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Somerset Lodges
Lodge of Agriculture No. 1199
warranted 1867
Regular meetings: the third Monday at 18.30hrs Jan, Feb, Apr, May, Sep, Oct,
Nov. Also the third Monday at 18.00hrs Dec
Installation meeting: the third Monday at 17.00hrs Mar.
Contact the Lodge Secretary:Chris Madge |
Meeting at
The Masonic Hall
High Street
Yatton
BS49 4DW
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The first meeting of the Lodge of Agriculture was held at The Ship and Castle in
Congresbury, on the 11th December 1867. W. Bro. Bramble was installed into the
chair as the first Master. The first candidate was the Vicar of Congresbury, the
Rev. W. Hunt. The second candidate was a James Mountstevens who later became the
Landlord of the Railway Hotel at Yatton, to which the lodge subsequently moved
on the 1st February 1892
It is thought that our Lodge was proposed by Masons from the Province of Bristol,
because the nearest Somerset Lodges at that time were at Wells and Highbridge.
The Consecration Meeting was held on Tuesday 14th January 1868. The Provincial
Grand Master, Col. Alexander Adair, being the Consecrating Officer. It is
interesting to note that the cost of the meal for the after meeting was 4/-
each! We believe that Bristol Workings were used at the start of the
Lodge’s history, until the 15th March 1880 when the London Ritual was
introduced, but when our famous Agricultural Workings were adopted its not
known.
Our first Petition for a Daughter Lodge, namely St. Kew No 1222, meeting
at Weston-super-Mare, was on the 9th March 1868.
Our seconded Daughter, Coleridge Lodge No. 1750, meeting at Clevedon, was
on 18th February 1878.
Our third daughter, Winscombe Lodge No. 6474, meeting at Yatton, was
consecrated on 4th June 1947.
The forth Daughter The Yatton Lodge of Hospitality No. 9299, also meeting
at Yatton was consecrated in 1988.
Tyntesfield Lodge No 4494,- Nailsea - is also a daughter lodge and has
always been very closely associated with us. From early days we have exchanged
fraternal visits; interrupted only by the Second World War.
In 1892 W. Bro C. L. F. Edwards donated the Banner of the lodge,
which remained in use until 1929. It was restored and framed by the generosity
of W. Bro. Hardwell and now adorns the staircase to the Lodge Room.. The present
banner, (a gift from Bro. L. G. Edwards who is not however a descendant of W.
Bro. C. L. F. Edwards) was dedicated by the Provincial Grand Master Brigadier A.
de L. Cazenove on Dec 16th 1963. The Lodge of Instruction was formed in 1906 and
is held every month on the 2nd Thursday.
The Wrington Vale Chapter was formed in 1920 and is going from
strength to strength. On the 4th June 1935, it was decided to move to our
present premises then known as Larchmount Hall. The building was in a sorry
state, having been gutted by fire, and the reconstruction of the inner building
was placed in the hands of W. Bro. P. B. Rigg. When the work was finished, the
Provincial Grand Master, Brigadier-General C. L. Norman, dedicated it on The
16th March 1936. The following year the George Norman Mark Lodge was formed.
During the Second World War, although the army took possession of
the ground floor, the Lodge meetings still took place but, because of the
blackout regulations, the day and time was changed to Saturday afternoon; this
arrangement remained until the end of the War. 1945 was the start of our now
famous Farmers Night. This took its rise from the farming brethren offering to
entertain the non-farming brethren and their guests to dinner on the
understanding that a collection would be made for charity. This suggestion was
well received and Farmers Night is now an annual event, the Farming fraternity
taking over all the offices and duties for that night.
It has also become a well-established custom that on that special
night, Henry Collins, our Grand Officer, sings the Lodge song ‘Farmers Boy.’
Henry has only missed one Farmers night, that being the very first one, because
he was not initiated until one-year later in 1946!
We have many social events through out the year to which both Masons and
non-Masons are invited:
The Cheese and wine Evening held on the last Saturday in June.
Cricket and Bowls Matches also in June.
We also endeavour to hold an event once a month for which the Lodge Secretary
will be pleased to give details. Our Ladies Night is held in November and
Farmers Night, is our December Meeting, early start, 6-00pm.
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