Born on 1st May, 1850, H.R.H. Arthur William Patrick Albert was the third son and seventh child of H.M. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coberg Gotha (the Prince Consort). He was named after his Godfather, Arthur, Lord Wellesley, Duke of Wellington and was referred to as Prince Arthur of Connaught

Enlisting in the Army he was educated at the Royal Military Academy and went on to be a hardworking and dedicated officer rising steadily through the ranks, eventually being promoted to Field Marshal of the British Army. He saw active service in South Africa, India, Ireland, Canada and Egypt, where he was mentioned in Despatches three times in 1882. In 1879 he married Louise Margaret Alexandra Victoria Agnes, third daughter of Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia, although German marriages were not popular in this country at the time and furthermore, the bride¹s father disliked Britain.

On his marriage he was created 1st Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, Duke of Saxony, Earl of Sussex, K.G. They had a son and two daughters, Lady Margaret Victoria, who married the Crown Prince of Sweden and Patricia who later
became Lady Patricia Ramsay. His son, Prince Arthur of Connaught, married Alexandra, Duchess of Fife.

On 24th November 1874, he was initiated into the Prince of Wales Lodge No. 259. On 28th April of that year his eldest brother, H.R.H. Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, had been appointed Grand Master and was installed on the 28th April 1875.

In 1877 the Duke was appointed Senior Grand Warden and in 1886 he was made Provincial Grand Master of Sussex, the first time that a Prince of the Blood Royal had held such an office.

In 1887 he was appointed District Grand Master of Bombay, again the first Royal Prince to hold such a position.

In 1890 he was promoted to Past Grand Master.

On 12th May 1900, the Duke laid the foundation stone of the new school of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys at Bushey

On the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, the Prince of Wales succeeded to the throne as King Edward VII and according to precedent, resigned as Grand Master and became instead Protector of the Order. His Brother, H.R.H. Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, Earl of Sussex, K.G. was appointed Grand Master on 6th March and was installed at the Royal Albert Hall on 17th July 1901.

On the 9th May 1903, the Duke of Connaught Lodge No. 2961 was consecrated.

In 1910 King Edward VII died and was succeeded on the Throne by King George V who became Patron of the three Masonic institutions, H.M. Queen Mary became Grand Patroness and the Dowager Queen Alexandra became chief Patroness of the Royal Masonic Institute for Girls.

25th May 1911 saw the initiation of Prince Arthur of Connaught, K.G. into Freemasonry and in the same year his father, The Duke of Connaught became Governor General of Canada, a post which he held with great distinction until 1917. Highly regarded in the province, he was instrumental in recruiting large numbers to the Army during the First World War. His daughters, particularly Patricia, were very active in helping the war effort in Canada. The Duke enjoyed his time in Canada and was publicly reluctant to leave, but on his return to England rejoined the Army for the remainder of the war. His Wife who had suffered in health during the latter period in Canada died in 1917 shortly after their return to England.

On 23rd June 1917 an especial Grand Lodge was held at the Royal Albert Hall at which the Grand Master presided, to celebrate the Bi-Centenary of the Grand Lodge of England, for which a special commemorative jewel was struck, bearing the portrait of the Duke on the face and the Arms of United Grand lodge on the reverse. Apart from his numerous Masonic duties, the Duke left public life and lived in retirement at his home, Bagshott Park, which is currently the home of
H.R.H. Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and his wife.

His son, Prince Arthur of Connaught, K.G. Provincial Grand Master for Berkshire died on 12th September 1938 and the Duke of Connaught resigned as Grand Master on 1st March 1939, after holding the position for 38 years. He was succeeded by H.R.H. the Duke of Kent, father of the present Grand Master.

The Duke of Connaught passed away on 16th January 1942, aged 91.

The Coat of Arms
The Lodge badge is based on the Arms and achievements of the Duke of Connaught. It first appeared on the Founder¹s jewel (see illustration) The Arms are described as ;- ³The Royal Arms with overall an in escutcheon of Saxony and a label of three points argent, charged on the centre point with a cross gules and on each of the others with a fleur-de-leys azure, with the Royal Crest supporters, but with Royal coronets and charged on the shoulders with a label as in the Arms²

The shield of Saxony was dropped from its Arms by the Royal Family in 1917 when the family name was changed from Saxe-Coburg Gotha to Windsor, but it was decided to retain it on the Lodge badge. The shield of Saxony can still be seen around, for example on the Royal Arms on the Gates at Sandringham, on the personal banner of the Duke, hanging from the balcony in the Museum of Freemasonry, and strangely, on an embroidered bed-head in the Treasurers House in York, owned by the National Trust. The badge is used on the Past Masters Jewels, stationery and the Lodge Banner.

