The Lodge of King Solomon’s Temple’s focus is on Masonic research and study. York has great historical significance for Freemasons, and it feels appropriate that they chose York and York Lodge 236 as the desired venue to hold their third meeting. Following the success of the Chester Gala weekend in the spring of 1911, it was in York that they were to install the new Worshipful Master, W. Bro. A.E. Coveney, P.P.G.W., in what became known as the York Festival of 1911.
York Lodge 236 member and eminent Masonic historian W. Bro. R.F. Gould was the reigning Master of the Lodge of King Solomon’s Temple at the time, and York, from the standpoint of Masonic history, has great significance. W. Bro. R.F. Gould himself mentions the existence of a mahogany flat rule or gauge containing the names of three Brethren and the Seal of Solomon and the date 1663 in his book The History of Freemasonry.
The Culdees and the legend of Edwin
The body of ministers or canons serving at St Peter’s (the predecessor to the modern cathedral) were known as Culdees, performing a double duty: officiating cathedral services and running an ancient hospital to care for the local sick and destitute. They were probably responsible for the local setting of the ‘Edwin Legend’, to the effect that after the death of St Alban wars throughout England resulted in the destruction of the ‘good rule of Masonry’ until King Athelstan’s reign. Edwin, the supposed son of Athelstan, ‘who loved well masons’, obtained from his father a Charter for the masons to hold a yearly meeting at York, where Edwin himself presided as Grand Master and ‘made Masons’ in the year 926 AD.
The Culdees became involved with the working (operative) masons who were engaged in building York’s religious buildings at the time of King Athelstan. They were said to have had their own mysteries, of a Masonic type, which were derived from Egyptian sources; these Eastern myths were blended with the doctrines of Christianity. It appears likely that the Culdees became familiar with the masons’ tools (square, compasses, chisel, etc.) and taught the operative masons a spiritual meaning or interpretation of them, in an effort to mould their lives as well as the stones upon which they worked.
Dispensation for the visit
Dispensation was obtained from the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Cheshire, Lord Egerton, granting the Lodge temporary leave from Chester, and a Dispensation was also granted by the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of North and East Ridings of Yorkshire, the Most Honourable the Marquess of Zetland, permitting a temporary meeting at the Masonic Hall, Duncombe Place, York, on Saturday 21 October 1911. Brethren and ladies alike were invited to visit over the extended weekend of Friday 20 October to Sunday 22 October 1911, with special excursions arranged from London, Liverpool, Manchester and other places.
Friday 20 October 1911
The Brethren and their ladies assembled on the afternoon of Friday 20 October to visit some of the landmarks within the ancient city, visiting the walls where they observed Masons’ Marks on the exterior face of the stones, followed by visits to the Manor House or Palace of the Stuarts, St Mary’s Abbey, St Leonard’s Hospital, the Museum Gardens and the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, before returning to Harker’s Hotel for dinner at 5.30pm.
An Emergency Meeting of York Lodge 236 was summoned at 6.30pm by the Master, A.H. Barron, who welcomed the visitors. The Brethren examined the ancient manuscripts and Masonic curiosities held by York Lodge, and a smoking concert followed, whilst suitable alternative arrangements had been made for the ladies.
Saturday 21 October — the Installation
On Saturday 21 October, breakfast was served at Harker’s Hotel, followed by a guided talk of York Minster and its history by the Very Reverend the Dean of York, P.G. Chaplain, with a visit to the Mansion House and Guildhall in the afternoon.
The ladies had afternoon tea at 3.00pm whilst the Brethren proceeded to the Installation Meeting at Duncombe Place Masonic Hall, where 22 members and 63 visitors were present.
W. Bro. A.E. Coveney, P.P.S.G.W., was installed as Worshipful Master by the retiring W.M., W. Bro. R.F. Gould, P.G.D. A Past Master’s Jewel was then presented to R.F. Gould, and a replica of it presented to W. Bro. Sir William Hesketh Lever, ‘in token of his great assistance and deep interest in the Lodge as the acting Immediate Past Master’.
Following the installation and the investiture of the Officers, W. Bro. R.F. Gould, an Honorary Member of all four of York’s Lodges, gave an interesting and instructive address on the history of the Lodge of King Solomon’s Temple and Freemasonry generally, paying particular attention to the rise and progress of the craft in York.
Honorary and joining members
During the meeting, York Lodge members made contributions of significance. W. Bro. R.F. Gould proposed W. Bro. Arthur P. Purey-Cust, the Dean of York, P.G. Chaplain, Eng., as an Honorary Member of the Lodge; W. Bro. Sir William Hesketh Lever, P.P.G.W., seconded the proposition, which was passed unanimously.
W. Bro. the Rev. Canon J. Watson, M.A., the Sub-Dean of York, Bro. E. Fox Thomas, P.G. Secretary, N. and E. Yorkshire, and Bro. A.H. Barron, W.M. of York Lodge, were made Honorary Members, alongside Count Goblet D’Alviella, Sénateur de Belgique, Past Grand Master of Belgium.
