Lodge History

Dover was a town of military importance up until after the Cold War.  It is no surprise that the lodges that existed before the formation of Corinthian Lodge No 1208 in 1867, and which still meets today in Dover.  Where mainly lodges with a military connection.  Some lodges would have been lodges with travelling warrants.  These were generally lodges connected with a regiment and the warrant travelled with the regiment to each posting.  Enabling them to hold there lodge meetings where ever in the world they may have found themselves.   

The first lodge to be constituted in Dover was under the Antients.  The Lodge of Love and Unity, No.203 was constituted in 1777 in the Garrison Canteen of Dover Castle.  This event is commemorated on a plaque above the door of the Masonic Hall on Snargate Street.   The lodge of Unanimity, No.298 was the next lodge to be consecrated in Dover in 1796.  The lodge was a military lodge being attached to the West Middlesex Militia.  The lodge went on to travel around various barracks in Kent before being posted to the West Indies.  The Lodge of Unanimity closed in 1846.   When it closed the lodge possessions were sold off.  This included the bible which in 1892 found its way into the possession of W.Bro Terson (the estate agent).  Who presented it to the lodge and is still used as the lodge bible to this day.

A number of other military lodges came and went in Dover.  This included the Lodge of Peace and Harmony, No.199.  Consecrated in Maidstone  and transferred to Dover in 1801.  The Lodge of Peace and Harmony is the oldest lodge still meeting at Dover.

In 1886 the Lodge of Peace and Harmony and Corinthian Lodge purchased the current premises on Snargate Street, a former bank.  The bank was converted for use as a permanant Masonic Hall and both lodges started to meet in the new building instead of local pubs.  Both lodges had a number of military members gained from the large number of military personal based in the multiple barracks at the castle, Western Heights and Archcliffe Fort.  In 1887 it was felt by these military brethren that a dedicated military lodge was needed in Dover.   Under the sponsorship of The Lodge of Peace and Harmony and Corinthian Lodge, Grand Lodge was petitioned to form the Military Jubilee Lodge and was assigned the number 2195.  

Military Jubilee Lodge took it name from firstly being a dedicated military lodge and jubilee from its creation in the year of Queen Victoria's golden jubilee.  On the 25th March 1887 the lodge was consecrated at the Masonic Hall.  42 founding members were present along with a large number of brethren from other lodges and dignitaries from  the Provincial Grand Lodge of Kent.  In fact the lodge room was packed out to the point there were not enough seats resulting in a large number of brethren having to stand where they could find space.   Bro George Smythe was installed as the first master of the lodge by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Kent.  Following the meeting all the assembled brethren retired to the Town Hall for a banquet, consisting of six courses.

In 1893 the lodge badge as it appears on the lodge summons was introduced.  The badge differs from the device on the lodge past masters jewels and on the lodge banner. For this reason there was some  objection from a few members against the new badge.  

The lodge continued to grow into the early years of the 20th Century.  During the First World War a number of brethren saw active service and paid the ultimate sacrifice.  They are remembered in a lodge roll of honour.  The end of the war saw large numbers of demobbed men returning from the front.  They still felt a need to be part of a fraternity similar following their active service.  As a result the lodge saw a large increase in membership.  During the war and post war years the lodge went from eight monthly meetings to weekly meetings all year round.  Lodge members ship at the end of war was over 250 members. 

The lodge continued to flourish during the 1920's with membership continuing to steadily rise.  Reaching over 650 members by the end of the decade.  Social change in the 1920's saw the lodge start to accept non military personnel as members and we see from the minute books people from other backgrounds being initiated. The Second World War had a similar impact on the lodge with an influx of troops during the war years and demobbed men seeking the camaraderie they had felt while serving.  Post saw a number of other lodges formed in Dover to accommodate for those wishing to join freemasonry.  

In 1940 the Masonic Hall was shelled and meetings had to been convened at alternative accommodation.  In 1944 Mr Eagles had started his initiation when air raid sirens announced another bout of enemy shelling.  They decided that despite the shelling they would continue with the ceremony.  Making Military Jubilee Lodge the only lodge to have conducted a ceremony under hostile enemy fire. The lodge continued through the second half of the 20th Century.

Post war the demand for masonic lodges increased.  This was the case in Dover with Military Jubilee Lodge sponsoring the creation of Snargate Lodge and Septum Lodge.  Both referred to as daughter lodges of Military Jubilee Lodge.   In addition to these lodges.  Following a number of Military Jubilee members moving to Warwickshire and asking Military Jubilee Lodge to sponsor a new lodge, Dofra Lodge was born.

Military Jubilee Lodge continues to create new history to this day with a strong membership who enjoy freemasonry and have a lot of fun doing it.