The petition was approved, and signed
by the W Master P. Masters, Officers and Brethren of the Athole Lodge and
forwarded to Grand Lodge.
The Lodge was duly founded and given the name of
St Maughold Lodge, No.1075.
The founders were
Hugh Rothwell
John Aspinal
William Wilders
Horatio P. Webb
James McWhannell
Robert B. Henderson.
The first meeting on January 4th, 1866, was held in
the Mitre Hotel, Ramsey, on the night of the full moon. The date of meeting
was subsequently altered to the third Tuesday in each calendar month.
The Lodge was opened in the second and third degree
by P.M.J.Crennell, and the ceremony of Installation then took place.
The following officers were appointed and invested
W.Master Bro. Rothwell.
Senior Warden Bro. J. Wilder.
Junior Warden Bro. J. Aspinal.
Secretary Bro. Laughlin.
I.G Bro. R. B. Henderson.
At this meeting seven brethren were proposed and
seconded as joining members of the Lodge, the ballot being taken at the next
regular meeting.
In June, 1866, the Lodge met in the Ramsey Grammar
School in Waterloo Road, until, June, 1870, when the meetings were
transferred to Neptune Street, Ramsey.
On September 14th, 1889 the Lodge moved to its next
premises in Water Street. Ramsey and on the 21st April, 1891, a special
meeting of Prov. Grand Lodge was held in. the Masonic Hall, Water Street,
for the purpose of Consecrating and Dedicating the Lodge Rooms to
Freemasonry.
W.Bro. T. H. Nesbitt, Dep. Prov. Grand Master,
performed the ceremony of Consecration, assisted by several members of Prov.
Grand Lodge, including the Proy. Grand Chaplain, W.Bro. Rev.E. Ferrier.
In the early days of the Lodge it was not unusual
to initiate, pass or raise more than one candidate, and it is interesting to
note in the record book, that on one occasion five men were initiated in one
evening.
In 1914 four initiates were passed at the February
meeting and at the March regular meeting four were raised to the third
degree.
The membership subscription was £l/l/0 a year, 10/6
payable at the first meeting in January, and 10/6 at the first meeting in
July.
On the 30th June, 1873, the subscription was raised
to £2/0/0 a year, but on June 30th, 1874, was reduced to the original sum of
£l/1/0.
A Committee was appointed to draw up the By-laws of
the Lodge, and each member and subsequent member was requested to sign them.
On June 10th, 1902, the Lodge was honoured by Prov.
Grand Lodge holding its annual meeting in the Masonic Hall, Ramsey.
Lord Henniker, Lieut. Governor of the Island, and
who was also Prov. Grand Master of the Province, presided over the
proceedings and at this meeting. W.Bro. J. A. Brown, then Editor of the
"Isle of Man Times" was appointed Dep. Prov. Grand Master, W.Bro. R. D.
Kermode, then Vicar of Lezayre, Prov. Grand Chaplain, and W.Bro. The
Deemster F. M. LaMothe Prov. Grand Std. Br.
The banquet was held at the Queen's Hotel, Ramsev.
at 6-30pm.. the price of the dinner ticket was 3/6.
Arrangements were made for a special late tram from
Ramsey to Douglas for the accommodation of the visiting brethren.
Two past Masters of the Lodge have occupied the
high office of Prov. Grand Master
W.Bro. His Honour the Deemster F. M. LaMothe, 1920
to 1931.
W.Bro. His Honour the Deemster Sir W. P. Cowley,
1931 to 1957.
Mention must be made of the enthusiasm, loyalty and
service to Masonry in general. and St. Maughold Lodge in particular of the
late Bro. James Christian who was initiated into the Lodge in November,
1904.
Bro. Christian served the Lodge as its Tyler for a
period of 40 years, and during that time his attendance, punctuality, zeal
and courtesy were bye-words in the Lodge, and he was well esteemed and loved
by every member.
In 1932 a Royal Arch Chapter attached to the Lodge
and bearing its name and number was consecrated.
The first principals were . .
E Comp. John Corkill as Z
E.Comp. W. P. Cowley as H.
E Comp. A. J. Parkes as J.
In 1948 members of the Lodge were asked to sponsor
a petition for the formation of a new Lodge to be called the Lezayre Lodge.
No. 6980. This Lodge was consecrated in September 1949 and meets in the
Masonic Hall, Ramsey. The consecrating Officers were W.Bro. W. P. Cowley,
Prov. Grand Master, W.Bro. J. T. Christian, Dep. Prov. Grand Master, W.Bro.
F. R. Grundey. and W.Bro. E. H. Stenning. Its first Master was W.Bro. F. W.
Hocketihull.
St Maughold Lodge left Water Street in 1992 and
moved to their current location in the Freemasons Hall, Lezayre Road,
Ramsey, which they share with Lezayre Lodge and St Maughold Chapter.
Copyright © 2008 St Maughold Lodge