GOOD CAUSES
Charitable Giving
​
If you have an interest in joining Freemasonry, you have taken your first step in the right direction. As the home of Freemasonry is in the United Kingdom. We have over 200,000 masonic members in nearly 8000 Lodge's and Chapters around the country. Each Lodge or Chapter raises money at a local level, giving out of our own pockets, then sharing this with local charities, regional charities, and national charities.
​
As Freemasons in the UK, we give to charity many millions of pounds every year.
If this is aligned with you're personality and you want to find the answer to a common question, what are masons and who are masons, read on, explore this website. Explore the path and journey, each our young masons are on. This is at the heart of 'whats a masonic lodge', and why we are all brothers to each other.
Freemasonry can be such a diverse interest and has the potential for a lifelong affair that gives back continually. The beauty of how Freemasonry works is you only need to commit what you want or can, in time and effort. Tasks and roles are never forced upon you, Freemasonry will never ask you to place family, work or important interests ahead of what you want to get out of Freemasonry and how you can help Freemasonry in return.
A major part of your Masonic journey, you will find that nearly every event, meeting and coming together of your fellow brethren generates funds for charity, both in the local community and larger charitable concerns.
​
​
BROTHERLY LOVE
Every true Freemason will show tolerance and respect for the opinions of others and behave with kindness and understanding to his fellow creatures.
RELIEF
Freemasons are taught to practise charity and to care, not only for their own, but also for the community as a whole, both by charitable giving and by voluntary efforts and works as individuals.
TRUTH
Freemasons strive for truth, requiring high morals standards and aiming to achieve them in their own lives.
More About What We Do
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS FREEMASONRY?
Freemasonry is the U.K.’s largest secular, fraternal and charitable organisation. United by a belief in God as Supreme Being, it teaches moral lessons and self knowledge through participation in a progression of two part plays without trespassing on the preserves of religion, and at the same time exhorting its members to practice the religion of their choice. Freemasonry offers its members an approach to life which seeks to reinforce thoughtfulness for others, kindness in the community, honesty in business, courtesy in society and fairness in all things. Though the interests of one’s own family are paramount, Freemasonry teaches and practices concern for people, care for the less fortunate and help for those in need.
WHY ARE WE SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS A SECRET SOCIETY?
We are not, but Lodge meetings, like those of many other groups, are private, open only to members. The rules and aims of Freemasonry are available to the public, many of the well known books on Freemasonry being available from the local library. Local Lodges, Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodges have websites. Meeting places are known and in many areas the local community for activities other than Freemasonry uses them. Members are encouraged to speak openly about Freemasonry. Masons have sometimes been understandably reticent about discussing their membership, perhaps fearing discrimination which may have affected their employment adversely. Such discrimination has been challenged legally.
WHY DO WE TAKE OATH'S?
New members make solemn promises concerning their conduct in Lodge and in society. Each member also promises to keep confidential the traditional methods of proving that he is a Freemason, which he would use when visiting a Lodge where he is not known. Freemasons do not swear allegiances to each other or to Freemasonry. Freemasons promise to support others in times of need, but only if that support does not conflict with their duties to God, the law, their family or with their responsibilities as Citizens.
IS FREEMASONRY AN INTERNATIONAL ORDER?
Freemasonry exists throughout the world. However, each Grand Lodge is sovereign and independent. There is no international governing body for Freemasonry.
WHY DO YOU WEAR REGALIA?
Wearing regalia is historic and symbolic. Like a uniform, the regalia indicates the rank of the wearer in the organisation.
HOW MAY FREEMASONS ARE THERE?
Under the United Grand Lodge of England, there are over 200,000 Freemasons.
There are Grand Lodges in Ireland, which covers both Northern Ireland and Eire, and Scotland which have a combined total of approximately 150,000 members.
Worldwide, there are approximately six million Freemasons.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BECOME A MASON?
It varies from Lodge to Lodge. Anyone wishing to join will find a Lodge to suit his pocket. There is an initiation fee on entry and in due course regalia will have to be bought. The meeting is normally followed by a dinner, the cost depending on the venue. There is, in addition, an annual subscription.
Members are invited to give to charity but this should always be within their means and it is entirely up to the individual how much they wish to contribute.