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Somerset Lodges
Forest of Mendip Lodge No. 8019
warranted 1965
Regular meetings: the last Friday at 18.30hrs Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Oct, Nov.
Installation meeting: the last Friday at 17.30hrs Sep.
Contact the Lodge Secretary:
P J Bedingfield
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Meeting at
The Masonic Hall
Rickford
Blagdon
BS40 7AH
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Founded in 1965, The Forest of Mendip Lodge
was largely the creation of W.Bro Reg. Young, with the support of fourteen other
Brethren who, with him, became the Founder Members. W Bro Reg. decided that the
proposed lodge would need to find a regular meeting place of its own and by
chance he found the old Baptist Chapel, on the Wills Estate at Rickford, to be
vacant. He immediately contacted Sir John Wills and at a meeting the very next
day negotiated the rental of these highly desirable premises at a very
favourable rate.
The next move was to seek the approval of the
then Provincial Grand Master, Brigadier Cazenove who, after careful
consideration, gave his blessing. W Bro Reg. then proceeded to lobby his Masonic
friends and eventually recruited the remaining founders.
On the 21st March 1963 the founders agreed to
go ahead with the formation of a lodge and in due course Reg. Young was
nominated as Master Elect. The Founders had also agreed that the Lodge should be
named “The Rock of Ages” in recognition of its proximity to the famous landmark.
However the Provincial Grand Master would not give his approval. He felt the
name to have a Christian connotation and therefore was not in accord with the
secular nature of Freemasonry. As an alternative, he put forward the name of
“The Forest of Mendip” which was duly adopted.
The next task was to find a sponsor lodge and
being well known as the organist at Birnbeck Lodge, Reg. approached them and
found them willing to act in that capacity, and on 15th December 1964 the
Founders attended a regular meeting where their petition was endorsed. In March
1965 the furniture and regalia was delivered and rehearsals began in preparation
for the consecration. This ceremony was held at 4 o’clock on Tuesday 25th May
1965 and was carried out by the Provincial Grand Master and the Provincial Team.
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The Forest of Mendip lodge has a great deal
for which to thank Reg Young. Not only was he a founder and the first Worshipful
Master, he also served as Organist from 1966 until the year prior to his death
in 1984, in his 101st year; it is fitting that his portrait hangs in the Lodge
in recognition of his service.
An interesting feature of the Lodge is that it incorporates a
spiral staircase of fifteen steps, giving access to the balcony. This was
obtained and donated by a visiting brother, Bill Whalley and fitted in the year
of consecration in order to increase the accommodation, which was being
stretched to its limit by the numerous visitors who were attending.
On 24th April 1981 the Presentation and Dedication of the Lodge
Banner took place, the Ceremony being performed by Herbert Dyke, the Deputy
Provincial Grand Master-in-charge; the Banner was very kindly presented by Bro
Fred Rainey.
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After each meeting it was customary for the Lodge to adjourn to the upper floor
of the Seymour Arms in Blagdon for the ‘Festive Board.’ Then for a number of
years these meals took place at Burrington Village Hall. In more recent years
Brethren have dined in the Blagdon Village Club.
Since its consecration, around seventy men have been initiated
into Freemasonry at the Forest of Mendip Lodge and an equal number have joined
from other Lodges. Current membership is around fifty.
The lodge continues to prosper but is always keen to initiate new
candidates and receive joining members. If you wish to receive any further
information, please feel free to contact the Lodge contact name above.
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