Memorable & Historical Gathering
Last night at Methuen Lodge No. 631 Buckinghamshire had a time line presence.
Current Provincial Grand Master, Tim Anders, stood alongside the three past provincial Grand Masters of Buckinghamshire - John Clark (2018~2025), Gordon Robertson (2011~2018) & Ray Reed (2005~2011).
Although the meeting was just a normal scheduled event, the rare gathering of a historical timeline was something that needed to be captured.
The friendship and bond of the senior leadership within the province of Buckinghamshire is something to be very proud of. Past leaders celebrating their successors appointment and on hand to share valuable experience and advise.
So, what is the history of Methuen Lodge?
The Lodge was consecrated at Swindon in the Province of Wiltshire, on 24th May 1854, by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Sir Daniel Gooch, Bt.
Lord Methuen, Provincial Grand Master (from 1853) was installed as the first Master.
From the outset, the Lodge existed for Wiltshire masons who wanted a lodge with a standard of comfort, dignity and good living, comparable to some of the best London Lodges.
The promoters had said that they did not want a lot of masonic work but that they would enjoy a first class, civilised dinner, with good wine to drink and, even, cigars to smoke.
It became a Buckinghamshire Lodge when the combined provinces were separated in 1890.
The Lodge has never owned a Banner and the only record of any badge is on the Summons of May 1938, the minutes of which stated that a discussion about the badge ensued and it was agreed that it should not be used in the future.
The Lodge includes the MW Pro Grand Master, the RW Deputy Grand Master, the President of the Board of General Purposes, and the Grand Treasurer. Additionally, it has become customary to invite the Provincial Grand Masters of Berks, Bucks, and Oxon to become joining members.
The Lodge still meets three times per year, twice in Marlow (dining at The Leander Club, in Henley-on-Thames) and once in London, at 10 Duke Street, with dinner at a nearby gentleman’s club.
The Leander Club was founded in 1818 and boasts an unsurpassed record of rowing achievements. It is home to heroes such as Sir Steve Redgrave CBE and Sir Matthew Pinsent CBE, triple gold medalist Peter Reed OBE, and double gold medalists James Cracknell OBE, Steve Williams OBE, and Alex Gregory MBE, as well as the champions of tomorrow.
If you would like to be part of a global community that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link:
https://buckspgl.org/join
Current Provincial Grand Master, Tim Anders, stood alongside the three past provincial Grand Masters of Buckinghamshire - John Clark (2018~2025), Gordon Robertson (2011~2018) & Ray Reed (2005~2011).
Although the meeting was just a normal scheduled event, the rare gathering of a historical timeline was something that needed to be captured.
The friendship and bond of the senior leadership within the province of Buckinghamshire is something to be very proud of. Past leaders celebrating their successors appointment and on hand to share valuable experience and advise.
So, what is the history of Methuen Lodge?
The Lodge was consecrated at Swindon in the Province of Wiltshire, on 24th May 1854, by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Sir Daniel Gooch, Bt.
Lord Methuen, Provincial Grand Master (from 1853) was installed as the first Master.
From the outset, the Lodge existed for Wiltshire masons who wanted a lodge with a standard of comfort, dignity and good living, comparable to some of the best London Lodges.
The promoters had said that they did not want a lot of masonic work but that they would enjoy a first class, civilised dinner, with good wine to drink and, even, cigars to smoke.
It became a Buckinghamshire Lodge when the combined provinces were separated in 1890.
The Lodge has never owned a Banner and the only record of any badge is on the Summons of May 1938, the minutes of which stated that a discussion about the badge ensued and it was agreed that it should not be used in the future.
The Lodge includes the MW Pro Grand Master, the RW Deputy Grand Master, the President of the Board of General Purposes, and the Grand Treasurer. Additionally, it has become customary to invite the Provincial Grand Masters of Berks, Bucks, and Oxon to become joining members.
The Lodge still meets three times per year, twice in Marlow (dining at The Leander Club, in Henley-on-Thames) and once in London, at 10 Duke Street, with dinner at a nearby gentleman’s club.
The Leander Club was founded in 1818 and boasts an unsurpassed record of rowing achievements. It is home to heroes such as Sir Steve Redgrave CBE and Sir Matthew Pinsent CBE, triple gold medalist Peter Reed OBE, and double gold medalists James Cracknell OBE, Steve Williams OBE, and Alex Gregory MBE, as well as the champions of tomorrow.
If you would like to be part of a global community that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link:
https://buckspgl.org/join