On the 29th of May 1878 a warrant was granted by the United Grand Lodge of England for the formation of a new lodge in Thame to be known as St Mary's Lodge number 1763.

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The petition prepared by eight founders was recommended to Grand Lodge by the Master and Wardens of Alfred Lodge number 340.

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On the 5th of December of the same year in the Old Thame Town Hall Reginald Bird Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Oxfordshire consecrated the new lodge assisted by W B A Winkfield, the Provincial Grand Secretary. The provincial Grand Master at that time was His Royal Highness Prince Leopold the Duke of Albany. Brother Henry Birch, a solicitor in the town was installed as the first master, who then appointed brother J Seary as senior warden and Brother Cane as junior warden.

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For the first two years the lodge continued to meet in the town hall. Money was raised for the purchase of lodge furniture.

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With the forthcoming demolition of the town hall new premises had to be found and luckily a recent initiate brother Henry Newitt happened to own the old Congregational Chapel at number 14 High Street. A lease was signed and the first meeting in the new premises was held on the 5th of May 1881. The present building at 14 High Street was originally built in 1827 as a Congregational Chapel.

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When the local Congregationalists built the Chapel, the prime mover of the project was the preacher WH Wiffen. The Congregationalists were very successful in Thame and in 1871 a larger Chapel was built in the Upper High Street.

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The old Chapel was subsequently sold to Henry Newitt who was a furniture dealer and used the premises as a storeroom. Ten years later St Mary’s Lodge occupied the building on a long lease. Minutes during that period Inform us of two extensions or improvements in 1881 and again in 1912. The twenty years that followed were very turbulent and difficult years for St Mary’s Lodge, on some occasions lodges were cancelled due to lack of a quorum.

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The four regular meetings were held in February, May, August and November on the Thursday nearest the full moon. An arrangement which continues to this day and enabled those members living in nearby villages, in whatever condition they departed the festive board to get home safely. There were no drink and drive problems then, they just fell into the back of the trap and told the pony to “get up home”.

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Despite the problems of that time the Lodge grew and continued to develop. Three or four candidates at a ceremony was not unusual, with the continuous support of past masters of the Alfred Lodge who often came over by train to help out. The Lodge was able to establish itself as an important part of the social life of Thame.

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The north side of Thame Masonic Hall is lined with oak panels and doors, behind which is a series of dark and dingy store cupboards and although they have been explored and cleaned out many times they still reveal the odd piece of invaluable information. On one such occasion an old ledger was found; it turned out to be the original treasurer’s accounts of St Mary’s Lodge from the date of consecration until 1919. The first 41 years of the Lodge’s existence.

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Between 1887 and 1894 the almoner’s account was included in the treasurer’s accounts and provides a very interesting insight of life in England in those days, and of the work of the lodge almoner in supporting and assisting any poor and distressed brethren passing through the town to a new job or looking for work. It was apparently quite normal procedure for any brother who had fallen on hard times to call on the lodge for Alms to provide a meal or a roof over his head for the night as he passed through the town. In those days there was no Social Security or unemployment pay, only the workhouse.

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With the end of the First World War and the return of all ex-servicemen, the Lodge prospered. There seems no doubt that military service with its discipline and teamwork stimulated an interest and a need for the continuity of that teamwork and friendship which they were able to find in the self-discipline and brotherly love of a Masonic Lodge.

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For the next few years there were many instances of three ceremonies being held on the same evening and up to four candidates at each ceremony. This continued until the early 1960s.

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For some years it had been felt that the increasing membership of the lodge, together with the unsatisfactory conditions of the premises, was rendering the existing conditions and accommodation insufficient, both for temple and dining hall. On the 5th  of February 1925 a committee was appointed to consider sites, buildings, and Ways and Means.

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Several sites came under consideration but on October 29th of the same year, in view of the fact that the lodge rooms and adjoining premises were to be sold by auction, a small committee was appointed to safeguard the lodge’s interests, with full power to act. On December 14th, the Secretary reported the committee had met and arranged for the purchase of No 13 and 14 High Street. Being the large premises and the shop adjoining.

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The Lodge unanimously approved and confirmed the action of the committee.

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Twelve trustees were appointed to deal with the property as directed by the Lodge and authority given for the necessary steps to raise and purchase funds.

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A building committee was appointed to draw up a scheme or schemes for dealing with the premises and on the 20th August 1926 a report was presented showing the extent and nature of the proposed alterations. The plans for which were drawn up by W B Robinson.

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The secretary also presented a financial report showing how it was proposed to raise the necessary funds: by loan bonds to be taken up by the brethren, donations and a mortgage.

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Both reports were adopted, and the 24th of November 1926 was a red letter day in the history of the Lodge, which met for the first time in its own premises, enlarged, improved and beautified.

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The prevailing feeling was that of rejoicing and deep thankfulness.

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In the December meeting of that year the building committee provided a further report which included a complete financial statement. This was approved and the committee was authorised to obtain a mortgage on the premises not to exceed £900. The trustees were also authorised to sign the necessary deeds.

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This was one of the most important decisions ever taken by St Mary’s Lodge, and set the foundations and security for the future for all brethren in Thame. It took 22 years of careful financial control to pay off that mortgage.

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After 50 years of existence, the jubilee celebrations were held on the 5th of December 1928. There were 99 brethren present.

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During the 1930s various improvements were made to the building, extra cloakrooms and a fire exit was added; a very important addition considering the large number attending in those days.

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In 1937 the collars and cuffs were all renewed and the painting of the setting sun behind the senior warden’s chair was presented by W B H.M. Avery and is by a well-known local artist K.R.W. Rouse.

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September 1939 and once again the country was at war with Germany, the Masonic Hall was requisitioned for the duration by the war department and occupied by the Royal Army Pay corps.

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In October and November that year no meetings took place and other venues had to be found and the first wartime Lodge was held in the Wesleyan school room on the 2nd of December.

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In December 1940 the secretary gave notice that he was re-joining HM Forces and W B Simmons was appointed acting secretary in his absence. It was also resolved that during the war Lodge meetings would be held in May, June, July and August. Other venues used included the Methodist schoolroom, the Town Hall, Lloyds Bank house and various pubs. Although bombs were dropped in Thame and many brethren must have been involved in the various services, there's very little information forthcoming from minutes.

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On the 15th of July 1946, after nearly seven years of occupation by the war department, the first post war lodge meeting was held in the Masonic Hall.

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Independent observers had assessed the damage caused by the army's use of the premises and a sum of £320.13s.5d was agreed. The Tyler and other brethren spent many hours cleaning up and re decorating. A new door and entrance into the Temple was presented. An oven and hotplate was purchased for the kitchen and St Mary’s Lodge was back in possession of the Hall.

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From the time of the purchase of the freehold until the start of the war in 1939 the festive board was held in the dining room with meals provided by wives and other local ladies. The War and rationing put a stop to that and whatever food was available was provided by local landlords and others whenever possible. Very often bread and cheese or sausage and mash.

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After the war, it was hoped that the kitchens could again be used and local ladies would be employed to do the cooking. For some unknown reason these plans failed. By the end of the 1940s the Lodge was dining at the Spreadeagle Hotel and the ground floor dining room was leased to Mr Peter Newitt for furniture storage. The lease expired in 1968 and the new trustees who had recently been appointed by the Lodge decided to redecorate and refurbish the room, installed a bar and found some outside caterers. By October 1968 the Lodge was again dining at home.

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We now have a Masonic centre in Thame that is sound structurally and financially, a building of great character and interest from many unusual features.

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