The Lodge of Research No.2429 held a Symposium to celebrate ‘Three Hundred Years of Leicestershire Freemasonry’ at their lodge meeting on Monday 22nd January 2018 in Freemasons’ Hall, Leicester.
W.Bro. Aubrey Newman OSM PJGD put together four exciting short papers which were delivered by members of the lodge. The Master, W.Bro. Alf Sharman presided over the Symposium which was very well received by the members and visitors who were in attendance.
The Symposium was started by W.Bro. Andy Green who explored the formation and demise of the early and short-lived lodges across Leicestershire which form the very foundation of the lodges existing today in the Province.
W.Bro. Aubrey Newman then focussed on the various Provincial Grand Masters of Leicestershire and Rutland, discussing how far they reflected the ways in which there have been changes in the “ruling social classes” in the Province, and additionally reflecting on the Provincial Grand Master during 1870-1873, R.W. Bro. William Kelly, emphasising how unusual his career was.
The Symposium continued with W.Bro. David Herbert speaking about the Duke of Sussex who was the first Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England and the record of one famous Lodge meeting at which a prominent Leicester Freemason also played a significant part.
Finally, W.Bro. Don Peacock picked out some of the highlights of the transition from the Provincial headquarters at Halford Street, Leicester to the new Hall at London Road highlighting how the move, although very successful, also brought with it a number of problems that had to be addressed.
The Provincial Grand Master, R.W.Bro David Hagger then gave a summary address: “Last year was a momentous year for Freemasonry with the celebration of the Tercentenary of the founding of the First Grand Lodge.”
He continued: “I am therefore pleased to hear the papers celebrating 300 years of Freemasonry in this Province and to congratulate the Brethren who delivered them this evening. A splendid example of dedicated research, which places this Province, particularly this Lodge at the forefront of this research. We can be extremely proud of their efforts and may I congratulate all involved in arranging this evening. Clearly a lot of hard work and research has been involved and we are the beneficiaries of it.”
The papers will be published in the Lodge of Research Transactions later this year.