The Old King's Arms was a tavern in the
Strand, London
The Strand (commonly referred to with a leading "The", but formally without) is a major street in the City of Westminster, Central London. The street, which is part of London's West End Theatre, West End theatreland, runs just over from Tra ...
, which was noted for hosting a
masonic lodge
A Masonic lodge (also called Freemasons' lodge, or private lodge or constituent lodge) is the basic organisational unit of Freemasonry.
It is also a commonly used term for a building where Freemasons meet and hold their meetings. Every new l ...
which was linked to the
Grand Lodge
A Grand Lodge, also called Grand Orient, Obedience, or by another similar title, is a name for the overarching governing body of a fraternal or other similarly organized group in a given area, usually a city, state, or country.
In Freemasonry
A ...
. In the 1730s it was renowned as an Enlightenment Lodge, but subsequently evolved more into a dining club.
Masonic Lodge
In 1735
Lord Weymouth, at the time
Grand Master of the
Premier Grand Lodge of England
The organisation now known as the Premier Grand Lodge of England was founded on 24 June 1717 as the Grand Lodge of London and Westminster. Originally concerned with the practice of Freemasonry in London and Westminster, it soon became known as ...
, was elected
Worshipful Master
In Craft Freemasonry, sometimes known as Blue Lodge Freemasonry, every Masonic lodge elects or appoints Masonic lodge officers to execute the necessary functions of the lodge's life and work. The precise list of such offices may vary between the j ...
of the masonic lodge based there.
Lord
John Ward, an avid Freemason, joined the Lodge in 1744. He had become Grand Master in 1742.
References
Masonic buildings in the United Kingdom
City of Westminster
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