The Warrant was issued by the United Grand Lodge of England on the 3rd February 1858, read at a preliminary Meeting held on the 27th April 1858, when seven Candidates were proposed. The Consecration of the Londesborough Lodge took place at High Noon, on the 9th June, 1858, in the Victoria Rooms, Bridlington Quay. After the first Master had been installed, the Working Tools, in silver, the gift of the Right Hon. Lord Londesborough, were presented to the Lodge. Six Candidates were initiated.
On the 7th December 1858, the Rt. Hon. Londesborough was unanimously elected as Wor. Master for the ensuing year and on the 5th Dec 1859, was again elected as Worshipful Master. On 4th December 1860, his son, the second Lord Londesborough, was elected as the Worshipful Master and again in 1861, and on the 7th June 1877, he was installed as the first Master of the Londesborough Lodge, No. 1681, in London. Since 1936 when the Londesborough Lodge, No. 734, conducted a Ceremony in the Freemason's Hall, London, attended by the Very Worshipful Grand Secretary, many Grand and Provincial Grand Lodge Officers and the Worshipful Master, Treasurer and Secretary of the Londesborough Lodge, No. 1681, London, visits have been exchanged yearly with that Lodge, and a firm friendship has developed between the Brethren of the two Lodges.
Lodge Meetings were originally held in the Victoria Rooms, Garrison Street, until October 1875, when the Londesborough Lodge premises, in St. John's Avenue, were Dedicated. The original premises were used for fifty years until 1925, when they were extended to their present form and the new Masonic Temple Dedicated by the Right Hon. The Earl of Ronaldshay, P.C., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master for Yorkshire, North and East Ridings.
Another highlight in the History of the Lodge and a practical interpretation of Freemasonry was the laying of the Foundation Stone of the Bridlington Grammar School at High Noon on the 14th June 1898, by Sir Charles Legard, Bart. The Lodge was opened in the three degrees and a procession in inverse order formed (the Brethren in full regalia) headed by a Band proceeded to the site where the stone was "just and truly laid according to the antient rules of architecture and the regulations of the Craft". After a most elaborate Masonic Ceremony the Brethren formed in reverse order and returned to the Masonic Hall where the Lodge was closed and the Masonic Anthem sung.
On the 6th June 1958, the Centenary Meeting of the Lodge was held at the Alexandra Hotel, Bridlington. the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master (The Right Hon. The Earl of Ronaldshay) and many other distinguished Freemasons being present.
At the Grand Lodge annual investiture in April 1961 the first Grand Lodge Honour received by the Lodge since its foundation was conferred on the Secretary of the Londesborough Lodge. No. 734, W.Bro. W. Mason Brown, the Rank being that of Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies. Over 600 candidates have been initiated into Londesborough Lodge during its one hundred forty nine years of existence.
BRIEF RECORD OF THE
LONDESBOROUGH LODGE, No. 734
(formerly 1036)
LONDESBOROUGH LODGE, No. 734
(formerly 1036)
for 150th Anniversary 2008
