Royal Cumberland – Growing Bigger, Getting Younger
Royal Cumberland Lodge is the oldest lodge in Somerset; in fact it is the oldest lodge created outside of London with a documented continuity – every minute book from 28th December 1732 until the most recent meeting on Thursday 7th May 2026.
However, the lodge has not bathed itself in glory for all those 293 years! One error of judgement was to “black-ball” Bartholomew Ruspini, a Venetian born surgeon, dentist and philanthropist, and not to mention a talented musician. He was a great socialite, deeply committed to charitable works, and became King George III’s dentist.
Ruspini was eventually accepted into The Craft by The Burning Bush Lodge in Bristol. But to add to Royal Cumberland Lodge’s embarrassment, in 1789, Ruspini founded the “Royal Cumberland Freemasons’ School”, which later became the “Royal Masonic School”, which was established for the education and support of daughters of impoverished or deceased masons.
However, it should be noted that the school was not named after the lodge, but after The Duke of Cumberland, who was then Grand Master of the Premier Grand Lodge – but it is still a bit embarrassing!
Notwithstanding, Royal Cumberland Lodge continues to grow, for at their last meeting, they not only passed their most recent initiate, Peter, but also held a clear ballot for their newest joining member, Dennis.
Dennis’ tender years brings the average age of the Lodge down to 54 years; possibly in competition with Bath’s University Scheme lodge, St Alphege!
And so, paradoxically, Royal Cumberland is not only the oldest Lodge in the Province of Somerset, but may even be the youngest!
