Societies
The information in this section is an edited version taken from Llanelli - Birth of a Town a CdRom by William and Benita Rees
Freemasonry & Friendly Societies
Philanthropic Order of True Ivorites, St. David’s Unity (Llanelly District)
Llanelli & District Oddfellows: Grand Master David Bowen
Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA)
The British & Foreign School Society
No one is really sure how or where Freemasonry began and over the years historians have put forward different theories. The generally accepted view is that the stonemasons who built the early cathedrals and castles founded the original group. Some researchers have traced Freemasonry back to groups who met in secret, risking their lives to discuss forbidden topics such as astronomy, alchemy, nature and science.
Historians are generally agreed that during the reign of Queen Anne in 1714 Freemasons’ lodges began to emerge from the shadows. The first lodge was in London and then others followed in the major towns of Bristol, Bath, Chester, Norwich and Carmarthen.
1717 four of the London lodges had formed an association which was called Grand Lodge, they elected the first Grand Master and resolved to meet annually at a Grand Feast.
1730 By 1730 the Grand Lodge had published its Constitution, begun to keep official Minutes, issued an annual engraved List of Regular Lodges, set up a Charity Committee and Central Charity Fund and held authority over seventy-four lodges in England and Wales.
The Freemasons’ lodges provided places where men of different religious and political beliefs, different nationalities, and customs, from a variety of different professions, trades and occupations, could meet in comradeship where all differences could be put to one side.
1814 All the lodges in South Wales were grouped together, for the first time, in an area known as the Province of South Wales, under the leadership of Benjamin Hall MP the Provincial Grand master.
1848 A further re-organisation divided the province into an eastern and western division. There were four lodges in the western division, Milford Haven, Pembroke Dock, Haverfordwest and Carmarthen and there were also four in the eastern division.
During the early days of Freemasonry, life expectancy was very short with illness, disability, poverty and distress just around the corner. It was in this climate of uncertainty that Freemasonry grew up with a whole range of other Friendly Societies and early Trade Unions.
These Freemason and Friendly Societies all took contributions from members, who could afford it, so that they could help members, widows and their orphans when they fell on hard times. It was also important that their members had a decent funeral with a good ‘turn out’ of their fellow members.
1848-1998 During this period the Order grew in both Provinces and the number of Lodges increased from 4 to 26.
1936 A Masonic Hall was built in Harries Avenue, Llanelli.
2000 At the beginning of the 21st century Llanelli had more than 300 Freemasons who regularly attended meetings at the Masonic Hall which was built in Harries Avenue in 1936.
The five Llanelli lodges in order of age are:
The Prince of Wales Lodge;
St Elli Lodge;
St Teilo Lodge;
Unity Lodge;
Trevor Kelway Lodge.
© W & B Rees & ARTdesigns 2004/2006
Page updated Tuesday August 28, 2007