An emergency meeting of the Lodge of Research No. 2429 was held at Freemasons’ Hall, Leicester on Thursday 2nd May 2024 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the appointment of the first Provincial Grand Master of Leicestershire, Colonel Sir Thomas Fowke in 1774.
Prior to the meeting of the Lodge, the Province of Leicestershire and Rutland were honoured by the visit of the Pro Grand Master, Jonathan Spence, to Freemasons’ Hall, Leicester. The PGM, Peter Kinder, welcomed him, accompanied by his deputy, Brian Carruthers, and his assistant, Andy Green, along with the Past Provincial Grand Master, David Hagger. The PGM introduced Don Peacock, Administrator of the Museum, to the Pro Grand Master, who explained that the museum had been renamed in honour of John Thorp who had been the founder and inspirational force of the collection in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. John Thorp had collected many unique and important items, leaving many of them to the museum. Don introduced the other members of the team, – Derek Andrews, Mike England, Bob Crane, David Wykes and Aubrey Newman OSM. The Pro Grand Master was invited to unveil a portrait of John Thorp, which is now situated in the museum, now known as the ‘John Thorp Museum’.
After opening the lodge, the Master of the Lodge of Research, Derek Andrews, welcomed the Provincial Grand Master, Peter Kinder, who was accompanied by the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, Robert Wood, and a retinue of the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge and Grand Officers in the Province.
The Lodge was further honoured by the presence of the Pro Grand Master, Jonathan Spence, and the Deputy Grand Secretary Graham Redman, who were accompanied by the Past Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies, Ed Goodchild.
The lodge received three educational presentations about the origins of the Leicestershire and Rutland province.
The first presentation, “The First Provincial Grand Master of Leicestershire, Col. Sir Thomas Fowke”, was delivered by Senior Warden, Andy Green who focused on the journey that took Col. Sir Thomas Fowke from South Staffordshire, via the Seven Years’ War, to Lowesby Hall in Leicestershire and his eventual installation as the first Provincial Grand Master of Leicestershire.
The second presentation was given by Peter Kinder on, “What did Provincial Grand Masters do in the 18th Century?”, a humorous and potted history of what a PGM’s role was during the first years of the province. At the start of his presentation, Peter gave credit to Aubrey Newman for his assistance in helping him to write the paper.
The final presentation was given by Donald Peacock on “Masonry in Leicestershire in the 18th Century”. Don explored how masonry looked in our province at its formation and the lodges that were set up.
Acknowledgments were also given to the brethren of the Lodge of Research and the Hall Library Committee, for organising and arranging this most historic of occasions.
