Open Morning at Fidelity and Sincerity

The Wellington community had the chance to discover more about the Freemasons at an event held last week when the Wellington Masonic Lodge held an open morning with coffee, tea and cake in the Masonic Hall at Twyford Place and visitors included the Mayor, Cllr Marcus Barr.

The Lodge of Fidelity and Sincerity No.1966, as we know it today, was consecrated in Wellington Town Hall on 13th June, 1882. There were eight founder members who set up the Lodge and the First Worshipful Master was Rev Preb. George Knowling, Vicar of the Parish of Wellington.

Following the first meeting, a banquet was held at the Squirrel Hotel, Wellington when the menu included a selection of mock turtle or green pea soup, round of beef, baron of lamb, savoury brawn, pigeon pie, thatched pie, lobster in aspic followed by tipsy cake, raspberry tart and many more mouth watering choices.

In 1884, the Lodge purchased its current building “a former animal feed and fertiliser store” off Mantle Street, where some 139 years later they still meet once a month to carry out the business of the lodge.

Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest social and charitable organisations.  For Freemasons, there are four important values which help define their path through life: integrity, friendship, respect and charity.  In today’s world filled with uncertainty, these principles ring as true as they have at any point in the organisation’s history.