What is Freemasonry?

 

Freemasonry is one of the oldest social and charitable organisations in the world with its roots lying in the traditions of the medieval stonemasons who built castles and cathedrals. Organised freemasonry is over 300 years old and began when freemasons from four London lodges met to form the world’s first Grand Lodge, now the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) based in Freemasons’ Hall in London. However, in today’s society Freemasons meet to build friendships and communities, rather than cathedrals and castles, with Freemasonry being defined by a commitment to universal brotherhood and self-improvement. It is a society of men who are concerned with moral and spiritual values. It encourages men to live better lives, to discipline themselves and to consider their relationships with others. Freemasonry is a society which has private methods of recognition i.e. of proving membership. These methods may have been derived from those used by operative stonemasons in the Middle Ages to protect the secrets of their craft. They are now similarly used to preserve Freemasonry’s method of teaching morality. Freemasons use four important guiding principles to help define their path through life –

 

• Integrity - rather than working on buildings like the masons of old, today’s Freemasons focus on building themselves as people of integrity, and membership provides the structure to help achieve that goal.

• Friendship - Freemasonry is not defined by an ideology. It is open to people from all religions and political persuasions and provides the common foundation for friendships between members, many of which will last for life.

• Respect - with a membership of more than 200,000 people drawn from communities across the UK, Freemasonry brings people together irrespective of their race, religion or any other perceived differences that can divide us as a society.

• Charity - kindness and charitable giving are deeply ingrained within the principles of Freemasonry. The organisation provides a support structure that helps members make positive contributions to communities and worthwhile causes through fundraising events or volunteer work.

 

A phrase that is commonly used with respect to Freemasonry is that it is about ‘making good men better’.

 

What happens at a Lodge meeting?

 

Freemasonry is organised in smaller units of members, called Lodges, where meetings are held, and members meet together. A Freemason Lodge is a place where members will spend a significant part of their journey in Freemasonry and each member can freely choose the Lodge they wish to be part of. 

 

Lodge meetings are typically held in two parts. The first involves more administrative procedures, such as proposing and balloting for new members and receiving news about charitable fundraising. The second part focuses on ceremonies, which might relate to areas such as the admittance of new members or the installation of the Master of the Lodge and his officers – a process made up of three degrees, or stages, each marked by a special ceremony. The ceremonies are based around three principles that are still taught in our ceremonies today:

 

• look after those less fortunate;

• improve yourself; and

• live life well so as to be remembered for the right reasons.

 

True to the sense of friendship and togetherness among Freemasons, meetings are also social events, providing an occasion for members to dine together. Outside of the Lodge, activities include community fundraising and volunteering activities, as well as a varied programme of events where spouses, partners and families are welcome.

 

What does a masonic lodge look like?

 

Lodges vary greatly in size, decoration, etc. but all share certain common features as shown in this diagram of our Lodge room (the ‘temple’) at Rotherham Golf Club –

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The principal elements are –

 

1. Worshipful Master’s chair (WM) – situated in the East;

2. Senior Warden’s chair (SW) – situated in the West;

3. Junior Warden’s chair (JW) – situated in the South;

4. Secretary’s table and Lodge warrant, and banner;

5. Lodge entrance;

6. Tyler/outer guard;

7. Inner guard (IG);

8. Junior deacon (JD);

9. Senior deacon (SD);

10. Director of ceremonies (DC);

11. Assistant director of ceremonies (ADC);

12. Immediate Past Master (IPM); and

13. Chaplain (Chap).

 

The point of entry always is in the west and facing east. The WM sits in the east, the SW in the west and the JW in the south. The secretary and treasurer are normally located on the north side. The other junior officers vary somewhat in location from lodge to lodge, but generally are in the positions shown on the layout above.

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