Lodge of Unanimity No. 154

History of the Lodge and its membership

In December 1766 a group of Freemasons who were businessmen and surgeons in the Wakefield area, submitted a petition to form a Masonic Lodge in Wakefield.  Most of these members were associated with legal and health professions. The first meetings were held in a room in the George and Crown Inn in Silver Street but later moved to the Black Bull Tavern. It was here that the Provincial Grand Lodge had its first meeting and stayed there for the next 70 years alongside Unanimity. So Unanimity predates Provincial Grand Lodge.

In 1859 the Lodge moved to the ‘Old Rectory House’ on what became Zetland Street, named in honour of the 2nd Earl of Zetland, who was at the time the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England. This became the City’s Masonic Hall and is still enjoyed by the Freemasons of Wakefield. Continuous and uninterrupted meetings have taken place there ever since.

Today, we have members from various walks of life, legal professionals, academics, scientists, Engineers, Retired emergency Services, and Naval Officers to name but a few.”

Our Meetings

Our “Regular Meetings”, where we admit and advance members, and change our Officers for the year, are held at the Masonic Hall Zetland Street, Wakefield. WF1 1QT on the first Monday of the months of October, November, December, February, March, April, and June starting at 6.30 pm. We then dine at 8.00 pm, with the evening finishing at about 10.00 pm.

The dress code is dark suit (or morning suit), white collar, tie (plain black, or Masonic tie), black shoes. On other Tuesdays throughout this period there is an informal get-together to practice certain parts of the meeting and have a discussion over a drink. We try to get together socially at other times during the year involving our partners.

Costs

The annual membership fee is £200, payable at the start of each year. As well as covering the running costs of the Lodge it includes the annual membership fee of the United Grand Lodge of England, the Provincial Grand Lodge of Yorkshire West Riding, and the Masonic Hall. As a paid-up Lodge member, you can attend meetings of other Lodges for no extra fee (apart from dining). We have a three-course meal after each of our “Regular Meetings”, costing £13. There is also a one-off fee for becoming a member of the Lodge, which is in the order of £130 which covers administration costs. Discounts can be applied to some of these fees for members under the age of 25.

Charity is important to Freemasons, and we are invited to make donations to Masonic and non-Masonic causes. How much you donate is between you and your own personal circumstances. There is no minimum or maximum level of donation.

Membership – who are we looking for?

 The membership of Lodge of Unanimity consists of people of all different age ranges and from all walks of life. Our youngest ever member was 21, and our eldest in his 100’s. We have people from a range of professions and we are not a speciality Lodge, meaning we welcome people from all backgrounds.

We ask all members to attend as many meetings, both regular and practice nights as possible. In Freemasonry we always say the more you put in, the more you will get out of it. We have a Lodge Mentor who will work with new members to help advance their knowledge of Masonry. The new member is also supported in his journey by his proposer and seconder, but ultimately we are all there to help each other with knowledge.

• All new members are encouraged to be involved with various aspects of the Lodge, both inside and outside the Lodge room. Ultimately, we understand that different people move at different paces and therefore we work with each member in a way that is comfortable to them and helps them get the most out of their Masonic career..

What promises are made?

As a Freemason you are accepted into a community that prides “honour and virtue above the external advantages of rank and fortune” and so other Freemasons will see you as being friendly and trustworthy. As you may wish to attend meetings or gatherings where you are not known, there are ways of proving that you are a Freemason.  When you become a member you are asked to declare that:

• You voluntarily seek membership and for honest reasons.
• You seek membership because you agree with its principles and a desire to improve yourself.
• You agree that you will act and abide by the principles and traditions of Freemasonry.
• You will not disclose anything to a non-member that you have been asked not to.

What will I get from membership?

People join for many different reasons. For most, it is an opportunity to meet with like-minded individuals. It is a chance to be part of a team and to develop skills, such as leadership, administration, and public speaking. It is an opportunity to expand your social life and make new friendships with those whose lives would otherwise have never crossed paths with your own. It is a chance to become involved in your community and act charitably. You will become a member of a worldwide organisation with a long history in continuing traditional values.

How do I join?

Just ask! So don’t wait to be asked. Ask to meet with us, chat online, or come along to one of our social events. Ask questions. If you decide that you would like to join we will ask you to complete an application form. Your membership will be proposed at a Regular Meeting and will ballot (vote) at the one that follows.
If the ballot is successful, you can join and be initiated at that meeting or at another one within 1 year. If you were to ask any of our members if they regret anything about their membership, they are likely to say that they wish that they had joined sooner!