Founded in 1925
Making Good Men Better
We’re united by three ancient and fundamental principles – brotherly love, charity and truth that are made relevant to the 21st century through the personal development, good works
and social connections available to our members, Great benefits…for you and the world.
For further information about The Builders of the Silent Cities Lodge e-mail the following contacts direct from the Officers page:
Secretary:
W.Bro Peter Sandy LGR
Telephone: 020 8857 8651
e-mail: secretary@buildersofthesilentcities.org.uk
Treasurer:
W.Bro Peter Wake SLGR, PPrSGD
e-mail: treasurer@buildersofthesilentcities.org.uk
Almoner:
W.Bro Neal Hansley LGR, Met AGDC
e-mail: almoner@buildersofthesilentcities.org.uk
W.Bro Keith Corder SLGR, MetAGInsp
Membership Officer:
W.Bro Lee Kett
e-mail: Lee.kett@aol.com
Our Founder
RUDYARD KIPLING
Rudyard Kipling was well-know for his poems and novels, including the Jungle Book. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907.
He was born in India in 1865 and later lived in the UL. Kipling was initiated at the age of 20 in the Lodge of Hope and Perseverance No. 782 in Lahore in 1886.
He was immediately appointed at the Lodge’s Secretary because, as a young journalist, he possessed a typewriter. He later joined the Lodge of Independence with Philanthropy No. 391 in Allahabad.
Involved in the War Graves Commission after the First World War, he was a founder member of the both Builders of the Silent City Lodge No. 12 Grand Loge Nationale Francais) in St. Omer, France, in 1922. and Builders of the Silent Cities Lodge No. 4948 in London in 1925.
Our History
The Builders of The Silent Cities Lodge No. 4948
The Lodge first met at Andertons’ Hotel, in Fleet Street, then known as the Horn Tavern, last of a succession of taverns and coaching inns dating back to the 15th Century. Andertons’, the name changed around 1930, remained our home until the outbreak of War in September 1939.The War naturally influenced the nature of Lodge meetings. Dining subscriptions were suspended and both the day of the week on which meetings had customarily been held and their venue varied with the vagaries of the situation.
The Lodge then met at The Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Street, from 1945 until 1954 followed by The Mostyn Hotel, Portman Square, from 1954 until 1970 when it moved to The Royal Commonwealth Society, and then in 1980 to The Park Court Hotel in Bayswater which became its home for the next twenty one
years, before finally returning home in 2001 to Freemasons’ Hall in Great Queen Street to where the Lodge now meets and was originally consecrated.
Working in the Lodge as laid down by our Founders and stated in Lodge By-Laws is Emulation. As we have no Lodge of Instruction our Director of Ceremonies and his Assistants assemble with the Officers on regular dates prior to Lodge Meetings to rehearse the work for the next meeting.
At the end of every meeting the hymn “Oh Valiant Hearts”, or as it was originally titled “The Supreme Sacrifice” which was specially written for a War Anniversary Intercession service held at Westminster Abbey in August 1917, is sung. After which the Lodge stand to Order “in memory of those who dwell in the Silent Cities”. This was adopted from the moment the Lodge was consecrated and continues to be observed in its original form since, besides being a tribute to those who died in the Great War it is also a reminder to us of the gift by the Peoples of France, in common with Belgium and Italy, and other Allied Governments, of the land required for the permanent Cemeteries in which to honour our War Dead.
The Summons
The next full meeting of the Lodge is on
November 2024 at 4:00 p.m. at Freemasons’
Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC2B
5AZ.
Please click on the Image to download the PDF.
Meetings
Our Lodge has regularly met in various locations usually followed by Festive Board Dinner with the Brethren in keeping with the spirit of Freemasonry
Honours
Lodge members who have tirelessly dedicated many years of brotherly service to the Lodge are duly recognised and appreciated.
Charity
One of the fundamental principle(s) of Freemasonry is Brother Love. Our Lodge over the years supports and regularly donates to charities and good causes for the good of Mankind.
