“G.B. Lloyd, Lodge Diamond Jubilee, S.O.E., 1937”. After researching the references on the cane, I report the following findings:

The Son’s of England Benefit Society (S.O.E) existed in St. John’s (Lodge Dudley and Lodge Empire) & Harbour Grace (Lodge Diamond Jubilee). The SOE was a patriotic society and the members assisted people in need. It was referred to as one of the finest and most patriotic societies of the British Empire and it is said that the members kept the fraternal fires burning in a spirit of comradeship and love for England.

 The Society was founded in Toronto in 1872 by George Clatworthy. He visited Newfoundland on July 16, 1896 at the request of St. John’s resident John Coffin in order to inaugurate a lodge of that society. At a meeting that night at the Fraternal Hall (subsequent meetings at the Temperance Hall), 14 men were initiated into the “Red Rose Mysteries” with eight more the following night. This lodge was known as the Lodge Dudley.

 George B. Lloyd was among the first group of officers of the Lodge Dudley in 1896.

 Dudley was lodge #227.

 Diamond Jubilee in Harbour Grace was lodge #236 (inaugurated in 1897)

 Empire in St. John’s was lodge #270, inaugurated in 1905.

 George B. Lloyd was the first district deputy and he was known to have given many patriotic addresses in the lodge rooms.

 This cane would probably be a presentation piece to long serving district deputy by the Lodge Diamond Jubilee in Harbour Grace in 1937 to G.B. Lloyd