The first record of a Masonic meeting in St. Austell is recorded in a Minute Book at the Lodge and is dated 23rd Mach 1844, but there must have been meetings before this as it appears from the minutes recorded at that meeting that the Lodge was in full running order. The Minutes and Treasurer's books are complete from this date to the present day, with many interesting resolutions and items contai
ned therein. The Lodge of Peace and Harmony was represented for the first time, and by Dispensation, at The Provincial Grand Lodge assembly held at Falmouth, on 16th April 1844, when Sir Charles Lemon was installed as Provincial Grand Master. The consecration of Peace and Harmony was fixed at this meeting to take place in the month of July, and on the 16th of July the ceremony was performed by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, W. Bro John Ellis when the lodge was recorded in the books of Grand Lodge, bearing the number 728 which it held until a revision in 1863 when it was given it's present number 496. To our knowledge the Lodge has met at the following places :
On it's Constitution in 1844 at the Queens Head Hotel and this was it's meeting place until 1850, when after being Dormant for a few years the Lodge was opened on 14th December 1854 at The White Hart Hotel where it remained until until The Masonic Rooms was built in Cross Lane. The Lodge was regularly held there from 1873 to the end of the year 1900, when the present Masonic Hall, on South Street was built and the Lodge first met there in December of that year. The meeting continue to be held in that same hall to this day. Most, if not all, of the Founders of the Lodge were initiated in the One and All Lodge No.330 in Bodmin and it is believed that the following is a complete list :-
John Francis Hodge, Ironfounder, WM.,
Edwin Eveleigh, SW.,
John Nott, Printer, JW.,
Charles Barker, Preventive Service,
David Rogers Strickland, Innkeeper,
John Burrows, Currier, Tyler,
William Betty, Musician,
John Rogers, Gentleman, Yeoman,
Charles B Graves-Sawle, Esquire,
Edmund Carlyon, Solicitor, Treasurer,
William Medland, Maltster, Secretary,
William Cary (initiated in London in 1808), Clerk
Horatio Nelson Burrows, Gardner
There does not appear to have been a lack of candidates at that time, for at the end of 1844, in addition to the Founder members, the list of members included the following:-
William Higman, St. Austell, Cabinet Maker,
John Taylder, St. Austell, Painter,
William Gichard, St. Blazey, Yeoman,
William Kitt, St. Austell, Builder,
Frederick Pearce, St. Austell, Surgeon,
Edwin W. Kitt, St. Austell, Builder,
John Frost, Fowey, Innkeeper,
Richard Aaron Parson, St. Austell, Currier,
Thomas Vivian, St. Austell, Cordwainer,
Robert James, Grampound, Surgeon,
Nicholas Wade, St. Austell, Grocer,
Benjamin Brokenshaw, St. Blazey, Surveyor,
George Jane, St. Austell, Saddler,
Rev. Cuthbert Edgecumbe Hoskin, St. Blazey, Minister of St. Blazey,
Thomas Wherry, St. Blazey, Mason,
William West, St. Blazey, Engineer,
John Brokenshire, Fowey, Master Mariner,
Thomas Stephens, Lanlivery, Mine Agent,
Richard Julyan, Tywardreath, School Master,
Rev. Fortescue Todd, St. Austell, Vicar,
Edward Higman, St. Austell, Mariner,
Joseph Matthews, St. Blazey, Engineer. The above information is taken from the Peace and Harmony By- Laws booklet, dated 1905. It is interesting to note that the Initiation Fee, which included Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodge registration Fees, Grand Lodge Certificate, copy of the Book of Constitutions and a years Subscription to the Lodge was £10. 10. 0. Joining Fee £1. 1. 0
Annual Lodge Subscription £1. 5. 0
The List of Members totalled 95 in 1905.
