Lodge Semper Eadem No.3091

Warranted: 9^th February 1905

Consecrated: 26^th April 1905

Held at Freemasons’ Hall, Leicester, on the fourth Wednesday from September to March, at such hour as the W.M. may appoint.

Installation meeting: September

History

Detailed information about the conception of the Lodge is sadly lacking. The senior Leicester Lodge, St. John’s Lodge No.279, was the sponsor, and those forming the Lodge included many distinguished men with a close interest in local public and civic affairs, including the then Mayor of Leicester, Stephen Hilton, Edward Holmes the Chief Constable and Charles Bennion, the generous donor of Bradgate Park. With such a close relationship with those active in public life in the (then) Borough of Leicester it is unsurprising, and entirely apposite, that its motto, Semper Eadem, determined the new Lodge’s name.

From a study of the early membership of the Lodge it is evident that the Founders desired to attract to Freemasonry members of the professions, those engaged in the civic administration, regular officers of the Armed Services and Ministers of Religion (both of whom were at one time admitted on payment of a reduced fee) and the higher echelons in local industries.

In the succeeding years many Lodge Brethren made outstanding contributions to the life of the City of Leicester and to Freemasonry. Seven received the honour of Knighthood, six served as Mayor or Lord Mayor; three as Provincial Grand Master (of whom one, Brigadier Cecil Bernard Simpson Morley, was perhaps the most influential Mason the Lodge produced); four as Deputy Provincial Grand Master and one as Assistant Provincial Grand Master. Many Brethren have been appointed to Grand Rank and six have filled the important office of Provincial Grand Secretary. Such a contribution continues to the present day in the person of the Provincial Grand Treasurer.

Semper was the first Lodge to meet in the Holmes Temple on 27^th April 1910, just two days after its dedication, and the Lodge has continued to meet in that room throughout its subsequent history.

In 1924 the Lodge supported the formation of Holmes Lodge No.4656 and a close relationship has existed since that time with a regular and alternating exchange of visits between the two Lodges. From 2006 this arrangement was broadened to include Prince Rupert Lodge No.7841, Holmes’ own daughter Lodge, so a new tri-partite routine was established.

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