Our History
Golfers' Lodge was founded in 1911 by a group of Freemasons who were members of the Northumberland Gosforth Park Golf Club and decided to celebrate their mutual esteem and love of golf by establishing a dedicated golfer’s lodge. The Founding Brethren came from a number of different Lodges and comprised :-
Alfred Charles KAYLL.
Reserve Forces Lodge
​
William Cooper BAILEY.
Tynemouth Abbey
​
Robert Alex MORRIS.
St. Cuthberts
​
John WILKINSON.
Reserve Forces
​
Thomas Hedley SMIRK.
Whitley Lodge
​
Gilbert M. CLARK.
Tynemouth Abbey
​
Joseph H. COLLEY.
Percy Lodge
Percy L. BROWNE.
Percy Lodge
​
Randolph C. CAIRD.
Priory Lodge
​
Edwin F. W. LIDDLE.
St. Peters Lodge
​
George E.W. BRIDGE.
Horst Lodge
​
Robert A. WALLIS.
Percy Lodge
George J. DAVIS.
Newcastle upon Tyne
A Petition for the founding of the Lodge was raised under the auspices of Reserve Forces, which thereby became our mother lodge, on the 15 th December 1910. A Warrant from United Grand Lodge was issued on the 11th March 1911 and the Consecration followed on the 31st May 1911 with W.Bro. Kayla’s Master, W.Bro. Cooper Bailey as Senior Warden and W.Bro. Morris as Junior Warden. The Ceremony was conducted by the then Provincial Grand Master, R.W. Bro. Colonel Charles Napier Clavering, who was made an Honorary Member.
The Box of Tools was presented by W.Bro. Cooper Bailey at the meeting held on the 29th. January 1912 and a gift of the Columns by W.Bro. Morris at the October meeting of that year.
At the meeting held on the 30th March 1914 W.Bro. Captain Walker Bridge, Junior Deacon, presented the Lodge Banner, which happened to coincide with a Provincial visit lead by the PGM and it was he who formally unveiled the Banner. W.Bro. Bridge then explained the hieroglyphical symbolism in the centre of the Banner.
From the Minute Book, some impact of the First World War is recorded with apologies being given by W,Bro. Bridge and Bro. Groves as both being posted overseas. On the 27th November 1916, the death of Bro. Roy Craig Dunford (he had been initiated into the Lodge on the 27thJanuary 1913) and also the death in action of the son of W.Bro. CAIRD, the fi rst Director of Ceremonies. Subsequently the deaths of two sons of the Lodge Secretary, W.Bro. Wallis were recorded before the War’s end. The last casualty was Bro. Horace Criddle. The Lodge continued to meet and dine at the Station Hotel throughout the war but the number of apologies was high and the meetings much shorter following directives from UGL to “ observe the utmost practical abstinence.”
Meeting Places
Freemasons Hall, 18 Grainger St, Newcastle upon Tyne - 1911
Freemasons Hall, 57 Grainger Street West, Newcastle upon Tyne, 1913
Neville Hall, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne - 1977
Masonic Hall , Fern Avenue , Jesmond , Newcastle upon Tyne - 2012 - present
On the 31st. March 1930, W.Bro. Cooper Bailey presented “a very handsome silver plate to be competed for annually by members on any English golf course.” This together with the Kayll and Bridge Cups are still competed for annually.
During the Second World War, Lodge meetings were infrequent with only two held in 1940 but increased to five in 1941 although remained intermittent until 1945. Dining resumed at the Station Hotel, there being 41 members at this time. In 1947, W.Bro. Cooper Bailey was appointed Provincial Grand Master for Northumberland remaining in post until 1952.
At the Golden Jubilee meeting of the Lodge held by special dispensation on the 29th May 1961, the Lodge was opened by the only surviving Founder Member, W.Bro. Bridge.
During its existence, the Lodge has had four “homes” - firstly at Freemasons Hall at 18 Grainger Street moving to 57 Grainger Street in 1913, then to Neville Hall in 1973 and finally to Fern Avenue, Jesmond in 2012, where it continues to flourish.