ROYAL PROTECTOR LODGE CELEBRATES ITS CENTENARY

 

Royal Protector Lodge No 3471 celebrated their Centenary in fine style. The Provincial Grand Master, Peter Hosker, presided over the re-dedication ceremony, assisted by Jon Clipsham, Assistant Provincial Grand Master, who was acting as Deputy PrGM for the evening. Also in attendance were Mark Dimelow (Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies), Ian Higham (Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies) the Provincial Wardens, Barry Jameson (acting) and David Kavanagh, Mike Adams (Group Chairman) and other distinguished Grand and Provincial Grand officers. The oration and re-dedication of the lodge was read by the Provincial Grand Chaplain, Rev Graham Halsall.

Donations

After the ceremony the Worshipful Master, Tony Johnson, presented Peter with two cheques, both for the value of £1,500; one was made out to the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity and the other to the Urmston Masonic Hall Building Fund. Peter thanked Tony and the all the Brethren of Royal Protector Lodge for their generosity, particularly for their support of the Hall Building fund as the Lodge had recently donated towards the refurbishment of the Masonic Hall entrance area.

left to right: Michael Adams, Group Chairman, Peter Hosker, PGM, Tony Johnson, WM, and Jon Clipsham, APGM
Temperance Lodge

To go back to the beginning, Royal Protector Lodge was consecrated at the King’s Hall, in Stretford, Manchester at 3pm on the 20 November 1910. The 12 founders decided that from the outset the Lodge would be a temperance lodge, in that no intoxicating liquors would be served at any of its Lodge meetings or social functions. At that period of the early 20th century it was an unfortunate widespread belief that all Freemasons indulged in excess drinking at their meetings, thus at that time it was felt that it was the right decision, in order to prevent any derogatory criticism towards its members. The Lodge by-law “number two” relating to the Lodge temperance was deleted in April 1977, just 66 years after the consecration, however, the proposition to amend the by-law was only passed by one vote! 

The Royal Protector

It is considered from the Lodge history that the Founders used the name “Royal Protector” in consideration of the late King Edward VII (his photograph hangs in the Lodge Room- see above) who, prior to his accession to the throne as the Prince of Wales, was a very prominent Freemason. On his accession to the throne in 1901, in his own words, he became “Protector of the Order”. In addition to this, the Freemasons Chronicle dated 7 May 1910, reported his death as the “Death of our beloved Protector”. The view is further reinforced by the decision of the United Grand Lodge of England to give their permission for the Lodge to allow a miniature portrait of King Edward VII to be embodied in the Lodge’s Past Masters' jewel.

Amalgamation

More recently, Royal Protector Lodge amalgamated in January 2005 with Concordia Lodge No 4954 which was Royal Protector's Sister Lodge and Stat Veritas (it stands for truth) Lodge No 6813. The Amalgamation was a memorable event comducted by the then PGM, Colin Penty Wright, Thomas Blackburn (DepPrGM), accompanied by other acting and distinguished Officers with over 100 other Brethren present.    

The Lodge Today

Royal Protector Lodge had been meeting at the South Manchester Freemason Hall in Chorlton up until its closure in 2005, and so in September of that year, the Lodge moved its meeting place to Urmston Masonic Hall where it meets today. 

Below are the current Lodge Members who were able to attend the Centenary Meeting.