W Cuthbert Thomas - business man and first Worshipful Master of Kemes Masonic Lodge
William Cuthbert Thomas was born in 1867 in Aberaeron, Cardiganshire. His father died when he was under the age of 3 and his mother subsequently married again and moved with her husband to the Gwent valleys. She herself died at a young age and he was raised by his step father who was a Baptist minister.
The 1891 census finds him living at the age of 23 as a boarder in Treharris near Merthyr Tydfil where he was employed as an accountant.
In 1894 a newspaper article in the South Wales Echo records the attendance of W Cuthbert Thomas at the banquet of the installation of the Provincial Grand Master of the Eastern Province in September 1894 in Cardiff. It records W Cuthbert Thomas as a member of Treharris 960.
In 1897 he married Eleanor Cohen in Hackney London and in the latter part of 1898 came to Fishguard having acquired the Supply Stores, Main Street Fishguard from William Williams & Son.
Prior to his relocation he had been Worshipful Master of Fforest Lodge No 2606 Treharris. (SW Echo 11.11.1899) (installed Dec 1898)
The Supply Stores Fishguard was a very successful business, initially a seed and coal merchant but quickly expanding to cover almost all goods including furniture. In partnership with W. L Williams he purchased a schooner to enable him to bring in his own goods. He took an active part in the Community being a member of the Urban District Council, on the Board of Guardians and School Managers as well as being a founder member of Bethel English Baptist Chapel. He lived on Main Street Fishguard, next door to what is now Bar-5.
In 1906 be was a founder member and the first Worshipful Master of Kemes Lodge.
He died in January 1909 following a prolonged illness and a period in a sanatorium. He was just 40 years of age and left his wife, Eleanor and two daughters, Valerie aged 10 and Pattie aged 7.
The following article is the transcript of his funeral from the County Echo 4th February 1909.
The Late Mr. Cuthbert Thomas. Masonic Funeral at Fishguard. Impressive Scene
To the accompaniment of the solemn and impressive Masonic funeral rites, the mortal remains of the late Mr William Cuthbert Thomas, of Fishguard, were on Friday afternoon laid to rest in Hermon Baptist Cemetery. The deceased gentleman had been a prominent member of the craft, and was one of the founders of the Kemes (3152, Fishguard) Lodge, of which he had the distinction of being elected as the first Worshipful Master, and it was in accordance with his own request that the full ritual of the order was substituted for the customary committal service. The brethren assembled at the Masonic Hall at 1.30 p.m., when they donned their regalia, mourning rosettes being affixed to their aprons. Thence they marched to the deceased’s residence in Main-street, remaining outside as a guard of honour, whilst a brief service was conducted within by the Rev D Phillips David, pastor of Bethel English Baptist Chapel, of which Mr Thomas was one of the founders, and in which he was the first to hold the office of treasurer. Amongst others present at the service were the Revs Dan Davies (Hermon Welsh Baptist Chapel), and Morlais Davies (Tabernacle Congregational Chapel.) The cortege from the house to the cemetery was a lengthy one, being headed by the Chairman, members and officials of the Urban District Council, and other representatives of public bodies with what the deceased had been associated, followed by the Masonic brethren the hearse, with its flower-laden burden, and the carriages containing the chief mourners bringing up the rear. At the graveside a brief address was delivered by the Rev D P David, who said it was the wish of the family that the service should be a brief one, and he was sure that he would also be respecting the wish of their departed brother by falling in with that desire. He had been a man who lived a very simple life. He had hated display and ostentation in all things, and the speaker believed that he would not have respected it in his own funeral. He (Mr David) stood there that day in the presence of his open