The Operatives
The Worshipful Society of Freemasons, Rough Masons, Wallers, Paviors, Plaisterers and Bricklayers
The “Operatives” is an invitational body dedicated to the preservation of the history and workings of operative guild masonry.
We are a Masonic Society which exists to perpetuate a memorial of the practices of operative Free Masons existing prior to modern speculative Freemasonry.
Membership of the Society is restricted to those who are Master Masons, Mark Master Masons and Holy Royal Arch Companions in good standing.
The Order is governed by three Grand Master Masons.
More Information
The Society has ordinarily generated considerable loyalty and affection among its members and, in addition to the merits of its ceremonies and practices, one reason is that the Society fills a notable gap in the masonic structure.
Speculative masons are happy to trace their origins to the practices of the ancient stone masons, but many then tend to forget all about them.
The purpose of the Worshipful Society then is to perpetuate the ancient operative workings to the extent that they can be established beyond doubt.
In this respect, membership of the Worshipful Society can greatly enhance a speculative freemason’s understanding of the ceremonials in which he has participated and of the rituals that he has learnt.
From the foregoing it will be evident that the work of the Worshipful Society provides an important, if not essential, conclusion to the work of the Craft, the Mark and the Royal Arch.
Moreover, it also relates directly to the work of the Cryptic Rite and some of the Allied Masonic Degrees.
Grand Master Masons
First Grand Master Mason
M W Bro Paul Mycock, VII°
Second Grand Master Mason
M W Bro John H. Wickes, VII°
Third Grand Master Mason
M W Bro Ronald James Bridger, VII°
Grand Master Emeritus
M W Bro Nigel A Willows, VII°
List of Assemblages in Northumberland
| Assemblage | Venue | Meeting Times | Clerk | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodhorn Church Assemblage | Masonic Hall, 2 John Street, Ashington NE63 0SE | 1st three 5th Mondays except in July/August (7.00pm) | W Brand |
01670 353065 |
|
| Royal Border Bridge Assemblage | Masonic Hall, The Parade, Berwick Upon Tweed TD15 1DF | 1st Monday in July, November (Inst) & 4th Monday in May (7.00pm) | TG Mitchell |
01368 862824 |