WHITE RIVER LODGE
No. 153
BROTHERHOOD and FRIENDSHIP
Consecrated 20th June 2007
How it all began...
Masonry is truly international and wherever they may be in the world it doesn’t take long for fellow Masons to get together and discover their mutual interest in the Craft, and so it was when one mason and his wife moved to Monserrat near Valencia in September 2004. Not only did he start to miss the companionship of his fellow masons in London, it didn’t take him long to discover that there was no English speaking lodge in or immediately around Valencia. The Brother contacted the Provincial Grand Secretary who gave him the details of the Secretary of the Spanish Lodge, Germanies No8 in Valencia. After a few visits and discussions with the secretary it was decided that it might be possible to start an international English-speaking lodge in Valencia city.
A few months later the newly appointed Provincial Grand Master provided a wealth of practical advice and promised his full support with any attempt to form the lodge. The Provincial Grand Master and Masonic friends in the Province soon formed a core of individuals interested in becoming founders, all lodge secretaries throughout the Province were then informed of the proposal. The Provincial Grand Secretary, himself a founding member, was a key player in spreading the word and getting relevant items placed on the Provincial website. Before long about twenty masons had expressed an interest, so a meeting was set up in January of 2006 at the Flor Azahar restaurant in Gandia.
The Lodge name, ‘White River’ was suggested by a member of Germanies Lodge from three submitted for consideration. The Founders also voted for the first officers, agreed the byelaws and many other things at the meeting. Word then spread very quickly, and more founders appeared from as far away as Murcia.
Two founders, both residing in England, co-ordinated the arrangements for obtaining regalia and any furniture required. One found a lodge local to him in East Lancashire that was surrendering its warrant and agreement was reached for White River to purchase their equipment. Another founder member, a professional artist residing in Valencia, set about designing a Lodge jewel, his first design was accepted with great enthusiasm and submitted to Grand Lodge for approval. It is now the official letterhead and jewel of the lodge.
A Brother obtained a carpet from his UK Lodge in Ilfracombe, North Devon, and arranged for it to be transported over to Valencia. So everything started to fall into place. Valencia City was scoured for a suitable venue for the Consecration – not an easy task trying to find a room for the ceremony and private accommodation for the meal afterwards for so many people, especially in the middle of the Americas Cup! The Hotel Astoria Palace was chosen after many fruitless searches and it proved ideal in every respect
So here we are today, sixteen years on from the Consecration, our members are from France, Argentina, Cuba, UK, Saudi Arabia, Romania, USA and most importantly from Spain. If you would like information on how to become a mason, then please email the contact address shown on this website.