Welcome to Freemasonry in Dorset.
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, Charity – 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.
CHARITY: Kindness and charitable giving are deeply ingrained within the principles of Freemasonry. The organisation provides a support structure that helps members make positive contributions to communities and worthwhile causes through fundraising events or volunteer work.
Click here to watch a Discover Freemasonry video!
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Weymouth Masonic Hall
With thanks to David Harrison for some of the detail we give you Weymouth Masonic Hall.
It was built in 1815, and has a Regency feel to its overall design; with a Neo-Classical façade, two large fluted pillars at the entrance supporting a frieze and triangular pediment, and to add to the overall feel, the Hall is painted in a Regency soft pink. It is based on the Hephaisteion in Athens, probably from Stewart and Revett's drawings. more...
Amphibious Lodge honour local Victoria Cross winner.
As we come to the end of the Worshipful Masters year in Office we have been busy distributing the proceeds of the Brethren's fundraising efforts to the various good causes he has chosen. more...
Dorset Freemasonry Remembers #1
The first in a series of articles, on Dorset Freemasons lost in WW1, leading up to Remembrance Day.
In this article we remember 2nd Lieutenant Arthur Augustus Sharp who died on 22 March 1918. He was killed on the second day of the First Battle of the Somme (1918). He is remembered on the Pozières Memorial. more...
Dorset Crest.
Following on from a piece of work our Comms Officer was doing for Freemasonry Today we thought you might like to know a little more about our formal Dorset Freemasonry Crest!
The Dorset Crest you have submitted is based on the United Grand Lodge of England coat of arms as authorised for use by the Province of Dorset 20 or more years ago by Grand Lodge. more...
United Service present a 50 year certificate.
Members of United Service Lodge and guests were delighted to be present when Anthony Taylor was presented a certificate and pin by Richard Sartin to commemorate 50 years in Freemasonry. Tony first joined Freemasonry in 1969, and unbelievably told younger members of the lodge he had to wait 8 years before being accepted! more...
The Southwell Street Fayre Group goes from Strength to Strength
Geoff Daniels from the Portland Lodge 1037 who meet at The Portland Masonic Centre has been the driving force of this group since its formation in 2014 and have distributed over £9500 to local charities.
Their aims being:
To enable families to enjoy a inexpensive day out
To give back back any funds made to Portland based charities and local groups and they will be applying for Charity Status this year. more...
Tribute - Bruce Graham Clarke
Bruce Graham Clarke, one of the last surviving crew members of the XE Midget Submarines used in Operation Foil in 1945, has passed away aged 95 years in Dorset. A Public Servant, dedicated Freemason and talented artist, Bruce won the Distinguished Service Cross for his role in the mission to cut the undersea telephone cables connecting Singapore, Saigon, Hong Kong and Tokyo. The successful operation forced the Japanese to use radio and leave themselves open to message interception. more...
Jurassic Coast Youth Adventure 2017
Thank You Messages to Dorset Freemasons from Provinces:
JCYA 2017 – QUOTE
'My granddaughter had serious health problems…. The doctors tried all forms of medication to no avail so she was referred to surgeons ……. This course of action made her very depressed ….. and she has been undergoing psychology sessions which did not appear to be helping.
After a week spent abseiling, zip wiring, archery etc. she returned home a different young lady to the one who left. more...
Shillingstone Oak Trees - five years on
On the last day of 2012 a band of intrepid Freemasons from the Lodge of Honour and Friendship 1266, led by the then Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Nigel Leonard, scaled an almost vertical slope in freezing cold, driving rain and a howling gale to plant three Oak Trees on a hillside in Shillingstone. more...
Presentation of a sailing boat to Lyme Regis Sailing Club
Montagu Lodge No: 665 at the very west of the province presented a new Oppi Cube sailing boat to Lyme Regis Sailing Club to assist with training children from the age of six to sail. This training also helps with their personal skills and development. As our Charity Steward said at the presentation it will help the development of other muscles instead of just their thumbs. The Mayor was present and a very happy occasion was shared by all with a glass of champagne. more...
