Joining
Shern Hall Lodge No.5004

Shern Hall Lodge is very keen to introduce new members and invites you to approach the contact provided on this site or a known member about joining. This person will be your proposer. A seconder will be introduced to you to support your application.

We will meet and get to know you and your family through invitations to social events or an arranged convenient meeting.

We will introduce you to other members and eventually invite you to attend an interview with our committee members. You attend the meeting with your proposer

After successful recommendation from this committee you will be given a date to attend your first meeting.

To become a member you have to ask someone you know who is a mason, if you can join. He will give you any information you need and start the process leading to an application form.

Members are not meant to solicit your application. We rely on you forming a good opinion of Freemasonry and the human qualities of its members.

You must have belief in a Supreme being. You must understand that there is no pecuniary advantage in being a mason and we do not favour members in business or other matters. The minimum age for membership is 21years. Membership is restricted to males.

Your proposer has a responsibility to ensure that you can meet the financial commitments without detriment to yourself or connections. You must be in a position to commit to attending the meetings.(subject to private and business availability)

We recommend that you have the support and approval of your wife or partner before applying to join.

The active presentation of good moral  behaviour.

The support given to Charity in confidence.

The concern for others particularly our brother freemasons.

(most members are engaged in community activities outside of Freemasonry)

Freemasonry requires a belief in a supreme being, but does not practise or teach a particular religion.

Religion and politics are banned as topics of discussion during our meetings.

The structure of our meetings is laid out in a summons (agenda) sent to you before the meeting and consists of formal business (minutes etc. charity, welfare) and a ceremony involving the progression of a recent new member.

The ceremonies involve many brethren in different duties which are generally learnt and rehearsed in advance and over a number of years in a separate weekly get together. The purpose of learning the ceremonies is to impress on your mind the values and morals portrayed and to make a lasting experience of brotherhood and friendship.

When you join Freemasonry you take an obligation during a moving ceremony and become an Initiate.

At other meetings you will experience further ceremonies and advance your knowledge until you become a Master Mason. From heron you may start to take an active part in the workings of the lodge and help others to learn and understand the moral and social principles involved in being a mason.

Progression means taking on an increasing role during the meetings until one day you may be installed as the Master ofthe lodge for a year.

We are not a secret society and access is available to all we do and practice. The meaning of secrecy in our organisation is not about withholding critical information, but is a tool teaches us to respect anything we may be told in confidence by others.  A mason will not divulge such information and betray that trust. We are given a knowledge of various means of contact as a test of that trust.