The Lodge was intended to be called “Newlands Park Lodge” but the name was not acceptable to the Grand Secretary of that time.
Accordingly a few of the proposed Founders went to Great Queen Street and discussed their problem with the Grand Librarian who produced a list of Lodges whose Warrants had lapsed. Amongst these was the “Lodge of Good Intent”, which name was chosen by the Founders and approved by Grand Lodge. The number “6598” was granted in 1947.
The number of the original Lodge of Good Intent was No. 2 on the Register of the Duke of Atholl. There had been another Lodge of Good Intent but it was erased from the register in 1826. The London one had the reputation of being the “most respectable Lodge in London”. It was constituted by Warrant No. 477 dated 20th August 1785 and met at the “Ship Tavern” in Leadenhall Street. At the re-numbering of the Lodges it became first No. 387 and the No. 479. The Warrant was twice lost (stolen, pawned, or sold) and a Warrant of confirmation issued in 1822. At one time another Lodge No. 32 lost their own Warrant and offered Six Golden Guineas for the Warrant of Good Intent, which was accepted. Prior to the Warrant of Confirmation issued in 1822, 17 members of Good Intent N0. 477 were expelled from the Craft for Apostasy . (so they obviously lost their one-time reputation of being good boys)
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In the year 1826 the Lodge of Good Intent No. 479 united with the St. James Lodge No. 279 ( previously No. 239 Atholl, constituted March 1707) now No. 180 on the Roll of the United Grand Lodge of England and surrendered it’s Warrant which was subsequently re-issued to us.
Two years after our Consecration another Lodge in the North of England was allowed to have the same name “Good Intent No. 7029” (East Lancs). There is also “Good Intent Installed Masters No. 9561” ( Freetown, S. Leone and Gambia) a “Good Intention No. 6927” Devonshire and “Good Intention No.7087” London.
Tracing Boards:- In a paper entitled “The History and Symbolism of the First Tracing Board”, it is stated that a Bro. John Harris was Initiated in the Lodge of Good Intent (then No. 479) in 1818, and that in 1823 he published a miniature set of Tracing Boards with designs dedicated to H.R.H. The Duke of Sussex, and that his work came into favour in 1846, when his designs were adopted by the Emulation Lodge of Improvement. Bro. Harris lost his sight in 1857, became a pensioner of the R.M. Benevolent Institution, and remained at Croydon until his death in 1873. (of course our present Lodge of Good Intent No. 6598 has no relation with any other Lodge of that name except by name itself).
The new Lodge of Good Intent No. 6598 was consecrated on Tuesday 27th January 1948 by R.W. Bro. Brig-General Darell, then the Assistant Grand Master, W. Bro. Monty Ruston being Master Designate. The Oration was delivered by V.W. Bro. Rev. J Moffett, B.A. Past Grand Chaplain. The ceremony was held at Freemason’s Hall, Great Queen Street with the Festive Board being held in the Connaught Rooms. Ninety Seven Brethren attended the Consecration Team of course, with 89 of them sitting down to the banquet. As a matter of interest, the Visitors Fee was 26 shillings (£1.33). It is recorded that they enjoyed a wonderful meal, unlimited wine and spirits, and the total bill from the “Connaught” was £122.15.6 (£122.77) plus £2.8.9 (£2.44) for cigars and cigarettes. The total cost of setting up the Lodge, the Consecration, the Warrant and the dining expenses as above was £189.13.0 (£189.65) which was met by the Founders fees of £5.5.0 (£5.25) each and the visitors fees of 26 shillings each. (just about which in 1997 is the cost to a Candidate on his Initiation into a Lodge).
In drafting the Charter Rules for the new Lodge, the Founders stated that the Lodge meeting place should always be in Penge or the immediately adjacent Districts, if within 10 miles of Freemason’s Hall.