Dear Visitor,
Websites are considered to be objects of information and learning. This Provincial Grand Lodge of Surrey website is no exception; I therefore recommend it to you. It contains a wide variety of information both specific to this Province and to Freemasonry in general. The launch of this site signifies the start of our New Masonic Year, one that I hope you all enjoy.
Yours sincerely,
Eric Stuart-Bamford
Provincial Grand Master
The Masonic Province of Surrey is situated to the south-west of Greater London. It borders the area of London Freemasonry with Middlesex in the North, Kent in the East, Sussex and Hampshire in the South and Berkshire in the West. There are Surrey Masonic Centres in Bisley, Camberley, Chertsey, Cranleigh, Croydon, Farnham, Godalming, Guildford, Nutfield, Surbiton & Sutton. There are also other occasional meeting places around the Province.
More...Freemasonry is the UK’s largest organisation for people that have common interests and beliefs dedicated to Friendship, Charity and Integrity. Freemasonry is universal which means that Lodge members are entitled to visit any other recognised Lodge in the world. In the UK, the United Grand Lodge of England has over 300,000 members in nearly 8,000 Lodges. Of those Lodges, more than 300 are in the Surrey Province.
The details of early Freemasonry in Surrey are scanty. However, it is known that the first recorded Lodge Meeting in Surrey was in 1723, at the Kings Arms in Wandsworth (which in those days would have been in Surrey) while the first Provincial Grand Master for Surrey, a Thomas Parker, was installed in 1772 by one Thomas Dunckerley.
More...We cannot say for sure when Freemasonry started, but the earliest recorded ‘Making of a Mason’ in England is that of Elias Ashmole in 1646. Organised Freemasonry began with the founding of the Grand Lodge of England in 1717.
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Freemasonry is one of the world's oldest secular fraternal societies. This information is intended to explain Freemasonry as it is practised under the United Grand Lodge of England, which administers Lodges of Freemasons in England and Wales and in many places overseas. The explanation may correct some misconceptions.
The list is far too long to lay out, but many Kings – the last was George VI, Princes and Dukes – the current Grand Master is HRH The Duke of Kent, Prime Ministers and Statesmen such as Winston Churchill and George Washington; many leaders in business; in the arts, such as Mozart, Rudyard Kipling, Peter Sellers and John Wayne, together with those in the worlds of medicine, research, education and entertainment have been and are Masons. Current soap stars, football and rugby players, Judges and taxi drivers - there are no class barriers in Freemasonry. You might care to ask yourself – if these people of quality were Masons, surely it cannot be anything but good?
Freemasonry has now become very much a family orientated organisation and although wives and female partners cannot become Freemasons in the United Grand Lodge of England, many Lodges have a very social programme of activities involving their wives and children. Should ladies wish to join Freemasonry, there is a separate Grand Lodge in England, exclusively for ladies. There are Ladies’ Clubs, eg Guildford, where the qualification for membership is to be a wife or partner of a Mason and where interesting talks and social events take place. In Surrey, Freemasons are very involved with Charity, both nationally and in their local areas, but they also take part in other activities such as sporting events; fishing, golf, go-kart racing, bowls, clay shooting and an annual family weekend, whilst at the same time supporting local youth football teams and even parachuting for charity.
Do Freemasons only look after each other? No – Freemasonry is possibly the second largest donor to charity; the first being the National Lottery. It has Masonic charities that look after Mason’s wives, children’s education and their elderly and infirm, but these are funded entirely by Masons and no monies come from the public for these Masonic institutions. It is possible that the Hospice movement would collapse without the help given by Masonry. Many other charities have benefited over many years from donations by Masons and their Lodges, especially in the areas of medicine, medical research and in the needs of children.
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For 2012 the SMSA Sea Anglers will be venturing forth on the following trips from Langstone Harbour aboard the 40 foot catamaran ‘Valkyrie’, skippered by the experienced man at the helm, Glen Cairns. Non Masons are welcome on the trips, and if you want to join us but don’t have the equipment, don’t worry, that can be arranged. If you are interested in joining us for not only a great day out, but catching something to eat in the process then give Steve Guzy a call on 07710 105406, or email him at 
We have had a successful year although the support was sometimes low the diehards finished the Downs link ride from Guildford to Shoreham by Sea. 3 riders between them raised some £2300 for 3 charities on behalf of the SMSA in June when they completed the London to Brighton ride. This SMSA cycling section had a first, whereby sponsorship could be made by internet banking direct to the Provincial Charities bank. 2 more rides are being planned for 2012 and all are welcome, families, children and non masons. Details will appear on both the Surrey Mason and SPL web sites.
Will 2012 be a Happy New Year for Lauren who is the grand daughter of W. Bro David Lester a well known Surrey Mason? Lauren, a young teenager, is sponsored by the SMSA. She is very hopeful of being an Olympic torch bearer in 2012. Lauren is training very hard for 2016 Paralympics to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and is currently second reserve for the 2012 games. Lauren with her swimming clubs best performance of the year award
