Essentially, although not a member of the CIU, we are a Members' Club which is very similar to the traditional working men's clubs. As you will see, we are only 2 years short of our sesquicentenary (150th anniversary).
If anyone is a member of or knows of an older one I would be obliged if they could let me know.
2006-10-27 07:31:55 · 2 answers · asked by Essex Ron 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
To clarify, I have written to the CIU. They say that they were formed in 1862, the same year as their oldest club.
As far as the Masons are concerned, that is not at all what I was talking about - I am talking about the sort of Club that the CIU regulates. I suspect that the Masons aren't members of the CIU either!
Of course, the gentlemen's clubs such as the Garrick etc all have much older histories. I am talikng about clubs such as ours and whereas Wizard is probably right, Brendan is thinking along my lines.
We had never even considered that we might actually be THE oldest club in the country - the members will have their heads a little higher when I tell them.
I suspect there won't be many more answers but I will leave this open over the weekend before awarding the largesse. Thanks to you both for your early contributions.
2006-10-27 22:59:23 · update #1
I looked everywhere, and if you're not with the CIU, you're tied for oldest. They too were founded in 1858.
Advertise that you are the oldest until someone proves otherwise!
Oops! I stand corrected!
http://www.grandlodge-england.org/ugle/the-history-of-freemasons-hall.htm
2006-10-27 07:56:39 · answer #1 · answered by Brendan R 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Masonic lodge was founded in England in 1717. This happened when 4 secret lodges came together to form an official social club. So the Masons are officially 389 years old, but obviously existed prior to that without official records.
2006-10-27 14:43:13 · answer #2 · answered by wizard8100@sbcglobal.net 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