The Column Lodge

Lodge Number: 6900
Shrewsbury

Address 
Freemasons’ Hall
Crewe St. Shrewsbury SY1 2HQ

Meeting Date
Second Thursday in month
September to April

Installation Date
January

Lodge Secretary 
Contact the Lodge Secretary

 

Lodge Profile

The Column Lodge was founded in 1949 and during the Consecration Ceremony the Founders were congratulated on their selection of the name for this new lodge. The Column which dominates the South East approach to Shrewsbury was erected in 1816 as a monument to a famous Shropshire Gentleman, Soldier and Mason, Lieutenant-General Rowland Lord Hill. The first stone of the foundation was laid (and paid for) in Masonic Order by the Salopian Lodge of Freemasons No.262 assisted by Brethren from adjoining Lodges who marched through the town, dressed in full regalia, to assist in the laying of the Foundation Stone. The naming of this Lodge is therefore very appropriate. The founder members were Past Masters of Pengwerne Lodge No.2339 and they are therefore our Mother Lodge.

The Column Lodge meets eight times per year, September to April, always on the second Thursday of the month. Our meetings take place at Freemasons’ Hall, Crewe Street, Shrewsbury SY1 2HQ, formerly St Michaels Church. The evening begins at 6-15pm with a Ceremony or an educational presentation followed by other Lodge business. Following this we have a formal meal at about 8.00pm which we call a Festive Board, and the evening normally concludes by about 10pm.

Rehearsals for Ceremonies are held normally on the Tuesday evening before each meeting, and Brethren who are involved are very much encouraged to attend. New members are included early on, and most follow a well-structured progression which ultimately will lead them to become Worshipful Master of the Lodge for a year. In time, Brethren will be encouraged to visit other Lodges, perhaps join other Orders and/or do other work according to their inclination and abilities.

In addition to Masonic meetings, the Lodge holds social events and informal gatherings, and often supports those held by other lodges and the Province. Partners and friends are often welcomed to these.

Charity is central to all our Freemasonry and money raised by the Lodge is donated to its own charities, and also the Shropshire Masonic Charitable Association and National Masonic charities, which give impressive donations to many worthy causes – both Masonic and Non-Masonic.

The Column Lodge members, at present 39 in number, are from many different backgrounds and occupations. We welcome different Faiths, and there is a wide spread of ages across our membership. It is an important rule, however, that religion and politics should never be discussed at a Masonic meeting. Experienced members are tasked with supporting new Brethren through our Mentoring system, thereby ensuring that all new members feel themselves to be an integral part of the Lodge from the outset.

We are a happy lodge and we enjoy our Masonry but, as always, the more you put into it the more you get out of it