About
WHAT IS FREEMASONRY?
WHAT WE ARE (Purpose)
We are a unique members’ organisation which has thrived for over 300 years. Having no political or religious affiliations, we comprise members of all ages, races, religions, cultures and backgrounds. We meet in our individual Lodges throughout the country where we have ceremonial traditions which encourage us both to be more tolerant and respectful and actively to fulfil our civic and charitable responsibilities; we also make time to eat, drink and meet together, and form lifelong friendships.
WHAT WE AIM FOR (Vision)
To attract those from all backgrounds and walks of life, enabling them to develop into more thoughtful and confident people. To inspire and challenge them to practise the core values we celebrate – Integrity, Friendship, Respect, Service – in their private and public lives. To cement our reputation as a force for good in our communities and society at large and as a thriving organisation that people aspire to join.
OUR VALUES
- 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: One of the oldest social organisations in the world, 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.
- SERVICE: Whether participating in events, fundraising for a charitable cause or volunteering for public or community organisations, service is at the very heart of Freemasonry. Our members make valuable contributions by donating time, resources and skills.
WHY BECOME A FREEMASON?
People join Freemasonry for many different reasons, some join for the friendships they will make; friendships that last a lifetime and encompass the key milestones in life for better or worse. You will meet people who are different to you, those of different ages with radically different life experiences and interests, drawn together by common experience through Freemasonry.
Our members are, and have been for three centuries, drawn from all walks of life. From Captains of industry and chief executives to manual labourers and forklift truck drivers, so you will find people with a wealth of different outlooks from all races, religions, classes and backgrounds.
There are also those who enjoy the ceremonial aspects. Our meetings consist of centuries old lessons centered around you as an individual. How you live your life, the decisions that you make and how to become a better person are all found within our meetings.
Freemasons are taught to look after those less fortunate than themselves, charity is our lifeblood and many members devote their time and energy to helping those less fortunate than themselves.
We also have a huge amount of fun along the way, we eat, drink and meet together and form lifelong friendships.
WHAT GOES ON IN A LODGE MEETING?
There are three ‘degree ceremonies’ performed during masonic meetings. They are essentially one act plays and teach members how to be better people and each play represents a different stage in life.
As an ‘initiate’ or Entered Apprentice, Freemasons are taught we are all born equal, we learn that in life some do better than others and it is up to those that do well to look after the less fortunate. From this stems our belief in the importance of Charity.
The next stage is to become a ‘Fellow Craft’ where Freemasons are taught the importance of improving yourself as a person, and finally as a ‘Master Mason’, where we learn that we have but one life, and the importance of using it wisely.
The details of the ceremonies can easily be accessed online but nothing beats experiencing it for yourself.
After the meetings members dine together informally in order to enjoy good food, good wine, and good company. And most importantly, to have fun together.
WHY DO FREEMASONS WEAR APRONS?
The aprons stem from our historical and symbolic roots as stonemasons. Being leather, they were designed to protect them from sharp tools and rough stones. For today’s Freemasons, the apron is a mark of their membership. They are presented with a white leather apron and as they progress this becomes more elaborate.
CAN WOMEN BE MEMBERS?
Only men aged over 18 are allowed to join the United Grand Lodge of England in England and Wales.
The two leading women’s Grand Lodges, that we have the closest relationship, with are: Freemasonry for Women and the Order of Women Freemasons. These two groups only admit women because that is the choice of their memberships. Both of the women’s organisations, and ourselves, prefer to practice our Freemasonry in single sex environments. The United Grand Lodge of England regularly hires its facilities out for meetings of the two women’s Lodges due to our mutual respect and close relations.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THE WAY FREEMASONS GIVE TO CHARITY?
It is the sheer scale. We are one of the biggest charitable givers in the country and gave nearly £51.1m to charities in 2020 alone.
The Masonic Charitable Foundation, the Freemasons’ Charity – our national charitable grant giving arm, tackles some of the most significant challenges facing society, in particular, reducing loneliness in later life and ensuring a positive future for young children. We work in partnership with some of the biggest charities in the country to deliver our support.
Freemasonry also does a huge amount for medical research into treatments for cancer, diabetes, heart disease and a whole range of other conditions. In addition it makes donations to support those affected by overseas disasters as well as those at home, such as the Grenfell Tower disaster.
During the Covid Pandemic Freemasons working together to help their communities. The United Grand Lodge of England, and its members, are doing all they can to help in the fight the coronavirus. We have seen remarkable stories from across the country of how our members came together – from helping to raise vital funds for the NHS and delivering food to the community, through to purchasing ambulances and manufacturing vital personal protective equipment (PPE). To support Freemasonry’s charitable response to the coronavirus pandemic, UGLE and the Masonic Charitable Foundation, the Freemasons' charity, established the Freemasons’ COVID-19 Community Fund.
This Fund has helped to support a range of local and national charities and projects that are helping people through the current coronavirus pandemic and in total has donated £3m during the pandemic.
IS FREEMASONRY INTERNATIONAL?