The Banner
Dedicated
The Lodge Banner was dedicated by; W.Bro The Revd. G.Ernest Smart PAG
Celebration
To celebrate our 75th Anniversary
Date
Thursday 5th December, 2002
Worshipful Master:
W.Bro Keith Corder, SLGR, PPrJGD (The current Assistant Director of Ceremonies of the Lodge)
The Banner for 4948:
The Banner has the same basic design as the Lodge Past Masters Jewel. The artwork for the emblem for the Badge was produced by W.Bro Bob Tuthill, S You will see from the illustration that the centre shield is enclosed by two pillars representing the two pillars that stood at the porchway entrance of King Soloman’s Temple. These are adorned with two spherical balls on which are delineated maps of the celestial and terrestrial globes. The Pillars stand on the mosaic pavement, in the centre of which is depicted the volume of the sacred law which governs our faith.
The Centre has depicted one of the cemeteries in Flanders Fields and the graves of those valiant soldiers who fell during the Great War of 1914-1918. The lodge was founded by members of the Imperial war graves Commission after which the Lodge is named.
The bottom centre contains the heraldic device or trademark of the Craft. These two symbols in Freemasonry have more than one meaning.
The square in Freemasonry merely a square, to be taken at its face value; It is representative of the complete square; a figure with four sides and four right angles; It is a try square, which is an instrument for testing a right angle; It is a symbol of rightness, or righteousness; It is a symbol of the earth, once believed to be square in shape.
What is Freemasonry
Making Good Men Better
Freemasonry is the oldest and largest fraternal organization in the world. Its members share a common goal of helping each other become better men. Its body of knowledge and system of ethics is based on the belief that each man has a responsibility to improve himself while being devoted to his family, faith, country, and fraternity.
Its roots go back centuries and its members are diverse: high profile leaders, physicians, construction workers, farmers…and maybe you.
Ancient...and modern.
We’re united by three ancient and fundamental principles – brotherly love, charity and truththat are made relevant to the 21st century through the personal development, good works and social connections available to our members, Great benefits…for you and the world.
Freemasonry offers much to its members -the opportunity to grow, the chance to make a difference and the means to build a better world for our children. It offers the chance to socialize and work with men who have the same values and ideals.
We strengthen and improve our character by learning and practicing basic virtues of fraternal love, charity, and truth. Our principles extend far beyond our interactions with each other, and we strive to apply them to our daily lives.
Meetings
Our Latest Meetings
LODGE MEMBERS & VISITORS FROM 2024 INSTALLATION MEETING
Bro Omar on his initiation 15 March 2024
THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER WITH OUR TWO GRAND OFFICES OF THE LODGE 2024
What Our Brother's Say
Testimonials
I was recommended to the Lodge by the Freemasons membership team after my interview and was rather keen and excited to meet and assess those that will not only guide me through the journey but be able to connect with as Brothers. On arrival at the Lodge, I immediately noticed that most of the Brethren, if not all, at least at that particular meeting, were rather ‘advanced in time’ and it crossed my mind that perhaps the difference in age might introduce a line item of concern in my assessments. However, this was expediently quashed when I met the warm, friendly, humorous, genuine, passionate, diverse and committed set of gentlemen and friends which pleased me delightfully and have been supportive of my journey ever since. I am in the Lodge because the Brethren are authentic, they are fun to be with - we have a lot of laughs, devoted to Freemasonry and above all, I enjoy the camaraderie we share amongst us.
My decision to join the Lodge was to be part of a brotherhood of like minded individuals with ambition and humility. I also believe in the fellowship of people who aim to better themselves and seek the truth without a biased mindset. I’ve always been in a team or group, whether it’s music or playing football and basketball with friends. My awareness of the wonders of the world and the fact that we know nothing if we think we know it all, encouraged my eagerness to join the Lodge. I want to learn from people wiser than myself.