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The film "The King's Speech"
Thu Feb 24, 2011
by asabovesobelow »
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Although not mentioned in the film, it is of interest that both King George VI (1895-1952) and his speech therapist Lionel George Logue CVO (1880-1953) were Freemasons.
Here is some information on Bro. Logue that was provided by The Archivist of the Grand Lodge of Western Australia:
Worshipful Brother Lionel Logue – a Freemason we can all be proud of -
"The Archives Committee has had many enquiries lately concerning WBro Lionel Logue. Those of you who have seen or heard of the recent film “The King's Speech” will know that Lionel Logue, the character played by Geoffrey Rush, was the speech therapist who helped King George VI cure his stammer.
What you may not know was that Lionel George Logue was a member of St George's Lodge (now J D Stevenson St George's Lodge No.6, Western Australian Constitution).
Lionel Logue was born in Adelaide on 26 February 1880 and educated at Prince Alfred College in Adelaide. His Masonic records show that at his Initiation on 18 September 1908, Passed to the Second Degree on 16 October 1908, and Raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason on 20 November 1908. His rise through the Officers' Chairs was as follows: Steward 1909, Junior Deacon 1910, Inner Guard 1913, Junior Deacon 1914, Senior Deacon 1915, Junior Warden 1916, Senior Warden 1918, Worshipful Master 1919.
In 1924 he set up consulting rooms in Harley Street, London where he treated both rich and poor alike; apparently the exorbitant fees he charged the rich subsided the treatment of his poorer clients. In 1926 he was consulted by the then Duke of York (later King George VI) for help to overcome his stammer. At the Coronation of King George VI on 12 May 1937, WBro Logue wore the MVO decoration awarded by the King the night before.
WBro Logue was a founder of the British Society of Speech Therapists and a founding fellow of the College of Speech Therapists and he was speech therapist to the Royal Masonic School.
In 1944 his MVO was elevated to CVO. He retained his friendship with King George VI until the King's death in 1952. WBro Logue passed to the Grand Lodge Above on 12 April 1953."
The King and the Craft - http://www.mqmagazine.co.uk/issue-14/p-07.php -
"As a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, Prince Albert sought admission in the Navy Lodge No. 2612, of which his Grandfather had been the founding Master. He was initiated by the Pro Grand Master, Lord Ampthill, in the absence of the Grand Master on 2 December 1919. ..... A shy man with a pronounced stammer, it was remarked by those present that his stammer rarely surfaced when he was involved in ritual. ..... The Duke of York, as he was to become, took very much to Freemasonry. He joined five Lodges in addition to Navy Lodge. He was exalted into the Royal Arch on 13 February 1921 in United Chapter No. 1629 (now United Studholme Chapter No. 1591). He and the Prince of Wales joined the Rose Croix in United Chapter No. 169 in 1921 and the Duke was advanced in the Mark in Grand Master’s Mark Lodge No. 1 in 1928."
Comments
Re: The film "The King's Speech"
by Eldberg » Thu Feb 24, 2011 11:51 pm
Interesting about the British royals and Freemasonry.
In Sweden, several kings have been GM of the Order. There are even rules regulating this; if the current sovereign wants to become a Freemason, he is put through all the 10 degrees in a very short time, and then immediately becomes GM. He cannot be a Freemason without being GM.
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Re: The film "The King's Speech"
by Juan » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:06 am
Question, dear bro.: Is it understood or maybe commented in rituals as a some kind of "fusion" of the Royal and Priestly (secular/sacred) functions within the society?
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Re: The film "The King's Speech"
by Peter Moir » Fri Feb 25, 2011 10:54 am
In addition the then Duke of York ( later to become King George the VI ) became a affiliate (joining member) of Lodge Glamis No99 in the province of Forfarshire and was appointed The Grand Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Scotland in 1936.
Before accepting the invitation to become the Grand Master Mason of Scotland it was necessary he became a member of a Scottish Lodge. The then Duchess of Yorks' family seat is Glamis Castle where many of her family members had strong connections with Lodge Glamis No99.
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Re: The film "The King's Speech"
by Eldberg » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:05 pm
Juan wrote:
Question, dear bro.: Is it understood or maybe commented in rituals as a some kind of "fusion" of the Royal and Priestly (secular/sacred) functions within the society?
As far as I can see, there is no such theology involved. It's merely that the Order considers itself royalist and thinks that supporting the Sovereign is a Masonic duty. The King cannot be subordinate to the WM of any lodge or to anybody. Except perhaps to the Archbishop, in purely ecclesiastical things, but that has somehow never entered into the Order's thinking.
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Re: The film "The King's Speech"
by Juan » Fri Feb 25, 2011 3:43 pm
Eldberg wrote:
Juan wrote:
Question, dear bro.: Is it understood or maybe commented in rituals as a some kind of "fusion" of the Royal and Priestly (secular/sacred) functions within the society?
As far as I can see, there is no such theology involved. It's merely that the Order considers itself royalist and thinks that supporting the Sovereign is a Masonic duty. The King cannot be subordinate to the WM of any lodge or to anybody. Except perhaps to the Archbishop, in purely ecclesiastical things, but that has somehow never entered into the Order's thinking.
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Re: The film "The King's Speech"
by asabovesobelow » Fri Feb 25, 2011 6:56 pm
Bro. Lionel George Logue, CVO (1880-1953) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Logue
He relocated from Australia to England in 1924 and worked and lived in London until he died in 1953. Logue was a Christian Scientist and took an interest in spiritualism.
It would be interesting to know if Logue ever became a joining member of a London lodge (I suspect not as we might have been informed by UGLE) or if he attended any lodge as a guest in the 29 years that he was in London.
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Re: The film "The King's Speech"
by gladysa » Sat Aug 27, 2011 7:12 am
What is the best lodge to stay at in Glacier National Park for a long weekend? I'm planning on flying to Glacier Ntnl Park in later September / early October. I want to stay at a lodge that is near a lot of the 'must see' sites and hiking. Hopefully something romantic as well (going as a couple, don't need family friendly).
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Re: The film "The King's Speech"
by Huw » Sat Aug 27, 2011 11:06 pm
Eldberg wrote:
In Sweden, several kings have been GM of the Order. There are even rules regulating this; if the current sovereign wants to become a Freemason, he is put through all the 10 degrees in a very short time, and then immediately becomes GM. He cannot be a Freemason without being GM.
This is a little different from the British custom. Here, if the heir to the Throne becomes a Mason, then he'd be invited to be Grand Master of UGLE, and sometimes of GLoS as well, as has happened several times in the past. Often he'll accept, but he's allowed to decline, in which case one of his junior brothers would be asked to take on the role (as when the Duke of Sussex was our GM after the Union, who was a junior son of the King).
However, when he becomes King, he's then expected to retire as GM. Several of our Kings have therefore been PastGMs. After retiring as GM, our Kings usually also withdraw from active involvement in the Craft, but George VI was an exception and remained an active member whilst King.
Further Reading:
Freemasonry in the U.K., have the 'Brethren' finally met their Waterloo?