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The Alma Lodge was founded on 4th November 1879. It probably took its name from the Battle of Alma which occured in 1854, though another school of thought thinks it got its name from a local pub called The Alma Tavern. However, there doesn't appear to be a pub of that name in Blackburn records.
In the late 1880's the Order underwent a tremendous internal argument and a number of Lodges broke away and formed a separate Section, called the R.A.O.B. G.L.E. Limited. This caused many gaps in the numbering system of those Lodges which remained loyal to the Grand Lodge of England. So in 1897 this Lodge was allocated its present number 653.
The Lodge has had the honour of having a Grand Primo as one of its members, Brother J. A. Sharman R.O.H. who was Grand Primo in 1985.
In more recent years several of its members have attained the office of Provincial Grand Primo, including four of its present members, and the Lodge remains well represented in the senior Lodges of the Province.
The Robert Yates Lodge amalgamated with the Lodge on 1st January 1986 and the Shakespeare lodge, 10542 amalgamated much later on 1st October 2004.
Like many Lodges it has moved around a lot over the years and had its ups and downs, but it is now well settled in its present home, and usually has nine or ten regular members in attendance.
