A short history of Saltford Lodge
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Early in 1971 the Master of St. Keyna Lodge 1833 with a few other members of that Lodge, and of Priory Lodge 6913, decided it was high time a new Lodge was formed in Keynsham. At that time there were already five Lodges meeting in Keynsham but these, because of their origins, had always drawn their membership primarily from Bristol and South Gloucestershire, and only occasionally from Keynsham itself. It was hoped that a new Lodge would, in the course of time, have a more local flavour.
Further justification for having another Lodge was that many Masons from other parts of the country were living in the Saltford and Keynsham area and were wanting a Masonic home. They had been accustomed to one or other form of Emulation working, and the Bristol ritual used in some of the Keynsham Lodges was apparently not particularly to their liking. Altogether it was felt the time for a new Lodge was ripe. |
On the 13th May 1971 the secretary wrote to the Provincial Grand Secretary asking for any guidance supplementary to the Book of Constitution in forming a new Lodge. Thus it was that the Secretary of St. Keyna Lodge was asked to attend a meeting called for 24th May 1971 to help the prospective founders of a new Lodge to attain their objective.
At the Provincial Grand Lodge Meeting in Bath on 20th May 1971 the Provincial Grand Master announced with pleasure that brethren in the Keynsham area consider there is a need for a new Lodge, and on 17th July 1971 the Provincial Grand Secretary offered every assistance and guidance as necessary and required.
Provisional decisions relating to the place and times of meeting, fees and subscriptions etc, were reached, and the Secretary was asked to write to the Secretary of the Masonic Hall Company, Keynsham for that Company’s requirements to provide all the necessary facilities for the new Lodge. The principal officers were appointed, and establishment costs, which Ritual to use, the fees and subscriptions to be charged, the framing of byelaws etc were all discussed. It was also decided St. Keyna Lodge should be asked to sponsor the project. By this time over £5OO had been subscribed by various founders. So far so good, but difficulties were soon to loom on the horizon!
Thus followed a period of argument and acrimony, which is well enough documented, but cannot and should not be entered upon here.
By 1974 the leading founders were despondent as it was feared the project would die, but at last the light suddenly broke. As a result of a chance conversation at a meeting of the Forest of Mendip Lodge, it was agreed in due course that Forest of Mendip would sponsor the petition for a new Lodge in Keynsham.The Provincial Grand Secretary being satisfied with this new approach gave the Province’s full approval to proceed, and on Friday 27th September 1974 in the presence of the Provincial Grand Master, formal support for a petition for the Saltford Lodge was approved unanimously by the members of Forest of Mendip Lodge.
However, the difficulties were not yet over. The Keynsham Masonic Hall Company wrote on 21st December 1974 that approval would not be given for the Saltford Lodge to meet at the Keynsham Masonic Hall, a worrying development, only resolved by the intervention of The Province.
The Hall Company management recanted and gave the formal approval to Saltford Lodge to meet in the Keynsham Masonic Hall. The many arrangements for the Consecration were made without a hitch, and the Consecration finally took place on 7th April 1975.
At the Provincial Grand Lodge Meeting in Bath on 20th May 1971 the Provincial Grand Master announced with pleasure that brethren in the Keynsham area consider there is a need for a new Lodge, and on 17th July 1971 the Provincial Grand Secretary offered every assistance and guidance as necessary and required.
Provisional decisions relating to the place and times of meeting, fees and subscriptions etc, were reached, and the Secretary was asked to write to the Secretary of the Masonic Hall Company, Keynsham for that Company’s requirements to provide all the necessary facilities for the new Lodge. The principal officers were appointed, and establishment costs, which Ritual to use, the fees and subscriptions to be charged, the framing of byelaws etc were all discussed. It was also decided St. Keyna Lodge should be asked to sponsor the project. By this time over £5OO had been subscribed by various founders. So far so good, but difficulties were soon to loom on the horizon!
Thus followed a period of argument and acrimony, which is well enough documented, but cannot and should not be entered upon here.
By 1974 the leading founders were despondent as it was feared the project would die, but at last the light suddenly broke. As a result of a chance conversation at a meeting of the Forest of Mendip Lodge, it was agreed in due course that Forest of Mendip would sponsor the petition for a new Lodge in Keynsham.The Provincial Grand Secretary being satisfied with this new approach gave the Province’s full approval to proceed, and on Friday 27th September 1974 in the presence of the Provincial Grand Master, formal support for a petition for the Saltford Lodge was approved unanimously by the members of Forest of Mendip Lodge.
However, the difficulties were not yet over. The Keynsham Masonic Hall Company wrote on 21st December 1974 that approval would not be given for the Saltford Lodge to meet at the Keynsham Masonic Hall, a worrying development, only resolved by the intervention of The Province.
The Hall Company management recanted and gave the formal approval to Saltford Lodge to meet in the Keynsham Masonic Hall. The many arrangements for the Consecration were made without a hitch, and the Consecration finally took place on 7th April 1975.
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Click on this image to view the interior of the Temple and the unique three-dimensional plaster plaques that adorn its walls
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