tomb with a sense of a keen loss. He felt that he, himself, had lost a friend, and that their church had lost a faithful member. Mr Thomas, until his health had failed him, had been treasurer of their church-one of its officers. The family had received the greatest loss of all. One of the glories of this world was the variety that was found in it, and nowhere was that variety more conspicuous than among men. Mr Thomas was a type of man that stood apart. He had a very keen mind, and was a very enlightened man. It was worth while to consult him in any matter, and the advice that he gave could always be relied upon as being sound and capable of being followed out. He was a man of great talent, and his ability had been recognised by his fellow-townsmen. He had served on many of the public bodies-the old Parish Council and the Urban Council afterwards, and also the Board of School Managers. They were there that day to pay a last tribute of respect to him. The speaker would ever cherish the memory of his friendship as a valuable possession, and he was sure that their sympathy went forth that day to Mrs Thomas and the children and other relatives who were present, in their sorrow and in their bereavement. It was their prayer that God would guide them, and direct them, and comfort them in that hour of their trial and sorrow. He would have an occasion again. of speaking and expressing his opinion concerning the good qualities of Mr Thomas. He would give way now to the Deputy Grand Master of the Order of which the deceased had been an honoured member. The beautiful ritual of the Craft was then read by the Rev Canon Bowen, Deputy Grand Master, and at the close the lambskin apron, was cast upon the coffin. as were some sprigs of symbolic acacia drawn from the button- holes of the bretheren. The singing by the brethren of a special hymn, and a fervent prayer offered in the vernacular by the Rev Dan Davies, brought the service to a close. The Masonic brethren included the Vicar (Rev W Evans, M.A., R.D., PPGC), Dr Williams, J.P., P.M. (Drim), Captains Thomas (Angorfa), William Rees, P.M. (Spring Hill, Newport), T Berry (Tower Hill), and Titus Evans; and Messrs T Matthews, W.M., WTS Tombs, I.P.M., T Lewis, S.W., 0 Gledhill, B.Sc., W L Williams, I.G., Parcell Lewis, R T Nicholas, E W Rees, organist, G Young, P.M., Neyland, W J Watkins, P.P.J.D., Aberystwyth, Thomas Rogers, P.G.S.W., Haverfordwest, Lewis H Thomas, P.S., Haverfordwest, John James, W.M., Haver- fordwest, George Gwyther, Neyland, W J Richards, Tyler, David Morgan, W Evans (solicitor), John Lewis, Thomas H Evans, Tyrhos, T H Evans, S.S., Lower Town, G 0 Davies, J.S., D E Bonvonni, Trecwn, J W Jackson, J Monk, James Thomas, and Hugh Thomas, Haverfordwest. Amongst the general assembly were Mr B Gladstone Llewhelin, J.P. (Chairman of the Urban Council), Mr T G Bennett, J.P., Capt Acraman, the Rev T Garnon, and Messrs W James, D Rees, W J Vaughan, W T Walten (Urban Treasurer), A J Hodges (Clerk to the Urban Council), W J Wilcox (District Surveyor), J R Richards, D B Phillips (Rural Surveyor), D W Lewis (School Attendance Officer), W D Lewis (Relieving Officer), 0 D Jones (Headmaster of Fishguard Council School), E Anthony (Headmaster, Henner School), Joseph Rees, D R Reynolds, C Edwards (Photographer), V J G Johns, LI Y Williams, A A Lambert, Morgan Jones, H R Felix (Newport), Francis Davies, R T P Williams (Haverfordwest) and A J Blackburn, together with a large number of ladies. Floral tributes were sent by the Kemes and Fforest (Treharris) Masonic Lodges, the widow, W 0 Minister, Mrs J Ellis and Mrs. Hamberger. The chief mourners were the widow and; two children Mrs Ellis and Mrs Hamberger,, of London, sisters of the widow; Mr and Mrs Wm. Thomas, of Boncath, cousins, Mr Picton Thomas, nephew; Messrs John, Thomas and Thomas Thomas, of Penlan, Crymych, cousins; Mr William Minister, of Carmarthen; and Mr J P Gibbon, J.P., of Maesteg, an intimate personal friend of the deceased. The coffin was of unpolished oak with heavy brass furniture. The undertaker was Mr D Morgan, of Brodog.
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