The evening of 26th May 2010 saw approximately eighty freemasons fill the Temple to capacity at Newark Masonic Hall to mark the Centenary of the second eldest Newark craft lodge at which Right Worshipful Brother Robin K Wilson PrGM accepted the gavel and presided over the ceremony at which his Provincial Team took all principal Offices.

After the minutes of the inaugural meeting had been read the Banner was paraded around the Temple and re-consecrated. RWBro Wilson then presented the centenary warrant and jewel to the Acting Worshipful Master WBro Trevor Thomas following which excerpts of the lodge history were read to an attentive audience.

Uniquely, Magnus lodge was formed as a Craft lodge by members of Magnus Rose Croix Chapter No 109 due to the swelled ranks of the only lodge operating in Newark at that time, namely the Newton Lodge No 1661 which had been formed 33 years earlier. The Founders chose to work the Nigerian ritual rather than the Emulation ritual worked by Newton Lodge.

Having been consecrated at Newark Town Hall on 26th May 1910 by the then Deputy Provincial Grand Master Rev'd H T Hayman MA, it continued to meet at the Town Hall until 1974 when the Lodge decided to join the other three Newark Lodges at the Masonic Hall in The Avenue, Newark. The move was prompted by a reorganisation of local government which made the regular availability of the Town hall uncertain.

Notably, in 1926, the Magnus Lodge hosted the then Provincial Grand Master, His Grace the Duke of Portland KG and his Deputy, RWBro Hayman, to lay the foundation stone at the new Nurses Home. The Lodge on that occasion was opened and closed in the Town Hall after which the Brethren formed a procession and paraded in full regalia through the town to the site of the Nurses Home where the Foundation Stone was laid with full Masonic ceremony.

The Magnus Lodge have always upheld their Edwardian tenet of 'charity begins at home' as has been evident in their support of Newark Talking Papers for the Blind, Beamond House Hospice, Notts/Lincs Air Ambulance and Newark Hospital. On this occasion a cheque was presented to the PGM for £1,000.00.

Following the informative readings given by the Lodge members the Provincial Grand Master returned the gavel to the Acting WM who conducted regular business and closed the lodge in peace and harmony.

Those present then retired to a sumptuous meal at the Festive Board at which each attendee received a thirty-four page commemorative booklet excellently written and compiled by WBro Philip Ingall PPrJGW of which the PGM made special mention and wished the Lodge well in it's long future.