Freemasonry exists throughout the world and the United Grand Lodge of England has Districts in many oversees countries. Our members are free to visit any of our Lodges abroad and will often find a warm welcome from fellow members who know the local country very well.
In addition to our Lodges, many other counties have sovereign grand lodges, which our members are free to visit and whose members visit us in England and Wales when travelling.
HOW MANY FREEMASONS ARE THERE IN THE UK?
The United Grand Lodge of England has 180,000 members. The Grand Lodge of Scotland has approx. 27,000 members and The Grand Lodge of Ireland has approx. 20,000 members, whilst the two female Grand Lodges in England comprise of around 5,000 members. Worldwide there are estimated to be around six million members.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BECOME A FREEMASON?
On average the annual dues and other fees amount to £200 a year, although there are local variations.
DO YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IN A GOD?
When becoming a Freemason, members are expected to be able to affirm a belief in a ‘Supreme Being’. This is deliberately phrased so as to be fully inclusive; most of our members generally believe in a God - be it Christian, Muslim, Sikh or Jewish etc - of some sort, and there is no requirement to be an active practitioner of any particular religion.
The exact date of the first Masonic meeting in Suffolk is unclear, but what is known is that in 1771 the Suffolk Lodges were brought under the jurisdiction of a Provincial Grand Master, primarily to facilitate communication with the Grand Lodge in London. Following the formation of the United Grand Lodge of England in 1813, the fourteen Suffolk Lodges were governed by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Suffolk.
During the ensuing years the Province appears to have been run on an ad-hoc basis until 1838, when some semblance of order was established.
The number of Lodges grew steadily and by 1885 numbered twenty-one. Following the First World War, the number of Freemasons rose dramatically, with many Lodges having over one hundred members and long waiting lists, the belief being that the men discharged from the services sought the company of like-minded men. To accommodate this demand additional Lodges were formed, a practice which continues to the present day with the sixty-eighth lodge, The Sportsman’s Lodge of Suffolk, being Consecrated in 2016.
The Province of Suffolk is made up of almost 3000 Masons from 68 Lodges based at 20 locations spread over the county. There are even some that meet just across the border in Norfolk. So, there should be a Lodge somewhere near you in the main towns of Suffolk.
LocationsBeccles |
Beccles
Beccles Masonic Rooms, Conservative Club, London Road, NR34 9TZ.
Boxford
Boxford Village Hall, Boxford, Sudbury,CO10 5NP.
Bungay
Bungay Masonic Rooms, Chaucer Street, NR35 1DT.
Bury St Edmunds
Ashlar House, 23 Eastern Way, Bury St. Edmunds, IP32 7AB.
Contact Name: Will McColl
Phone: 01284 754462
Clare
Clare Masonic Hall, Cavendish Road, CO10 8PH.
Diss
Freemasons Hall, Denmark St, Diss, IP22 4AU.
Felixstowe
Felixstowe Masonic Hall, 19 Orwell Road IP11 7EP.
Contact: Geoff Harvey
Phone: 01394 283530
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dining: St John’s Masonic Hall, Princes Road, Felixstowe IP11 7PL
Framlingham
The Masonic Hall, New Road, Framlingham, IP13 9EH.
Contact: Chris Norman
Phone: 01728 723903 or 01394 460576
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Gorleston
Gorleston Cliff Hotel, Cliff Hill, NR31 6DH.
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth Masonic Royal Assembly Rooms, Albert Square, NR30 3JH.
Phone: 01493 843224
Hadleigh
The Guildhall, Hadleigh, IP7 5DT.
Phone: 01473 823884
Halesworth
Halesworth Masonic Hall, Market Place, IP19 8BA.
Ipswich
Ipswich Freemasons’ Hall, Soane Street, IP4 2BG.
Phone: 01473 529202
- British Union Lodge 114
- Caduceus Lodge 9536
- Christchurch Lodge 6829
- Composite Lodge 9480
- Corinthian Lodge 3093
- Gippeswyk Lodge 4254
- Ionic Lodge 5922
- Laconic Lodge 9771
- Lodge Faith 2438
- Lodge of Wisdom 9333
- Lodge of Perfect Friendship 376
- Lodge Prince of Wales 959
- Orwell Lodge 6637
- Perfect Amity Lodge 6347
- St. Luke’s Lodge 225
Lowestoft
Lowestoft Masonic Hall, 101 The Avenue, NR33 7LJ.
Phone: 01502 573013
Mildenhall
Mildenhall Bunbury Rooms, Church Walk, IP28 7ED.
Saxmundham
Saxmundham Masonic Temple, 3 Chapel Road, IP17 1BH.
Southwold
Southwold Masonic Hall, Manor Park Road, IP18 6AF.
Stowmarket
Stowmarket The Masonic Centre, 36 Violet Hill Road, IP14 1NQ.
Contact: Mervyn Wake
Phone: 01449 674936 or 01359 231390
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sudbury
Sudbury Masonic Hall, North Street, CO10 1NA.
Contact: Cathy O’Neill
Phone: 01787 379050
Woodbridge
Woodbridge Masonic Hall, New Street, IP12 1DX.
Phone: 01394 386391