Carnarvon Lodge 708 (Hallstone Lodge Warranted 18th June 1857)
Another historic event took place in Dorset this morning at the Freemasons Hall in Lyme Regis, Carnarvon Lodge 708 held their first meeting and were officially welcomed into the Province of Dorset by Graham R Glazier the Provincial Grand Master for Dorset, he was accompanied by many other Grand and Provincial Grand Officers.
During the meeting a 50 year certificate was presented to John Gorman, who was initiated into Carnarvon Lodge in September 1971. A ballot took place for three joining members followed by the Initiation of Paul, the Candidate.
The ceremony was conducted with consummate ease by the Brethren of the Lodge. The Provincial Grand Master gifted a Dorset Provincial tie to both the new candidate, Brother Paul and Keith the Master.
So why the move to Dorset?
Members of the Lodge used the pandemic break to reassess their priorities and after considerable discussion and consultation by Zoom it became clear that standing still would not produce a beneficial outcome for the Lodge. A radical change was needed. An opportunity arose to re-position the Lodge to a geographical location which was closer to the members populace and to repurpose the Lodge to a daylight Lodge to attract new members. Presentation was subsequently made to the Provincial Grand Master for the Province of Middlesex who reluctantly agreed to let Carnarvon Lodge 708 leave the Province of Middlesex.
Hence the move to the historic seaside town of Lyme Regis which nestles in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at the point where the rugged West Dorset and East Devon coastlines meet – the heart of the Jurassic Coast.
The dinning room has stunning views across Lyme Bay.
The Lodge will next meet for their Installation on the 4th May, at which David the current Secretary will enter the Chair of Carnarvon Lodge for the fifth time. He will then be followed by three "Light Blues" being his two sons James and Tom and Sam Dove.
Short history of the Lodge:
In the middle of the 19th Century a number of brethren from the Apollo University Lodge 357 wished to form a lodge in London, mainly for the benefit of students leaving the University. The Grand Secretary suggested they should join Westminster & Keystone Lodge 10, which was some 130 years old but close to extinction. In 1855 23 Members of Apollo joined 10 followed by another 14 the next year.
In 1857 Henry Howard Molyneux Herbert, the fourth Earl of Carnarvon appears to have been Initiated at one meeting, Passed, Raised and appointed Senior Warden at the next and made Master in May 1857 at a ceremony attended by The Most Worshipful Grand Master, the Deputy Grand Master and 12 Provincial Grand Masters.
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