Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Hertfordshire

Introduction
The James Terry MMM Lodge No. 556 was only the 2nd MMM Lodge to be formed and is the 6th Centenary MMM Lodge in the Province of Hertfordshire.

The Consecration
The James Terry MMM Lodge No. 557 (sic) was consecrated in 1902 at the October meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Hertfordshire in the Great Eastern Hotel, Liverpool Street, London.

The Lodge Number - 557 to 557A to 556
It is interesting to note that the original Keystone Jewels attached to the Lodge Officers Collars all bear the inscription:

'Presented to the James Terry Mark Lodge No. 557 by Bro. Name 1st Office Consecration 31 October 1902'

By referring to a Mark Year Book, two Lodges bear the Warrant date of 13 May 1902, namely, CORONA and JAMES TERRY. CORONA LODGE of Mark Master Masons No. 557 meets at Freemasons' Hall, Park Lane, Parktown, Johannesburg, Transvaal and is regulated by The District of The Transvaal (the District of South Africa, Transvaal was itself Constituted in 1902).

However, by reference to the Hertfordshire Provincial Meeting on 29 November 1917 it was reported that The James Terry Mark Lodge had a change in its numbering to No. 556.

Lodge Minute Book #1 is unfortunately very sparse in the early years of the Lodge and makes no mention as to the reasons for the number change. It records the Lodge No. as No. 557 until October 1913 when it is shown as No. 557A this continues for eight meetings until July 1916 when it again changes to No. 556 the number retained to this day.