Samuel Pope QC was an English barrister who was well known in public life as the counsel of Cecil Rhodes in the proceedings against him. He was said to be the “Stoutest man in England.” He was the prime mover in the establishment of a Masonic Lodge in Barmouth on the 14th December 1882. At a Mawddach Lodge meeting in 1884 it was agreed that Samuel Pope would undertake the building of a Masonic Hall in Barmouth at a cost not to exceed One Thousand Pounds! He died on 22 July 1901, and was buried at Llanbedr in Merionethshire, of which county he was a J.P. and Deputy Lieutenant.
Another famous member of Mawddach Lodge was Alvin Langdon Coburn was an early 20th-century photographer who became one of the World’s top artist photographers. He joined the Lodge in 1919 and became Worshipful Master in 1929, He gifted the Lodge a massive brass letter G and two beautiful carved columns, all of which can still be seen in the Temple.
Today Mawddach Lodge has over 40 members or brethren who meet on the third Wednesday of the month from September to March. Meetings normally start at 6pm, except in November when we start at 4pm.
Mawddach Lodge is part of the North Wales Province of Freemasons, more information about Freemasonry in North Wales can be found here. nwmasons.org