A Brief History of St Martin’s Lodge
No.4011
St Martin’s Lodge No. 4011 was consecrated on Monday 26th January 1920, at the Severn Street Masonic Hall, Birmingham, by the then Provincial Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Colonel William Wyley DL. The Consecrated minutes mention the names 64 Provincial Officers present, including W.Bro. The Honourable Lord Ernest Seymour PGD, acting as Deputy Provincial Grand Master, after which the Lodge Secretary wisely says “plus others”. The dining capacity at Severn Street in those days was well over 100 and undoubtedly there would have been a full house to witness this important ceremony.
There were 17 founders and the early minutes say St Martin was chosen as a name being “most eminently connected with the City of Birmingham”. The Patron Saint of the City is St Martin and the armistice of the Great War had been signed on the 11th November (St Martin’s Day) 1918, only 14 months before the Consecration.
The founders decreed that no more than two candidates a year should be admitted and time should also be found for lectures and addresses of Masonic interest. It was also specifically decreed that members who aspired to office should have the opportunity of reaching the Master’s Chair as soon as possible. These precepts still continue in the Lodge today and the Lodge also still meets at Severn Street on the fourth Monday of January, February, March, April, September and October, as it did at the time of the Consecration,
with the fourth Monday of November being set aside as a social occasion involving family and friends.
The Lodge is now 100 years old and its Centenary was celebrated on Monday 27th January , 2020 in the presence of R.W.Bro David Macey, Provincial Grand Master, supported by many active and past Provincial Officers, just before the shock-waves of Covid 19 took effect.
Visitors at Lodge meetings are always most welcome and the Lodge continues to actively seek new members who wish to make advancement and obtain status in the Masonic structure. The Masonic Hall is blessed in that it can provide free car-parking at all meetings. The current Secretary is W.Bro Nigel Bridges who can be reached on 01952 615922 or 07787 430212 ; email nimar.bridges@ tiscali.co.uk
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