St. Augustine Lodge

How do I join?

How much does it cost to join?

What are the membership requirements?

What does a member get out of being a Freemason?

What is the commitment for a member?

What happens at a Lodge meeting?

When are St. Augustine Lodge meetings?

What is the St. Augustine Lodge number?

Can a Mason join or visit a Lodge in an area other than where he first joined?

What is the Province of Bristol?

Theology

Do you have to be a Christian?

Is Freemasonry a religion or substitute for religion?

Charity

Are Freemason charities for Masons only?

What are the three great principles?

United Grand Lodge of England

Are there Masonic Lodges for Ladies?

How many Freemasons are there?

What is the United Grand Lodge of England?

When did Freemasonry start?

Freemasons’ Hall, Bristol

What is the address of Freemasons’ Hall, Bristol?

What is the history of Freemasons’ Hall, Park Street, Bristol?

What is the portico frieze?

St. Augustine Lodge

How do I join?

If you would like to join email St Augustine Lodge Secretary expressing your interest and include your full contact details.

The Lodge Secretary will contact you to arrange an informal meeting at Freemasons’ Hall, Park Street, Bristol to discuss membership in greater detail and to answer your questions.

How much does it cost to join?

For a candidate in 2023 the total cost of joining St. Augustine Lodge is £327.30. The annual renewal fee is £192.

The Lodge subscription fee detailed below is for 12 months; in practice this sum is calculated pro-rata depending on the month a candidate joins. St. Augustine Lodge subscription fee can be paid monthly by direct debit.

It has been assumed that for purpose of calculation the Lodge subscription fee will remain unchanged for next year.

What are the membership requirements?

In essence the membership requirements are as follows:

• Belief in a Supreme Being
• Having achieved the age of 21
• Male
• Of good character
• Resident in England or Wales

For greater detail visit the Membership section.

What does a member get out of being a Freemason?

Achievement – progressing through the Offices in the Lodge.

Brotherhood – making new friends and acquaintances from every background and age group.

Charity – contributing to deserving causes.

Education – learning from peers and mentors by practicing ritual and making speeches.

Knowledge – discovering the history and mysteries of Freemasonry.

Self improvement – making a contribution to family and society.

What is the commitment for a member?

Members of St. Augustine Lodge are expected to attend all eight Lodge meetings (second Thursday evening) and on becoming an Officer of the Lodge, all eight Lodge Committee and rehearsal meetings (first Thursday evening).

What happens at a Lodge meeting?

St. Augustine Lodge meetings take the same structure as business, social, or sports club meetings. An agenda is communicated to all members, detailing the order of business (prior to the meeting); this may include the reading or acceptance of minutes of the previous meeting and a vote taken as to their accuracy.

A ballot may be taken on acceptance of a proposal for a new candidate for initiation or a member joining from another Lodge.

The initiation of a new candidate (a ritual performed by all Lodges, which has been approved by the United Grand Lodge of England).

The audited Lodge accounts are annually submitted for approval.

Proposals for members of the Lodge to be selected to various Provincial committees are voted on.

Finally to transact any other business that the Master of the Lodge deems necessary.

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.

When are St. Augustine Lodge meetings?

St. Augustine Lodge meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month in February, March, April, May, September, October, November and December.

What is the St. Augustine Lodge number?

The St. Augustine Lodge is number 3108 in the register of the United Grand Lodge of England.

Can a Mason join or visit a Lodge in an area other than where he first joined?

Yes, provided he can offer documentation for inspection to prove that he is a fully paid up member and recognised as such by the United Grand Lodge of England.

What is the Province of Bristol?

This is the Province in which St. Augustine Lodge is located. Bristol is unique as it is the only Province within the English Constitution that is also a city.

Theology

Do you have to be a Christian?

Freemasonry welcomes men of many different faiths. A belief in God is an essential requirement for membership, however, no discussion of religion is permitted in Lodge meetings.

St. Augustine Lodge is opened and closed with a prayer and its ceremonies reflect the essential truths and moral teachings common to many of the world’s great religions.

