Inauguration

There are no records extant as to what motivated the Founders to form this Lodge. However, it is believed to have its roots in a desire of members of The Sheepbridge Coal and Iron Company Limited to have a lodge meeting at the Whittington and Sheepbridge Institute, which was the social meeting place of those members. The belief is strengthened in that one Founder was Brother Percy Southwell Stokes, a Director of the company and in that Mr Maurice Deacon, the Chairman of the company, was the first candidate, and Brother Waiter Cordon of Hamilton Kilwinning Lodge No. 7, Scottish Constitution, Works Manager, was immediately elected as the first joining member, he having given "his adhesion to the Lodge from the outset, and subscribed equally to the initial expenses".

The warrant of the Lodge is dated 26th of June 1904. In that year the Eighth Duke of Devonshire (the Duke with the whiskers) was Provincial Grand Master. It appears from a minute of 1908 that he had given permission for the Lodge to bear the name Cavendish and to adopt the Cavendish Arms. It is assumed, from the involvement of Scarsdale members in founding the Lodge, that Scarsdale Lodge is the mother Lodge, although that Lodge's minutes contain no record.

Brother Pilkington duly issued a Summons for the Ceremony of Constitution and Consecration and the Installation of the Worshipful Master to be held on Wednesday 12th October 1904 at 3.30pm 'punctually' in the Whittington and Sheepbridge Institute.

R.W.Bro H.C. Okeaver D.P.G.M. performed the ceremony; the V.W.Bro. The Rev. H.T. Hayman M.A. P.G.Ch, D.P.G.M.(Notts.) installed W.Bro the Rev. George Ford P.P.G.Ch. (West Yorks.) as Worshipful Master. Appropriate music was played and sung throughout. Thereafter the Brethren adjourned to the Station Hotel Chesterfield for the 'banquet'. The Minutes of the meeting are written in most careful detail and reflect a ceremony in a form readily recognisable by any present day mason.

Early Years

On the 21st of October, nine days after Consecration, the first Lodge meeting was held. Bro. W.Corden became a joining member and was immediately invested as Secretary. By ballot, Mr Maurice Deacon and the Rev. Larret Pearson Sayles, Curate of New Whittington, were elected as candidates. Forthwith Mr Deacon was initiated.

The first year was busy with six initiations, three double passings and six raisings, all achieved by ten regular meetings and five emergency meetings. By-laws were formulated and resolutions passed to meet on the first Tuesday of the month instead of the third Friday and to hold the Installation Meeting at the Masonic Hall, Chesterfield.

At the installation meeting on Tuesday 3rd October 1905, W.Bro. H.Pilkington, the immediate Past Master of Scarsdale Lodge, was installed as Worshipful Master.

At the third Installation meeting, Bro. Henry Eustace Edmunds, a founder Master mason, was presented as Master Elect by W.Bro. W.Hawksley Edmunds, and W.Bro Flavell Edmunds, both of Scarsdale Lodge - a family affair!

During 1907 it was resolved that the day of each Regular Meeting should be changed to the first Friday of the month, and so it has continued ever since.

The Lodge met for the last time at the Whittington and Sheepbridge Institute on 2nd April 1909. The first Lodge Meeting held in Chesterfield seems to have got away to a bad start by rejecting by ballot a candidate proposed by the founding Worshipful Master, Bro.G. Ford!

In Lodge on the 3rd June 1910 the brethren stood "with bowed heads in silence with sign of fidelity" to mark the great loss sustained by the Order on the death of H.M. King Edward VII, Patron of the Order, and a vote of condolence was passed to H.M. Queen Alexandria.

In 1913 six Past Masters' Jewels were purchased for £13. 10s: on the 2nd of May five Past Masters were presented with their jewel. So began the annual custom of presenting such a jewel.

During that year Grand Lodge proposed its own re-organisation and the Lodge voted in favour. Grand Lodge also became very concerned about the suitability of candidates. Without in any way discontinuing the custom of naming a candidate at the supper table, it was agreed that a Consultative Board, as we know it today should be formed to approve candidates.

1914-18

The Lodge continued to meet during these years and initiated nine candidates. However, the effects of the war are reflected in the minutes. “On account of the war” no installation banquet was provided in these years, but in 1918 there was light refreshment.

In November 1915 one guinea was voted for the relief of distressed Freemasons who were prisoners of war and in December 1915 the sum of two guineas was voted to Lady Maud Cavendish’s Fund for the Sherwood Foresters on active service. At the September Lodge 1918 it was agreed that twenty five guineas and two guineas “which had been placed on the Foundation Stone”, be given to the Duke of Devonshire’s Fund for an Electrical Ward for wounded soldiers and sailors. This is the only reference in the minutes to a Foundation Stone and it must remain a mystery.

The only record of a member serving in the armed forces is a minute for the May Lodge 1917. W.Bro John Horace Marsden, a founder member and Worshipful Master in 1909, was a Territorial Army Officer in the Sherwood Foresters. After service in Ireland in 1916, he was posted to France. He was awarded the Military Cross. On 25th April 1917 W.Bro. “Captain J.H. Marsden was killed in action”.

Between the Wars

In the next twelve years the Lodge expanded considerably. In the five years ending in May 1926 there were thirty-one candidates and eight joining members. In the result, there were double passings: passings followed immediately by an initiation or a raising and some where there were two separate raisings.

In May 1928 six brethren waited for raising and two for passing.

At the February Lodge in 1936 the members recorded their sorrow and mourning upon the death of King George V "Who had presided over the destinies of the British Empire, truly the father of his people, and the venerated Protector of our Order". King Edward VIII was congratulated on his accession and members renewed their "pledge of loyalty to the Throne". However, upon Edward's' abdication and the accession of King George VI, the minutes are silent!

The instability of Europe was reflected in November 1938 when a strong letter from Grand Lodge was read emphasising that no member in Lodge or in his capacity as a Freemason is permitted to discuss or advance his views on theological or political questions and that Grand Lodge stands "aloof from every question effecting the relations between one Government arid another, or between political parties".

By 1939 the membership had increased to sixty-nine.

In 1943 and 1944, "owing to the blackout, and the increased difficulty in travelling", meetings for January and February were closed and held in June and July instead.

During these years there were thirteen initiations, one joining member and a loss of nine members by death or resignation, so that the membership was increased to seventy four.

The Remaining Six Decades

After the Second World War the Stewards’ duties included serving the diners with food and drinks and collecting all dues. They then dined separately in the old Card Room. To guard against losses there was covertly a Stewards' "kitty" funded by charging an extra halfpenny on all drinks served. In 1964 the kitty was discovered by the Treasurer - end of kitty to the benefit of the Charity Fund!

September 1965, Grand Lodge having proposed the abolition of the traditional penalties, the Lodge, by ballot, voted against abolition.

In 1966, in celebration of the 250th Anniversary of Grand Lodge, there was a collection of £1 per member and £87 was sent to Grand Lodge. The Lodge qualified to display the Anniversary Jewel. It was attached to the Worshipful Masters collar in September 1966 and has been displayed there ever since.