There can be few Lodges in the country, whose name gets mispronounced as often as ours!

Indeed it has become something of a sport for our more mischievous Brethren to refer to us as  Agri CO la (with the emphasis on the third syllable), knowing that it will elicit a wry grin from our members.

It’s all taken in good sport of course!

The ubiquity of a certain american soft drink, allied to the fact that few of us had a classical education involving the study of Latin,  is probably to blame.  The correct pronunciation is A GRI Cola, with the stress on the second syllable.

So if you are intending to visit, and get asked to respond for the Guests and Visitors, which are you going to use?

You can of course be assured of a warm response….. whichever you choose!

If you have read the “About” page of this site, you will have already seen that the founders of Agricola Lodge No 4501 shared a common interest in Farming.  When the Lodge was founded in the period just after the end of the First World War, food production was vital:  Agriculture and those working in it were an important sector of the economy.

The word itself is Latin for Farmer.  It’s root lies in the Latin words ager, meaning Field, and cola meaning tiller or cultivator.

 

The Lodge insignia (apologies for the quality of the picture… it’s very old)  features the roman goddess Ceres seated holding the fruits of the harvest.

A Ploughman is tilling the land in the background followed by a flock of birds.

 

 

 

Ceres was the goddess of Agriculture, grain and the love a mother bears for her child.  In greek mythology she is known as Demeter.  Ceres was the goddess of the harvest, and was thought to be responsible for the fertility of the land.

The insignia  is surrounded by hops to illustrate the Lodge’s connection to traditional Kentish agriculture.

Agricola has been used several times as a name for farming Lodges.  Agricola Lodge No 1991 meets in York and Agricola Lodge No 7741, in Durham.  Do you know of any others?

Then please let us know…

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This blog records the life of our Lodge to give you a flavour of what we get up to.

It also contains information which may help you understand more about Freemasonry before you decide to apply for membership

Whether it’s our latest Charity Project, a fun social event or a report on the more formal aspects of Freemasonry in Maidstone, you will find details here.

Watch this space!