top of page
Lodge
of
St. James
№765

The Architecture of Our History

Early background

 

  • 21 February 1827 — First stone laid for St. James’s Parish Church, Bermondsey

  • 7 May 1829 — Church consecrated (later giving its name to the Lodge)

Early recorded activity and instability

  • 6 May 1874 — Earliest surviving Minutes

    • Seven Fellow Crafts raised

    • Third Degree performed three times

    • Four Passings conducted

  • 1875

    • March — Candidate rejected (29 white balls, 10 black)

    • 22 March — Emergency meeting for Grand Master installation representation

    • Fees raised and then reduced within the same year

  • December 1876 — Last meeting at Bridge House Hotel

  • January 1877 — Lodge borrows funds to meet liabilities

  • 1877 — Temporary move to Surrey Masonic Hall, then to the White Hart, Borough

  • April 1878 — May meeting discontinued

  • 2 November 1880 — Multiple initiations; ceremony repeated

  • March 1903 — Attempt to formalise organist remuneration (rejected)

  • February 1909 — Lodge moved to the Criterion Restaurant, Piccadilly Circus. A major turning point; membership and finances improved

  • 1910 — Introduction of annual Ladies’ Night

  • 1911 — Chapter of St. James the Just consecrated

  • November 1913 — Fraternal contact with Montana Lodge (USA)

Establishment at
Freemasons’ Hall

  • October 1934 — Move to Freemasons’ Hall, Great Queen Street (permanent home)

  • November 1934 — Visit of Lord Cornwallis

  • January 1935 — 500th meeting; Lodge banner presented

  • October 1938 — Installation delayed due to lift incident

Post-war development

  • October 1950 — 600th meeting

  • October 1951 — Sons initiated by their father (Moore family)

  • December 1951 — Visit of Bransby Williams

  • 1953 — Presentation of apron cushion

  • August 1957 — Death of Fred C. Savage

  • 1959 — Centenary of the Lodge

Late 20th century

Early 20th century transformation

  • 8 May 1984 — 125th Anniversary celebrated

  • 18 December 1984 — Theft of Lodge artefacts (later recovered, except jewel)

  • 12 March 1996 — Historical Minutes (120 years prior) read in Lodge

  • 26 April 2000 — Alan Jestico appointed Assistant Grand Pursuivant

  • 2001–2002 — Second instance of brothers succeeding each other (Phillips family)

Crisis period

2009 — The Lodge entered a period of serious decline

  • Membership was dwindling

  • Recruitment had effectively ceased

  • Increasing resignations occurred

  • Ceremonies were reduced largely to rehearsals and presentations

  • The future of the Lodge was in doubt, with the possible surrender of the Warrant considered likely

The Lodge of St. James No. 765 (1827–2009)

Foundation and early years

  • 30 November 1858 — Warrant issued for the Lodge

  • 14 February 1859 — Lodge consecrated at the Gregorian Arms Public House, Jamaica Road

  • 16 February 1859 — Consecration reported in The Freemasons Magazine & Masonic Mirror. Founders drawn largely from Bermondsey residents

  • 1861 — Lodge moved to the Leather Market Tavern

  • 1862 — Meetings reduced from monthly to eight per year

  • 1872 — Lodge moved to the Bridge House Hotel, London Bridge

Consolidation and development

  • 4 January 1881 — Charity given to travelling Brethren

  • 4 April 1882 — Record attendance (40 members, 19 visitors)

  • 1883 — Installation date changed from April to October

  • 1884 — Internal dispute referred to Grand Lodge (dismissed)

  • 1888 — Initiation fee increased to ten guineas

  • 1893 — Lodge membership: 56 Brethren

  • 2 January 1894 — Alfred Thomas Ramsey initiated

  • 12 April 1896 — Masonic service at St. James’s Church

  • 1897 — Charles Mangold begins long service (43 years)

  • October 1898 — William T. Rouse initiated

3 October 1899 — Fred C. Savage initiated

War years and the interwar period

  • 1914–1918 — First World War reduces attendance

  • October 1917 — Only 17 members present at Installation

  • February 1918 — Fire damages Lodge furniture

  • 1919 — Significant increase in fees

  • 1921 — Move to the Hotel Cecil

  • 1927 — Presentation to Bro. Ramsey (photographic portfolio)

  • January 1930 — Notice to vacate Hotel Cecil

  • October 1930 — Move to the Hotel Great Central

Second World War and aftermath

  • 1939–1945 — Meetings held in summer due to air raids

  • 1940 — Death of Charles Mangold

  • 1949 — Death of Alfred T. Ramsey

Modern period (1959–2009)

  • 10 October 1961 — 666th meeting. 136 members recorded. Frank Brown installed as Master James W. Stubbs becomes honorary member

  • 10 December 1963 — 680th meeting. John Raven initiated

  • 12 January 1965 — Multiple initiations (including Larry Kuber)

  • 10 October 1967 — 702nd meeting; Clifford Moore installed

  • 10 October 1968 — Derek Moore installed (first brother succession)

  • 14 October 1969 — 714th meeting, 33 members and 40 visitors present

  • 1960s–1970s — Festive Boards held at Connaught Rooms

  • 8 January 1974 — Increase in dining costs prompts venue discussion

  • 8 November 1977 — 763rd meeting. Meetings reduced to four per year

  • 9 October 1979 — 772nd meeting, Hnours for Sir James Stubbs and W. E. Mo

21st century

  • 14 March 2006 — 877th meeting, Three Past Masters excluded for financial mismanagement

  • 13 May 2008 — 887th meeting, “White Table” event with non-Masonic guests

  • 17 February 2009 — 890th meeting, 150th Anniversary celebrated, 64 members and guests present Mark Allen initiated. Commemorative banquet held

21st Century going forward

  • 2010 Robert Grant appointed Past Grand Standard Bearer PGStB

  • 2012-17 Robert Grant appointed Past Senior Grand Deacon PSGD,Metropolitan Grand Inspector, MetGInsp Craft & RA.

  • 2021 Robert Grant appointed Past Grand Sword Bearer PGSwdB Craft & RA, and Assistant Metropolitan Grand Master, AMetGM Craft & AssMetGSupt (RA).

  • 2019-24 Glen McDonald appointed Past Senior Grand Deacon PSGD and Metropolitan Grand Inspector, MetGInsp Craft &  PAGSoj (RA).

  • 2024 Paul Thistlethwaite appointed Past Assistant Grand Standard Bearer PAGStB

  • 2024 Glen McDonald appointed DepMetGMO

  • 2025 Glen McDonald appointed Metropolitan Grand Membership Officer,MetGMO

  • 2023 Kevin Jones appointed Past Grand Standard Bearer PGStB.

  • 2024 Graham Dear appointed Past Assistant Grand Standard Bearer PAGStB

  • 2026 Matthew Beckwith appointed Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies AGDC.

UGLE.jpg

INTEGRITY • CHARITY • TRUTH • INTEGRITY • CHARITY • TRUTH • INTEGRITY • CHARITY • TRUTH

Our brotherhood is united by the enduring principles that define our character and purpose. Integrity guides our actions, Charity softens our hearts, and Truth enlightens our minds. These values are the bedrock upon which our lodge stands, fostering a community dedicated to mutual respect, personal growth, and the pursuit of a better world through collective service.

bottom of page