History

The warrant of Rochester Lodge is dated 13th December 1910 and The Right Worshipful Brother Fiennes Stanley Wykeham Cornwallis, Past Grand Warden, England, and Provincial Grand Master of Kent consecrated the Lodge on Wednesday 25th January 1911 at The Masonic Hall, Manor Road, Chatham. Seventy-three Brethren were present which is just one more than those that signed the attendance register at our Installation Meeting in 2006.

The first regular meeting was held in the Lodge's own premises at Orchard Street, Rainham, under the direction off the first Master, W. Bro. Horace Keene. The Attendance Register for that evening shows that Thomas Ballard was the Lodge's first Initiate. He was passed on the 15th March and raised on the 15th April of the same year but he never became Master of the Lodge.

(To be continued)