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On 13th June 1904 the Founders and Original Members of a new Lodge of Mark Master Masons came together for the Consecration.   The new Lodge was to be called the Sir Joseph Dimsdale Lodge, later shortened to Dimsdale Lodge, and received the number 569.

At first the new Lodge flourished, but, with the passing years, it began to see a fall in membership and eventually, in 1936, it amalgamated with the Abernethy Lodge No.722 which had been consecrated in 1920 as a medical Mark Lodge associated with the Hospital of St. Bartholomew.   The resulting Lodge took the number of Dimsdale Lodge but retained the Abernethy name and so it was that the Abernethy Lodge No.569 held its centenary meeting in the Grand Temple of Mark Masons' Hall on 27th January, 2005 (the celebrations having been postponed from October 2004 to allow the Advancement of a new Mark Master Mason at their meeting).

The Centenary Master, Right Worshipful Brother Gordon L. Bourne, PGSW, who had previously occupied the Chair of Abernethy Lodge in 1956, presided over a gathering of eleven other Members of the Lodge, a team of thirteen Officers from the Provincial Grand Lodge headed by the Provincial Grand Master, Right Worshipful Brother David Ivor Williams, and twelve personal guests.

The Worshipful Master opened the Lodge and, after some routine Lodge business, admitted the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, Worshipful Brother Jack Cohen, who was attending despite the fact that it was the ninth birthday of his son, George.   The ProvGDC demanded entrance for the Provincial Grand Master who entered in procession.

For the subsequent part of the ceremony, the Lodge Officers were replaced by the Provincial Officers and, after a brief introductory Address by the Provincial Grand Master, the Original Warrant of the Sir Joseph Dimsdale Lodge was read by Worshipful Brother John A.H. Bootes, PGJO, the Lodge Secretary, Worshipful Brother Michael A. Pugh, PGStBr, read the Minutes of the Consecration Meeting after which the Provincial Grand Chaplain, Worshipful Brother the Reverend Colin Calcott-James, lead the prayers and delivered an Oration.

The members of Abernethy Lodge were then formed up in the body of the Lodge to hear the Centenary Warrant read by the Provincial Grand Secretary, Worshipful Brother David Ashbolt.   The Provincial Grand Master then presented the Warrant to the Worshipful Master and congratulated the Members individually.

After a further prayer, the Provincial Grand Master returned the Gavel to the Worshipful Master and the Lodge Officers were conducted back to their places by the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies.   The Lodge Tyler and Honorary Archivist, Worshipful Brother Brian A. Bailes, PGSD, then delivered a carefully researched and very interesting History of the Lodge from the Consecration in 1904 to the present day.

At the request of the Worshipful Master, the Provincial Grand Master presented Grand Lodge Certificates to Brother Jenkinson and Brother Patel.

The meeting was followed by a Champagne Reception in the Earl of Euston Room in Mark Masons' Hall and the Brethren then sat down to a Centenary Festive Board under the stern gaze of the heavily be-whiskered portraits of Victorian Freemasons.    Any similarity to the Lodge Chaplain's unfashionably luxuriant facial hair is thought to be purely incidental.

After a starter of smoked Scottish salmon, commendably tender fillet steak and a well chosen pâté combined to produce an excellent Tornedos Rossini which was followed by Crêpes Suzette and a selection of cheeses.

The toasts and speeches were brief but enthusiastically received and the convivial proceedings came to an end at precisely 9 p.m. with the Tyler's Toast.

Trevor P. Dutt PAPGM