It is a well established custom in Freemasonry that visiting is at the heart of our masonic traditions. Visiting lodges other than your own is an important, and enjoyable, part of Freemasonry in order to get the most out of it. Visiting allows you the benefit of meeting new people, seeing ‘same but different‘ ceremonies, enjoying the fraternity of the festive board and building friendships & connections.
However, as many brothers new to masonry have found, it takes time to build up the connections to enjoy such visiting; new and junior Freemasons don’t know other masons to invite, or to be invited by and, unlike for example a Masters’ Night, organised visits specifically for them are not common. Freemasonry has structures in place to encourage visiting as older Masons, but we don’t have structures in place to make it easy for new and junior Freemasons.
In January 2023 The Lodge of Dawn changed this. We hosted a ‘New & Young Masons’ night where 14 junior masons from across the local area joined us for a great night of brotherly love and fraternity. See picture below;
The 2nd Annual New & Young Masons Night
Following the success of last year’s event, we’re doing it all again… but this time bigger and better!
Our January 2024 meeting, a Second Degree ceremony, will again be ‘New & Young Masons Night’, in association with Leeds Light Blues. In addition there will also be a short talk by W Bro. Tony Harvey PJGD, Prestonian 2012 lecturer, on the topic ‘Freemasonry; the next generation’.
If you would like to attend, please book here.
This is an Open Invitation to all newer Masons from any lodge whether they are an EA, FC or MM, who have not been through The Chair, within Leeds and the surrounding area (Area 5, plus parts of Area 3). Members of Leeds Light Blues will also be in attendance. The Lodge of Dawn will ensure that as many of our new and younger and junior Masons are in attendance too, in order to welcome, meet and interact with everyone that attends.
In order to make you welcome, your first drink with us will also be covered by the Lodge, for all new and young visiting Masons who attend.
The venue is Castle Grove Masonic Hall. Date: Tuesday January 23rd. Time: 5.45 for a 6.15 start.
If you are a junior mason and would like to attend, please book here.
FAQs
We would consider anyone who is not yet close The Chair as ‘newer’, or has recently joined Freemasonry, or hasn’t done a lot of visiting.
The Lodge of Dawn meets at Castle Grove Masonic Hall, Headingley LS6 4BP. Please see here for a map and details.
Yes, of course you can. We will have two EAs from The Lodge of Dawn in attendance, so when we move into the Second Degree and you leave the lodge for a short period, you will not be the only one doing so. You should be able to use your time out of the lodge to get to know other EAs. Please ensure you bring your apron.
Yes of course you can. The event is to encourage new masons to meet other new masons, irrelevant of age.
Formed in 2019, the Leeds Light Blues is a club for Freemasons and invited masonic candidates, around the Leeds and Wakefield area, to socialise, learn from and support each other at the start of their individual masonic journeys. The LLB is a complementary addition to a brother’s craft lodge experience. More details can be found here.
Yes of course you can. We selected Area 5 as that is where we are based, and with travel distances in mind. But if you are anywhere in the Province of Yorkshire West Riding, or indeed anywhere else, you are more than welcome to attend. We would be delighted to see you.
The cloakrooms are up the stairs and to your left. Upon your arrival one of our brethren will be happy to assist you. There is free parking available at Castle Grove.
Yes there are. There is a Premier Inn just down the road from us and the Village Hotel up the road. Both are 3 minutes drive away. There is also Haleys Hotel, which is a privately owned country-style hotel just 4 minutes away. In addition, as we are in close vicinity to Headingley Stadium there are a wide variety of B&Bs and AirBnBs available too.
If you have any further questions regarding our New and Young Masons Night, in association with Leeds Light Blues, please contact us at hello@thelodgeofdawn.co.uk.
We look forward to a wonderful night of sincere and fraternal friendship and camaraderie.