New plaque marks 300 years of masonic history

A masonic plaque marking the 300th anniversary of the United Grand Lodge of England will be unveiled at the public market today.

The event has been organised by the District Grand Lodge of Gibraltar and the plaque will be unveiled by Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia in the presence of the Deputy District Grand Master W. Bro J. Bensusan, other District Officers and members of the masonic fraternity.

The unveiling will take place at 3pm.

“The District Grand Lodge of Gibraltar thought that in the case of the Gibraltar Market the placing of a plaque depicting the 300th Anniversary of the United Grand Lodge of England would be most appropriate, as the Foundation Stone of the original Public Market building was laid in 1876 by the then Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, His Royal Highness Prince Albert Edward, The Prince of Wales, eldest son of Queen Victoria and future King Edward VII,” the local Lodge said in a statement.

“He did so wearing his full Masonic Regalia as the Most Worshipful the Grand Master.”

“The local Freemasons, also wearing their Masonic Regalia had marched along Main Street to the site [and] the event was well attended, both by the local Freemasons and by the general public.”

Freemasonry has been practiced in Gibraltar since 1727, a period of 291 years.

“As the number of Lodges grew, the District Grand Lodge of Gibraltar was formed and established in 1752, now being 266 years in uninterrupted existence, probably one of the oldest institutions, if not the oldest in British Gibraltar,” the statement said.