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.