The Reverend Dr Joseph Moffett

27 September, 2016

1952 – 1963

Joseph Moffett was an Ulsterman by birth and a son of the Manse, and was born in 1885. On 3rd November 1917 he became Minister at Crown Court Church, Covent Garden, London, a cradle of the Scottish Church in London. Included in the many activities were Gaelic services at definite periods of the year, Ministers being invited from the Highlands of Scotland. Dr. Moffett worked unsparingly for the Scottish community in London, and this was recognised by the University of St. Andrews in 1948 when it conferred on him a Doctorate of Divinity, and subsequently by the King when he was appointed OBE. During the Second World War he took a deep interest in the men of the Polish forces. When the Church of the Dutch community in  London was destroyed by bombs, Dr. Moffett came forward to assist them; his services to the Dutch people were subsequently recognised when the Queen of the Netherlands conferred the Order of Orange-Nassau upon him. His own Church sustained bomb damage in 1941 and the necessary repairs were completed in 1950 at a cost of nearly £5,000, most of which was met by the War Damage Commission.

Dr. Moffett was a very well known figure in the Scottish community in London. He was Senior Chaplain and a Vice President of the Royal Scottish Corporation. He was also an Honorary Chaplain to the Royal Caledonian Schools and to several of the Scottish Societies in London. He was Clerk to both the Church of Scotland Presbytery in London and to the Presbytery of the Synod in England.

Joseph Moffett was initiated in Bushey Hall Lodge, No. 2323, on 3rd July 1920 by Bro Charles Edward Keyser, Master of the Lodge and Deputy Provincial Grand Master, who was to become Provincial Grand Master in 1924. He was passed in September, and raised in November the same year at the installation meeting when he was immediately appointed Lodge Chaplain. He went through the various Lodge Offices and was installed fortieth Master in 1928.

He was appointed Assistant Provincial Grand Master in 1947, and Deputy Provincial Grand Master in 1950, thus serving both the Admiral and the Canon. He was appointed Provincial Grand Master after the death of the Canon, and at Freemasons’ Hall on 1st July 1952, he was installed by the Grand Master, MW Bro The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Scarborough.

In 1955 he presided over the Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution  which produced a total of £221,347, the Province contributing £87,388. In 1956 he represented the Province at the opening of the new pavilion at the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls, to be known as the Halsey pavilion, financed and erected by the Brethren of Hertfordshire from an appeal under the leadership of Bro Arnold Simon, the Assistant Provincial Grand Master who was later to be appointed Deputy in 1963. The scheme included a commemorative plaque to the Admiral and the Canon, which was unveiled by Lady Halsey as part of the Opening Ceremony.

On 18th November 1959 RW Bro the Rev. Dr. Moffett opened the newly extended buildings at the Cloisters Masonic Centre, Letchworth.

As Deputy Provincial Grand Master in charge, Bro Dr. Moffett consecrated two Lodges, both at Cheshunt, Woodhall Park Lodge No. 7125, and Goff Oak’s Lodge No. 7169. During his rule as Provincial Grand Master sixteen Lodges were consecrated and he presided at them all, the first was Sherrards Lodge No. 7182 at Ashwell House, St. Albans on 24th October 1952, and the last Ludgrove Lodge No. 7766 at Freemasons’ Hall on 5th June 1961; both now at Mayflower Place, Hertingfordbury.

RW Bro the Rev. Dr. Moffett died on 20th May 1962, and a memorial service was held in St. Albans Abbey on 9th July.

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