A POTTED HISTORY of St. JOHN'S No. 328
St. John's is Torquay's first and oldest Masonic Lodge, pre-dating any other secular society, and The United Grand Lodge itself. Our founding members were John Drewe, John Perret, John Dodridge Sins, John Sharland, John Syms, Christopher Gidley, Ezekeil Ezekeil, and several other Brothers residing in or near Torquay.
Its original number was 616. and its Warrant is dated 8th March 1810, the first meeting taking place in September 1810 - John Drewe was Master.
At that time, because of the 1799 ' Unlawful Societies Act ' new lodges could only be formed by grafting them onto the Warrant of a defunct Lodge, so St. John's used a Warrant previously held by Snowdon Lodge No. 414 of Caernarvon, North Wales.
Prior to unification in 1813, St. John's was an "Ancient" Lodge ranging under the Atholl banner, but embraced the 'Union' with some zeal, and was central in introducing the new workings into the district. Our most prized relic being a silver jewel presented to the then Master; John Symms in 1814, for his part in the process. As a result of the union, our number became 623, it was changed due to a general 'closing up' in 1832, to 411, and again in 1863 when we were allocated our present number of 328
Like many Lodges in the early 19th Century, the Lodge prospered - then suffered during the dreadful depression of the 1830's. The next decade brought a change in fortunes, and in 1857 St. John's built the Temple in Park Hill Road made affordable by granting a 20 - year lease, allowing the Torquay Natural History Society to use the ground floor as Torquay's first Museum.
At the laying of the Foundation Stone, special trains were laid on to bring brethren from all over the Province, and preceded by the Torquay Subscription Band, and accompanied by the Band of The Royal Dragoon Guards, in a procession more than a quarter of a mile long, over 300 Freemasons, including Grand Officers & Provincial Grand Officers marched in full Regalia from the Town Hall to Park Hill Road, through streets lined by cheering crowds, a public holiday having been granted for the occasion.
It is to be expected that having practiced our 'Craft' over so many years, St. John's has experienced both good times and bad. We have suffered internal divisions, and enjoyed a golden age; have survived times when its charity stopped families from starving. We have seen over 20 wars come and go, and have celebrated our Centenary, and now are actively anticipating our Bi-Centenary.
As the attitude of each new generation is conditiond by its predecessor, it is possible that the sciomancy of nearly 200 years and 852 members, has made its brethren conscious of its heredity, and who's loyalty to St. John's can take precedence over the Craft.
St. John's is the Mother Lodge to :-
Jordan No 1402; Dart No.2641; Three Pillars No. 2806; St. Mary's No. 5148; Sanctuary No. 5358; Tormohun No. 6449; Seven Hills No. 6857; and Petitor No. 8234.
A 200 page illustrated full History of our Lodge has been published