The City of London Lodge of Installed Masters No. 8220 is perhaps the pre-eminent Installed Masters Lodge in Metropolitan Grand Lodge (Metropolitan) and possibly wider still. It was formed in 1968 and now has rather more than 300 members. It is the only independent Lodge that has the privilege of meeting in Guildhall, in the heart of the City of London. It enthusiastically adheres to the aim of all Installed Masters Lodges, to promote and advance Masonic knowledge.
On Thursday, 27th June 1968, London Freemasonry witnessed the consecration of its third Lodge of Installed Masters, in the wake of Jubilee Masters Lodge (1898) and Euclid Lodge of Installed Masters (1956). There were 98 Founders and 135 guests in Lodge Room No. 10 at Freemasons’ Hall to witness the event, including numerous Masonic celebrities of the time and a veritable sea of Grand Officers. The Consecrating Officer was R W Bro. Maj. Sir Allan Adair, Assistant Grand Master.
The Consecrating Chaplain was V W Bro. Rev Canon Richard Tydeman, who gave an impressive Oration based on the ethos of the Craft and noting that this new Lodge would afford both time and opportunity for further (Masonic) study. An extract of the Oration has forever appeared on the Lodge Summons, reminding us of our duties and the manner in which they should be performed. He commented that it was entirely appropriate that the Lodge would meet in the City of London where, 251 years ago to the week, the Grand Lodge of England had its birth. The Lodge would advance knowledge through lectures, dialogues, discussions and demonstrations. Indeed, it has, and you will peruse with interest the varied topics that have been covered over 40 years.
Throughout its existence, the Lodge has garnered membership widely from Members of City Livery Companies, who are also serving or Past Masters of any Lodge (or from some employees of the City of London Corporation) and numbers members, and indeed some of its Past Masters, from the highest reaches of Freemasonry. It is necessary only to be such a Livery Company Member and a PM (or a qualifying Corporation employee) and to be proposed and seconded by Masonic friends who are also members of the Lodge. The Lodge welcomes more than 20 new members each year and suffers very few resignations.
The Lodge meets three times a year, on the first Tuesdays of February and October, and the second Wednesday in May (Installation). Meetings start at 5pm and usually conclude, after dinner, by 9.30pm. The Lodge has met there throughout its 50 years of existence and it is the only independent Lodge now meeting, and dining, in this Grade 1 Listed and historically significant venue. To attend one of its meetings and dinners is often thought to be one of the most impressive Masonic events that can be experienced.
