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.

Our December Meeting

As usual, this took the form of our "Boscombe Night" meeting when we invited the Worshipful Master, Wardens and Brethren of Boscombe Lodge No. 2158 from Bournemouth to join us.  The visitors, of whom there were a large number from a number of different provinces, were treated to an excellent demonstration of the First Degree Ceremony (Initiation).   The "candidate" was a freemason from Southampton who is a regular visitor to our lodge.  As our Secretary had sent invitations to all the reigning masters within the Wiltshire Province, as well as the members of Boscombe Lodge, the meeting and festive board were very well attended.  Instead of the traditional Christmas turkey for dinner, the caterers provided us with venison pie - which was an excellent alternative.  A really enjoyable evening indeed.  Although we remain a small lodge, we attract a large number of visitors now which really adds to the richness of our meetings (as did the venison!).  Long may it continue.

Installation Meeting - Wednesday 2nd November 2011

Our postponed Installation Meeting took place at 5.30 p.m. on Wednesday 2nd November 2011 at Freemasons' Hall, Crane Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire.  The Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Wiltshire, Very Worshipful Brother Peter Winton, PGSwdB, was in attendance together with the Provincial Team that would have attended the October meeting.  This was a very nice touch as it meant that those active officers who retired at the Annual Meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge on Thursday 6th October 2011, were given the opportunity to take part in what would have been their traditional "swansong".  This  included Sarum's own W. Bro. Rod Elliott who had just retired as Provincial Grand Standard Bearer.  Many reigning masters and other visitors attended our meeting in November.  We remain a small, but very friendly lodge.  A warm welcome will always await you.  The Officers of the lodge installed on the night are listed elsewhere on this blogsite.

Our October Meeting

The Installation Meeting, which was scheduled to take place at 5.30 p.m. on Wednesday 5th October 2011 at Crane Street, Salisbury,  had to be postponed until Wednesday 2nd November 2011 as a fresh election for Worshipful Master took place at the scheduled October meeting.  The previous Master Elect, W. Bro. Chris Lush, has been unable to proceed into the Chair of King Solomon for personal reasons. Worshipful Brother Stephen Lindsay, however, was unanimously elected the new Master Elect and he is currently putting together his Officers for the Masonic Year 2011-2012.   The current Worshipful Master, W. Bro. John Clough gave an excellent and very educational explanation of the First Degree Tracing Board.  We were delighted to have a number of visiting brethren with us who also joined us for an excellent Festive Board of soup, steak and ale pie,  pears and ice cream followed by cheese and biscuits. Our Worshipful Master also treated the brethren to a bottle of port to enjoy with their cheese.  A very enjoyable evening indeed.

Meeting - Wednesday 4th May 2011

Our last meeting took place on Wednesday 4th May 2011 at Salisbury Masonic Centre, Crane Street, Salisbury beginning at 6.30 p.m. At this meeting the Worshipful Master for the next masonic year was elected, as well as the Treasurer and Tyler. Other essential masonic business, mainly of an administrative nature, was also carried out.  W. Bro. Chris Lush was delcared the Master-Elect and W. Bro. Norman Barter is to continue as Treasurer. Following the meeting,  a special dinner was provided for brethren, their ladies, partners and other guests at which a magician, a very popular act last year, entertained the diners.

W. Bro. D Roy Mills, PPrJGW - RIP

It is with the deepest regret that we record the passing to the Grand Lodge Above of our esteemed brother, Roy Mills, who had only so recently been honoured with the rank of Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden by our Provincial Grand Master.

Roy was an inspiration to us all. We record the condolences of all the brethren of this lodge to his widow, Sybil.

In the words of one of our rituals, "Roy, you lived respected and died regretted". Rest in Peace.

Our Last Meeting - Wednesday 6th April 2011

Our last meeting took place at Freemasons' Hall, Crane Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire on Wednesday 6th April 2011. The meeting took the form of passing Bro. Richard Watts to the Degree of a Fellowcraft (Second Degree) and Bro. Lee Hill was also be presented with his Grand Lodge Certificate by Past Provincial Grand Master, Brian Edwick. The Worshipful Master conducted the ceremony of passing and W. Bro. Steve Lindsay gave the explanation of the tracing board. An excellent festive board followed - pate and French toast, chicken ham and leek pie, a selection of delightful desserts and cheese and biscuits. The Charity Key Box now stands at the princely sum of over £950 with only eight keys left. A good chance therefore remains to win a sizable amount of money and give an equal amount to charitable causes. Alms collected amounted to just over £25 for other charities.

