Members of the British Community Council

The Lancaster Lodge

Contacts:

Any member of a recognized constitution who would like to visit, or join, the Lodge or Chapter is invited to contact;

António Capucho-Paulo
Email:antoniopaulo.ca@mail.telepac.pt

Tel: (+351) 913 064 061 Fax: n/a

Website: n/a Diary: diary entries (3)

Description:

Lancaster Lodge is a Masonic Lodge under the English Constitution and welcomes visiting Masons from other constitutions recognized by the United Grand Lodge of England. It has been in existence in Estoril for 15 years and by the very nature of expatriate life has a fairly steady turnover of members. During that time we have had members of five different nationalities all of whom have welcomed the opportunity of continuing their Masonic careers whilst in Portugal. There is also, of course, a core of long term resident members of the Lodge.

There is also a Royal Arch Chapter attached to the Lodge.

Masonry has often been misunderstood by those outside it, particularly in Mediterranean countries where it does tend to have political associations. English Masonry is very different and it is forbidden to talk religion or politics at our meetings, whether in the lodge or at the dinner afterwards.

Another aspect which causes confusion is its secrecy. It is NOT a secret Society, but a Society with Secrets. These, in fact, are merely the signs and words with which an operative mason would have identified his qualifications and skills before the days of written diplomas. They are now the “key” to enter a lodge. Everything else is open.

One of our main interests is Charity, but unlike many associations such as Rotary, Lions, Round Table etc. we raise all our money within Masonry, but approximately 50% of this is given to non-masonic charities. Sometimes there is criticism of Masonry “they only look after themselves” not true, as shown above. However, “Charity begins at home” and all the Medieval Guilds had two purposes, one to control training of apprentices and standards of workmanship and secondly as a mutual society, the fore-runners of insurance societies! If that is wrong then so is life insurance!

Lancaster Lodge meets on the third Mondays of January, March, May, September, October and November. The 2008 dates are 21st January, 17th March, 19th May, 15th September, 20th October and 17th November. The Ladies Evening will be held on Saturday 17th May.