The Globe & Laurel Lodge no. 4657 was consecrated on 24th October 1924 because four worthy Brethren held a strong belief that the time was right to found a Lodge “for the convenience of Royal Marines, present and past, either serving at the Depot Royal Marines, Deal, or residing in the district”.
The Founders designated WBro Major General Farqharson CMG to be the first Master and Bros Warrant Officer Owen and Lieutenant Cutcher to be his Wardens. It was also Petitioned that the Lodge meet on the second Wednesday of the months of October to May, inclusive, at the Masonic Hall, Sondes Road, Deal.
A newspaper reported at the time that “The Consecration of the the newly formed “Globe and Laurel Lodge” took place at the Church of St Michael and All Angels, Depot Royal Marines, Deal on Friday afternoon. The impressive service was conducted by the Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master, Colonel Cornwallis C.B.E., D.L., J.P., Past Grand Warden, England”.

Post Second World War

The Lodge thrived and in 1962 the first non-Royal Marine was Installed as Worshipful Master, when Bro CF Jocelyn was Installed into the Chair of King Solomon. At the time of his Installation, he was a Professor employed in teaching young Royal Marine Musicians who were under training.

The next significant event occurred at 8.22am on 22 September 1989, when an improvised explosive device planted by members of the Provisional IRA exploded in the rest room of the Staff Band at Deal Barracks. The explosion caused the building to collapse, killing 11 Royal Marine Musicians and wounding another 21. At that time, many members of the Globe and Laurel Lodge were serving Royal Marines and the decision was taken to raise money for those affected by the atrocity. Subsequently, a substantial cheque was presented to the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Dixon Royal Marines, for the support of those Royal Marines in need.

A marvellous celebration, took place on 6 November 1993 when the Brethren of the Lodge were summoned to attend an extraordinary Meeting at the Dover Town Hall to celebrate the 100th birthday of WBro George Finch DSM MSM Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden. WBro George was initiated into the Lodge on 12 December 1924, being the third initiate of the Lodge.

March 1996 saw the closure of the Deal Barracks when the Royal Marines School of Music (RMSM), Deal relocated to Portsmouth. As a result, a Lodge “established primarily for the convenience of serving or retired Royal Marines” would no longer have a local source for attracting serving Royal Marines as Candidates for Initiation.

However, this proved to not be the case and over the next two decades, several serving Royal Marines were initiated into the Lodge. Indeed, today the Lodge still has a serving Royal Marine amongst its membership, WO1
Bro Andrew Cornish MBE.

Bro Andrew “Pastie” Cornish can be seen in this group photo, taken at the Centenary meeting, far left in mess dress. 

Visiting is a very enjoyable part of Freemasonry and Globe and Laurel Lodge have reciprocal arrangements with the Royal Marine Lodge, Per Mare Per Terram No. 3609. On 20th October 2012, the Brethren of the Globe and Laurel Lodge were most pleased to attend the Centenary Meeting of Per Mare Per Terram Lodge and we are pleased to see Brethren from Per Mare Per Terram with us today.

In 2014 the Royal Marines Corps celebrated its 350th anniversary and the Royal Marine Portsmouth Lodge No. 6423 was granted dispensation to hold a special meeting of all Royal Marine Lodges to mark the founding of the Corps. A cohort of Brethren from the Globe and Laurel Lodge attended this special meeting along with representatives from 4 other Royal Marine Lodges to celebrate the 350th birthday of the Corps.

Images from https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/gallery/pictures-350-years-royal-marines-4546665

Showing Royal Marines in 1664 and 350 years later in 2014

In January 2020, a novel coronavirus, named Covid 19, was identified in the UK. On 23 March 2020, widespread public health measures saw the introduction of a legally enforced “Stay at Home” Order that banned unnecessary travel or contact with other people.

During this period, Grand Lodge suspended all Masonic meetings and like many other Lodges, Globe and Laurel Brethren would meet virtually using video calls to maintain contact with each other and continue to raise money
for worthy causes. WBro John Boyd was installed as Worshipful Master prior to the Pandemic and, as a result of Covid 19, he remained in the Chair of King Solomon for three consecutive years, the longest period for any Globe and Laurel Master.

On 9th April 2021, His Royal Highness Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh passed away and, with much sadness, the Globe and Laurel Lodge marked the passing of the His Royal Highness, who was the Captain General Royal Marines.

On 8th September 2022, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passed and the Globe and Laurel Lodge mourned the passing of our Monarch.

Image taken from https://wallpaperaccess.com/queen-elizabeth-ii

Today, of the Lodge’s 39 members, 23 are former Royal Marines and, as a Military Lodge, the Globe and Laurel also attracts candidates from other branches of the Armed Services and the Emergency Services and long may this continue.
The evening, celebrated the Centenary of the Globe and Laurel Lodge No. 4657 in the Register of the Grand Lodge of England. This was a Lodge formed “for the convenience of Officers and Non Commissioned Officers, serving in, or retired from, the Royal Marines” and we believe most strongly that one hundred years after the Consecration, the Founders will be looking down from the Grand Lodge above with justifiable pride and satisfaction that the Brethren of the Globe and Laurel have nurtured and sustained the Lodge and will ensure it moves forward into its Second Century in a spirit of Brotherly Love and Harmony.