Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Hertfordshire

The Lodge was consecrated at Hasley Masonic Hall. Watford. Herts on Tuesday 18th April 1978 by R W Bro Richard J Hammond PGM.

The Lodge takes its name from Chevalier Bartholomew Ruspini (1728 – 1813). He was descended from an ancient and noble Italian family, qualified as a surgeon at Bermago and specialised in dentistry.

After a short sojourn in France he came to England where he was initiated into the Mourning Bush Tavern Lodge No 116 in 1762. He also took an active role in Royal Arch Freemasonry but his greatest achievement was the foundation in 1788 of the Royal Cumberland Freemason’s School now the Royal Masonic School for Girls. He was accorded the rank of Chevalier in 1789 an exceptional honour for one who changed from the Roman to the Anglican Church.

It has always been generally understood that W Bro Donald Forrester who among other duties sat on the Board of Governors of the Royal Masonic School for Girls had long held the notion that a Mark Lodge should be founded to meet at the School particularly in the Mark Masons Music room, in order to preserve and commemorate the connection between the Mark Degree and the School and its Founder.

The regular meetings of the Lodge with exception of the first three meetings which were held at Hasley Hall, have always taken place in the Mark Masons Music room at the School, with the members dining in the Board Room.

From the original fifteen founders the Lodge has seen steady and continued growth and today’s membership stands at 47 of which five are founders.

A legacy by way of a yearly covenant was left to the Lodge in 1985 with the express wish that the proceeds were used to enhance the Festive Board. The Lodge purchased a tantalus and a supply of Brandy and Port and at every Festive Board the members and their guests enjoy the spirit of this special gift and W Bro John Ilott (the first Advancee) claims the privilege of proposing the toast to the “Immortal memory of Dickie Hammond”.

Another special tradition is for members and their guests to stand and listen to the School clock strike the peals leading to the nine o'clock chimes and then to honour the toast to Absent Brethren, a very poignant moment for all present.

In 1982 the Chevalier Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners was formed and in the year 2000 the Lodge held a Banner Dedication Ceremony (click here to read the Oration given for the occassion by the Provincial Grand Chaplain). On the 16th July 2003 the Lodge celebrated its 25th Anniversary, the Provincial Grand Master R W Bro H Keith Emmerson together with a large retinue from the Provincial Executive in attendance, the Lodge was also honoured with the presence of R W Bro Mark Holliday Provincial Grand Master of the Channel Isles.

The Lodge has taken a positive attitude in acknowledging the debt owed to the Governors and Headmasters / Mistresses of the School in having allowed the Lodge to hold its meetings on school premises for an unbroken term of twenty-five years and more.

Throughout the life of the Lodge many Brethren have given long and dedicated service not only to the Lodge, but to the Mark Province in general, to Hertfordshire Masonry in its several fields and to the local community in various roles.

John Oakley-Smith, PSGD
Deputy Provincial Grand Master

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