An extensive number of Brethren were proposed as Joining Members:
- His Royal Highness Prince Frederick Leopold of Prussia, Grand Protector of Freemasons in the German Empire
- The Right Honourable the Earl of Derby, G.C.V.O., R.W.P.G. Master for East Lancashire
- The Rev. Charles E.L. Wright, M.A., P.G.D. (Clerk in Holy Orders)
- The Rev. H.E. Cart de Lafontaine
- The Rev. S. Gasking, P.Prov.G.Chaplain
- W. Bro. Theodore Roosevelt, former President of the United States of America
- W. Bro. Charles Vickers, P.P.A.G.D.C.
- W. Bro. George Eaton-Shore, P.P.A.G.D.C. (Civil Engineer)
- W. Bro. Wolfe Simon Lyon, P.A.G.P., Eng. (Gentleman)
- W. Bro. Andrew Ellor, P.P.G. Treasurer
- W. Bro. George Henry Clarke, P.G.D.W. of the Argentine Republic (Merchant)
- W. Bro. George Swallow (Manager)
- W. Bro. Joseph J. Gilbeart, A.R.S.I. (Gentleman)
- W. Bro. Eustace G. Parker (Tower Works, Altrincham)
- W. Bro. William Matthews Jones (Borough Engineer and Surveyor of Chester)
- W. Bro. Frederick Wooldridge (Engineer)
- W. Bro. Harris Fineberg (Gentleman)
- W. Bro. William Henry Le May (Mayor of Lewisham)
- W. Bro. George Atkin
- W. Bro. Edwin Hurditch Hewlett
- Bro. Achille Celestian Girard (Artiste)
- Bro. Alfred M. Ledermann (Gentleman)
- Bro. John B. Barton (Artiste)
- Bro. Lionel Carson (Editor of The Stage)
- Bro. William Lord (Artiste)
- Bro. Gustavus Granby Watt (Artist)
- Bro. Walter T. Blake (Actor)
- Bro. E.W. James (Manager)
- Bro. Ernest Hallsworth
- Bro. S.B. Bell (Secretary and Superintendent of the Sailors’ and Boatmen’s Mission)
- Bro. Fred Penlington (Gentleman)
- Bro. Captain Francis E. Vincent (Master in the Mercantile Marine)
- Bro. Horatio Robinette Wood (Managing Director)
- Bro. George Stretch (Merchant)
- Bro. Joseph Thomas Warren (Gentleman)
- Bro. Harry Slingsby (Manager)
- Bro. W. Richards (Gentleman)
- Bro. Charles Frederick Grundy (Gentleman)
- Bro. Eduard Krause (Illusionist)
- Bro. Arthur Chapman-Durrant (Gentleman)
- Bro. Francis E. Morse Stephens (Gentleman)
- Bro. C. Douglas Stuart (Secretary, Music Hall Artistes’ Railway Association)
- Bro. Joseph Brewster Hamilton Green, ‘Bruce Green’ (Artiste)
- Bro. Ernest Heaton (Merchant)
- Bro. William Cromwell Knox, ‘Will Cromwell’ (Artiste)
- Bro. Arthur Aiston (Artiste)
In the press
The Times newspaper printed the following on Monday 23rd October 1911:
‘At a meeting of the Lodge of King Solomon’s Temple (No. 3464) at York on Saturday Prince Leopold of Prussia, Count Goblet D’Alviella (Past Grand Master of Belgium), the ex-President of the U.S., the Marquess of Zetland, Lord Bolton (D.P.G.M., N and E. Yorks.), the Dean of York, Bro. E. Fox Thomas (P.G. Sec. N and E Yorks.) and Bro. A.H. Barron (W.M. York Lodge) were elected honorary members of the Lodge. W. Bro. R. Freke Gould and W. Bro. Sir W. Hesketh Lever, P.P.G.W., were presented with P.M.’s jewels.’
It would appear that occasionally potential Honorary Members were proposed and voted on at the time by a show of hands. This would also include the Marquess of Zetland, Count Goblet D’Alviella and Lord Bolton.
The Yorkshire Herald printed the following for Saturday 21 October 1911:
‘Bro. Alfred Proctor of York afterwards proposed the health of Sir William Hesketh Lever … Sir Wm. Hesketh Lever acknowledged the toast in a witty speech. He referred to the antiquity of the York Lodge, but he claimed that his descent was even more ancient than the York Lodge. It was quite true that the York Lodge went back several centuries into the past, but by removing the first and last letters of his (Sir William’s) name it at once proved his descent (Laughter). Then by simply removing the first letter it showed that his family went on for ever (Loud laughter). Sir William proceeded to invite the Master and members of the York Lodge to the annual installation of the Randle Holme Lodge (3261) on the first Saturday in December, and kindly offered to provide a special train from York to Liverpool, to entertain the members at Port Sunlight, and afterwards to invite them as guests to the installation of the Randle Holme Lodge (Applause).’
M Barratt, March 2026
Much of the information in this article has been sourced from the Lodge of King Solomon’s Temple’s own website: lodgeofkingsolomonstemple3464.co.uk.