This life-size colour oil painting of Bro. Peter Thompson hangs today in the Museum at Freemasons Hall, Gt Queen Street. Such was the importance of this influential mason to nineteenth century Freemasonry.

Bro. Thompson was elected as a joining member of the Lion and Lamb Lodge on August 15th 1811. He was Installed as W.M. on 6th February, 1817, and for a second time on January 1st, 1824. The Secretary's record for 5th February 1818 reads:-

"Br. Matthews proposed a vote of thanks to our worthy and much respected Br. Thompson, for the manly fortitude, intrepidity and energetic zeal, displayed by him while fulfilling the arduous duties of the Chair, the motion being seconded by our present W.M., met with the unanimous approbation of every member."

It was agreed that the jewel to be presented to this worthy brother should be of the value of £10, and on 6th March, 1819, it is stated that "the W.M., with an appropriate address, invested Bro Thompson with the Jewel voted to him from the Lodge on which is inscribed the following," viz :-

"Presented by the members of the Lion and Lamb Lodge, No 325, to Br. Peter Thompson, P.M., as a tribute of Gratitude and a Memorial of Merit. - 4th March, A.D. 1819; A.L. 5823."

on receipt of which the Br. gratefully returned thanks." This jewel is now on display in the Grand Lodge Museum and is the same one as he is seen to be wearing in his portrait. (For a fuller explanation of the history of this jewel, please see the archive section, or click here for it to be opened in another window).

Bro. Thompson frequently presided in the Lodge, delivered Lectures, and worked Degrees, and was the Secretary from 1834 (possibly earlier) to his decease in 1851, when he was succeeded by his son Alexander. His son's death occurred on December 31st, 1861, the lodge being "put in mourning" for three months, and a vote of condolence was sent to the bereaved widow.

Bro. Thompson was also treasurer during 1821, 1823, and 1826; so that during the greater part of his most eventful and honourable Masonic career he was closely involved with the Lodge. He was the fourth Grand Officer to be appointed from this Lodge when he was given S.G.D. in 1844, previously having been appointed G.St.B in the Royal Arch in 1839.

Bro. Thompson's name and fame as the Preceptor of the "Stability Lodge of Instruction" are legendary but for this to be fully appreciated, a brief history of this important institution is necessary.

For the 62 years preceeding the Union in 1813, both Grand Lodges, 'Antients' and 'Moderns' had a contemporaneous existence in England. Having effected the Union it was found that there were many dissimilarities in the working of the ritual in the three degrees as practiced in the private Lodges under both Grand Bodies, and to remedy this the 'Lodge of Reconciliation was constituted by the two Grand Masters for the sole and express purpose of settling a uniform working for initiation, passing and raising. The Lodge of Reconciliation held its first meeting on 7th December 1813 and its last meeting on 3rd May 1816 having formulated the 'definitive' working. The Stability Lodge of Instruction was founded in 1817 as a direct continuation of the Lodge of reconciliation. Of its seventeen Founders, Bro James McCann (member of Lion & Lamb) was a member of the Lodge of Reconciliation, and Bro Peter Thompson (also member of Lion & Lamb) a pupil.The first two Preceptors were Bro Philip Broadfoot and Bro Peter Thompson. The working was practiced and taught by these two founders until the retirement of Bro Broadfoot in 1835 and then by Bro Thompson alone until his death in 1851 - a period of 34 years.

Bro Henry Muggeridge succeeded Bro Peter Thompson following his death having joined the Lodge in 1839, some 12 years previously and reined supreme as its third Preceptor until his retirement in 1855, a period of 34 years in total. For a period of 63 years therefore, the working of the ritual was led by two members of the Lion & Lamb Lodge. It is because of this background that we are regarded as one of the best ritual Lodges in London.

Bro. Thompson's zeal and abilities as one of the first two Preceptors of the Stability Lodge of Instruction led to him being presented with a gold watch on the anniversary of the institution in 1837, in appreciation of his invaluable labours.

The portrait of Bro Thompson was painted by Bro. Robert Frain, of Scotland, who was initiated into the Lodge on 24th July, 1840. It is minuted on 6th February, 1840, that the resolution to the effect "that the picture be the property of Lodge 227 (192), to be purchased from the funds of the same Lodge" which after some discussion was carried unanimously. The cost therof is entered in the Treasurer's Book, "March 12th, 1840. Picture & Frame of Bro. Thompson, £32.14s.10d". Following the death of Peter Thompson the oil painting was presented to his son, Alexander (who was then the honoured Secretary), by vote of the Lodge in 1855.

