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Somerset Lodges
Olympian Lodge No. 9703
warranted 1999
Regular meetings: the second Friday at 18.45hrs Jun, Sep, Nov.
Installation meeting: the second Friday at 18.00hrs Feb.
Contact the Lodge Secretary:
Mike Wilson
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Meeting at
The Masonic Hall
Nailsea Park
Nailsea
BS48 1BA
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Olympian Lodge was proud to be the first Masonic Lodge to be formed in England (and perhaps
elsewhere) in the new millennium, being consecrated on the 8th January 2000. The
idea for a Masonic lodge where "sporting" Freemasons from different Provinces
could meet and promote Freemasonry as well as raising money for charity, had
often been talked about, but only became a serious proposition in the latter
part of the 1990's. The fact that the idea for the new lodge finally came to
fruition was largely due to the efforts of a small group of masons the most
active of which were W.Bros. Arnie Mason, John Peters, and John Massey, who
subsequently became the founding Worshipful Master, Director of Ceremonies and
Secretary respectively.
After several meetings and much hard work, the
steering committee was able to produce some concrete proposals for the new
lodge, however the easiest decision was in regard to the name as there was only
ever one realistic option with our sporting connections. Terry Hart, Assistant
Provincial Grand Master for Somerset, was at that time the Provincial Grand
Secretary and was instrumental in the development of the idea and without his
enthusiastic support and expert guidance it is doubtful if the new lodge could
have become a reality.
Soon many other masons with sporting links
came forward to support the project and it did not take long to find the
founding members necessary to petition to form the new lodge. By the time of the
Consecration, the founders numbered forty and came predominantly from the three
local Provinces; Somerset, Bristol and Gloucestershire. The petition was
supported by another Portishead Lodge, Eldon No:1755, which then became our
sponsoring and mother lodge, and from which came eight of the founding members
including the founding Worshipful Master.
The consecration ceremony was held at the
Portishead Masonic Centre and was conducted by the then Provincial Grand Master
for Somerset, R.W.Bro. Stanley Hopkins, who was assisted by the Somerset
Provincial Team, which included all the senior officers in the Province. Over 90
masons including the Provincial Grand Masters of Bristol and Gloucestershire,
together with the senior officers from both Provinces attended the Ceremony. The
three Provincial Grand Masters and all the Provincial Consecrating Team were
made honorary members of the lodge at that meeting. Since the Consecration six
new Masons have been initiated and approximately twenty five Masons have become
joining members.
When the Portishead Masonic Centre closed in 2004 the lodge
transferred to Clevedon but increasing attendances at our meetings meant we soon
outgrew their facilities and so we now meet at Nailsea. We are always pleased to
welcome visitors, particularly those with a sporting pedigree. If you would like
any more information please feel free to contact the Secretary.
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