The Southampton University Lodge had its origin in 1949 when a student who was a Mason, approached W Bro Dyson who was then the College Registrar, and suggested that a Lodge connected to the College should be formed. W Bro Dyson then spoke to W Bro D Cecil Williams PPG Organist who was the Professor of Music at the College at that time and after further conversations between these two in the first half of 1949, W Bro Dyson called the first official meeting for those “interested in the formation of a Masonic Lodge in connection with the College”. This meeting was set for July 12th 1949 and was held in what was then Room 26 at the College.

The thinking behind the foundation of the University Lodge was that it would provide a possible entry into Freemasonry for those students who wished to join but who found the financial barrier to other Lodges too big to surmount. Consequently it was agreed right from the beginning that all Fees and the subscription should be kept as low as possible. In actual practice very few students came forward to apply for membership although a number of past students were Initiated. This caused much discussion at Lodge Committee Meetings and later it was agreed to accept applications from anyone who was a Graduate of or who had some connection with any University or place of Higher Education.

Ten Brethren attended the first Meeting in July 1949. They were W.Bros Williams, Dyson, S A Lebern, R C H Conolly, C A N Yates, and Bros S G French, E S Jolley, R A Duncan, H J Sara and B C Afford. The main results of this initial meeting were that it was decided that a Lodge of Freemasonry with the name of Southampton University Lodge should be founded (this had later to be changed to Southampton University College Lodge until April 1953, by which time Southampton University had received its Charter), that the Old Symondian Lodge No 5734 be approached to act as Sponsors of the proposed Lodge and that all present at that Meeting and willing to become Founders should form a Foundation Committee.

No doubt many informal meetings of the leading members of this Committee took place in the following weeks but the next official one was in November 1949, when a further ten Brethren were elected as Founders. As at this time it was thought that accommodation at Albion Place was not available it was decided to seek a meeting place at Winchester or at Clausentum Lodge Rooms, or failing these possibilities elsewhere in Southampton. At the next Meeting of the Foundation Committee however, W Bro Dyson was able to inform the members that he had heard from the Secretary of the Masonic Hall, Albion Place, that it would be possible to accommodate the proposed new Lodge on the 2nd Saturday of February, March, May and November, and it was decided to accept this offer. At this meeting also a further two Brethren were elected as Founders. At another Meeting in March 1950 with W Bro Williams in the Chair, W Bros Dyson, Lebern, Farrant and Bro Alford. At this meeting it was resolved that the Subscription for a full year should be £3.3s.0d (£3.15), reducing to 2 Guineas (£2.10) for those joining in May and to one Guinea (£1.05) for those joining in November, but that the Founders should pay the full three guineas in addition to their Founder’s Fee of Ten Guineas (£10.50). At this Meeting also W Bro Dyson gave the news that the Provincial Grand Secretary had informed him that the date of the consecration of the new Lodge had been provisionally fixed for Monday 30th October. At the next Meeting of the Founders on September 2nd this date was confirmed and the venue was to be the Southampton Guildhall. On that day all the Founders were required for a rehearsal with the Consecrating Officers at 10.30am and the Ceremony would take place at 2.30pm. It is interesting to note that the Acting Director of Ceremonies, W Bra Lebern asked the other Founders to let him know how many Guests they would be having and that the charge for a light Tea and Dinner including Wines would be 15/- (75p) per head! (Were the “Good Old Days” so recent?). A final Meeting of the Founders was called for October 14th when a few last ‘minute details were settled and where it was resolved that the following Consecrating Officers should be made Honary Members of the Lodge: W Bro Dr W Attenborough MB.,BS., PGD Deputy Provincial Grand Master-in-Charge and Provincial Grand Master-Elect; W Bro F 0 Goodman PGD and W Bro Major-General R L Bond CB. CBE. DSO. MC. PG Swd Bro.

The Consecration took place in the Guildhall at 2.30pm on Monday 30th October, 1950 and apart from the Consecrating Officer and his team there were present 24 Founders, 13 other Grand Lodge Officers, 50 Provincial Grand Lodge Officers and holders of London Grand Rank, 14 Masters of local Lodges, 4 SW’s, 2 JW’s, 43 PM’s and 102 Brethren - a grand total of 263 in attendance.

For the first eight Meetings the Lodge met at the Masonic Hall, Albion Place and thereafter, outside term time at the University. This situation lasted until October 1960 when because the University had grown so big it was impossible to find a suitable room that could be safely close-tyled. After this date only the Installation Meeting was held at the University and even this had to come to an end on 7th April, 1979 which was the last time the Lodge held a Meeting at the University.

