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A brief history of Freemasonry in the United Kingdom and Cavendish Lodge.

A Brief History

The general consensus is that English Freemasonry was established formally by the creation of The Grand Lodge of England in 1717 to bring together two separate but distinct factions with very different histories, uniting them to become the first Grand Lodge in the world.

For practical reasons a constitution was written in 1723 to provide a framework to which all lodges must abide, to replace the various ‘Old Charges’ with a comprehensive rule-book for all Freemasons.

By 1727, Grand Lodge had set up a Charity Committee and Central Charity Fund.

In 1968 a site was purchased in Great Queen Street, London, from which to administer Grand Lodge and within which to hold meetings in more formalised surroundings.  Hitherto, meetings had often been held in the back rooms of Inns such as the Goose and Gridiron Tavern in St. Paul’s Churchyard, which is noted as being the location of the formation of Grand Lodge in 1717. A competition was held to design the building, which was won by Thomas Sandby (1721 – 1798), and in 1776 it was formally dedicated to the purposes of Freemasonry.  This building was unfortunately declared structurally unsound by 1931, and was demolished to make way for a new building, which is the building we see standing there today.

The present Freemasons’ Hall was completed in 1933, as a memorial to those brethren who had given their lives in the Great War.  It was funded from voluntary subscriptions, and provides a central meeting place for London Lodges and Chapters. There are nineteen Lodge rooms in addition to the Grand Temple, together with Conference and Committee Rooms for more informal meetings. Offices are provided for the Grand Secretary and his staff to administer the Craft, Royal Arch and Grand Charity, and workshops for the necessary maintenance of the fabric.

The Library and Museum act both as a repository for the records and treasures of Freemasonry and as an information centre for researchers and visitors from all over the world.

In recognising its Tercentenary, United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) will be holding a number of events in 2017 to celebrate this momentous milestone.  At a local level, the Provincial Grand Lodge of Derbyshire and Chesterfield Freemasons will also be active in commemorating this landmark.

Cavendish Lodge was formed by warrant on 26th June 1904, being consecrated on 12th October with the first lodge meeting held just nine days later.

There are no records as to what motivated the Founders to form this Lodge. However, it is believed to have its roots in a desire of members of The Sheepbridge Coal and Iron Company Limited to have a lodge meeting at the Whittington and Sheepbridge Institute which was the social meeting place of those members.

That belief is strengthened in that one Founder was Brother Percy Southwell Stokes, a Director of the company and in that Mr Maurice Deacon, the Chairman of the company, was the first candidate.

The Works Manager, Brother Walter Cordon of Hamilton Kilwinning Lodge No.7, Scottish Constitution, was immediately elected as the first joining member, having given “his adhesion to the Lodge from the outset, and subscribed equally to the initial expenses”.

The warrant of the Lodge is dated 26th of June 1904. In that year the Eighth Duke of Devonshire (the Duke with the whiskers) was Provincial Grand Master. It appears from a minute of 1908 that he had given permission for the Lodge to bear the name Cavendish and to adopt the Cavendish Arms.  It is assumed, from the involvement of Scarsdale members in founding the Lodge, that Scarsdale Lodge is the mother Lodge, although that Lodge’s minutes contain no record.

There were eight Founders of the Lodge. Their meetings reported receipt of the Warrant and founder members each subscribed Five Guineas for initial expenses and to purchase Lodge furniture.  Brother S E Short of Scarsdale Lodge to be Treasurer pro-tem, and W. Bro. H Pilkington, the then present Worshipful Master of Scarsdale Lodge, to be Secretary pro-tem.

Brother Pilkington duly issued a Summons for the Ceremony of Constitution and Consecration and the Installation of the Worshipful Master to be held on Wednesday 12th October 1904 at 3.30pm ‘punctually’ in the Whittington and Sheepbridge Institute.

The Lodge met for the last time at the Whittington and Sheepbridge Institute on 2nd April 1909, after discussions had taken place with Scarsdale Lodge.

Terms were agreed for the Lodge to meet regularly at Chesterfield Masonic Hall, where it still meets to this day.