Freemasonry

Freemasonry consists of fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local fraternities of stonemasons, which from the end of the fourteenth century regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities and clients. The degrees of freemasonry retain the three grades of medieval craft guilds, those of Apprentice, Journeyman or fellow (now called Fellowcraft), and Master Mason. These are the degrees offered by Craft (or Blue Lodge) Freemasonry. Members of these organisations are known as Freemasons or Masons. There are additional degrees, which vary with locality and jurisdiction, and are usually administered by different bodies than the craft degrees.

The basic, local organisational unit of Freemasonry is the Lodge. The Lodges are usually supervised and governed at the regional level (usually coterminous with either a state, province, or national border) by a Grand Lodge or Grand Orient. There is no international, world-wide Grand Lodge that supervises all of Freemasonry; each Grand Lodge is independent, and they do not necessarily recognise each other as being legitimate.

Swanage Freemasons support local Dementia charity

Swanage Freemasons support local Dementia charity

Derek Evans raised a very healthy £1845 during his year in the Chair of DeMoulham Lodge. He chose to make a presentation to a very worthwhile local charity, Swanage Area Dementia Community. They aim to raise awareness and understanding of Dementia in the Swanage Area

Derek can be seen in this photograph presenting the a cheque to Jean Gibbs, Chair of Swanage Area Dementia Community, on behalf of the members of DeMoulham Lodge. Jean is a retired head teacher of children with special needs.

The philanthropy and tea empire of Freemason Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton

Photo of Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton

A self-made man who brought tea to the British masses, Freemason Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton also campaigned for the sick and the poor, as Philippa Faulks discovers

Many masonic lodges around the world can boast of a famous member among their ranks, but Glasgow’s Lodge Scotia, No. 178, has one rather remarkable brother – Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton. As with many other masons quietly carrying out acts of philanthropy, Lipton remains an unsung hero.

The Deeper Symbolism of Freemasonry – The Meaning of Masonry – W. L. Wilmshurst

Wilmhurst

A candidate proposing to enter Freemasonry has seldom formed any definite idea of the nature of what he is engaging in. Even after his admission he usually remains quite at a loss to explain satisfactorily what Masonry is and for what purpose his Order exists. He finds, indeed, that it is “a system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols,” but that explanation, whilst true, is but partial and does not carry him very far.


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