It is impossible to reduce 206 years of history onto one page so we encourage our brethren to read our published lodge history to fully understand the life of the lodge.
The first number granted to the lodge was 713 but was renumbered in 1832 to become 462 and subsequently renumbered 1863 to 359, its present number. The first meeting of the lodge was held on 27th October 1819 at the White Swan Inn in Romsey at which just six brethren were present, four of whom were the original petitioners one being the tenant innkeeper of the White Swan.
Brother James Hillyer, who is recorded as being a Gentleman living in Romsey, was the first nominated Master, at the first meeting of the lodge, there being no formal Consecration ceremony, the Worshipful Master simply rose and addressed the brethren regarding the granting of the Dispensation from the Grand Lodge through the recommendation of the Worshipful Master and brethren of Lodge No 111.
The Worshipful Master then went on to conduct the business of the lodge appointing brethren and setting out the necessary procedures for future business. It is interesting to note that the form and manner in which lodges in those days worked is not the regular manner that we would recognise today, as an example the lodge met on Christmas Day in 1866, albeit only for forty-five minutes!
It would appear that Brother Hillyer continued as Master until 1822 when at the January meeting after the regular business had been conducted, the Senior Warden Brother Norris, took the chair as Worshipful Master without any apparent Installation ceremony, interestingly no mention of a Board of Installed Master’s is recorded until the Installation meeting of January 1842.
By 1850 there was talk of leaving Romsey for Eling in Southampton as many of the members lived in or around that area; this however did not materialise, later at a meeting in May of 1855, a move to Southampton was agreed with the final meeting in Romsey being held in December 1855 with the next at the Crown Inn in Shirley in January 1856. Such was the enthusiasm that by 1856 there were no less than four Initiates and nineteen joining members into the lodge, albeit the remaining three members who resided in Romsey resigned that year due to the difficulties of travel. The lodge moved again in March 1859 to the old Freemasons Hall in Bugle Street, Southampton and later here to Albion Place in January of 1880.
The lodge began to attract many seafaring men to its ranks, the majority of the 1857 Initiates and joiners being from seafaring professions, resulting in that by 1860 the lodge had truly become a Seaman’s Lodge including amongst its members Chief Officers, pursers, engineers, stewards and many more besides.
A number of members also held various high civic as well as Masonic office, more than one becoming the Mayor of Southampton, among the most notable was W. Bro. Joseph Stebbing, who, in the year 1871, was appointed Deputy Provincial Grand Master of the Province. His portrait hangs in the dining room here in Albion Place.
Such was the success of the lodge that by 1902 they had to consider limiting membership due to its rapid expansion, even so by the years of the Great War the membership stood at between 190–200 members. The lodge was proud to record that during the Great War many brethren of the lodge were recognised with awards for bravery as well as distinguished service, sadly six members were recorded as having given their lives in battles both on land and at sea.
The 1939–1945 Second World War once again witnessed restrictions and privations in terms of meetings, dining and lighting being rationed and a range of temporary instructions as to procedures also being introduced. Average attendance fell due to practically all of its members engaged in active defence of the country either in the fighting services or civil defence duties of various types. Fortunately, no member lost their life during the war.
The years since have witnessed various fortunes for the lodge, despite this we arrive here this evening at the celebration of 206 years in existence making this The Lodge of Peace & Harmony amongst the oldest surviving lodges in the Province, long may it continue to thrive and prosper for many years to come.
Written & researched by W.Bro. George T. Mars PJGD
The Lodge of Peace & Harmony - Southampton 