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Preston
Group of
Lodges & Chapters
FREEMASONRY
IN PRESTON
Freemasonry has enjoyed strong links with Preston for over 200 years dating
back to the founding of the Lodge of Justice No. 484 in 1775. The impact of
the Industrial Revolution was starting to take effect on the growth and importance
of the town and over the next few years other lodges were established, some
of which are still in existence today. These include the Lodge of Unanimity
No. 113, the Lodge of Peace and Unity No. 314, Royal Preston Lodge No. 333
and the Lodge of Concord No. 343. Freemasonry has played an important part
in the development of the town, its members being actively involved in many
organisations as was witnessed by the public ceremony of the laying of the
Foundation Stone of the old Town Hall in 1867. A similar ceremony was carried
out in 1882 by the First Earl of Lathom, Provincial Grand Master for the Province
of West Lancashire, who laid the Foundation Stone for the Harris Free Library
and Museum.
Until the present Masonic Hall, Ashlar House in Saul Street, was built at
the end of the Second World War, the Preston lodges met at various venues
in the town, such as the Bull and Royal Hotel, the Cock Hotel, the Turk’s
Head and many other inns and taverns. Today, however, the majority of the twenty one lodges
meet at Ashlar House, a fine building which caters for non-Masonic events
including weddings and conferences, as well as Freemasonry. The membership
of each Preston lodge varies between 30 and 70 and they are administered
by a Committee led by the Worshipful Master and his two Wardens.
The outbreak of World War Two also had an effect on Freemasonry in Preston.
Servicemen in the Armed Forces who were Freemasons, including of course our
American allies, continued to enjoy their Masonic meetings whilst far from
their homes by visiting the Preston lodges where they were made most welcome.
Friendships were fostered which continued long after the war had ended and
several of our Preston lodges have interesting items of regalia donated by
American Freemasons as a token of their gratitude for the hospitality they
had received.
The camaraderie created by the difficulties of war-time conditions where men
from all walks of life were brought together, led to an appreciation of the
principles of Freemasonry. By the end of the war new lodges had to be formed
to deal with the numbers of new members. As a result the total number of lodges
in Preston had doubled by the end of the following decade.
Apart from the private aspect of the work within the lodges, there is considerable
activity on the social and charitable side involving wives, family members
and friends, both Masonic and non-Masonic. Charity is one of the great
driving forces of Freemasonry and every member is encouraged to contribute
regularly to this worthy cause. The sums raised enable the Freemasons’ Grand Charity
to donate considerable amounts to nearly all the major National Charities
and it is one of the major sources of charitable giving in the country. In
addition the Brethren in Preston also support local charities in the town
as well as the Masonic charities in the Province of West Lancashire. Preston
is of course very proud to be authorised by its Charter to hold a Guild every
20 years and on these important occasions the Freemasons of Preston make a
special effort to assist local charities. During the last Guild, they raised
a sum in excess of £10,000 which was donated to six charities in Preston.
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