The Duke of Connaught Lodge was consecrated on Saturday, 9th May 1903 at the Railway Hotel, Wilmslow, Cheshire. The Deputy Provincial Grand Master, His Honour Judge Sir Horatio Lloyd, Kt. conducted the Consecration assisted by the following Officers.

W. Bro. Col Dean, P.G.D.
W. Bro. Henry Jackson, P.G.D.
W. Bro. Benjamin Hayward Brown
W. Bro. Rev. Stuart Hall, Chaplain
W. Bro. William Booth, P.P.G.D.
W. Bro. J.E. Raynor, P.G.W.
W. Bro. Dr. Fennel, P.G.W.
W. Bro. Richard Newhouse, P.D.G.S.B., P.G.Sec.
W. Bro. Fred¹k Broadsmith, P.P.G.W.
W. Bro Jas. Cookson, P.P.G.W.
W. Bro. John Lee, P.G.D.C.

A reproduction of the original programme/Summons follows with details of the Consecration Ceremony. It will be noticed that a list of train times is included - a usual method of transport in 1903. The Lodge was known as a ŒRailway Lodge¹. The reason is unknown, other than perhaps because it met at the Railway Hotel, as the only connection between the members was that they all lived in Wilmslow.

The Master elect and first Worshipful Master was Bro. Robert Rudman, aged 51, a member of the Arthur Sullivan Lodge No. 2156, which still meets at Bridge Street, Manchester. He was installed during the proceedings by W.Bro. Fred Broadsmith. The Senior Warden elect was Bro. George Marsden, aged 42 and was a Piano Dealer. He was a member of our Mother Lodge - Endeavor Lodge No 830 - which now meets at the Masonic Hall, Dukinfield. The Junior Warden elect was Bro. Isaac Wood, aged 43, a provision Merchant and a member of Victoria Lodge No. 1345 which now meets at the Elm Bank Masonic Hall, Eccles, in Manchester.

The Lodge Secretary was Bro. Ralph Blackwell, a schoolmaster of Handforth and a member of Concord Lodge No. 323 which meets at the Guildhall, Stockport. Senior Deacon elect was Bro. William Waites, a contractor, aged 48, a member of Fortitude Lodge No.281 which meets at the Masonic Hall, Lancaster. Junior Deacon elect was Bro. James Marshall, a manager, aged 48 and a member of WAHAB Lodge No. 998 of India. Bro. William Henry Mills, aged 45, a stone merchant, and a member of St. Johns Lodge No. 104 which meets at the Guildhall, Stockport was the Inner Guard.

The following names listed on the Consecration Summons were Assentors.
Bro. George Fearn
Bro. R.B.M. Lingard-Monk, J.P.
Bro. John Coupe
Bro. Alfred Boyd

The cost of the consecration banquet was 15 shillings (75p) and the cost of becoming a founder was two pounds two shillings.
The dress called for was Evening Dress, White tie and Gloves.
51 Brethren attended the Consecration but only 29 remained for the Banquet.
The Charity plate raised 29 shillings (£1.45)

The first regular meeting of the Lodge took place on 27th May 1903 when the business listed on the Summons was to ballot for two joining members, two of the assentors, Bro. John Coupe of St. Johns Lodge No. 104 and Bro. Alfred Boyd of J.W. Egerton Lodge No. 1030. Also to Ballot for, and if elected, to initiate 10 other gentlemen into the Lodge.;-

Mr Joseph Ernest Mills, aged 34, Brother of the Inner Guard.
Mr John Dearden, aged 44, an assistant overseer
Mr William Smith-Neill, aged 34, Grocer
Mr Benjamin Jones, aged 27, Stationer
Mr John Noble Platt, aged 31, Surgeon
Mr James Walker, aged 39, Tailor
Mr Henry Townsend Carter, aged 21, Marble merchant
Mr Joseph Wetton, aged 29, Stone Merchant
Mr Frank Maxwell Corkhill, aged 23, Grocer
Mr Charles Wilfred Statham, aged 28, a Clerk

The two joining members were balloted for and admitted.

The following were balloted for and initiated on the same evening.
J.E. Mills
J. Dearden
W. Smith Neild
B. Jones
J.N. Platt

On completion of these initiations it was proposed that Bro. John Noble Platt be elected as Lodge Treasurer. This was balloted on and approved. On this occasion the Lodge was Tyled at 4.00 p.m. There is no record of what time it was closed! There was no Social Board following this meeting as the Lodge Business had not been completed and an emergency meeting was called for the following day which Tyled at 4.15p.m. At this time Mr J. Walker, Mr H. Townsend Carter, Mr F. Maxwell Corkhill and Mr C.W. Statham were initiated, again all by the Worshipful Master. The initiation of Mr J.Wetton was deferred to the next meeting due to his absence.