Leopold Lodge - 1760

Consecrated at the Masonic Hall on Monday the 12 September 1878 the ceremony was performed by the W.Bro. Pearson Bell, Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Yorkshire North and East Riding, assisted by W.Bro. I. W. Woodall, P.P.S.G.W. Amongst the founders were Past Masters of Old Globe and Denison Lodges. W.Bro. J. H. Walshaw, a past master of the Old Globe Lodge was installed as the first Master. The consecration banquet was held at the Royal Hotel.

The Leopold Lodge No. 1760 was founded in 1878 holding its first meeting at the Old Globe Inn 12 September 1878. The warrant is dated 22 May 1878. Several meetings in connection with the formation of a new lodge were held in February and March of that year. On the evening of 22 March 1878 a meeting of 15 brethren interested in forming a new lodge was held at the Bull Hotel under the chairmanship of W.Bro Peacock, a Past Master of Old Globe. The chairman proposed, seconded by Bro. Roberts, that the name be The Scardeburg Lodge. This raised objections, as there was already in existence within the town a Court of Foresters with that name. An amendment was carried by 9 votes to 2 for the name to be 'The Leopold Lodge'. W.Bro. G. H. Walshaw was then elected Master, Brother Gilbert Senior Warden and Bro. Verity Junior Warden. It was also agreed initiation and joining fees to be the same as for the Old Globe and to meet on the first Monday of each month.

It was proposed that at the next regular meeting of the Old Globe Lodge, W.Bro Peacock shall give notice of motion that: "A Petition for the formation of a New Lodge be supported by the Old Globe", and that Bro. Williamson would make the necessary proposal requesting the use of the lodge furniture on payment of a nominal rent. This was amended at the meeting to read: "That the Furniture, Clothing and Jewels of the Old Globe Lodge be placed at the disposal of the Daughter Lodge for the first twelve months free of Charge". 

Leopold continued to meet at the Old Globe Inn until the 5 December 1881 when they moved into the Londesborough Rooms. A motion was passed on the 4 April 1881, in conjunction with the Old Globe and the Denison lodges, that it is desirable to take steps to provide a Masonic Hall, combining the advantages of a club. Premises were eventually found on St. Nicolas Cliff. On the 20 October 1884 permission was obtained from Province to hold meetings at the new Masonic Hall until it was duly consecrated according to antient custom. 

A Dispensation issued on 27 October 1884 by W.Bro. John P. Bell, Deputy Provincial Grand Master, authorised Bro. Chambers, the Senior Warden, to be appointed as the paid manager of the new Masonic Hall. At the meeting of 6 December 1884 a proposition was carried that the date of the regular meetings be altered from the first Monday to the fourth Wednesday in every month. 

The lodge was named after Prince Leopold, the Duke of Albany, youngest son of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. The Master, W.Bro Walshaw, wrote to the Prince asking for permission to use his name. A letter dated 31 May 1878, postmarked Paris, received by W.Bro Walshaw from R. H. Collins stated: "I am desired on behalf of His Royal Highness Prince Leopold to acknowledge the letter informing him of your desire to name your lodge after him. The Prince begs me to say that he will gladly sanction the choice the brethren have made". This letter is displayed in the library of the Masonic Hall. 

HRH Prince Leopold (George Duncan Albert), KG, KT, GCSI, GCMG, PC, DCL, was born on the 7 April 1853 at Buckingham Palace. On the 24 May 1881, he was created Duke of Albany, Earl of Clarence and Baron Arklow. He was married on the 27 April 1882, in St Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle to Helena Frederica Augusta of Waldeck. They had a daughter Alice, who became Countess of Athlone, and a son Charles Edward, born posthumously, who became the Duke of Albany at birth and latterly the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Although never in good health, suffering from haemophilia and measles contracted when a child, he actually died in Cannes on the 28th March 1884 aged 30, as the result of a fall down a staircase.

Initiated in the Apollo University Lodge 357 on 1 May 1874, aged 21. Installed as the Master 22 February 1876 and as the Provincial Grand Master of Oxfordshire the following day having been appointed to that office 31 December 1875. He was Master of Westminster and Keystone Lodge No. 10 in 1881, and of the Lodge of Antiquity No. 2 between 1876 and 1880. He was also a member of Longleat Lodge No. 1478, Royal Alpha Lodge No. 16 and Clarence Lodge No. 1823. He also joined Union Lodge No. 542 under the Scottish Constitution, at St. Andrews on 16 November 1876. He was elected an Honorary Member of the Grand Lodge of Scotland in 1878.

Appointed Junior Grand Warden in 1877, the same year that his elder brother, The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, was Senior Grand Warden. Their eldest brother, The Prince of Wales, the Grand Master, invested them. Exalted in the Royal Arch in Apollo University Chapter No. 357 on 17 June 1876 he became the First Principal in 1881. He was appointed Third Grand Principal in the Supreme Grand Chapter of England 1883 to 1884. The Knight Grand Cross and Great First Constable in Great Priory of Knights Templar for England and Wales 1880 to 1883 and a member of the thirty-third degree of the Ancient and Accepted Rite in 1878.

His Arms, granted in 1856, were the Royal Arms, with over all an in Escutcheon of Saxony, and a Label of three points Argent the centre point charged with the cross of Saint George and each of the others with a Heart Gules. 

A letter was received from Globe and Laurel Lodge No. 4567 (a Royal Marine Lodge which meets at the Masonic Hall; Deal in the Province of East Kent), on the 27 February 1946. They wished as a mark of esteem for the kindness received from the Scarborough lodges, during the war years, to nominate a member from each lodge as an honorary member of their lodge.

Thanks were recorded on 27 October 1954 to Bro. H Sharpley and his wife for the new banner, which they had made and presented to the lodge. The original one is the Gold Banner permanently hung above the Junior Wardens pedestal.

After the centenary meeting the lodge documents were archived for safe keeping in the vault of the Masonic Hall. Unfortunately they became waterlogged and were so badly damaged that they had to be thrown away.