As we settle into 2026, I’m pleased to share what’s shaping up to be a wonderfully varied calendar of events for Lodge 281. Whether you’re a member planning your year ahead, a family member wondering what we get up to, or someone curious about what Masonic lodges actually do beyond our regular meetings, here’s what […]
Lodge 281’s 2026 Events Calendar: A Year of Fellowship, Charity, and Community Read Post »
An Invitation Across Lodges Last evening, I found myself driving to Harmony Lodge No. 63 for one of the most significant events in any Masonic lodge’s calendar: the installation of a new Worshipful Master. The invitation had arrived some weeks earlier from our very own Very Wors. Bro. Sam Waterworth, Secretary of Lodge 281, and
A Night at Harmony Lodge No. 63: Installation, Fellowship, and Irish Masonic Brotherhood Read Post »
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably been quietly curious about Freemasonry for a while now. Perhaps you’ve passed the lodge building and wondered what happens inside. Maybe you know someone who’s a member and they seem to get something valuable from it. Or possibly you’ve done some research online and found yourself more intrigued than
Is Freemasonry Right for You? An Honest Guide for Anyone Considering Joining Lodge 281 Read Post »
Friday 23rd January 2026 A Gathering of Brethren Lodge 281 St Johnston witnessed a truly remarkable evening of Masonic tradition and brotherhood as over 80 Brethren gathered for the Installation Supper and Communication honouring Worshipful Brother Nigel Buchanan W.M. The exceptional turnout demonstrated not only the strength of our Lodge but also the deep bonds
Installation Supper & Communication – A Night of Fellowship and Tradition Read Post »
Good Morning Brethren & Companions, As Chairman of the Hall Management Committee, I would like to wish you all a very Happy, Peaceful, Prosperous, and above all a Healthy New Year. I would also like to thank you sincerely for all the support you have given over the past year for the different functions, events,
A Happy and Healthy New Year to All Read Post »
We often speak of a moral compass, and it is easy to picture it as something that points, something that tells us where to go. But in Freemasonry, the Compasses are not magnetic. They do not point north. They do not direct us outward. They are geometric. And that distinction matters. A magnetic compass seeks
The Geometric compass and the Moral bound Read Post »
To the Brethren who strive, even when the task is demanding. Those who bear their duties with quiet dignity, seeking neither applause nor acknowledgement. Those who choose the path of self-improvement, one day at a time, understanding that transformation is not a single revelation but the patient accumulation of choices made in the right direction.
Merry Christmas (Eve) From All Good Men of Lodge 281 Read Post »
The Brother who called his boss the wrong name for five years and owns a piece of football history Meet Rich Brown, a self-described curious soul from the Maiden City with a sense of humour sharp enough to defuse any tense situation. From sitting next to Alex Higgins at his first football match to owning
Friday’s Child: Rich Brown Read Post »
Last night’s Rickety Wheel event will go down as one of our most successful and memorable evenings yet. From the moment our doors opened, it was clear we were in for something special – a full house of enthusiastic guests, all eager to support the lodge and enjoy a fantastic night of community spirit and
A Night to Remember: Rickety Wheel Event Brings Community Together Read Post »
The Collision of Worlds Let me tell you what most people think when they hear “Freemasonry and technology” in the same sentence: they picture elderly gentlemen in aprons reluctantly learning to use email, perhaps grudgingly maintaining a website that looks like it was designed in 1997, all whilst clinging desperately to dusty traditions nobody understands
Freemasonry’s Digital Revolution: Ancient Wisdom Confronts the Algorithm Read Post »
The Question of Relevance “What’s the point of Freemasonry in 2025?” It’s a fair question. In an age where you can order dinner, find a date, and learn quantum physics all from your phone, what possible use is a three-hundred-year-old organisation with rituals, regalia, and rather a lot of ceremony? Isn’t it just an outdated
The Role of Freemasonry in Modern Society: Why Ancient Wisdom Still Matters Read Post »
As the winter nights draw in and the festive season approaches, there is no better way to embrace the Christmas spirit than by gathering with friends and neighbours for an evening of traditional music and community fellowship. The St. Johnston Masonic Hall Management Committee is delighted to announce that their Annual Community Carol Service is
Festive Spirit Returns to St. Johnston: Annual Community Carol Service Read Post »
6th November 2025 – The White Horse Hotel, Campsie, Londonderry There’s something profoundly moving about witnessing the peaceful transfer of authority within an ancient institution. On Thursday, 6th November 2025, the Provincial Grand Lodge of Londonderry and Donegal gathered at the White Horse Hotel in Campsie for a stated communication that would mark both continuity
A Historic Evening: Provincial Grand Lodge Installation 2025 Read Post »
From Dublin Docks to Continental Courts: How Irish Freemasons Built Europe’s Most Influential Brotherhood Picture this: a cold evening in a French garrison town, 1745. An Irish officer enters an unfamiliar tavern, far from home, surrounded by strangers. He makes a peculiar gesture, offers an unusual handshake, and suddenly doors open. Within hours, he has
How Irish Freemasons Built Europe’s Most Influential Brotherhood Read Post »
The Crisis of Atomisation and the Ancient Solution Let me tell you something about modern Ireland that you already know but perhaps haven’t articulated clearly: we are more “connected” than ever before, yet we are desperately, catastrophically alone. We’ve got our smartphones, our social media feeds, our ability to communicate instantly with anyone anywhere.
The Festive Board: Order, Meaning, and Brotherhood Read Post »
