About Meridian LodgeInformation about Meridian lodge
Meridian Lodge No. 9003 was Consecrated on 29th October 1981 by the Provincial Grand Master W.Bro.Thomas Arthur Wood at the Warwickshire Masonic Temple, Clarendon Road, Birmingham.
The Installation of the First Master, W.Bro. John H Durling was conducted by W Bro. Albert Bales, P.S.G.D, Assistant Provincial Grand Master after which a normal Installation meeting was carried out.
The lodge was formed by 17 Founders representing 14 different lodges, from 6 different Provinces under the English. Scottish and Irish Constitutions.
Meridian's Mother Lodge, Wyley Lodge No 3836, generously donated the Masters Collar and Apron, whilst Meridian's members donated various regalia and lodge ornaments.
Unusual by Masonic norms is the fact that Meridian Lodge meets during the summer months, with our Installation (where brethren progress through the various offices and a new Master is installed) taking place in May and then regular monthly meetings through until September.
We meet on the 2nd Wednesday from May through to September and are one of only 3 Craft lodges which has a meeting in August. The Lodge is located at St. Mary Magdalen Chapel within the idylic grounds of Guy's Cliffe House on the outskirts of Warwick.
Our regular meetings start at 18:00 and our installation meeting in May starting slightly earlier at 17:30.
Symbolism of the Banner
When designing the banner for Meridian Lodge No 9003 it was felt that the banner should symbolically illustrate the depth of the meaning of the name.
To this end, what may be considered to be the unique part of the banner is a symbolic representation of a meridian circle.
A meridian circle is a telescope, which is found in astronomical observatories. It is mounted so that its movements are completely restricted to the plane of the meridian, and it is properly sighted when the minute point of light provided by a star coincides with the intersection of the hairlines in the eyepiece. The position of the star at a particular time may thus be very accurately determined.
The sun is at its meridian when it is at its highest position in the sky, and the time of this occurrence is considered to be the natural middle of the day. Since Meridian Lodge 9003 is a summer lodge, it of course happens that meetings will be held near to the time when the highest 'highest point' occurs (the solstice) and this fact had much to do with the original inspiration for the name.
The telescope on the banner is surrounded by a broad circle or band, which may be considered to represent the universe. The seven stars are symbolical of the perfect lodge, and the telescope moves in the centre of the globe, the centre of the circle, and on the centre of the pivot.
It will be observed that the name of the Lodge is tracked by a canopy which is supported by two columns, that of the Doric order on the left and the Corinthian order on the right. The former is surmounted by the Terrestrial Globe and the latter by the Celestial Globe, to which the telescope points.
The connection between Meridian Lodge and Wyley Lodge (the Mother Lodge) is illustrated at the base of the pillars by the Volume of the Sacred Law, the Square, Level and Plumb Rule, the Rough and Perfect Ashlars, and the Square Pavement.
Between the pillars are the Square and Compasses, one arm of the latter pointing to the celestial globe and the other to the Terrestrial Globe. The clock at the hinge has the hands pointing to twelve o'clock.
Finally, a ribbon with the year of the consecration embraces the two pillars and all contained therein.
