Members of the Order of Women Freemasons once again joined with members of the United Grand Lodge of England London Freemasons to parade through the streets of the City of London in the 2023 Lord Mayor's Parade when around 150 groups and floats take part in a three mile-long procession to mark the Lord Mayor’s first full day in office. 

 

The UGLE London Freemasons have committed to raising £3 million for London’s Air Ambulance Charity and London’s Air Ambulance Charity is proud to announce that the London Freemasons, long-term supporters of the charity, have pledged to make the largest single donation of their helicopter fundraising appeal . The Freemasons have had a long-standing relationship with the charity and their support over the years has enabled the service to be there for approximately 11,000 Londoners since 2016. 

Members of the Isle of Wight Lodge were busy arranging a number of charity fundraising events. They, along with family and friends, enjoyed fun and friendship at a ploughman’s lunch and coffee morning. Both events raised fabulous amounts for charity. 

 

Further north in Luton members of the Order’s Luton lodge had a great time with friends old and new at a barbeque organised by the Master of the Lodge and her husband. They turned their garden into happy memories of the Jubilee and Coronation. Through the generosity of everyone who attended a wonderful amount was raised for charity. 

 

To raise money for their chosen charity Faversham Abbey Lodge in Kent hosted an afternoon cream tea - scones, strawberry jam, cream and cakes were in abundance whilst members of all the OWF Norfolk and Suffolk Lodges joined together to raise money for their charities at a joint Sunday luncheon. Again - all raising money for charity. 

 

Despite the national train strike members from all over United Kingdom attended and some flew in from South Africa. The weekend, as always, was a happy occasion where members met up with old friends and made new ones. 

 

The Order of Women Freemasons is the oldest and largest Masonic organisation for women in the country with over 300 Lodges and works on the lines of regular male Freemasonry. It was born as the Honourable Order of Antient Masonry in 1908 and on 5th June at a meeting in Notting Hill Gate eleven men and women constituted themselves into a Grand Lodge with Dr Reverend Cobb as the first Grand Master.  

 

The Order’s first Grand Master, William Cobb, was the Rector of St Ethelburga-the-Virgin within Bishopsgate for over 40 years. He was an Anglo-Catholic and had a deep interest in the principles of natural law and equality. A controversial figure, he held services based on the revised 1928 prayer book and conducted marriages which omitted the words ‘obey’ and ‘serve’ and was willing to marry divorced people provided they were the innocent party. He worked on behalf of the women’s sufferage movement and in the field of marriage and divorce law reform. He became a co-mason in 1905 and was also a member of United Grand Lodge of England. 

 

William Cobb served as Grand master for four years and was succeeded by Marion Halsey since which time all of our Grand Masters have been women.  

 

Now in her 12th year as Grand Master, Most Worshipful Bro Penn continues to successfully guide the Order through the challenges of the 21st century. 

During Queen Elizabeth's 75th Platinum Jubilee Year members of the Order of Women Freemasons voted to support the Stroke Association of which The Queen was Patron. Lodges throughout the United Kingdom and Spain held fundraising events which included skydiving, cycling challenges, afternoon tea parties, raffles and dinner dances. 

 

During a period of five months Lodges raised over £16,500 and together with funds from the Order's Grand Charitable Trust the total sum sent to the Stroke Association was an amazing £25,000. 

 

The Stroke Association supports people to rebuild their lives after a stroke providing specialist support, fund critical research and campaign to make sure they receive the very best care and support to rebuild their lives. Many members of the Order of Women Freemasons or members of their family and friends are grateful for the support they have received when needed.