Page 14 - Keystone Summer 2018 Issue 1

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ROYAL CUMBERLAND LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS

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On the 15 of October 1857 the Royal Sussex Mark Lodge held one of its regular meetings in
Bath.
W. Bro. Percy Wells lectured the Lodge on its history since 1795, when it is believed the Lodge
met at the Corridor Rooms in Bath, just off the High Street. This was where the three Craft Lodges
in Bath, “Royal Cumberland”, “Royal Sussex” and “Lodge of Honour” met at that time.
At the same meeting the Lodge resolved to change its style or title to “Royal Cumberland” Lodge
of Mark Master Masons. Why, is a matter of debate?

Royal Cumberland Mark Lodge has continued to meet in its present venue, (the Masonic Hall, Old
Orchard Street, Bath) from 1866. The Masonic Hall was purchased from the Church for the
princely sum of £150. We moved in with the
three existing Craft Lodges and a number
of other side-Orders.
Royal Cumberland Lodge is one of the
founding Lodges of the Grand Lodge of Mark
Master Masons in 1856, Royal Cumberland also
collaborated with Else Lodge No. 102 meeting
in Weston Super Mare to form the Provincial
Grand Lodge of Somerset.

As a foundation Lodge of the Grand Lodge of
Mark Master Masons the Lodge was
honoured in October 2 0 0 6 b y t h e
presentation of a Lodge Banner by the Most
Worshipful the Grand Master, HRH Prince
Michael of Kent.
The presentation was p a r t o f w i d e r
celebrations of 150 years of Mark Masonry
and over forty members of the Lodge attended
the Albert Hall in London to receive the
banner which we display with pride at all
our meetings.

Royal Cumberland Lodge has the honour
of being one of only five TI Mark Lodges in the Country. The others being “Old Kent Lodge” and
“Bon Accord Lodge” meeting at Mark Masons Hall, “The Phoenix Lodge” in Portsmouth and the
“Northumberland & Berwick upon Tweed” Lodge meeting in Newcastle.

Every two years these five Lodges meet together in celebration. The last such occasion being
hosted by our fellow Brethren in Newcastle in October 2017.
The picture shows the Current WM W.Bro T J E Quartermaine (Trevor)

Compiled by: W. Bro D J Dixon
Secretary RCLMMMTI

(With additional material supplied by R.W. Bro D B Nelson and W. Bro R T Cooper)

Summer Issue 2018 Page14