The object of this document is to enable men of good character to make an informed decision before joining the oldest Fraternal organisation for men, in the world.
Here are the most relevant points which should help you understand what we do in our Lodge and what happens when you join Freemasonry as a whole.
First of all, to qualify you must be:
- Over 18 years. (previously 21 )
- A lawful citizen and free of any convictions.
- Have a belief in a Supreme Being. We are a non-religious or political order so are open to all faiths.
Your commitment time wise will be largely of your own choosing although it will be a minimum of five evenings per year. Like most Lodges there is a one off joining fee and an annual subscription. We have an excellent four course meal plus coffee with a choice of menu, at the Langstone Cliff Hotel where we dine after the meeting.
A large part of your subscription is a charitable donation and Freemasons are well known for their charitable work which is all raised from its’ members. In fact, Freemasons are one of the largest donors to charity in this country. This lodge in particular has an enviable reputation for it’s charity work. This, and our dining arrangements make it a very special Lodge.
On joining you will go through three ceremonies before becoming a ‘Master Mason’, this may take upwards of a year to complete. You will then require regalia to the order of around £40 new, or much less if used. In addition, as we are a Dining Lodge, you will need a diner suit and black bow tie ,but this need not be expensive.
Our meetings are held on the first Tuesday in February, April, October, November and December. Starting at 6.00 pm. The February meeting being our installation meeting is usually held at an earlier time.
We normally hold a raffle at dinner and we have various other collections but none are onerous on the pocket. The monies we collect are either distributed to local charities of our choice or donated to our Provincial and National charity funds where they donate on a wider basis through the Masonic Charitable Foundation (M.C.F.) Through Grants to local and national charities,Grants totalling £53 million are made each year currently.. This from a membership of 180,000.
We have a wide age range and members coming from all walks of life and from all over the UK and Ireland. You are sure to find someone with similar interests to your own. You will gain new skills and new friends and will be encouraged to learn many new things and be of use to your fellow man. We claim to make good men better. We also, from time to time, enjoy social events and very much encourage family involvement. We are fortunate to have been associated with the Langstone Cliff Hotel for over 40 years and they continue to serve us with first class food and service.
Every lodge has its own unique characteristics, being a Dining Lodge we place great emphasis on this aspect. We also have a good reputation for our charity works, particularly in our locality.
To find out more please contact us