In the early days of the Lodge the key figures were naturally the Founders. Among these, W Bro D Cecil Williams, the Founding Master was outstanding. He was Master until March 1952, then as 1PM he took the Chair for seven out of the next nine Meetings until W Bro H J Sara was installed in March 1954. The reason for this was the emigration of W Bro Alford to Canada followed by the dropping out of the then Senior Warden. W Bro Ernest Dyson, who was one of the original moving forces became the first Secretary of the Lodge and held that Office until April 1966. The Lodge certainly owes its being to these two Worshipful Brethren and both did a tremendous lot of work to see that a firm foundation was laid and that the Lodge was set on the right lines from the start. Regrettably neither of these two Founders is now with us, but another Founder who had and is still having a great influence on the Lodge is still with us and that is W Bro Stanley Lebern PGSBr, our Founder Director of Ceremonies, who apart from taking a leading role in its Foundation, kept the Lodge on a straight course regarding the Ritual and Ceremonies, setting, demanding and usually obtaining the highest standards from all the Brethren throughout the 26 years he was Director of Ceremonies. Another Brother who has done a great deal for the Lodge from the time he became a Founder to the present day is W Bro Jack Sara. He became Assistant D of C to W Bro Lebern in 1956 and when that Brother retired from Office in 1976, W Bro Sara took over as Director of Ceremonies -a total of 34 years continuous service in office, and hopefully many more to come. For this and much else besides W Bro Sara received promotion in Provincial rank in 1987 to PPJGW. W Bro Stafford Coates has been another influential Brother. A member of Bitterne Lodge, he joined University Lodge in February 1953 and became Master in April 1965. It was about this time that he began to make the Past Master’s Jewel each year and such is his skill and artistry that these have been highly prized by all the Masters of the Lodge who have received them. In addition, W Bro Coates has served in the offices of Lodge Almoner and Charity Steward from 1967 to 1985. This period of office as Charity Steward covered the Festiva1s of 1974 and 1984 and W Bra Coates was tireless in his efforts to ensure that the Lodge raised a good total in each case. It was no surprise to anyone when he received promotion in Provincial Grand Lodge in 1989 in the rank of PPSGW and all felt that this honour was richly deserved.

There have been many memorable Meetings during the past forty years of the Lodge’s history, but few to surpass the evening of May 5th 1973. This was when the Lodge Banner was dedicated by the Provincial Grand Chaplain, W Bro the Rev W T H Evans. The Banner was presented to the Lodge in memory of W Bro E S Jolley by his widow and daughter. W Bro Ted Jolley, a Founder of the Lodge, took the office of Secretary after the retirement of W Bro Dyson in 1966 and held that office until his death in 1971. He was connected with many Masonic organizations but this Lodge was his first love and he is remembered by all who knew him both for his devoted service to the Lodge and for his unfailing kindness to and eagerness to help all with whom he came into contact. It was therefore with especial gratitude that the Lodge received the banner from Mrs F E K Jolley and Miss V S Jolley. All those present enjoyed the impressive Ceremony of Dedication conducted by W Bro the Rev Evans and admired the Banner which had been designed and made by a good friend of the Lodge, W Bra A E O’Dell PPSGD and PM of Royal Gloucester Lodge.

Another debt owed by the Lodge to W Bro Lebern is that he was directly responsible for the Lodge acquiring its furniture. He and Bra B C Alford heard that there was some Lodge Furniture for sale in London and they went to the city and bought it on behalf of the Lodge. Quite a lot of work was needed to bring it the desired standard of finish and W Bro Lebern himself did much of this rubbing down and polishing. Many of today’s Brethren will not have seen the first class result of these labours as we now use the furniture that is always set out in the Masonic Hall at Albion Place, but the older members are very closely acquainted with it and remember it from the days when we met at the University and this furniture had to be removed from the loft over the JCR (Junior Common Room) set up in the SCR (Senior Common Room) where we held the Meeting then packed away again the following Sunday morning.

One big difference that is noticeable over the years the supplying of Initiates. In the beginning there was no shortage of either Joining Members or Initiates and multiple ceremonies were common. In November 1952 for example, W Bro B C Alford who was then in the Chair, first Passed two Brethren, then the Lodge was called off for Refreshment and on the resumption W Bro Alford then Raised two Brethren. In addition he also gave the Explanation of the Second Tracing Board and the Traditional History in the Third Degree. 1953 was the peak year when there were three Joining Members and five Initiates added to the Membership. After that it was one or two year until the early 70’s when from the end of 1970 to 1974 there only two Initiates. Another lean spell was December 1983 to February 1986, during which time there were no Candidates. The work during these periods was largely Lectures and this proved quite popular as it gave an opportunity for members of the Lodge other than the regular Officers to do some work on the floor. It is to be hoped that the lean years are now over and if 1989 is anything to go by then this is the case as the two Joining Members and Initiates then constituted the largest intake for many years.

Site Super Administrator's Notes: (1) With regret it is felt only correct, in including this history in its entirety, to state that with the death of W.Bro Jack Sara in the early part of 2007 there are no longer any living founder members. (2) The history needs bringing fully up-to-date with our application to join, and our acceptance of, the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) Universities Scheme.  If you would like to help with this please get in touch with either the Lodge Secretary or Assistant Secretary.

From a paper of 24 June 1990 by W.Bro F.R. Elvin, PPJGW
(published with W.Bro Elvin’s knowledge and consent)