Cornwallis Chapter No.1536
T
he Cornwallis family have for a long time been closely associated with Freemasonry in Kent. Col. Wykeham Cornwallis, 2nd Baron Cornwallis, succeeded his father as Provincial Grand Master of Kent in 1935 until the county was divided into East and West Kent in 1973. He then served as Provincial Grand Master of East Kent until his death in 1982.
The inaugural lecture, “Freemasonry Universal”, was written and delivered by the late The Right Honourable The Lord Cornwallis in 2002. It was delivered at the Winter Gardens, Margate, and was atHis son, Fiennes Neil Wykeham, 3rd Baron Corn- tended by approximatewallis, rose to become Pro Grand Master and Pro ly 600 Freemasons and First Grand Principal in 1982—92. Sadly his their ladies. death broke a 100 year close link between the Cornwallis family and the Craft. His name was also used for the new Royal Arch Chapter consecrated in In 1919 the East Kent Masters Lodge No.3931 1916 which now meets in the Masonic Centre, was consecrated in Canterbury and its first Mas- Sidcup. Below is a founder’s jewel and the first ter was Colonel Fiennes Stanley Wykeham Corn- three pages of the summons of the first convocawallis, (later the first Lord Cornwallis), the Pro- tion on 10th March, 1916 which had three joining vincial Grand Master of the time. After seeing the members (affiliates) and 13 to be exalted into the growing collection of masonic artefacts and chapter, most of which are military men. books, he conceived the idea of the Kent ProvinCornwallis Chapter is one of the chapters with a cial Library & Museum in Canterbury. different name to their attached lodge—United There is also an annual Cornwallis Lecture is or- Military Lodge No.1536. ganised under the auspices of the Kent Masonic Museum & Library Trust to promote Masonic thought, discussion, and understanding.
Cross Keys November 2021
