Getting to know Freemasonry Over the years Freemasonry has had a lot of bad press regarding who we are and what we get up to. Rumours, misinformation and false statements have gone unchallenged to create a perceived society that is regarded as both secret and mysterious. Therefore, it is only to be expected that any wife or partner of someone who is thinking of becoming a Freemason will have reservations about what to expect. The information here is designed to put your mind at rest and to set the record straight as to what Freemasonry is all about.
What is Freemasonry In a nutshell, Freemasonry is one of the oldest and largest fraternal and charitable organisations in the world. It is also a non-religious, non-political society and its aim is to make good people, better people by reinforcing moral and spiritual values. The three key words we live by are friendship, charity and integrity. However, believe it or not, Freemasonry isn’t exclusively for men. There are several Lodges around the country (every Freemason joins and belongs to a Lodge) that are strictly women only.
Once upon a time, Freemasonry was regarded as one of the great pillars of society. Laying foundation stones of important buildings was a public affair, with Masons in attendance in full regalia. But things changed.
If Freemasonry does good, why the bad press? In the years building up to the Second World War, Hitler’s Nazi Germany began to heavily persecute Freemasons. Masonic meetings were outlawed and members of the Lodges were arrested, imprisoned and executed (it is estimated that over 200,000 Freemasons lost their lives during this time). Included in Hitler’s plans to invade Britain was a list of Freemasons who, if his invasion had been successful, would have also met the same end.
Freemasonry began to be more inward looking and private, and the silence of the organisation only added to strengthen the myth. By failing to deal with the media and by not speaking up to correct factual errors, rumour took over from fact and false reports replaced the truth, leading to Freemasonry being perceived as a secret society. But it is not. So much so, that we hold Ladies’ evenings with wives and partners being the guests of honour, as well as quiz nights, barbeques, Sunday lunches and a host of other functions that are designed to bring the family of Freemasonry together. We also hold widows’ dinners, to keep in touch with, and to help, the wives and partners of deceased Freemasons.
Here’s one of our best kept secrets – charity Freemasonry is one of the three biggest contributors (which includes the National Lottery) to national charities in the UK, donating millions of pounds every year. We are also extremely active locally. (Think of a charity and we have most probably given a donation). In fact, in Sussex alone, local Freemasons raise significant funds for local charities and good causes every year. This is achieved by sponsored events, raffles and any wild or wacky ideas that could raise money. Have a look at our Charity pages on this website for more details of who and what we support.
Sussex Freemasons make charitable donations to non-Masonic charities. For example:
£50,000 to Canterbury Cathedral as part of a Group wide effort to support the activities of operative masons and their training as well as secure the future of the most significant buildings in the region;
£10,000 to Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance;
£25,000 to Sussex Hospices;
£8,000 to local Widows and Children as Christmas gifts; £15,000 to support mobility scooters in town centres across Sussex; and £30.000 to various Sussex charities who have made applications directly to the Trustees.
The Family of Freemasonry You may think that, as a wife or partner of a Freemason, you will be excluded from any of our organised events and that you will become the Masonic equivalent of a ‘golf widow’. Not so. We do have several Lodge neetings throughout the year, often followed by a meal called the Festive Board. These may well be men only events, but are no different to a girls’ night out, where friendship and bonding are as important as the get-together. But your understanding and support makes a real difference and wives and partners are very important to the success of Freemasonry.
Women Freemasons have their own Lodges which are strictly women only, and have the same values and goals as the male lodges. There are two Grand Lodges for women interested in becoming a Freemason. For more information, please contact Freemasonry for Women and the Order of Women Freemasons [OWF]
Does your Partner have what it takes to be a Freemason? If your partner has a good heart and would like to help others by raising money for charity, as well as becoming a better person morally and spiritually, then he is exactly what Freemasonry is looking for.
If you or your partner would like to know more about Sussex Masons, please visit www.sussexmasons.org.uk or contact Carfax Lodge here
As you can see, with all the information available about Freemasonry, as a so-called secret society, we’re probably the worst kept secret in the world.