Lodge to start recruitment drive

At the special meeting called for this evening, the unanimous recommendation of those brethren present was that the Lodge should continue and not hand in its warrant.  A prospective candidate has been found by the Province and full Provincial assistance has been promised to re-vitalise the Lodge to ensure that its existence is assured for the future.  Some suggestions on how this can be achieved will be posted here in a few days time.  What is essential, though, is that each and every member of the lodge should be encouraged to recruit a member during the Masonic Year 2012-2013.

A reminder

The lodge will be hold a Special General Purposes Committee Meeting at 7 p.m. tomorrow, Friday 24th August at Crane Street Masonic Centre, Salisbury to discuss the future of the lodge following falling membership.  All members are encouraged to attend.

Emergency Meeting - 24th August 2012

There will be an emergency meeting of the General Purposes Committee of the lodge on the evening of Friday 24th August 2012 commencing at 7 p.m. at Freemason's Hall, Crane Street, Salisbury.  The Assistant Provincial Grand Master will be in attendance.  All members of the Lodge are welcome and asked to attend.  There will be only one item on the agenda - The Future of the Lodge.  With only 20 subscribing members in the lodge the viability of the lodge continuing must be in doubt and so all members are asked to attend to discuss this important issue as to how the lodge may continue unless new members are found.

Reduction in Meetings?

Consideration is currently being given to reducing the number of meetings during the Masonic year from 7 to 4.  Three of our meetings are usually not well attended because of the time of year and weather and so it is thought that holding meetings in only October (Installation); December (Christmas Dinner); March (Ladies White Table) and May (Election of New Master and avoiding Easter) would mean that the brethren's costs would be reduced, the ceremonies could be better prepared and opportunities given to brethren to attend other lodges and especailly Boscombe Lodge's April meeting.

The Secretary is to meet with the Provincial Executive following a favourable response from members with a view to setting the wheels in motion to get formal approval to such a reduction.  This will not take place until after he has had a 3R's meeting (Recruitment, Retention and Refreshment) meeting in early July. 

Our Last Meeting - Wednesday 2nd May 2012

Our last meeting took place on Wednesday 2nd May 2012 at Freemasons' Hall, Crane Street, Salisbury.  On this occasion, and in light of the 100th anniversary, the brethren received an illustrated talk by W. Bro. Michael Barratt on the subject of Freemasons on the Titanic in which Bro. Barratt gave a short history of the ship, its maiden voyage and the aftermath of the tragedy. Bro Barratt also gave some details of the biographies of some Freemasons on board.  The meeting was attended by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, V. W.Bro. Peter Winton  as well as many Freemasons from all corners of the Province.  The meeting was rounded off by an excellent and convivial festive board.  The charity draw box now has in excess of £350 in it with seventeen keys left to pick.  W. Bro. rod Elliott was elected as Master Elect for the Masonic Year 2012-2013 and W. Bro. Norman Barter re-elected as Treasurer.  The Installation meeting will take place on the evening of the first Wednesday in October.

Our April Meeting - Wednesday 4th April 2012

Our April meeting took place at Freemasons' Hall, Crane Street, Salisbury on Wednesday 4th April 2012.  At this meeting, our Worshipful Master conducted a Master Masons' Quiz to test the brethren on the extent of their superior knowledge of freemasonry.  The key draw was won that night by W. Bro. John Hardcastle who left the meeting £1,000 richer.  Well done John!  We now go back to 18 keys in the bag but ther eis already some £300 ready to be won.

Meeting - Wednesday 7th March 2012

Our lastregular meeting of Sarum Lodge took place at Freemasons' Hall, Crane Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire on Wednesday 7th March 2012 commencing at 6.30 p.m.


At the meeting Bro. Richard Watts was raised to the Third Degree and made  a Master Mason. Congratulations Richard. A wonderful ceremony contributed to by many different members and brilliantly executed..   The key box draw resulted in no winner but for our next meeting,  there will be £1,000 in the box and only three keys in the bag.  The lucky winne rof the raffle ticket, therefore, will have a 33% chance of winning the £1,000.

Our February Meeting - Wednesday 1st February 2012

We met at Freemasons' Hall, Crane Street, Salisbury on Wednesday 1st February 2012  at the later time of 7.00 p.m.   We had a very short formal meeting to discuss essential business and the Festive Board afterwards took the form of a "White Table" when our ladies, partners and non-masonic friends joined us. After a short period for drinks and a chat, dinner commenced with the Haggis being piped in (on CD actually as we couldn't get a real piper this year) followed by the address to the Haggis, and a small biographical lecture, from W. Bro. David Angus.  We then all tucked into haggis, "neeps" and "tattie"s followed by Scotch Broth and an excellent main course of Scottish lamb all rounded off with fresh fruit salad and cheese and biscuits - all for the very reasonable price of £15 per head.  Excellent food and company throughout with some good raffle prizes including a signed copy of the, by now,  famous Winterslow Calendar Girls Calendar.

We were also fortunate to secure the opera singer, Nicola Kirsch of "Stars in their Eyes" fame to come and sing to us with excerpts from a number of arias and, in one case, a duet from well known operas including Puccini, Rossini and Mozart.  A fantastic evening with many guests and wives with us.  Sarum lodge can be justly proud that even if it is a small lodge, it can really do things in style and has a very welcoming ambience.  We enjoy our freemasonry and long may it continue.