Pelham Lodge 1303
What’s it about?
For many Masonry is about Fun, Charity and Ritual and Pelham Lodge prides itself on all three.
For charity we always strive to exceed our targets and are viewed highly by Province and Grand Lodge alike, helping those less fortunate wherever possible and trying to make a difference.
Pelham also looks after the widows of former Members as well as those that are sick, providing assistance, company and encouragement where required.
Ritual and floor work in Masonry is like acting: with scripts to learn and floor work to rehearse. Pelham is renowned for its excellence in both of these areas and are regularly invited to assist other Lodges in their Ceremonies. We do not use the ritual books during our meetings to refer to, and rely on the strength and knowledge of our members to assist where required.
As an individual you will quickly work out what you get from Masonry and everyone gets something different from it, but always with the support of the brethren.
Members are encouraged to progress through the Offices so that all members that are either Past Masters (those that have been Master before) or progressing through for the first time, will be assisted, coached and supported from day one.
Like everything, the more you put into Masonry at Pelham, the more you learn and the more satisfaction you get. We offer praise and support at all time.
Want to know more?
People join Masonry for many difference reasons, including, to meet new like-minded people, to help with their confidence or to help support worthy causes and charities. We are not in it for personal gain, in fact this is frowned upon in our constitution – but we are there to try to improve ourselves, both personally and as members of Society.
Our oldest member is over 90 and our youngest in his 20’s.
If you see a group of men in dark suits having fun in a pub, they are not necessarily undertakers after a stressful day!
If you are interested, please contact us on the below email address for more information, or to arrange to meet-up for a chat.
History of Pelham Lodge
THE ANCIENT CHARGES define a Lodge as “a place where freemasons assemble to work and to instruct and improve themselves in the mysteries of the ancient science. In an extended sense it applies to persons as well as to place; hence every regular assembly or duly organised meeting of masons is called a lodge”.
There have been two Masonic Halls in Lewes, both on the same site. The original Masonic Hall was built by South Saxon Lodge in 1797.
Apart from some passing military Lodges, the Pelham is the fourth Lodge to have found a home in the Historic County Town.
The Warrant was issued by the Grand Master in February 1870 and the Lodge Consecrated on Friday 22nd April of that year.
The Lodge is named after Lord Pelham who was the Provincial Grand Master of Sussex when it was consecrated in 1870. At that time, he was correctly known as the Hon. Walter John, Lord Pelham of Stanmer, in the County of Sussex. He was born in 1838 and was a descendent of a long line of Pelhams extending back to Norman times.
We celebrated our 150 years in April 2020. As we were formed before the Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex we do not have to align to the Sussex Ritual and therefore have some very unique and quirky traditions that we are very proud of.
When we meet
Pelham meets on the last Friday of the month from September to May (nine times each year) which was traditionally pay day for many. It still attracts both members and visitors alike and makes our meetings varied, fun and relaxed.
Our April meeting is our “Installation Meeting” where we install a new Master for the ensuing year. This is a grand affair with 60+ in attendance including dignitaries from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex.
We also hold Lodge of Instruction (LOI) meetings on the First Thursday of the Month, from September to May (again nine times), this is where we learn our floor work and practice our ritual. Just like actors rehearsing for a play. We tend to act up an office or two so that we are prepared for forthcoming years.
Each year in March we hold a “Lodge of Instruction Festival”, inviting a new Provincial dignitary to demonstrate our learnings and expose a ‘new’ team to the roles they may be moving into. We constantly amaze them with our dedication, capability and togetherness.
Social & Dining
Pelham dines (Festive Boards) off-site after each meeting in dining rooms at local pubs, restaurants and hotels, which gives a varied dimension to the evening and gets us out in the community.
We have a licenced bar in the Lodge in the Temple that is stocked and run ourselves, this is great for pre-dinner drinks after a short meeting or at our “May Supper” where we have a relaxed evening, sometimes over fish & chips and beer.
We have several social evenings where we invite friends and families such as a Curry Night, Whisky tasting, Jazz lunches, quizzes and our annual Burns Night Supper after our January meeting where we perform a traditional Burns Night ceremony with a Piper and an Address to the Haggis.
We have also had Whisky Nights and Brewery Tours in the past and always keen for new ideas and involvement from others.
Charity
For Charity we collect donations in Lodge or at our Festive Boards which usually go to our Benevolent Fund. We decide and have complete control over how this money is dispersed.
We also give what we can afford to the broader Masonic Charities on a monthly basis. This has the benefit from Gift Aid, enhancing the fund by 20%. Masonic Charities are managed by a Provincial Team, but all Lodges have a say as to how the money is used which means that as Masons we are fully in control and can make a massive difference to many smaller charities.
In 2018 we were proud to personally deliver £1,000 to the Evalina Children’s Hospital, £500 to Ylena (a poor young lady with a rare condition) and £1,400 to the Dame Vera Lynn Children’s charity.
Jointly with another Lewes Lodge, we secured a Provincial pledge of £10,000 for a lad called Jakey via Sullivan’s Heroes. Guys and St Thomas’s Children’s Theatre benefited from £500, and we made further donations to Chailey Heritage Enterprise Centre, St Peters & St James Hospice and St Catherine’s Hospice; These charities were nominated by our members.
Our widows are all presented with a gift at Christmas.