When Calpe Lodge was constituted on the 23rd in January 1827, it was first called Gibraltar Lodge No.325 I.C. If we look at Grand Lodge records, it is recorded that Gibraltar Lodge changed it's name in 1844 to 'Rock Lodge' and again in 1863 to 'Calpe Lodge'. However, upon checking Calpe Lodge's Correspondence, Returns and Minute Books I would like to report the following.

Lodge Returns

The Returns from 1844 to 1859 are completed thus - 'Return of Lodge No. 325 G.R.I.' On 1863's Return it states hand-written 'we certify the above to be a true and faithful return of the Officers and members of Lodge 325 G.R.I.' This Return was signed by the W.M. John Romero and Secretary Geo Prescott having upon it the seal 'Gibraltar Lodge 325'. On the half yearly Return six years later dated 27th December 1869 it also has the seal 'Gibraltar Lodge 325'. The first use of 'Calpe Lodge' was found on the Returns of 30th October 1876, with the heading - 'Please register the undermentioned Brethren belonging to Calpe Lodge No.325 G.R.I.

Correspondence Files

A petition to work in different languages dated 3rd July 1862 was signed by John Romero W.M. and Secretary Geo Prescott this also has the seal of 'Gibraltar Lodge 325' attached to it. A letter dated five months later 16th December 1862 also carries the seal 'Gibraltar Lodge 325'. In a letter written to the Lodge dated 7th Aug 1869, it states 'I was raised 5th December 1868 in the Lodge called Gibraltar No.325'. The seal of 'Gibraltar Lodge 325' was also found on letters dated 15th May 1871 from the Lodges Secretary, Franceri and on a letter dated 9th June 1873 written by the same person who now was the W.M. Five years later the first mention of 'Calpe' was used on a letter dated 30th Oct 1876, it's heading 'Calpe Lodge No.325 Gibraltar'.

Minutes

The seal 'Gibraltar Lodge 325' was used up to 14th May 1828, again appearing on 3rd December 1834 and 7th January 1835. It was found again in use during the later part of 1863 and early part of 1864. In the Minutes of 24th March 1873 we find the following - Proposed by Br Sene and seconded by Br Lopez that the opening of the Lodge be made in spanish as well as in english.

Between the 12th May 1873 until the 30th December 1875 the Minutes were written in Spanish. There is a very important entry in the following Minutes - Logia 325 C.I. Gibraltar 13 Septiembre 1875 - El V M propuso, apoyado por el h Amar de dar un nombre a esta Logia los hermanos todos unanime apoyaron - Lodge 325 I.C. Gibraltar 13 September 1875 - The W.M. proposed, seconded by Br. Amar to give the Lodge a name all the brothers agreed unanimous.

The first entry of the name change is found in the Minutes 10th July 1876 - the Lodge was now entered as 'Calpe Lodge'. However a very perculiar entry was found in the Minutes of 14th September 1896, when a report from the General Purposes Committee regarding revision of By Laws was next proceeded with. Item 1 was taken - That this Lodge be called "Calpe".

Certificates

On a Certificate issued to John Harvey on 12th November 1863, certifying he was initiated etc. this was signed by the W.M., John Romero, the certificates heading being 'Gibraltar Lodge No. 325'.

I have only recently (30/06/2004) come across a Grand Lodge Certificate that was issued - 'do hereby Certify that Brother Solomon Pesso of Calpe Lodge No. 325 Gibraltar has been initiated…..', dated 22nd April 1879. This brother was registered at Grand Lodge 11th March 1878.

Grand Lodge

When I enquired at Grand Lodge in reference to the name changes they replied quote: - 'there is very little in the records, but Philip Crossle received notes from J.H.Weir (W.M. of 'Calpe' 1924 & 1927) which were used when he compiled the Irish Masonic Records. The name 'Rock Lodge' seems to have come from a reference in December 1844 by English Freemasons when in the Minutes of the Provincial Grand Lodge E.C. an address is recorded by the Provincial Grand Master, quote "And I think I need hardly tell you that our Good Friends and Bren. of the Rock or Irish Lodge" -unquote.

In reference with Grand Lodge they state that the Lodge changed its name in 1863 from 'Rock Lodge' to 'Calpe Lodge', though and I quote "we do not known from where this date comes".

Summing up

Between the 12th May 1873 and the 30th December 1875 the Minutes were written in Spanish, perhaps by this change and the fact that the W.M. Joseph Franceri proposed, seconded by Br. Amar on the 13 September 1875 'to give the Lodge a name' added to the likely decision and the fact that it would be more fluent in pronouning the Lodge name to refer to the Lodge as 'Calpe' rather than 'Gibraltar' Lodge - we must not forget that Gibraltar and Calpe are really one of the same thing.

Calpe has always been referred to as the Pillars of Hercules, a name given by the ancient Greeks to the two peaked rocks that flank the East entrance of the Strait of Gibraltar. Ancient Calpe, the North pillar, is the modern Rock of Gibraltar, and ancient Abila, at Ceuta on the African coast, is now called Jebel Musa.

I therefore find it hard to understand how Grand Lodge used the reference taken from the Minutes of the Provincial Grand Lodge E.C. and not relied on actual records from Lodge No. 325. I believe from the details as above that this Lodge originally called 'Gibraltar Lodge 325' held its name until 1876, from whence the Lodge started calling itself 'Calpe Lodge', not changing its name in 1844 from 'Gibraltar Lodge' to 'Rock Lodge'