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 and Religion

Introduction

The following information is intended to deal with a topic mentioned in the leaflet 'What is Freemasonry'.

It explains the United Grand Lodge of England's view of the relationship between Freemasonry and religion.

Basic Statement

Freemasonry is not a religion, nor is it a substitute for religion. It demands of its members a belief in a Supreme Being but provides no system of faith of its own.

Freemasonry is open to men of all religious faiths. The discussion of religion at its meetings is forbidden.

The Supreme Being

The names used for the Supreme Being enable men of different faiths to join in prayer (to God as each sees Him) without the terms of the prayer causing dissension among them.

There is no separate Masonic God; a Freemason's God remains the God of the religion he professes.

Freemasons meet in common respect for the Supreme Being, but He remains Supreme in their individual religions, and it is no part of Freemasonry to attempt to join religions together. There is therefore no composite Masonic God.

Volume of the Sacred Law

The Bible, referred to by Freemasons as the Volume of the Sacred Law, is always open at every Masonic meeting.

The Obligation of Freemasonry

The Obligations taken by Freemasons are sworn on or involve the Volume of the Sacred Law, or the book held sacred by those concerned. They are undertakings to help keep secret a Freemason's means of recognition, and to follow the principles of Freemasonry.

The physical penalties, which are purely symbolic, do not form part of an Obligation. The commitment to follow the principles of Freemasonry is, however, deep.

Freemasonry Compared with Religion

Freemasonry lacks the basic elements of religion.

It has no theological doctrine, and by forbidding religious discussion at its meetings will not allow a Masonic theological doctrine to develop.

It offers no sacraments.

It does not claim to lead to salvation by works, by secret knowledge or by any other means. The secrets of Freemasonry are concerned with modes of recognition and not with salvation.

Freemasonry Supports Religion

Freemasonry is far from indifferent to religion. Without interfering in religious practise it expects each member to follow his own faith, and to place above all other duties his duty to God, by whatever name He is known. Its moral teachings are acceptable to all religions.

Freemasonry is thus a supporter of religion.