ANTIENT BRITON LODGE No 1675
Founded in 1877
22 Hope St Liverpool
Brief Lodge History
When Antient Briton Lodge was founded in 1877 , Liverpool, with a population of 600,000 had not been granted City status and Toxteth and Harrington Docks were not yet opened.
In Toxteth, from 1831 to 1877, the local population had grown from 24,000 to 117,000. The fields between Park Road and Princes Road were only being filled in with property from about 1850.
In 1878 an advertisement in the "Liverpool Post" by Hugh Jones, Builder, a member of the Lodge, offered houses newly built in Pengwern Street for sale at £300/ £400 on a 75-year lease.
In 1976 these houses were demolished under the supervision of J. A. Bamber, the present Secretary of the Lodge, so that the area could be redeveloped. Some time prior to 1877 a hotel had been built on the corner of Admiral Street and North Hill Street called the Masonic Arms.
Next door at No. 80 was the Masonic Hall where the De Grey and Ripon Lodge No.1356 met. This is now known as the Toxteth Lodge and is our Mother Lodge.
A meeting was called at the Masonic Hall, Hope Street, Liverpool on Friday, 2nd March,1877 for the purpose of forming a new masonic lodge.
The fifteen founding members, predominantly Welsh but with those of Yorkshire and Scottish origin, were:-
Dr. J. Kellet Smith, Mariners' Lodge No. 249, Temple Lodge No.1094
Robert Wylie, Lodge of Perseverance No. 155, Lodge of Sincerity No. 292.
W. R. Bainbridge, Lodge of Harmony No. 272.
Rev. J. Rees Jenkins, Harmonic Lodge No. 216.
Jonas R. Bottomley, De Grey and Ripon Lodge No. 1356.
Dr. J. Howard Pugh, Temple Lodge No. 1094.
H. W. Parry, Mariners Lodge No. 249.
Owen Evans, De Grey and Ripon Lodge No. 1356.
J. W. Jeffries, Merchants' Lodge No. 241.
Daniel Davies, Mersey Lodge No. 477.
Thomas Lowe. De Grey and Ripon Lodge No. 1356.
William Roberts, De Grey and Ripon Lodge No. 1356.
W. Woodcock, Warren Lodge No. 1276.
W. H. Thomas, Prince Arthur Lodge No. 1570.
Thomas Evans, Everton Lodge No. 823.
At the inaugral meeting on 2nd March 1877, the then acting Secretary initially penned the name as Ancient Briton, the letter "c" being overwritten with the letter "t". Why was the obsolete form of this word chosen? No explanation was ever given. It is fair conjecture that either Thos. Evans or, more likely, Rev. J. Rees Jenkins, having the phonetic pronunciation of his native tongue in mind, would have advised this spelling, to prevent possible confusion to the Welsh speaking brethren.
The Lodge was consecrated on Tuesday, 16th April 1877 with 74 brethren present. The Provincial Grand Secretary, Bro. H. S. Alpass presided.
The first regular meeting was held on 'Tuesday. 24th April 1877 at which thirty-six joining members were balloted for and thirteen new members were initiated under a special dispensation.
Our motto: is "Y Ddraig Goch a Ddyry Gychwyn", which does not translate easily from the Welsh, but the most apt rendering found is, "Dragon Red goes ahead".
The Lodge meeting's
Fourth Tuesday Sept - May ( except Dec ) the Installation is in March
May 25th at 6pm General Lodge meeting (Third Degree)
Lodge Meetings Dining Requirement needed before
Tuesday 28th September 2010 at 6.15 pm Wednesday 22nd September 2010
Tuesday 26th October 2010 at 6.15 pm Wednesday 20th October 2010
Tuesday 23rd November 2010 at 6.15 pm Wednesday 17th November 2010
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Tuesday 25th January 2011 at 6. 15 pm Wednesday 18th January 2011
Tuesday 22nd February 2011 at 6.15 pm Wednesday 16th February 2011
Tuesday 22nd March 2011 at 5.15 pm Wednesday 16th March 2011
Tuesday 26th April 2011 at 6.15 pm Wednesday 20th April 2011
Tuesday 24th May 2011 at 6.15 pm Wednesday 18th May 2011
Please Note: The Treasurer must be notified of your attendanceon or before the due "Dining Requirement" date's indicated above including those of your guests , otherwise no meal will be provided.
Rehearsals follow each Committee meeting dates
Second Tuesday Sept - May ( except Dec)
Preceptor John Roberts
Tuesday 14th September 2010 at 6.30 pm
Tuesday 12th October 2010 at 6.30 pm
Tuesday 9th November 2010 at 6.30 pm
............................
Tuesday 11th January 2011 at 6.30 pm
Tuesday 8th February 2011 at 6.30 pm
Tuesday 8th March 2011 at 6.30 pm
Tuesday 5th April 2011 at 6.30 pm
Tuesday 10th May 2011 at 6.30 pm
Lodge Photo
Antient Briton 1675 had plenty of reasons to be extremely pleased with themselves at their recent Lodge meeting on April 27th 2010
Not only were we able to help out another Lodge in our group , Emulation Lodge by raising their Candidate Craig Gracie to become a master mason
We also had were indeed honoured to receive Five joining members Roger Arnold , Keith Rice , David Gillaspy , Ken Brown and Paul Welsby .
Then as if that was not enough we had private visits off Billy McGovaney a past master from Ireland and our own Assistant Provincial Grand Master Stanley OldField.
A great night for Antient Briton 1675 and indeed masonry in general .
Left to Right
John Roberts , Andrew Beddeson (SW) , Billy McGovaney, Ed Mawdsley (DC) ,Mike White, Stanley OldField , Keith Rice , Craig Gracie , Roger Arnold ,Alex Halford (WM) Graham Arnold (JW) Ken Brown and David Gillaspy
Installation Night 25th March 2008
