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We are indebted to W. Bro. C. M. Hurley, for the research conducted into the History of our lodge and the book that he has written on this subject.
The earliest record of a Masonic lodge working in Warwickshire was that of lodge meeting at the Woolpack in Warwick. This early lodge was constituted on April 22nd 1728 and had 20 members at its foundation. The fact that this lodge was constituted with so many members suggests that of Masonic activity in the vicinity prior to this date. It is known a founding member of this early lodge, one Francis Smith was one of many operative masons arriving in Warwick following the Great Fire of 1694. It is easy to imagine that masonry first found root in the county as a consequence of this rebuilding work. It is probable that a lodge predating the founding of the Premier Grand Lodge in London in 1717 met in Warwick, and that by 1723 had opted to become part of the new Grand Lodge structure.
The second lodge to be recorded in Warwick is one that the Lodge of Alliance can trace its lineal descent. Known today as St. Paul's lodge No. 43, it is first recorded as meeting at the Swan Inn, Birmingham, having been constituted in 1733. The Swan was the city's principal coaching inn, located on High Street, and would have been the final destination for travellers coming from London to Birmingham - a journey of not less than two days. The lodge was included in several versions of the eighteenth century 'Engraved Lists of Lodges', with varying lodge numbers ranging from 125, to No. 64 by 1755.
The lodge minutes for St. Paul's (although at this early date still known as 'The Swan') begin in 1764 and the minutes for this year make interesting reading. In 1764 the lodge applied for, and was granted, a warrant under the Ancient's Constitution - resulting in its duel numbering of 64 under the Moderns', and 124 under the Ancients' Constitution. The Lodge finally became known as St. Paul's in 1784, the choice of name being possibly due to a number of members being involved in the jewellery trade and its connections with St. Paul's Church in the Jewellery Quarter.
In the closing years of the eighteenth century lodges began to spring up in other towns across Warwickshire, with lodges established in Henley-in-Arden (1791), Stratford-on-Avon (1793), Alcester (1793), and Fazely (1795).
It should also be noted that prior to this period of expansion, Coventry also had two lodges established in 1755. There was only modest growth in freemasonry following the passing of the Unlawful Societies Act in 1799, and by 1852 there were only 12 active lodges in the Province of Warwickshire, consisting of just 359 members. In the second half of the century the situation improved, so much so that by 1905 the number of lodges had almost trebled to 35, whilst masonic membership in Warwickshire had increased to 1,823. The average lodge membership in 1852 was just 30, but by 1905 was 52.
Masonry experience rapid growth during the early years of the twentieth century, and with this saw its expansion in the the Solihull area. It is within this period that the Lodge of Alliance No. 5811 owes its origins, but also that of its 'mother' lodge, Silhill No. 4786, and its 'grandmother' lodge, Forest of Arden No. 3826.
The years between 1905 and 1912 saw the number of Warwickshire lodges increase by 6 (to 41), and membership rise to 2,125. The period between 1912 and 1918 witnesses the addition of a further 6 lodges, despite the impact of the First World War. The next four years (1918 - 1921) gave rise to a further 22 lodges, and in the subsequent nine years (1922 - 1930) a further 31 lodges were founded, by which time masonic membership in the province stood at 6,256.
Masonry within the Midlands during the 1930s saw both an increasing number of lodges and memberships. In 1930 the average lodge size within the Province of Warwickshire was 63. There were just three masonic craft lodges in Solihull (Forest of Arden 3826, Shenstonian 5544, and Silhill 4786). Continued population growth in the area bought into question whether the three lodges could adequately absorb an increasing demand for membership. Discussions followed as to the idea of establishing a new lodge in the area. These discussions culminated in 1939 in the following letter written by Bro. Charles F. Dawes.
3rd March 1939
Dear Sir and Bro.,
FREEMASONRY IN SOLIHULL
The Provincial Grand Secretary has expressed the opinion, (as have other Masons), that another Craft Lodge in Solihull is desirable, to provide for those brethren who for various reasons cannot become members of the Lodges in existence. It is also felt that a new lodge would give opportunities of advancement not possible in a Lodge of larger membership.
A meeting will be held in Park House, (adjoining the George Hotel) on Tuesday, March 14th, at 8pm to which you are cordially invited to attend to discuss the matter.
W.Bro. Guise, P.A.G.D.C. (Provincial Grand Secretary) has kindly consented to address the meeting.
