Who are we?
United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) is the governing body of Freemasonry in England, Wales, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and some Districts overseas. Our headquarters is Freemasons’ Hall, London.
Freemasons use four important guiding principles to help define their path through life: Integrity, Friendship, Respect and Charity.
How are we organised?
UGLE currently has around 200,000 members meeting in over 7,000 Lodges, with students over 18 able to join one of the 85 Universities Scheme Lodges.
Lodges are grouped into 48 Provinces by region, roughly in line with the old county boundaries, under the guidance of UGLE.
How do we operate?
UGLE holds four business meetings a year, known as Quarterly Communication.
UGLE, it's Lodges and members operates to a rule book The Book of Constitutions, which was first published in 1723. UGLE also publishes directories of office bearers, committees and Lodges, which are all available from Letchworth's Shop.
Becoming a Freemason
Becoming a Freemason means you’ll be joining more than 200,000 members throughout England and Wales, as well as Districts overseas.
Membership is open to any man over the age of 18 irrespective of their race or religion. In total, we have more than 7,000 Lodges, with students over 18 able to join one of the 85 University Scheme Lodges. Women are invited to join one of two female-only Grand Lodges: The Order of Women Freemasons and Freemasonry for Women.
What happens at a Lodge meeting?
Lodge meetings are typically held in two parts. The first involves more administrative procedures, such as proposing and balloting for new members and receiving news about charitable fundraising.
The second part focuses on ceremonies, which might relate to areas such as the admittance of new members or the installation of the Master of the Lodge and his officers – a process made up of three degrees, or stages, each one marked by a special ceremony.
True to the sense of friendship and togetherness among Freemasons, meetings are also social events, providing an occasion for members to dine together. Outside of the Lodge, activities include community fundraising and volunteering activities, as well as a varied programme of events where spouses, partners and families are welcome.
How do I join?
If you don't know anyone who is a member and that you can talk to, then your first step is to approach your local lodge or one which shares your interests which include sports, motoring and young member Lodges, or check out our Contact Us page and let us put you in touch with your local masonic area.
You may also be interested to find out more about the Universities Scheme.
Universities Scheme
Tradition and continuity are two of the values which characterise the relationship between Freemasonry and universities.
It was nearly 200 years ago that the first university Lodge, Apollo University Lodge, was founded at Oxford, with Isaac Newton University Lodge following soon afterwards at Cambridge. Since then many thousands of young men have been introduced to Freemasonry through these two Lodges, and they provided the inspiration for the Universities Scheme. This was set up at the beginning of 2005 with the objective: ‘To establish and/or enhance arrangements and opportunities for undergraduates and other university members to enjoy Freemasonry’.
There are now 83 other Lodges pursuing a similar, yet distinct, course. Their membership consists of undergraduates, postgraduates, senior members of the university and alumni, ranging in age from 18 upwards. All under-25s benefit from the recent decision by Grand Lodge to halve their dues in order to make Freemasonry as accessible to as wide an audience as possible.
The Scheme is headed by the Assistant Grand Master, David Medlock, who explains: “We know from these long-established university lodges that students – whether undergraduates or postgraduates – enjoy Freemasonry to the full. Through the Universities Scheme, we hope that university members from all over the country will be able to gain the same inspiration, fulfilment and enjoyment.”
What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry means different things to each of those who join. For some, it’s about making new friends and acquaintances. For others it’s about being able to help deserving causes – making a contribution to family and for society. But for most, it is an enjoyable hobby.
Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest and largest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and charitable organisation. It teaches self-knowledge through participation in a progression of ceremonies. Members are expected to be of high moral standing and are encouraged to speak openly about Freemasonry.
What happens at a lodge meeting?
The meeting, which like those of other groups, are open only to members, is normally in two parts. First, there are normal administrative procedures such as:
• Minutes of the previous meeting
• Proposing and balloting for new members
• Discussing and voting on the annual accounts
• Masonic news and correspondence
• News about charitable work
Second, there are the ceremonies for:
• Admitting new members
• The annual installation of the Master of the Lodge and his officers
About Freemasonry
Freemasonry, what is it and what does it mean to many?
Freemasonry means different things to each of those who join. For some, it’s about making new friends and acquaintances. For others, it’s about being able to help deserving causes – making a contribution to family and society. But for most, it is an enjoyable hobby.
Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest and largest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and charitable organisations. It teaches self-knowledge through participation in a progression of ceremonies. Members are expected to be of high moral standing and are encouraged to speak openly about Freemasonry. The following information is intended to explain Freemasonry as it is practised under the United Grand Lodge of England, which administers Lodges of Freemasons in England and Wales and in many places overseas.
Freemasonry is a society of men concerned with moral and spiritual values. Its members are taught its principles (moral lessons and self-knowledge) by a series of ritual dramas – a progression of allegorical two-part plays which are learnt by heart and performed within each Lodge – which follow ancient forms, and use stonemasons’ customs and tools as allegorical guides.
Freemasonry instils in its members a moral and ethical approach to life: its values are based on integrity, kindness, honesty and fairness. Members are urged to regard the interests of the family as paramount but, importantly, Freemasonry also teaches concern for people, care for the less fortunate and help for those in need.
For many years Freemasons have followed three great principles. Freemasons believe that these principles represent a way of achieving higher standards in life.
Brotherly Love
Every true Freemason will show tolerance and respect for the opinions of others and behave with kindness and understanding to his fellow creatures.
Relief
Freemasons are taught to practise charity and to care, not only for their own, but also for the community as a whole, both by charitable giving and by voluntary efforts and works as individuals.
Truth
Freemasons strive for truth, requiring high morals standards and aiming to achieve them in their own lives.
Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest and largest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and charitable organisations. There are 250,000 Freemasons belonging to 8000 Lodges throughout England and Wales and overseas districts with over six million members worldwide.
Freemasonry instils in its members a moral and ethical approach to life. Our values are based on integrity, kindness, honesty and fairness. It also teaches and practices concern for people, care for the less fortunate and help for those in need.
For some it’s about having an enjoyable past time, making new friends and having fun. For many it is also about being able to help deserving causes – making a contribution to family and to wider society.
There are three great principles of Freemasonry that have endured for many years and, whilst they may seem old fashioned, they are still as relevant today as they were when first conceived:
Brotherly Love (Kindness) - characterised by tolerance and respect for others and their opinions and behaving with kindness and understanding towards all people with whom we come into contact throughout life.
Relief (Charity) – practising care and charity towards our own members and the community as a whole; giving some of our time and attention to care for those who are less fortunate and for the good of our communities; and personal charitable giving, without detriment to our families.
Truth – Freemasons aim to achieve personal integrity by maintaining high moral standards in their own lives and all their activities.
Freemasons believe that through the daily practice of these three great principles, men may achieve self-improvement and higher standards in life.
In simple terms these principles may be summarised as:
Freemasons are expected always to treat others as they would like to be treated in similar circumstances.
