The reason for its foundation began in the late 19th century when it was felt by Brethren of the teaching staff at the Polytechnic Institute that a Freemasons Lodge should be formed within the Institute at 309 Regent Street, London W1.
The first meeting and consecration ceremony for the Polytechnic Lodge took place on the 28th September 1901. A petition for the foundation of the new Lodge was sworn by 32 Masons, the majority coming from the Albion Lodge No. 9, Oak Lodge No. 190 and Concordia Lodge No. 2492. At the consecration ceremony, 28 members, 7 of whom were later to become Masters, together with 51 visitors, witnessed the Grand Secretary, Sir Edward Letchworth, acting as Installing Master, install Worshipful Brother Alexander George LEE as the first Worshipful Master. At the first meeting, Worshipful Brother Edward Rueben ALEXANDER, Printing Press Teacher at the Institute, was appointed Lodge Treasurer, a post he was to hold for the next 20 years.
In 1908, Brother Leonard HARRIS, from the Polytechnic Institute became the first person ever to hold London Rank (later changed to London Grand Rank), this honour being conferred on him by the Most Worshipful Grand Master on 3rd December of that year. Brother HARRIS was also a member of the Polytechnic Institutes rowing eight from 1883 when he helped the Institute win the Oxford Grand Eights in 1891 and for the next five years.
The record for the Lodge was at a meeting on 3rd January 1914 when 3 candidates were initiated, 4 were Passed and another 4 were Raised.
Another remarkable member of the Polytechnic Lodge was Robert MITCHELL. He joined the teaching staff at the Polytechnic Institute in 1879, teaching a wide range of subjects between 7am and 8pm for 1 penny a day. He became the Lodge’s Master in 1914. At that time he organised the facilities at the Polytechnic Institute to train service personnel in radio and engineering skills. He was promoted to Major during the First World War and awarded the C.B.E. He was also made a Knight of the Order of St. John and a Knight of the Polar Star of Sweden, the latter a very rare distinction for a foreign national.
A Masonic Lodge was named after him in, the Robert Mitchell Lodge No. 2956, which sadly closed in 2016.
One of the most remarkable Brethren of the Lodge was Brother (later the Right Worshipful Brother Sir) John Edward KYNASTON-STUDD. Born in 1858, he was initiated into the Polytechnic Lodge on the 18th January 1902.
Brother KYNASTON-STUDD became the Master of the Polytechnic Lodge in 1919. Well over two hundred and twenty Brethren attended to witness the event. Although that sounds a tremendous number of Masons to attend a Lodge meeting, that number fades into insignificance when you learn that over 600 Brethren attended a meeting on the 17th September 1938 to honour his 80th birthday.
He was Lord Mayor of London in 1928.
He was also the only member of the Lodge to marry a Princess. In 1924 he married Princess Alexandra LIEVEN of the Imperial Court of Russia.
For the first 28 years of its existence, the Worshipful Masters of the Polytechnic Lodge were installed by the Right Worshipful Brother J. STEPHENS, the then President of the Board of Benevolence until his death in 1929.
One of the Lodge & Institute members, Worshipful Brother Reg BUDD won the Amateur Boxing Association finals for his weight in 1924.
Many members of the Polytechnic Lodge were members of the teaching staff at the Polytechnic Institute and also involved in numerous sporting activities, running marathons from Windsor Park to Wembley Park, rowing clubs and of course the world famous Polytechnic Harriers.
This short account has failed to do justice to the many worthy Brethren who have spent large parts of their lives keeping alive the time honoured traditions of Freemasonry and who in particular have kept the spirit and history of this very special Willem Van Oranje Lodge 3976 in the register of the Grand Lodge of England.