(signes)
C.F. Dawes
P.M. Silhill Lodge, No. 4786
The meeting at Park House went ahead as planned with W. Bro. Dawes chairing and began the process of gathering together a group of Masons willing to become founders of the new lodge. This process did not take long, and on the 28th April 1939 a formal petition to Grand Lodge for the founding of the Lodge of Alliance was signed by the Master and Wardens of Silhill Lodge. In total there were 15 signatories to the petition. The petition identified that W. Bro. Dawes would serve as the Lodge's first Master, with Bros. William Eli Lakin and Oliver Gee as his Senior and Junior Wardens. A letter from the Provincial Grand Secretary, dated 9th June, informed W. Bro. Dawes that the petition had been accepted by Grand Lodge and the lodge number 5811 was assigned. The Lodge of Alliance No. 5811 was duly consecrated on the 27th September 1939.
The draft by-laws of the Lodge had initially been submitted for Provincial consideration prior to 19th May, 1939. Final approval was eventually granted by the Provincial Grand Master on 30th September and subsequently by the Grand Master on 6th October. Initiation fees ofv twelve guineas and joining fees of seven and a half guineas were set, along with annual subscriptions of five pounds.
In the summer of 1939, correspondence focused on the design and purchase of the banner and jewels for the lodge. It is in one such letter that we find the clearest insight into the choice of 'Alliance' as the name of the new lodge.
23rd June 1939
CFD/MG
Messrs. Spencer & Co.,
19/21 Great Queen Street,
London W.C.2.
Dear Sirs
BANNER FOR NEW LODGE
I am concerned, as Master designate of a new lodge to be consecrated in Birmingham shortly, - and to be called "Lodge of Alliance", No. 5811, for which we shall require a Banner.
I have no sketch of design to submit to you - but with your knowledge of such matters think that if I give you an idea to work upon you will be able to submit one or two designs with prices. The name of the Lodge, "Alliance", means as you will be aware, "a state of being allied" - and the members constituting it will be brethren from many districts who have settled in Solihull. The design therefore should have some bearing possibly on this idea. We do not wish for anything too elaborate, but at the same time plain, dignified and good quality.
It it possible please, for you to submit sketches and prices to reach me by Wednesday next to submit to a meeting on Thursday?
Thanking you in anticipation of your collaboration.
Yours faithfully, (signed)
Interestingly, despite the suggestion that the majority of founding members were from outside the area, most of the clearance certificates for the founders are from lodges in the Province of Warwickshire (although individuals may have hailed originally from further afield.) There are however three exceptions, where the clearance certificates clearly point to members moving to the Solihull area from beyond the county boundary. Bro. Stanley Morris came from Ben Brierley Lodge No. 3317 at Failsworth in Manchester; W.M. Newman came from Lodge of Concord No. 757 at Bombay in Inida; and W.E. Lakin came from Southsea Lodge No. 4071 & Domus Dei Lodge No. 5151 both in Portsmouth.
The date of the first meeting of Lodge of Alliance No. 5811 (its consecration ceremony), was to be the 27th September 1939 and in advance a preliminary meeting was held on 6th September at 7:30 for the Founders to practice the appointment of officers and discuss any other matters of interest. Of particular interest is that the invite for this rehearsal meeting is dated 4th September 1939 - although the invitation makes no reference to the fact that on the previous day Britain had declared war on Germany, and World War II had begun. A second rehearsal subsequently took place on 25th September.
Despite the uncertainties that the beginning of the war must have brought, the Consecration Ceremony took place on the 27th September 1939 at the Masonic Temple on Broad Street, Birmingham. It would appear that the advent of war had impacted the arrangements for the consecration, however, as the invite had stated the ceremony was originally to be held at the Edgebaston Assembly Rooms. The invite also specified a start time of 5:00pm and that the ceremony would be followed by dinner, both of which were also changed.
The ceremony was attended by around 120 brethren and led by the Provincial Grand Master R.W. Bro. Colonel Sir William Wyley, V.D., D.L.. The proceedings began at 3:00pm and worked through some 51 items set out in the Order of Procedure - it should be noted that these items do not include the actual business of the Lodge! The ceremony concluded at 5:15pm and was followed by afternoon tea.
Due to the commencement of the war no evening banquet took place, although a formal luncheon had taken place before the consecration ceremony for the benefit of the founders, consecrating officers and some of the brethren.
The Lodge of Alliance had been founded with 14 members, but before the end of 1939 it had attracted 2 initiates and 2 joining members, taking membership to 18. Numbers continued to increase steadily, with the lodge reaching 30 members by the end of the war in 1945.
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