Lodge of Honour Regular Meeting March 2026

The March 2026 Regular Meeting of the Lodge of Honour took place on Monday 9 March 2026 at the historic Bath Masonic Hall. It proved to be an engaging and well-attended meeting, combining official Lodge business with an informative presentation and the reception for the delegation from the Province as part of the Provincial Fraternal Visit.

Provincial Fraternal Visit

The Lodge was honoured to receive a Provincial Fraternal Visit (PFV) from Tony Guthrie, Assistant Provincial Grand Master, representing the Provincial Grand Master. He was accompanied by Paul Wilson and a number of Provincial Officers, making the evening a special occasion for members and visitors alike.

Lodge Business and Somerset Festival Support

During the meeting, the Lodge formally passed a Notice of Motion to donate to the Somerset Festival 2031 in support of the Masonic Charitable Foundation. The Lodge already has several members signed up to regular direct donations to the Festival, demonstrating a strong commitment to supporting Masonic charitable causes.

The Lodge also balloted for and welcomed two additional joiners, bringing the total number of new members joining the Lodge this year to five.

Tracing Board CSI – An Engaging Presentation

The Lodge temporarily called off from labour to refreshment to hear a fascinating presentation entitled “Tracing Board CSI.”

The talk was delivered by W. Bro. Paul Sharp, assisted by eight members of the Lodge, and explored the history, symbolism, and significance of the three Tracing Boards, one for each of the Craft degrees.

The presentation was both informative and thought-provoking, providing insight into the deeper meaning behind the visual symbols that form an important part of Masonic teaching. It prompted a lively question and answer session, with many brethren and visitors contributing to the discussion.

Following the presentation, the Lodge resumed from refreshment to labour, and the Worshipful Master thanked W. Bro. Paul Sharp for the considerable time and effort involved in preparing the presentation, as well as the brethren who assisted in bringing it to life.

Members later commented that the talk was something refreshingly different, and that they would welcome more presentations of this nature in future meetings.

Address from the APGM

At the Rising of the Lodge, W. Bro. Tony Guthrie thanked the Lodge on behalf of the Province and the Masonic Charitable Foundation for its ongoing contributions toward the Somerset Festival 2031.

He also spoke about the Membership Challenge, highlighting how the initiative has helped Lodges across the Province engage new members, retain existing brethren, and strengthen Lodge communities.

A Sociable Festive Board

The Festive Board that followed continued the evening’s spirit of fellowship. On this occasion, the protocol was deliberately informal, with members of the Provincial team seated among their Lodge counterparts. This allowed for lively conversations about their respective offices, the challenges they face, and opportunities to share best practices.

The evening’s meal was a traditional favourite:

• Roast Beef with all the trimmings, including Yorkshire pudding
• Extra Yorkshire puddings and gravy available on request
• Lemon Posset for dessert

The meal was thoroughly enjoyed by all, and the Lodge also held its regular raffle, raising funds for the Worshipful Master’s chosen charity.

Toast to the Province

In response to the Worshipful Master’s Toast to the Province, W. Bro. Tony Guthrie shared a personal reflection, recalling a time when he had once stood in as an officer of the Lodge when it was short of officers. He expressed his pleasure in seeing the Lodge thriving once again and moving in a positive direction.

He also noted that this visit would be his final Provincial Fraternal Visit as Assistant Provincial Grand Master, as he will soon be stepping down from that role, though he will continue to serve Freemasonry in other capacities.

He encouraged the Lodge to continue its excellent work, particularly in:

• Engaging and supporting junior members
• Attracting new members
• Maintaining the positive momentum currently evident within the Lodge

He concluded by saying he had greatly enjoyed both the meeting and the Festive Board, and expressed his hope to return again in the future.

 

Looking Ahead

The Worshipful Master reminded the brethren that March marked the final meeting of the Lodge season before the summer break. However, members were encouraged to continue visiting other Lodges, particularly sister Lodges in Bath and across the Province.

The Membership Officer and several members have already expressed interest in visiting Royal Sussex Lodge at the Bath Masonic Hall on 13 April 2026.

Curry Club

The Secretary also reminded brethren of upcoming Lodge of Honour Curry Club gatherings. Following a Lodge poll:

• March Curry Club will take place at Thailand Wok on Moorland Road
• April Curry Club is likely to be held at either Bandook Kitchen or Root Spice

Members, visitors, family, and friends are always welcome to attend these popular social events. Remember to follow our curry club calendar for further information.

Pot Luck and Summer Events

Brethren also agreed that the Lodge will continue to support the Somerset 2031 Festival through its regular social events and fundraising activities, including:

• The Lodge Pot Luck evening
• The Lodge of Honour Curry Club
• The popular Ladies Weekend

Positive Membership Growth

The Lodge continues to experience encouraging growth in membership. With five new joiners this year, along with two junior members progressing through the degrees from Entered Apprentice and Fellow Craft toward Master Mason, the Lodge currently enjoys a net positive growth of seven members.

Looking ahead, the Lodge hopes to welcome one or two new initiates in the coming months, inviting prospective members to join social gatherings such as the Curry Club and other Lodge events, allowing them to experience the fellowship of the Lodge and determine whether it is the right home for their Masonic journey.

The March meeting therefore closed on a very positive note, reflecting both the strong fraternal spirit of the Lodgeand its optimistic outlook for the future.