Information about Freemasonry English Freemasonry today

"True ancient" Freemasonry is a fraternal society of men:  members, and those wishing to join, must be aged at least 21 years, have a religious faith (termed: a belief in a Supreme Being), and be of good character ^note.    To become a Freemason you need to apply to join an individual Lodge - there are some 8,600 or so Lodges currently warranted under the United Grand Lodge of England:  about 800 of these are overseas.

The main activity of Freemasonry in society today is that of supporting a large number of Charities.    Please click on the button for details.

For administrative purposes, Lodges in England and Wales (outside London) are organized into Provincial Grand Lodges, each presided over by a Provincial Grand Master.  Most of the overseas lodges, are similarly organized into District Grand Lodges.  Some more isolated lodges are either grouped under a Grand Inspector or administered individually from London.

Note: The United Grand Lodge of England expects certain standards of conduct from its members and from those applying to join.  Please see the declaration which has to be signed by all candidates applying to be initiated into a Lodge for a better understanding of what is meant by the term "of good character".

Members whose conduct is incompatible with continued membership (such as committing a serious criminal offence) will be invited to resign, failing which they will be expelled from the Order.

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