Abernethy Mark Lodge was established in 1920 by members of Rahere Lodge, a Craft Lodge that continues to serve medical staff and students at Saint Barts Hospital, London. It originally took the number 722 on the roll of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales, and commemorates John Abernethy FRS (1764-1831), a notable Barts surgeon. In 1936, Abernethy Mark Lodge amalgamated with the Sir Joseph Dimsdale Mark Lodge and, unusually, took the lower number of that Lodge. Abernethy Mark Lodge, perhaps uniquely, retains two warrants. An active lodge of Royal Ark Mariners is moored to the Mark Lodge for the convenience of its members who wish to participate in both orders.
Originally exclusively a medical lodge, many current Abernethy members continue to have a connection to healthcare, and medicine in particular, but there is no prerequisite for membership. Our membership is varied and international and the atmosphere supportive and relaxed.
In 2023, we were the first non-Craft unit to join the Association of Medical, University & Legal Lodges (AMULL), offering our members access to their annual festival and network.
Abernethy Lodge is part of the Mark Province of London and meets and dines in style at Mark Masons’ Hall, in the centre of St James’s, on the 1st Thursday in April (Installation), 2nd Monday in October and 4th Thursday in January.
We are pleased to be contacted by those Master Masons who are interested joining our order. Visitors and prospective members can be assured of a warm welcome at our well-established and flourishing Lodge in historic and beautiful surroundings.