Alauna Lodge 6266 History
But for various reasons they were unwilling or unable to accept new brethren and as a result many men were forced to travel outside the town to practise the craft.
In order to meet this demand it was decided Alcester needed a second lodge and one which would be more inclusive in those it chose to join its ranks.
As a result 11 would be founders met with the master, treasurer and secretary of Apollo Lodge at the foot of the winding staircase in The Swan Hotel in Alcester on July 18, 1945. Coming just two months after the end of the Second World War in Europe, it was fitting such efforts were being made to found a branch of an organisation based on brotherly love, relief and truth.
It was decided the new lodge should be called Alauna, after the ancient name given to the settlement which stood in Roman times on the site the town is now based on.
The first challenge facing the infant lodge was the fact that while members of Apollo were pleased to sponsor the creation of Alauna they did not want to be among the founders.
As a result Alauna was not able to use any of the antique furniture or share the traditions established by the older lodge. However this turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it helped Alauna establish its own traditions which make it the unique lodge it is today.
The first master of the lodge was Worshipful Brother J Ebor Haynes and Alauna was officially consecrated on May 27, 1946 at the Edgbaston Assembly Rooms in the presence of the Provincial Grand Master of Warwickshire and 92 brethren. A collection was held on the night which raised £9 12s.
Alauna Lodge met for the first regular meeting on September 3, 1946 at Alcester Town Hall which has remained its home ever since. The first charity collection raised £3 and the cost of subscribing to join was £4 4s which included seven meals, which were enjoyed at The Swan Hotel until 1970.
Men from numerous professions have joined Alauna, with the main ones being teachers, police officers and politicians.
In October 1982 the lodge held its 250th meeting and is expected to reach the 500 mark by 2018.
It was twinned with St Augustine’s Lodge as part of a scheme initiated by the Provincial Grand Master of Warwickshire in 1990 and exchange visits between the two lodges continue until this day.
More than 100 men have been initiated into the lodge over the decades and with the lodge due to celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2016, more and more are attracted to this ancient hobby.