What We Do at our Meetings

What happens at our Lodge Meetings?

Freemasonry in England & Wales is organised into smaller units called Lodges, where meetings are held and members gather together. A Freemason Lodge is a place where members will spend a significant part of their journey in Freemasonry, and each member can freely choose the Lodge they wish to be part of. We, of course, encourage prospective members to join Agricola Lodge 1991 in York, which was predominantly a military lodge when it was founded in 1883. Since that time, the lodge has evolved to include brethren from all walks of life, age groups, ethnicity, faiths and backgrounds.

Lodge meetings are typically held in two parts. The first involves more administrative procedures, such as proposing and balloting for new members and receiving news about charitable fundraising. The second part focuses on ceremonies, which might relate to areas such as the admittance of new members or the installation of the Master of the Lodge and his officers – a process made up of three degrees, or stages, each marked by a special ceremony.

When do we meet?

The Three Degrees of Freemasonry

When a person is initiated into Freemasonry, they complete the First Degree. At this point, they become an ‘Entered Apprentice’. The First Degree ceremony reminds us that all are equal – it is the responsibility of those who do well to look after those less fortunate. 

Upon completion of the Second Degree, a member becomes a ‘Fellowcraft Freemason’. This encourages members to better themselves through education and focuses on self-development. 

After this, the member will then undertake the Third Degree. This ceremony teaches them how to use their life wisely and be remembered for the right reasons. On completion, they become a 'Master Mason'.