Your Questions Answered
It would be quite strange if you didn't have a few questions to ask about Freemasonry, especially as lots of people do. Your questions are important to us and we will always try to answer them in an open and honest manner.
If we cannot answer your question immediately or as comprehensively as you would like we will respond as quickly as possible.
Here are some of the questions we are often asked
How many Freemasons are there?
The United Grand Lodge of England which also includes Wales has a membership of approximately 150,000 Freemasons.
The Grand Lodges of Scotland, and Ireland also have 10,000 members and the two Grand Lodges for women in England comprise of around 25,000 members.
Worldwide, there are approximately six million Freemasons.
To discover more about Freemasonry in general and Wiltshire in particular sall you gave to do is click this link DISCOVER FREEMASONRY
What happens at a Lodge meeting?
The meeting, which like those of other groups, is open only to members, is normally in two parts.
First, there are normal administrative procedures such as reading Minutes of the previous meeting; proposing and balloting for new members and discussing and voting on the annual accounts.
Second, there are the ceremonies for admitting new members and the annual installation of the Master of the Lodge and his officers.
Sometimes a guest speaker will make a presentation on the work of a charity which is supported by the Lodge.
Do Freemasons favour fellow members?
Certainly not. This would be unacceptable and may lead to action being taken against those involved. On joining, each new member states that he expects no material gain from membership.
Who do the Masonic charities donate to?
Whilst there are Masonic charities that cater specifically, for Masons or their dependants, others make significant grants to non-Masonic organisations. Members are invited to give to charity but this should always be within their means and it is entirely up to the individual how much they wish to contribute.
Why do Freemasons wear regalia?
Wearing regalia is historic and symbolic. Like a uniform, the regalia indicates the rank of the wearer in the organisation.
How much does it cost to be a Freemason?
It varies from Lodge to Lodge. Anyone wishing to join will find a Lodge to suit his pocket. There is an initiation fee on entry an annual subscription and in due course regalia will have to be bought. The meeting is normally followed by a dinner, with the cost depending on both the venue and the menu.
How long is the process to join a Lodge?
There are many reasons why it takes a little time to be invited to join a Lodge and become a Freemason. The first and most obvious is that you will almost certainly join a list of men who wish to become a member of our organisation. Secondly, most Lodges in Wiltshire meet between 5 and 8 times a year, and not all of the meetings can be used to Initiate a new Freemason. Thirdly, there is an interview process which can sometimes seem a little lengthy, but is necessary to make sure we welcome good men into our Lodges.
What you can be assured of, is that there is no wish on our part to prevent or delay a good man to become a Wiltshire Freemason.
