2018 marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Somerset and there are various events across the county this year to mark this important landmark.
On Sunday 30th September the party comes to Bath with a special event in the city. At around 2.45pm a Masonic procession will set off from Bath Masonic Hall in Old Orchard Street and make its way through the centre of the City to the Friend’s Meeting House in York Street where it will arrive at 3pm. Friends Meeting House was originally built as the very first Masonic Hall in Bath, and this will be the first Masonic procession through the City since 1819, when that building was opened by the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England.
As back then, this year’s procession will include Provincial Officers, Masters and representatives of local lodges in Bath, Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, Frome etc, and many local Masons. Distinguished guests, including the Mayor & Mayoress of Bath and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, will be there to greet the party and receive a presentation on the 250 year history of the Province. Afterwards all will return to the current Masonic Hall for a cream tea, and where Masons, their guests, partners and friends will be entertained with tours of the historic building.
Bath was the first location in the county to form a Masonic Lodge, all the way back in 1724. It was also where the first meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Somerset took place in 1768, so it is fitting that Bath should play an important part in the celebrations, so please come and support us if you can.
