It is always sad to report when a Lodge has to surrender its warrant. More so when the Lodge has a rich history within Middlesex Masonry. And so, it was last June 2026 that the Lodge closed for the last time.
Harefield Lodge No 7417 was consecrated on the 30th September 1955 a daughter Lodge of Uxbridge Lodge No 7066. The story goes that the landlord of the King’s Arms, Harefield invited all Masons known to him to celebrate his birthday. As a consequence the Lodge was formed with many of those attending becoming Founders of the new Lodge. Harefield has a strong connection with the ANZACS and it would ne no surprise to know that the first Master of the Lodge was an Australian. The Lodge Crest depicts the memorial arch at the Australian Cemetery in Harefield churchyard.
Harefield was the site of the military hospital for Australian Forces patients which opened in 1915 during the First World War and many who died were so very young. The Roll of Honour, as such, shows their ages as variously in their 20s and from the various parts of Australia ranging from New South Wales to Western Australia. Some had been born in the United Kingdom and fate brought them back to these shores through the war.
Partial Family Tree of Harefield Lodge – https://museumfreemasonry.org.uk/lodge-family-tree – enter Lodge number in search box.
The years took their toll and so it was with Harefield Lodge who found times difficult and membership numbers declined. This is not a reflection on the members of the Lodge but more an indictment of society with different stimuli from men in 1955. The remaining members have found new homes in the Province and that is refreshing. Meanwhile recruitment goes on unabated in the Province and we must not lose sight of the initiatives afoot in introducing new members. Indeed, in 2022 the Pro Grand Master at the time emphasised that it was better to have stronger Lodges with buoyant membership numbers rather than a number of units which struggled to recruit and retain. You can check this out using AI (Copilot) entering the following – “The UGLE Pro Grand Master’s statement a few years ago about the number of Lodges who surrender their warrants. He said that it would be better to have fewer Lodges with higher membership numbers. Is that correct?” The answer is enlightening and makes sense.
Nevertheless, we have to learn from these experiences and do our best to sustain freemasonry in our Province. Middlesex is a so called medium sized Province within UGLE and has a good record.
Enough said. Good bye to Harefield Lodge and thank you for your service.
Article written by W. Bro Stan Marut PPrJGD SLGR – Provincial Media Team.
