Philanthropic 304

To become a Freemason you must meet certain qualifications to be accepted by a Lodge.

Freemasonry is proud of its philosophy and practice of "making good men better." Only individuals believed to be of good character are favourably considered for membership. Every applicant must be 21 years (18 or more via Universities’ Scheme) of age or more and respected in his locality.

There is a popular misconception that to become a Mason one needs to be invited to join. In fact the reverse is true - a longstanding convention within Freemasonry is that it is the potential candidate who should do the asking! If you know a friend or neighbour who is a Mason and you are interested in Freemasonry, just ask him. He will be delighted to talk with you as all Masons are proud to be members of their own Lodge.

Philanthropic Lodge has a broad range of members, with a wide range of interesting backgrounds, ethnicities, and professions.

Prospective members are invited to social events, open days, and Wardens’ nights. This gives them an opportunity to begin to have an understanding of Freemasonry, what it stands for, the commitments that are expected, and meet some of the Brethren informally and answer your questions.

If then you wish to join, your name will be put before the Lodge committee (of perhaps two or three members) will talk to you to ascertain your views and that you believe in God or a Supreme Being (Atheism and Freemasonry are incompatible). The committee will report its recommendation back to the Lodge. A vote will be taken and, if found acceptable, you will be on your way to being a fully fledged Mason and you will have joined the oldest fraternity in the world.

Those who wish to find out more about Philanthropic Lodge or are interested in joining the Lodge can contact our Lodge Secretary

Below is a small list of famous Freemasons

Kings
George VI
Edward VII
Edward VIII

Presidents & Prime Ministers
Sir Winston Churchill
George Washington

Key Historic Figures
Arthur Wellesley (1st Duke of Wellington)
Henri Dunant (founder of the Red Cross)
Dr Barnardo

Businessmen
Andre Citroen
Henry Ford

Musicians
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Sir William S. Gilbert & Sir Arthur Sullivan
Nat ‘King’ Cole
Edward ‘Duke’ Ellington

Sportsmen
Clive Lloyd
Arnold Palmer
Jack Dempsey
‘Sugar Ray’ Robinson

Scientists
Sir Alexander Fleming
Joseph Lister
Edward Jenner (smallpox vaccination)

Writers
Rudyard Kipling
Robert Burns
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Famous Freemasons through the ages

Explorers
Sir Ernest Shackleton
Captain Robert Falcon Scott
(Scott of the Antarctic)
Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin (Astronaut)

Actors and Entertainers
John Wayne
William Cody (‘Buffalo Bill’)
Harry Houdini
Peter Sellers
Clark Gable