Like many organizations, Freemasonry has been affected by the pandemic, with Lodges having to close temporarily and events and meetings being cancelled or postponed, thus harming the growth of the organization, at least in the short term.
over the past few months Northumberland Province has seen a steady growth in attendance with Lodges growing in numbers.
Last week saw two Lodges in Wallsend, meet on two consecutive evenings, with in excess of 75 Freemasons in attendance each night, Throughout the Province of Northumberland we have seen attendance increasing in numbers, with applications to enquire about joining Freemasonry, and are slowly getting back to pre-Covid numbers and, with the help of the Membership Pathways Scheme, some Lodges have seen a good number of men, of all ages and backgrounds wanting to join.
The Scheme in Northumberland, led by our own Provincial Grand Master, Ian Craigs, and driven by W.Bro Gary Breach, the Provincial Grand Membership Officer, has been embraced by many Lodges, attracting many to the organization.
Gary explained ‘It’s fantastic to see so many new members to Freemasonry over the last few months. The Pathways Scheme is here to help and support people who want to become a Freemason, but may not know anyone who can introduce them directly. We have a system in place to guide people through their journey, from making an initial enquiry through our websites and social media channels, to help place them with the best lodge in their local area to suit them.
Enquiry levels remain high in our Province, and we are confident that we will have many more members joining our Organisation over the coming months.”
Ultimately, Freemasonry’s future will depend on various factors, including its ability to adapt to changing circumstances, attract and retain new members, and its overall relevance and appeal to people in the modern world.
Is your Lodge interested in finding out more about the Lodge Charter Mark Scheme and assisting the Province in pushing forward into the future? Contact either the Provincial Grand Membership Officer or the Provincial Grand Mentor for more information.
If you have a story, event or news item you would like to have published on the Provincial website, or social media, please get in touch with our Provincial Communications Team at news@northumberlandmasons.org.uk