Freemasonry gives us a sense of belonging and creates friendships that last a life-time, it is a very enjoyable hobby. We are a friendly lodge and enjoy our Freemasonry. We have fun with our ceremonies and take pride in working for charity. We support each other.
Mercury Lodge is rather special because of its aviation heritage, but its members today come from a wide variety of industries.
Our lodge was the first to adopt the name. Mercury’s symbolism is well known as he was the Roman Winged Messenger, who travelled between the gods and humanity.
We hope you will find this site informative. Please contact us if you are interested in becoming a member.
Rather than working on buildings like the Masons of old, today’s Freemasons focus on building themselves as people of integrity, and membership provides the structure to help achieve that goal.
One of the oldest social organisations in the world, Freemasonry is not defined by an ideology. It is open to people from all religions and political persuasions and provides the common foundation for friendships between members, many of which will last for life.
With a membership of more than 150,000 people drawn from communities across the UK, Freemasonry brings people together irrespective of their race, religion or any other perceived differences that can divide us as a society.
Kindness and charitable giving are deeply ingrained within the principles of Freemasonry. The organisation provides a support structure that helps members make positive contributions to communities and worthwhile causes through fundraising events or volunteer work.
Our Lodge
What do we get from our membership?
* We enjoy ourselves * We make new friends * We are a team * We are part of a 300 year old organisation *We have a sense of belonging * We donate to charity * We contribute to society * We enjoy our ceremony * We value honesty and integrity
Freemasonry provides a unique environment for people from all backgrounds to learn skills, make lasting friendships, achieve their potential and, above all, have fun. Members of the lodge have a strong sense of belonging. As one of the oldest social and charitable organisations in the world, we have a thriving community of approximately 175,000 members throughout England and Wales, as well as Districts overseas. Membership is open to people from all backgrounds and we aim to empower members to be the best they can be.
We are part of a big family
Freemasonsry is a local, Provincial (County), National and International body.
Charity
Freemasonry is a great contributor of charitable donations and is solely funded through the generosity of individual Freemasons and their families with no contributions being collected from the public. During the lodge meeting or at the Festive Board, we collect alms, and run a raffle. We also use our social events to raise money.
The national charity is the Masonic Charitable Foundation and if you would like more information on its work please visit the website.
The Province of Hampshire & Isle of Wight supports a number of Provincial charities and details of these can be found by following the link to Provincial Grand Lodge Home Page.
Mercury Lodge plays its full part in supporting National, Local, and Masonic Charities.
Join us!
How do I join?
Thinking about joining Freemasonry but do not know where to start?
You may not know much about Freemasonry, or know any Freemasons from Hampshire. As a result, the internet is fast becoming a point of contact for new members and therefore we have developed our website to help potential members gain a better understanding of Freemasonry in general and Mercury Lodge in particular.
You don’t need to be invited
just ask!
255 Lodges
in Hampshire & Isle of Wight
17 Lodges
meet at Farnborough
7 Lodges
meet at Aldershot
We would be delighted to hear from you!
If you would like to start your Masonic journey or have a general enquiry, please contact the Lodge Secretary using the form below or the email link.
Lodge History
The early 1920s had seen several advances in both aeroplane and aero-engine design and manufacture. The structure of the armed forces and civil servant departments also changed to support these advances – in particular the Air Ministry and the Royal Aircraft Establishment.
Brigadier General Bagnall-Wild envisaged a lodge at Farnborough that could bring together the particular ‘factions’ of the aeronautical design and research bases at London and the Royal Aircraft Establishment following the transfer of certain research functions from London. The petition was signed by the Master of the Lodge and Wardens of Farnborough and North Camp Lodge No 2203. The Warrant was granted by the United Grand Lodge of England on 17 September 1923 and the lodge was consecrated on the 17th December 1923, by Commander Hubert G. Giles, RN, PGD (Eng.), Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight as the Provincial Grand Master had unfortunately passed to the Grand Lodge Above. Mercury Lodge was consecrated on 17th December 1923 at the Tumble-Down-Dick Hotel, Farnborough. There were 49 visitors present whose names were not recorded in the minute book, an omission, which brought a stern rebuke from the Provincial Grand Secretary at the time. At the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the Supply Departments of the Air Ministry were transferred to Harrogate, thus removing nearly all the ‘working officers’ from Farnborough. Arrangements were made to hold meetings at Harrogate, if necessary, and considerable assistance was given to this project by the Provincial Grand Lodge; a Dispensation was granted, and a photostat copy of the Warrant was obtained. However, Mercury Lodge carried on in Farmborough and not a single meeting was missed. As a result of the interchanges between the Royal Aircraft Establishment and the Aircraft and Armaments Experimental Establishment at Boscombe Down, a daughter lodge, was first mooted in Mercury Lodge in 1962. A petition on behalf of Ariel Lodge was presented in Mercury Lodge and Ariel Lodge was consecrated on 16 May 1967 at the Masonic Hall Farnborough.
Social Events
In November, there is an informal ‘White Table Night’ where our wives and partners attend a lecture and dine with us afterwards.
The annual Ladies Festival in February, which is normally a dinner-dance for our friends and family, is hosted by the Master at a location of his choice.
There is a club (the Concord Club) for older Freemasons, their wives and widows from all the lodges in Farnborough, providing coffee mornings with usually guest speakers, as well as organising coach or boat trips.