Commercial Lodge No.1391
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Warranted: 20th February 1872 Consecrated: 1st April 1872 Centenary Warrant: 8th February 1979 Held at Leicester on the fourth Friday in the months of October, December, February, March and April Installation meeting: April |
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History
The Commercial Lodge No.1391 was consecrated on 1st April 1872. Its first W.M. was a Commercial Traveller, and the other eleven petitioners included four Manufacturers, a Railway Inspector, a Station Master, a Poor Law Auditor, an Artist, a Theatre Lessee, a Clerk in Holy Orders and a Surgeon.
The main object of the Lodge was to provide a centre and bond of Union for commercial men, resident in or frequenting Leicester. In the first year they held a further nineteen meetings and the popularity of Freemasonry and The Commercial Lodge in those days is further evidenced by the election of twelve Brethren as Joining Members and nineteen gentlemen as Candidates for Initiation. Whilst as an old Lodge it contributed significantly to Freemasonry in the Province, it is probably best remembered for controversy. In November 1873 the following Notice of Motion was given:-
“The present system of working the ballot in this Lodge being vague, unsatisfactory and questionable, that a Committee be appointed to decide upon a more equitable and positive mode of working it for the future.”
Lack of harmony within the Lodge was further recorded in 1876 and 1877, two significant matters which disturbed the peace being the frequency of Candidates being blackballed and the conduct of the Senior Warden. In 1877, many members considered the S.W. to be unfit for election as W.M. Although he was elected and installed, this was preceded by a bitter campaign between the two factions, which resulted in the Father of the Lodge being defeated in the vote for his re-appointment as Treasurer. Although disharmoniously, regular meetings continued until 12th January 1878. At the Meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge on 29th May 1878, reference is made to the Suspension of Commercial Lodge 1391 until 22nd October 1879, when it is recorded that Commercial Lodge had emerged from under its cloud. The Centenary of The Commercial Lodge was not acknowledged until 1979. The Lodge can, however, record that seven of its members have held the Office of Lord Mayor in the City of Leicester.
