Centenary Celebrations for The Holmes Lodge

Holmes Lodge No. 4656, met for their 698th regular meeting on 5th November 2024 to celebrate a hundred years of regular Freemasonry in Leicestershire and Rutland. One hundred years ago the Provincial Grand Master, R.W. Bro. Edward Holmes, consecrated The Holmes Lodge as the 22nd Lodge of the Province of Leicestershire and Rutland. The Lodge was sponsored by St. John’s Lodge No.279, and the first Master of the Lodge was W. Bro, George William Hunt.

At that first meeting 160 Freemasons were present, and so it was only fitting that 160 brethren and guests from Leicestershire and Rutland and further afield, came to witness and celebrate its centenary.

The room glittered with gleaming regalia in a resplendent Holmes Lodge Room. Brethren and officers from across the province milled around chatting to and catching up with friends and making new ones. A full lodge room witnessed the opening of the centenary meeting by W. Bro. Steve Skidmore and his officers. The Lodge was then honoured by the presence of the Provincial Grand Master, R.W. Peter Kinder and Officers of The Provincial Grand Lodge, along with numerous Grand Officers.

Steve offered the Provincial Grand Master the gavel, fully expecting to receive it back as is the custom, but on this occasion, Peter was happy to take the Chair of Solomon to conduct proceedings. After a brief handover, Peter invited Steve to give a short history and flavour of the Lodge and its members over the years. After this, The Provincial Grand Master presented the Lodge with their Centenary Warrant and each eligible member of The Holmes Lodge with a Centenary Jewel.

The Lodge was further honoured to hear from R.W. Bro. The Rev. Canon Michael Wilson, who gave the Centenary Oration.

The Lodge was then handed back to Steve who promptly presented Peter with Honorary Membership of the Lodge, just as the PGM who consecrated the Lodge had been 100 years before. After the Lodge was closed, the brethren gathered for a magnificent Festive Board, based on the menu of the Consecration Banquet.

The final honour of the evening for the Lodge was a special Centenary cake made by W. Bro. Adrian Ganderton, from which everybody present was able to take a piece home.

Peter Kinder, PGM, said, “Well, what a fantastic evening from start to finish, 160 Freemasons together enjoying a super ceremony and a most scrumptious Festive Board. The following day several members of the Lodge were flooded with messages containing many superlatives about the evening.  Also, the following evening I was in the company of a well-respected Freemason of over 20 years standing who remarked, ‘that was the best Masonic meeting I’ve ever attended.’ For all that attended this summed the evening up perfectly.”

Steve Skidmore, Master of The Holmes Lodge, said, “What an incredible night! The sight of 160 brethren in the Holmes Lodge Room was truly breathtaking. We trust that everyone had a great night as we celebrated the Lodge’s 100th in style! Thanks to everyone who attended and special thanks to the Centenary Committee – the hard work was certainly worth it all.”