If the Bible (called the Volume of the Sacred Law) is not the individual’s sacred book, they will make their promises on the book which is regarded as sacred to their religion. When the Volume of the Sacred Law is referred to in ceremonies, to a non-Christian it will be the holy book of his religion and to a Christian it will be the Bible.

Is Freemasonry a religion or substitute for religion?

Freemasonry is not a religion, it does not try to replace religion or substitute for it. Freemasonry is concerned with man’s relationship with his fellow man; not man’s relationship with God. Freemasonry encourages its members to be active in their own religion.

Charity

Are Freemason charities for Masons only?

Not true, Masons support charities both nationally as well as locally. Many hospitals, children’s and family charities are supported (e.g. helicopter rescue organisations, child welfare groups, nationally and overseas. Freemasonry has provided support not only for widows and orphans of Freemasons but also for diverse others within the community.

What are the three great principles?

Brotherly love: tolerance and respect for the opinions of others and behaving with kindness and understanding of his fellows.

Relief: practice charity and to care for the community as a whole, both by charitable giving and by individual voluntary efforts.

Truth: Freemasons strive for truth, requiring high moral standards and aiming to achieve them in their own lives.

Freemasons believe that these principles represent a way of achieving higher standards in life.

United Grand Lodge of England

Are there Masonic Lodges for Ladies?

Freemasonry was originally organised by men of letters, scientists, architects, theologians, etc, in an era when women were not accepted into universities, colleges, and professions. Today there are Lodges in England restricted to women only. Ladies are also greatly appreciated as  staunch supporters of Lodges generally.

How many Freemasons are there?

Under the United Grand Lodge of England, there are over 200,000 Freemasons in England and Wales as well as Districts overseas and more than 7,000 Lodges.

What is the United Grand Lodge of England?

The United Grand Lodge of England is the central administrative organisation that regulates all Lodges of England and Wales and Lodges that United Grand Lodge of England recognise overseas.

When did Freemasonry start?

The first Grand Lodge of England was founded in 1717; the earliest Freemason was made in 1646.

Why did it start? We do not know. Two theories as to the origins of Freemasonry are as follows:

• The operative stonemasons (who built the cathedrals and castles) had Lodges in which they discussed trade affairs. The initiation ceremonies where an alternative to what we now have as union membership, cards, certificates etc. The signs were used to identify trained Masons as they moved from site to site

• In the late 16th century there existed a group interested in the promotion of religious and political tolerance at a time when differences of opinion were leading to civil war. Freemasonry was intended as a means of making better men to build a better world

Freemasons’ Hall, Bristol

What is the address of Freemasons’ Hall, Bristol?

Freemasons’ Hall
31 Park Street

Bristol BS1 5NH

What is the history of Freemasons’ Hall, Park Street, Bristol?

Freemason’s Hall, Bristol was built in 1823 for the Bristol Institution for the Advancement of Science and Art (as a museum and lecture theatre) at a price in excess of £14000. The property was auctioned in 1871 and sold to the Bristol Freemasons for £5960.

All Bristol Lodges met in Freemasons’ Hall until the blitz on the city of Bristol by the German Luftwaffe on 24 November 1940. Incendiary bombs landed on the hall and virtually destroyed it; part of the outer shell remaining (and the frieze above the entrance).

In 1955 rebuilding started and the Bristol Masonic Hall was reopened and rededicated on 28 November 1957 by the Most Worshipful the Grand Master, the Earl of Scarborough. The original walls had been incorporated.

What is the portico frieze?

The portico frieze (which miraculously survived the blitz) is located above the external entrance to Freemasons’ Hall and portrays the Muses. Sculptured by W.Bro. E.H. Baily (1788 – 1867) RA FRS Past Senior Grand Deacon (Eng.) in Portland stone. Other work by W.Bro. E.H. Baily include Admiral Lord Nelson in Trafalgar Square, London, Eve at the Fountain and Sleeping Nymph both of which are displayed in Bristol Museum BS8.