About Our Lodge
The History of Coningsby Lodge
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A New Lodge for a New Era
Following the Second World War, there was significant interest in Freemasonry in Herefordshire. The then, nine Craft Lodges in the Province were having many applicants and initiates, which justified the founding of another Lodge. A motion for "the formation of a new Craft Lodge in Hereford" was proposed and passed at the meeting of Palladian Lodge on 1st November 1945.
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The principal drivers were W Bro William Frederick Dear and his close friend W Bro Charles Harold Barber, who shared a common interest in agricultural botany.
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W Bro Dear was initiated in 1914 into WICLIF Lodge No 3078, at Lutterworth, Leicestershire, where he was a schoolmaster. Retiring on health grounds, he came to Hereford, established a leather business, and became a joining member of Palladian Lodge. He would become the first Worshipful Master of Coningsby Lodge.
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W Bro Barber, an "Agriculturist", was initiated into Loyal Hay Lodge in 1923, and was also a member of Palladian Lodge of Instruction, where he met W Bro Dear. He became Coningsby Lodge's first Secretary.
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Responsibility for the formation of the new Lodge was accepted by Cantilupe Lodge, consequently becoming the Mother Lodge of Coningsby Lodge, directed by their Worshipful Master W Bro A C Jinks and their Secretary Bro H A Hall. Meetings were held on 28th March 1946, 30th April 1946, 12th July 1946 and 20th August 1946, following which, with the agreement of the Provincial Grand Master, Grand Lodge was petitioned for the founding of "Coningsby Lodge".
W Bro William Frederick Dear became the first Worshipful Master of Coningsby Lodge in 1946.
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His Past Master's Jewel is exhibited in the Museum of Freemasonry at Freemasons Hall in London.
The Consecration of the Lodge
​Coningsby Lodge was consecrated at 3pm on Saturday 7th December 1946 in the College Hall, Cathedral Cloisters, Hereford. 148 Brethren representing 26 Lodges were present to witness the consecration conducted by the then Provincial Grand Master, R W Bro R Waterfield.
The meeting continued with the Installation of W Bro Dear, who then appointed his officers. This was followed by a 4-course dinner at the Green Dragon Hotel in Hereford, costing ten shillings and sixpence (£0.52) per person.
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​The Founders fee was £5.5s (£5.25), the Subscription fee two guineas (£2.10), the Initiation fee five guineas (£5.25), and the Joining fee three guineas (£3.15).
​Photo: W Bro W F Dear
The first Worshipful Master
of Coningsby Lodge
The Founding Members
The 34 founders were drawn from 5 Lodges: 18 from Cantilupe Lodge, 12 from Palladian Lodge, 2 from Loyal Hay Lodge, 1 from Arrow Lodge, and 1 from Pengwerne Lodge No 3229 meeting in Shrewsbury.
15 founders were Past Masters, 7 were Past Provincial Grand Officers, 6 Present Provincial Grand Officers. Their professions included local government (5), medical (1), wholesale/retail (9), construction/engineering (3), police (1), education (2), financial (5), agricultural (4), hospitality (1), and the clergy (1).
​The Officers of Coningsby Lodge: 1946 to 1947
The Origins of the name of the Lodge
The name of the Lodge "Coningsby", was that of a prominent Herefordshire family, following the precedent of Cantilupe, our Mother Lodge.
The Coningsby's had their roots in Lincolnshire, one branch settling at Hampton Court, Herefordshire, in or around 1510. The estate was purchased by Sir Humphrey Coningsby, a Judge in the Court of the King's Bench to King Henry VIII. His great-grandson Sir Thomas Coningsby founded the Coningsby Hospital in Widemarsh Street. The family remained in residence at Hampton Court for over 300 years.
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The Lodge was denied approval to use the Coningsby family Arms as the Lodge Badge, but was granted permission to use a design based upon it. The final design, as still in use, was produced by Sir Gerald W Wollaston of the United Grand Lodge of England, Garter King of Arms at the College of Arms, London, and approved in open lodge on 7th January 1947. The design depicts three rabbits (coneys), being a pun on the Coningsby name. The banner was manufactured by Kennings at a cost of £83.
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The Lodge motto, "Non nabis solum, sed toti mundo nati", can be translated as "Not for ourselves alone, but for the whole world we are born". This was proposed by W Bro Barber, being the motto of the Liverpool Institute High School, where he had been a pupil.
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The Masonic Hall in Kyrle Street was not available for meetings for several months as it had been requisitioned under the Emergency Powers Act. This was rescinded in 1947, but the hall required some restoration.
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Consequently, the meetings up to May 1947 were held in The College Hall, then until May 1948 at the YMCA, St. Owen's Street. Festive Boards were held at the City Arms Hotel, the Booth Hall, or the Kerry Arms at a cost of five shillings (25p).
The Lodge moves to Kyrle Street
​The first Coningsby Lodge meeting at Kyrle Street was held on Tuesday 5th October 1948.
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The decision to found a new Lodge was quickly vindicated, with 4 initiations in 1947, the first being Bro W G Saltmarsh. A total of 21 initiations were carried out in the first 5 years, the Lodge numbers being further swelled by 23 Joining Members.
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The Lodge quickly established a reputation for consistently carrying out ceremonies to a high standard. This was helped by having a strong Lodge of Instruction. From the beginning, Coningsby Lodge followed Emulation Ritual as practiced by Cantilupe Lodge, with a few distinct variations of its own. This continues to this day.
Another distinguished subscribing member was the late W Bro Micheal Morris. A pupil at Hereford Cathedral School and a chorister at Hereford Cathedral, he is believed to be the last surviving person to sing under the baton of Sir Edward Elgar.
W Bro Morris bequeathed a sum of money to Coningsby Lodge, and in recognition of this, the Lodge donates two prizes annually for choral excellence at Hereford Cathedral School.​
The Life & Work of the LODGE TODAY
Our Lodge meets on the first Tuesday of each month at the Masonic Hall, Kyrle Street, Hereford, HR1 2EU, from October to May. Our meetings normally start at 6pm, except for the Installation of the new Master of the Lodge in December, which begins at 4:30pm. Traditionally, February is a Burn’s Night, whilst March is a Welsh Night.
Our Lodge retains a strong tradition of accurate and meaningful ritual. New members are most welcome to participate within the Lodge. To support this, the Lodge has a strong Lodge of Instruction, which meets on the second Thursday and fourth Wednesday from September to April.
Our Lodge endeavours to support all its new members to progress to ultimately become Master of the Lodge, and to maximise their masonic involvement and experience in this or other directions.
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In recent years, Coningsby Lodge has enhanced its reputation by having three visually impaired members who have all enjoyed their experience in Freemasonry, which has been rewarded with all three being excellent ritualists and Masons.
The Lodge keenly supports a variety of local charities, raising funds from Lodge and social events. These include St Michael's Hospice, SSAFA Herefordshire, Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), Little Princess Trust, Aspire Living, as well as the Masonic Charitable Foundation.
Provincial & Grand Rank Honours
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In recognition of the strength of the Lodge, and the service given by its members, 11 subscribing members of Coningsby Lodge have been honoured by being appointed as Officers of the United Grand Lodge of England: W Bro F Newton, W Bro W C Bevan, W Bro S L Corry, W Bro A G Hiles-Smith, W Bro P A Simpkins, W Bro R J Cross, W Bro T P Robinson, W Bro H A Hall, W Bro P D Arrowsmith, W Bro R Bailey, W Bro C H Burrow.
In addition, 32 subscribing members have been honoured with an appointment as a Provincial Warden, 2 as Provincial Secretary, and 2 as Provincial Director of Ceremonies.