1266 and friends celebrate 300 years in style
The lodge of Honour and Friendship lodge, along with our daughter lodge Bleckley Clark, marked the 300 annoversary of freemasonry with a rare march through the streets of Blandford in full regalia. The lodges were joined by guests and friends from accross freemasonry and were honoured to be joined by the Provincial Grand Master and the rest of the provincial team. Over 100 members in total were present! more...
472 and Provincial Grand Master's Discretionary Fund help young girl
Shaftesbury's Lodge, Lodge of Friendship and Sincerity No. 472, with the assistance of The Provincial Grand Masters Discretionary Fund were able to present a cheque for £1000.00 to the family of Ruby Mae recently.
Ruby Mae McBride is a 6 year old local girl suffering from an extreme form of diabetes. For the last 3 years she has had to have between 7 and 10 injections a day on top of 10 to 15 blood sugar tests a day. more...
How football - and Adam Lallana's father - helped save the Freemasons
iNews (the online version of the daily paper) carries an excellent article by the author Adam Sherwin explaining why a specialist football lodge is encouraging young men to become Freemasons.
Point your browser at the URL below.
https://inews.co.uk/essentials/culture/television/freemasons-adam-lallana/
more...
Blackmore Vale Lodge put their 'ducks in a row' with charity donation.
Blackmore Vale Lodge from Sturminster Newton were recently delighted to donate to the Ducks and Drakes Cancer Trust; a local charity raising funds for specialist equipment and nurse training.
Andrew Drake and his family set up the charity when he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, Juvenile Polyposis. As this type of cancer is genetic the rest of Andrews' family were checked and his sister and father were found to have the same condition. more...
Doc Martin discovers ancient Masonic burial site - Part Two: The Dorset Connection
There are strong Dorset links to this story in the background to the Mother Lodge of George Hales, recorded in 'Ancient Freemasonry and Old Dundee Lodge No. 18 1722-1920' by Arthur Heiron written to celebrate 200 years of the Lodge.
In the 18th century Lodges customarily met in taverns and took their name from their home, when they moved they changed their name to the new hostelry. more...
Doc Martin discovers ancient Masonic burial site - Part One
Last Tuesday evening Martin Clunes presented the first part of a series of programmes exploring the Islands that surround Australia. One of the Islands he visited was Norfolk Island.
Norfolk Island was originally a penal colony reserved for the worst offenders, being hundreds of miles from any other land in the Pacific Ocean. more...
Atlantic Rescue of Dorset Freemason.
A Dorset Freemason and his family have been saved when their yacht became rudderless in the Atlantic Ocean.
Tony White, Treasurer of the Lodge of St Cuthberga, his step-daughter Fran, her husband James and their children Heath (9) and Isla (7) were rescued from their rudder-less yacht, Dove II, five hundred miles east of Barbados. more...
Weymouth Drama Club, Curtain Raisers.
Members of Faith and Unanimity Masonic Lodge Number 417 of Dorchester, attended a recent production of, 'It Snows', by the youth players of the group 'Curtain Raisers'.
The current master of the lodge, Grant Baker presented the youth group with a cheque for £ 2061.30. on behalf of the lodge members. This donation enabled them to purchase a background scenery projector and other props needed for their future productions. more...
A Brief History of Thomas Dunckerley
The inaugural Provincial Grand Lodge for Dorset was 'held under the Banner of the Lodge of Amity' on the 24th June 1780 at Poole. Thomas Dunckerley was the first Provincial Grand Master for Dorset and held the position for 18 years.
The Lodge of Amity purchased a portrait of Thomas Dunckerley in 1783 for 5 guineas, and had it framed for three shillings and sixpence. This portrait hangs in the Lodge of Amity temple over the Secretary's table. more...
A very happy 100th Birthday party at Zetland Court.
The Dorset Freemasonry family encompasses all ages; from our newest Entered Apprentice, through our most experienced Past Master to the beloved Widows our sadly departed members leave behind.
We had a great example of this at Zetland Court this week as we celebrated Olive Loake's 100th birthday. Olive was born in Coalville, Leicester. After moving to Dorset she was a manager at the Co-Op in Moordown for many years. Her late husband Joe, was a Past Master of Northbourne Lodge. more...
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