Cover—Amity No.137 front page of Bye- Laws (see

A lodge at Poole was warranted in 1765 at the Lion & Lamb Inn (shown) in the Old Town. The lodge was originally numbered 338 but after renumbering exercises by Grand Lodge, it became 137 in 1863. The name ‘Amity’ only came into being in 1779.

In 1772, the lodge moved to the Old Antelope Inn in the High Street (below) probably due to its size and the upstairs banqueting room which was used by the Provincial Grand Lodge in 1780.

Like many lodges at the time, private membership certificates were issued by lodge. Grand Lodge obviously realised this was a good way to generate money and also improve registration of candidates. A great example from Amity is shown above right.

The original 15 Bye-Laws were written in 1778 to ensure brotherly love because of the profane language used by some brethren. Examples in the minutes mention the use of fines for such language and eventually expulsion for repeated misdemeanours.

One thing the lodge is well known for is the Amity Biscuit—yes an actual biscuit dated from 1813. Although in fragments now, it is still housed in the original frame and is a testament to the Napoleonic wars and a warm hearted French privateer from St. Malo, Bro. Captain Jacques de Bon. Discovering he was a freemason, he was released with a dog which belonged to a recently captured freemason. Around its neck was a biscuit signifying he would not keep a brother’s dog in bondage nor see it want for food—in other words, he wouldn’t do a ‘ runner.’

Above—the lodge room today in 4 Market Close, Poole, the original warrant, the lodge seal in 1780 and the master’s chair. The lodge meets once a month, on the third Wednesday, at 18.15