Province honours W. Bro. Roy Mills

On 21st March 2011 at 2.30 p.m. R.W.Bro Francis Wakem PGM invested W.Bro. Roy Mills as Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden at a ceremony conducted in his home because of his being unable to attend Lodge. In attendance were R.W.Bro. Brian Edwick, PPGM and W. Bros. John Clough, WM Sarum Lodge, Chris Lush, Almoner, Norman Barter and John Hardcastle. While presenting the PPrJGW collar the PGM mentioned Roy's example, inspiration and service to the Lodge over so many years, in recognition of which the members of his Lodge felt he should be promoted. Following the investiture his wife, Sybil, joined the company and W.Bro. Lush presented him with a cake decorated with his name and new Masonic rank and he was enthusiastically toasted in champagne. Messages of congratulations and best wishes from members unable to attend were read.

W.Bro. Roy thanked the PGM and those present and said how humbled he felt and how much he appreciated the honour.

Meeting - Wednesday 2nd March 2011

Our last meeting was held at 6.30 p.m. at Freemasons' Hall, Crane Street, on Wednesday 2nd March 2011 when Bro. Lee Hill was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason.The ceremony was performed by the Worshipful Master, John Clough, and the Traditional History was given by W. Bro. Peter Martin, PPrGSwdB (Sussex) a guest from Brighton & Hove Civic Lodge No. 5223. The working tools were explained by W. Bro. Chris Lush, PPrJGW. The alms raised just over £32 and the key draw (which was not won) now stands at over £900 with a similar amount going to charity. The brethren were feted at the dinner afterwards with vegetable soup, roast lamb, and cheese and biscuits.

Meeting - Wednesday 2nd February 2011

Our last meeting was held at Freemasons' Hall, Crane Street, Salisbury on Wednesday 2nd February 2011. As the Second Degree candidate was not available, this meeting took the form of a demonstration of the Second Degree Ceremony with a member of Hampshire Lodge of Emulation No. 1990 standing in as the candidate. The alms collected in the lodge amounted to just over £42 and the Charity Box now stands at £860. An excellent dinner of roast pork with all the trimmings followed by jam roly-poly and custard was provided afterwards.

Meeting - Wednesday 1st December 2010

Our last meeting was held at Freemason's Hall, Crane Street, Salisbury on Wednesday 1st December 2010. It was our Boscombe Night when we invited members of Boscombe Lodge No. 2158 from the Province of Hampshire & Isle of Wight to join us - continuing a long tradition dating over 60 years. The evening took the form of a demonstration of the Third Degree Ceremony with Bro. Graham Hill from the Lodge of Emulation acting as the candidate because our newest member was unable to attend the meeting to be raised himself due to work commitments. The members had a very convival evening with an excellent festive board afterwards where they were served chicken, leek and ham pie, suet mince pudding with custard and cheese and biscuits. Nobody won the Charity Box which after tonight now stands at a minimum of £804 although the lucky person who picked the key did go home with a bottle of scotch if not the money. Brethren also sang carols ably accompanied on the piano by W. Bro. David Angus. A really pleasant evening was had by all.

Meeting - Wednesday 3rd November 2010

The last meeting of Sarum Lodge took place on the evening of Wednesday 3rd November 2010 at Freemasons' Hall, Crane Street, Salisbury. The meeting took the form of a demonstration of an Initiation Ceremony with quite a few visitors from our neighbouring province of Hampshire & Isle of Wight taking key offices. A further £57 was raised for charity. The Worshipful Master picked the charity box key but did not win its contents. The total of monies now raised by this method exceed £750 with a similar amount available as a prize to the lucky brother. Double helpings of steak and ale pie were available for the lucky diners.

Recent Donations to Charity

Sarum Lodge is delighted to announce that the charity draw box now stands at over £750 which means that an equal amount of money has been made available for local charities.

At our Installation Meeting last week we gave £150 to Salisbury Hospice and a proposition will go before the members at the lodge meeting in November to donate a further £250 to the Provincial Grand Charity who distribute funds to charities throughout Wiltshire. For example, substanial funds have been donated in the past to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Service.

Freemasons do not organise street collections or external fund raising events but all charitable donations come direct from the brethren themselves. A marvellous achievement.

For more information please contact the Lodge Secretary.