Our founders, who petitioned for the grant of a Warrant to found the Lodge in 1973, comprised eleven former members of the Royal Air Force (ten former members of Bomber Command – six of whom had served as Pathfinders and two of whom were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross), four from the Royal Navy and seven from the Army. As most of the Founders were then involved in civil aviation, they ensured that the direction of our Lodge was clearly set out right from the start.
From the initial conception of the Aviation & Combined Services Lodge, it has been the expressed intention and desire of the Founders that the Lodge should provide a Masonic platform for Masons with a direct connection with Civil Aviation and, or the Services of the Crown.
All the Founders hope that future brethren will assist in maintaining this intention, which was clearly expressed in the prayer to the Grand Master, H.R.H. The Duke of Kent, G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., A.D.C., dated January 22nd, 1973.
“The Petitioners hope that, should this prayer be favourably received, they will be enabled to tend to the Masonic needs of brethren and gentlemen who have in the past served, or are presently serving Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, or her late respect father, His Majesty King George the Sixth in the Armed Forces of the Realm, and particularly those engaged in aviation in all its forms, especially in the Gatwick area”
Whilst the Lodge has expanded its membership over the last 50 years and become more diverse, we remain a Lodge focused on the mission set for us by our founders.
Within our 54 members, we have veterans from the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Army and the Royal Marines and 18 of our members have current or former connections with civil aviation, including eight current commercial pilots.
Our Lodge crest is intended to remind us of the relative insignificance and loneliness of mortal man (represented by the Earth’s sphere) within the vast black emptiness of infinite space. Our motto is “NOSCE TE IPSUM” (know thyself)
The three bordering colours represent the three armed services whilst the wings surmounting are indicative of the intended purpose of the Lodge, to serve the needs of Freemasonry in the sphere of Civil Aviation throughout the world. They are a composite design formed from an amalgam of the pilots’ wings of seven civil airlines.
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Freemasonry is one of the world’s largest and oldest non-religious and non-political fraternal and charitable organisations. It is open to people from all walks of life, regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation or socio-economic position in society.