Yorick Lodge L2771 was consecrated on the 31st October 1899. The founders were primarily made up of theatrical managers from the Stoll Moss Empires and members of the legal profession. The membership then initially grew from The Yorick Club, which was a private members club.
Following the Consecration, the Lodge met at The Queen’s Hotel in Leicester Square. After a decade or more of growth, the Lodge moved to the old Freemasons Hall in 1912. By the outbreak of The First World War Yorick had 47 subscribing members, rising to 61 by 1919. In 1923 Yorick Lodge sponsored the foundation of the Yorick Chapter of Royal Arch Masons which still meets today.
The Lodge with its very proud history was a contributor to the building of the Peace Memorial which we know today as Freemasons Hall albeit it did not unfortunately reach Hall Stone Jewel status.
After donating to its construction, Yorick Lodge was granted the honour of being the first Lodge to hold a meeting in the newly completed Freemasons’ Hall in Great Queen Street in 1931, with a membership of some 85 brothers.
Following the end of the Second World War, Yorick celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1949. After the installation meeting, a grand festive board was held with 44 members and 133 guests sitting down to dine.
In 1999 Yorick chalked up its centenary with a centennial medal struck and issued to mark the occasion. The festive board was held at The Army and Navy Club attended by some 53 members and guests.
However, the post-war years saw Yorick weathering its ups and downs but the trend in recent years was sadly on the decline with several hopeful albeit temporary revivals in between.
To preserve this historical lodge under the auspices of its Metropolitan Grand Inspector a team was put together from September 2022 to develop Yorick into the Metropolitan Whisky special interest Lodge.
A very apt continuation of a lodge that originally drew its membership from the theatrical profession and going forward continues to provide much enjoyment and fun. Still fellows of infinite jest!
Meantime Yorick has always been a very charitable lodge which is a fundamental pillar of freemasonry and will continue in a similar vein supporting many worthy causes including the main Metropolitan Appeals.
