Frequently Asked Questions
- Be male and 21 or over (for information on lady Freemasons, read Wives or partners lower down)
- Believe in a supreme being.
- Contact us via the contact forms at the bottom of the lodge pages and let us know you’re interested or have a chat with one of our members, either by phone or face to face.
- Fill in an application form.
- Assuming everyone is happy (including you) set a date for your Initiation into the Lodge.
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 practice 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 150,000 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 it is participating in fundraising for a charitable cause, volunteering for public or community organisations and by donating time resources and skills… service is at the very heart of Freemasonry.
Any man over the age of 21 can join regardless of ethnic group, political views, economic standing or religion, although he is expected to have a faith.
Once a month for the lodge. An additional day for the training lodge (optional) and members can also visit other lodges if they want to do more.
Royal Portus Felix meets on the third Tuesday of each month (except July and August)
At the Masonic Hall on Rutland Street, Filey, North Yorkshire, YO14 9JA
A Lodge meeting is split into two main parts. The first part is the formal Lodge meeting itself. This follows an agenda (like a regular meeting of any club or society) and includes the general business of the meeting.
The main part of the meeting is the ceremony (which is often referred to as “ritual”). The ceremonies are usually the introduction of a new member, or for them to go through the various “Degrees” . They are essentially one act plays and teach members how to be better people and each play represents a different stage in life to become a Master Mason, or eventually the Worshipful Master of the lodge. The details of the ceremonies can easily be accessed online but nothing beats experiencing it for yourself.
Following the formal part of the evening, there is the “Festive Board”. This is normally a sit-down meal (not compulsory) and is a great way to get to know fellow members and visitors to the Lodge in a relaxed and social environment and most importantly, to have fun.
Freemasons are expected to have a belief in a higher or supreme being of some description. The denomination isn’t important, nor is how actively you are involved. 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
Freemasons are strongly recommended to bring their wife or partner into the picture at the early stage. Women visiting this site will be pleased to learn there is a Lady Masons lodge in Filey too.
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.
There is more than one handshake, it is used to identify the rank of the Freemason.
Freemasons are completely public, masonic buildings are clearly marked, and meeting times are generally a matter of public record. A great deal of information can be easily found on the internet.
On average the annual dues and other fees amount to £200 a year, although there are local variations.
There is an initiation fee on entry and in due course regalia will have to be purchased. The meeting is normally followed by a sit-down dinner, the cost depending on the venue.
Freemasons are invited to give to charity at each meeting, but this should always be within their means and it is entirely up to the individual how much they wish to contribute.
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.
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.
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.
We are one of the biggest charitable givers in the country and gave £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.
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.
Freemasonry exists throughout the world and the United Grand Lodge of England has Districts in many overseas 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 traveling.