On 3rd April, 1845, it was proposed "that a lithographic copy of the portrait of Br. P. Thompson should be made, handsomely framed, and presented to him as a token of their respect". As will be seen by the report presented to the Lodge in 1844, the Committee appointed in November 1840, " to take into consideration the propriety of having an engraving taken from the painting of Bro. P. Thompson, PM., to ascertain the expence, the probable number of subscribers, &c", took some time to arrive at a decision, for over three years passed before their recommendations were before the lodge. The Brethren eventually decided to consult an eminent lithographic artist as to the reproduction of this portrait, and having " inspected various specimens by Mr. C. Cousins and others,.... ascertained the price of the Drawing and Printing,.... recommended that the size of the Picture shall be 11 by 14 inches,.... printed on india paper, and that every subscriber of 10/- shall be entitled to one print, and to an additional print for every 10/- subscribed. The report was signed by the Committee and ordered to be received and entered on the minutes. These brethren were most cautious in their proceedings so as to preserve the Lodge from "a serious loss", (the sums asked for the work ranging from £94.10s. to £315), and it was eventually successfully concluded in December 1857 when a credit balance of £3.8s.6d. was announced and handed to the Lodge. Bro Southeran was publisher of the print. Sadly today there are no known surviving copies.

The death of Bro. Thompson was announced in open Lodge assembled 6th February, 1851, he having died 4 days prior. Bro Breitling proposed and Bro. Southeran seconded and all agreed:

"That this Lodge, having heard with feelings of the deepest regret of the demise of their late much esteemed and highly respected Br. Peter Thompson, P.M. & Secretary of this Lodge, of which he was for 40 years a member - and P.S.G.D. - do hereby record the expression of their warmest admiration for the eminent talents which distinguished his Masonic career, their love for the virtues which adorned his private life, their respect and veneration for his memory, and their grateful recollection of the unwearied discharge of the duties of Hon. Secretary, and the energy he displayed in advancing the best interests of the Lodge."

"That a copy of the foregoing resolution be presented to Br. Alexander Thompson, as a mark of the respect they feel and the deep interest the members of this Lodge take in his present affliction."

He was interred in Kensal Green Cemetery on the 10th February in the presence of the Grand Secretary and a large gathering of brthren. Subscriptions were obtained, and an appropriate monument was erected, the lodge voting ten guineas towards it, followed by 3 guineas in 1888 for its restoration. (A further call some years later, however was not supported by the lodge). A touching eulogy was delivered in Grand Lodge by the Grand secretary expressing the deep regret of Grand Lodge of hearing of his decease, and "their sense of the great and lasting benefits rendered to the Craft in general by the long continued labours of that worthy Brother". The following was entered in the Grand Lodge minutes:

"The Peter Thompson of the last ten years was known to most of them, but they must permit him to place before them the Peter Thompson of nearly half a century ago. He had entered Masonry in 1810, and from that time until his death he had devoted himself to the advantage and benefit of that Order. He had given instruction to munerous Masons, and his pupils had presented him with many tokens of their regard and esteem. He had been a supporter of all their Institutions; he was Life Governor of every one of their Masonic Charities. In exact proportion to the advancement of Masonic Knowledge had been the advancement of Masonic Charities. His labours had commenced before many of them had left their nurseries, and had only ended with his life. He believed few men had possessed so great an influence in the Craft as their deceased Brother, and he had used it all for the benefit of the Order, but he never presumed upon his station; he owed all that influence to his unflinching honesty, and to his unbounded integrity. He did not believe that there was a power on earth which could have tempted this good man from that which he felt to be proper and correct. What higher praise could be awarded to his memory? for an 'honest man was the noblest work of God'. He seemed to live essentially in and for Masonry - all esteemed and admired the man. He was dead - but he still lived in their memory - in his unblemished name - his untarnished reputation - but, more than all, among those deciples who, actuated by the same principles, were desirous of following in his steps. He had not lived in vain. Numbers of his old friends had followed him to the grave; over that grave it was their intention to erect an humble Tablet to record their estimation of the character of the man, and to tell their children's children the virtues he had possessed.......He respected that good old man - he reverenced - he admired - he loved him."