sterling good has wrought!
Honour
the gift that they have given,
To
save man’s life, if willed by Heaven!
Honour
the true hearts ever found,
When
storms and tempests rage around,
To
leave their homes, where loved ones weep,
And
brave the perils of the deep!
By
the day of the dedication, the Albert Edward had already proven its
worth. Delivered to Clacton prior to the official launching, the
lifeboat saw its first action on May 23, when the ship Garland, on a
voyage from Shields to London, ran aground and broke up. The crew
rowed for three grueling hours to reach the stranded vessel and saved
the lives of six men and three boys on board.
No
one will ever know how many crewmen, most of whom were likely
Freemasons, lost their lives in this dangerous service. However, the
1884 proceedings of the United Grand Lodge of England made note of
the following:
"That
the sum of 50 guineas (about $5,000 today) be granted to the family
of the late James Cross and a similar sum to the family of Thomas
Cattermole, two of the crew of the Albert Edward lifeboat at
Clacton-on-Sea, which boat was presented to the National Life Boat
Institution by Grand Lodge.
These
two men, after having assisted, the first in saving 116 and the
second 33 lives, having lost their own in the discharge of their duty
on the night of the 23rd January last, whilst in their boat
endeavouring to rescue the crew of a vessel in distress, leaving
their families consisting of a widow and six children and a widow and
three children entirely destitute."
For
over a half century, from 1878-1929, the Albert Edward and its two
successors of the same name, guarded the port of Clacton-on-Sea and
saved countless lives. Today, Freemasons still take part in rescues
there and at other ports. In addition the Fraternity regularly
donates funds to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, which
oversees the lifesaving operations throughout Great Britain.
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