Ashlar Lodge No. 5219Lincoln ยท Founded 1931

About the lodge

Our history

Founded in 1931 as a daughter lodge of Witham Lodge, and still going strong in Lincoln.

Nearly a century in Lincoln

Ashlar Lodge was founded by 27 brethren as a daughter lodge of Witham Lodge in Lincoln. It received its warrant on 6 August 1930 and was consecrated on 26 February 1931 by the Earl of Yarborough, then Provincial Grand Master for Lincolnshire. Our ritual book, handwritten for the new lodge in January 1931, is still in use and has been signed by every Master since. We are part of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lincolnshire, under the United Grand Lodge of England.

Over the years six of our members have served as Sheriff of the City of Lincoln, and one as a Member of Parliament. Today the lodge is thriving, with a growing number of younger members from all walks of life, including many from the serving and ex-service community Lincolnshire is known for.

  1. 1930Warrant granted, 6 August.
  2. 1931Lodge consecrated, 26 February, with WBro C H Gilbert as first Master.
  3. 2026Regular meeting No. 745, and still going strong.
The Masters of the six Lincoln lodges in regalia at the consecration of Ashlar Lodge in 1931, black and white photograph
The Masters of the six Lincoln lodges at the consecration of Ashlar Lodge, February 1931.
The seal of Ashlar Lodge No. 5219

Our seal shows a stonemason at work on a rough ashlar: a block that has been squared but not yet polished. It stands for steady self-improvement, which is what the lodge is about.

A rough ashlar resting on the lodge's black and white chequered floor
A rough ashlar on our lodge room floor: squared, but still waiting to be smoothed.
Handwritten title page: Ritual of the Ashlar Lodge No. 5219, January 1931
The title page of our ritual book, January 1931.

Our ritual book

When Ashlar was founded, its mother lodge, Witham Lodge, gave the new lodge its ritual. WBro R Humphreys, one of our founders, copied it out by hand under the authority of Witham Lodge for the use of the Masters of their "daughter lodge Ashlar". The book is dated January 1931, the month before our consecration.

Nearly a century on, the same book is still in use. Every Master since 1931 has signed it on taking office, which is how we have been able to compile our roll of Past Masters.

The founders, 1931

The 27 brethren who founded Ashlar Lodge, as recorded in the lodge's ritual book, with their Grand and Provincial ranks where they held them.

    The first officers, 1931

    The officers of the lodge at its consecration on 26 February 1931, as recorded in the ritual book.

    • Worshipful MasterWBro C H Gilbert PPGW
    • Immediate Past MasterWBro W G Burcombe PPGDC
    • Senior WardenWBro R Humphreys PPGW
    • Junior WardenWBro E R Dixon PPGTreas
    • ChaplainWBro E S Marshall PPGD
    • TreasurerWBro W Rayner
    • SecretaryWBro C C Watson PPGW
    • Director of CeremoniesWBro J A Nissler PPGD
    • Senior DeaconBro S C Baggott
    • Junior DeaconBro F Probert
    • Assistant Director of CeremoniesBro J D Newbold
    • AlmonerWBro R C Minton PAGDC (Eng), ProvGSec
    • OrganistWBro F George
    • Assistant SecretaryBro C E Haylock
    • Inner GuardBro W G Newlove
    • StewardsBros J Chadwick, F L Leach, W H A Stanford
    • TylerBro J W Phillips ProvGTyler