HISTORY

The Lodge was sponsored on the Petition of 17 Masons to the John of Gaunt Lodge No.523. Of these 17 original sponsors, 7 were members of John of Gaunt and the first Master was W.Bro. Edward Watson who had been the Master of the Commercial Lodge No.1391 in 1883.  The worthy petition was first received by the Masonic Hall, Halford Street, John of Gaunt Lodge on the 20th March 1884 and subsequently the Minutes of their Meeting on 20th November 1884.  The Petition soon received the sanction of Grand Lodge and on the 3rd December 1884, the Grand Master, Bro. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales commanded the Dep.G.M. to sign and seal our Warrant which remains open for our inspection to this day.

Arrangements for the consecration proceeded and duly recorded in the Minutes of the meeting held at John of Gaunt Lodge dated 15th January 1885.  Provincial Grand Lodge convened a Special meeting at the Masonic Hall, Halford Street, Leicester on Monday 16th February 1885 and W.Bro. Samuel Partridge (Dept.P.G.M. acting as P.G.M.). Solemnly consecrated the Lodge in ancient form.

Over the next 25 years the Lodge continued to meet at the Masonic Hall in Halford Street and was shared with four other Lodges meeting in Leicester, namely St. Johns, John of Gaunt, Commercial and Albert Edward. By the turn of the century, the numbers had grown noticeably. All this prompted a Resolution to purchase alternative premises and this present site at “London Road” was purchased in 1906 for £2,500. By 1910 the building in its form was completed and furnished at the further cost of £9,500.

On 25th April 1910 the building was consecrated by the M.W.Pro. Grand Master Lord Ampthill. In the same month the Lodge resolved to hold all future meetings here and ever since we have had the privilege to have the use of the magnificent Holmes Temple.

In 1885 the Lodge produced a membership of 30, after 25 years and moving to London Road the membership trebled to 83. Many ceremonies in that period involved multiple candidates. Immediately after the First and the Second World Wars the lodge membership exceeded 120. Such multiple ceremonies still continued for some twenty years after the Second World War. The last occasion when a double ceremony occurred in the Lodge was on the 15th March 1971, when Bro’s. Michael and Paul Kind were initiated together, the charge given to them by their father W.Bro. Cyril Kind, the Lodge Secretary.

After 1960 and out of the Lodge of the Golden Fleece:-

• The Jason Lodge No.7716 was consecrated on the 30th November 1960.
• The Lodge of the Argonauts No.8210 was consecrated on the 5th March 1968.
• A petition was approved in January 1985 for the Leicestershire and Rutland Rotary Lodge No.9158 to be consecrated later in the year. W.Bro. P. Bickley was the First Master.

Since 1985 we have had Six Brethren who have served as Master of the Lodge twice. W.Bro. E. Watson (1885-1901), W.Bro. W.H. Staynes (1893-1913), W.Bro. G. Baxter (1978-2002), W.Bro. J.R. Williamson (1992-2007), W.Bro. J.C. Peacock (2008-2009) and W.Bro. D.O. McKeown (1989-2010).

The 1,000th Meeting of the Lodge was held on 15th March 1999. W.Bro. P. Potter W.M. Presiding.

On 21st December 2009, Long Service Certificates were presented by W.Bro. C. Packham, the Lodge Liaison Officer, to W.Bros. Geoffery and Roy Baxter. For 50 years service in the Lodge of the Golden Fleece. W.Bro. J.C. Peacock Presiding.

On Monday 17th November 2014, a Long Service Certificate was presented by the Provincial Grand Master, R.W. Bro. David V. Hagger to W. Bro. Peter Bickley for 50 years service in Freemasonry.  Later in the evening a tankard was presented to W. Bro. Peter by the Worshipful Master, Bro. David H. Lewin.

On Monday 21st March 2016, a Long Service Certificate was presented by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, V.W. Bro. James L. Buckle  to W. Bro. James Williamson for 50 years service in Freemasonry.  Later in the evening a tankard was presented to W. Bro. James by the Worshipful Master, Bro. Peter Davies.

On Monday 20th November 2017, a Long Service Certificate was presented by the Lodge Provincial Liaison Officer, W. Bro. Richard J Moore to W. Bro. John Coleman for 50 years service in Freemasonry.  Later in the evening a tankard was presented to W. Bro. John by the Worshipful Master, Bro. Peter Willcocks.