Membership is open to any man aged 18 or over, irrespective of race or religion. You are asked to affirm a belief in a Supreme Being. The wording is deliberately wide, and there is no requirement to practise any particular religion.
How a lodge meeting works
Meetings usually come in two parts.
- The business. Proposing and balloting for new members, news of charitable fundraising and other administration.
- The ceremony. This may be the admission of a new member or the installation of the Master of the lodge and his officers.
A new member passes through three degrees, each marked by a ceremony: Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master Mason. It typically takes one or two years to become a Master Mason.
After the meeting, members dine together. This is the festive board, and it is a large part of why people stay.
Cost
On average, annual dues and other fees come to about £200 a year, though lodges differ. For example, the Lodge of Peace and Fraternity charges £160.00 a year for membership, with dining usually about £25.00 a meeting. Companion orders such as the Mark cost much less than a Craft lodge.
Beyond the lodge
Outside the lodge there is community fundraising and volunteering, and a varied programme of events to which wives, partners and families are welcome.
Finding the right lodge
Each of the lodges in Lewes has its own character, meeting pattern and cost. Look at the lodges page, then get in touch.
After Craft Masonry, a Master Mason may go on to the Royal Arch, the Mark and other orders. Ask any member about these.