The Royds Lodge No. 1204

Antient Free and Accepted Masons

Famous Masons

Dr. T. J. Barnardo (1845-1905). Philanthropist, and founder and director of homes for destitute children. His work is continued today by the charity Barnardo's.

Burns, Robert (1759-1796). Scottish poet and lyricist. He was regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement and after his death became an important source of inspiration to the founders of liberalism and socialism.

Churchill, Sir Winston L. S. (1874-1965). British politician known chiefly for his leadership during World War II. He served as Prime Minister from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955.

Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan (1859-1930). Author noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, which are generally regarded as a major innovation in the field of crime fiction.

Kipling, J. Rudyard (1865-1936). English author and poet, best known for his works The Jungle Book, Just So Stories and Kim. He was the first author writing in the English language to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature and remains its youngest ever recipient.

Sir Leonard Hutton (1916-1990). English cricketer who dominated the national and international cricket scene for the decade following the Second World War. He was honoured with the England team captaincy, breaking an age-old tradition that the position could be held only by an amateur.

Capt. Robert Falcon Scott, RN (1868 - 1912). British Royal Naval officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic regions, reaching the South Pole on the 18th January 1912.

Latest News

July 8th: Appeal 2011, held in support of the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys, has so far raised the magnificent sum of £440,611. More...

June 25th: An architectural photographer tries to unravel the semiotics of a Victorian church on the brink of closure... More...

May 26th: W. Bro. Bill Kirk celebrates 50 years in Freemasonry! More...

May 26th:The Freemasons' Grand Charity has approved a grant to support relief efforts following the recent earthquake in south-western China. More...

May 13th:The Freemasons' Grand Charity provides an initial grant of £20,000 to help the victims of the Burma cyclone. More...

April 10th A collection of images taken by Mr Andy Marshall, an architectural photographer who recently recorded the interior of St Edmund's Church, are now available. More...

March 15th Freemasons approve £1.5 million for non-Masonic charities. More...

March 15th Appointments and promotions to Grand Rank, congratulations W. Bro. Roger! More...

Feb 6th: The Freemasons' Grand Charity has approved a grant of £10,000 to the District Grand Lodge of East Africa's Grand Charity, complementing local relief efforts. More...

Jan 21st: Trace the history of your Lodge using The Library and Museum of Freemasonry's Lodge Family Tree Charts. More...

Nov 23rd: The Freemasons' Grand Charity is supporting the relief work of the Red Cross with an emergency grant of £20,000. More...

Sept 24th: The Worshipful Master and three Past Masters of The Royds Lodge No. 1204 visited The Royds Lodge No. 816 on Thursday 13th September 2007. More...

July 1st: W. Bro. the Rev. J. C. Guise, a member of The Royds Lodge and Provincial Grand Chaplain of Worcestershire, conducted the re-dedication of a Worcestershire Victoria Cross holder's grave at St Mary's Parish Church, Kempsey. More...

[News Archive]

Freemasonry's External Relations

Introduction

The following information is intended to expand a topic mentioned in the leaflet 'What is Freemasonry'. It explains the United Grand Lodge of England's relations with other Masonic bodies.

Freemasonry is practised under many independent Grand Lodges with principles or standards similar to those set by the United Grand Lodge of England throughout its history.

Standards

To be recognised as regular by the United Grand Lodge of England, a Grand Lodge must meet the following standards.

It must have been lawfully established by a regular Grand Lodge or by three or more private Lodges, each warranted by a regular Grand Lodge.

It must be truly independent and self-governing, with undisputed authority over Craft - or basic - Freemasonry (i.e. the symbolic degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason) within its jurisdiction and not subject in any other way to or sharing power with any other Masonic body.

Freemasons under its jurisdiction must be men, and it and its Lodges must have no Masonic contact with Lodges which admit women to membership.

Freemasons under its jurisdiction must believe in a Supreme Being.

All Freemasons under its jurisdiction must take their Obligations on or in full view of the Volume of the Sacred Law (i.e. the Bible) or the book held sacred by the man concerned.

The three 'Great Lights' of Freemasonry, (i.e. the Volume of the Sacred Law, the square and the Compasses) must be on display when the Grand Lodge or its subordinate Lodges are open.

The discussion of religion and politics within its Lodges must be prohibited.

It must adhere to the established principles and tenets (the 'Ancient Landmarks') and customs of the Craft, and insist on their being observed within its Lodges.

Irregular and Unrecognised Grand Lodges

There are some self-styled Masonic bodies that do not meet these standards, e.g. which do not require a belief in a Supreme Being, or which allow or encourage their members to participate as such in political matters. These bodies are recognised by the Grand Lodge of England as being Masonically irregular, and Masonic contact with them is forbidden.