Social Events

Gothic Lodge at Swinton

Gothic Lodge regularly holds Social Events that welcome new potential members and their partners. Most are held at the Masonic Hall in Swinton though we also help organise the regional Masonic event held at the Magna Science Centre in Rotherham. This is open to all masons and potential members in South Yorkshire (or beyond!).


Gothic Lodge Christmas 2021 Party raises £250 for Mayor of Rotherham Charities.
Unfortunately due to COVID, we did not hold many Social Events in 2020 and 2021. However we were delighted to resume events in December 2020 with our Gothic Lodge Christmas Party. The event was well attended with entertainment from our resident Crooner and a thoroughly enjoyable night was had by all.
As our special guests, we had the Mayor of Rotherham, Councillor Jenny Andrews and her Consort, Councillor Mrs Jeanette Mallinder. A presentation of £250 by Gothic Lodge was made to their Mayor's Charity fund and was handed over by the Senior and Junior Wardens of the lodge.

Cheque presentation in the Temple. From left - Junior Warden Brother John Irving, Mayor's Consort Mrs Jeanette Mallinder, Mayor Councillor Jenny Andrews and Senior Warden, Brother David MacCormac.

Summer Ball 2019.

Gothic Summer Ball spectacular took place on Saturday June 1st 2019 at Swinton Masonic Hall. "Midsummer Madness" gave us a great way to eat, drink and dance away the long summer nights away. Again we have the excellent Gillian Banks Theatre School singing and dancing to the Summer theme.


Gothic Lodge's 2018 Christmas event was another success and enjoyed by over 60 people at the Swinton Masonic Hall. Star of the event was a Freddie Mercury tribute artist as well as a another excellent stage performance by the Gillian Banks Theatre School from Rotherham. Including a 4 course Christmas dinner provided by the Hall's own caterer, a fabulous great value night was enjoyed by all. 



For more details of any future events, email gothicswinton@gmail.com

South Yorkshire Area 4


Another fabulous evening of marvellous entertainment, great company, tasty food and phenomenal fund raising for Masonic Charities took place at the second Area 4 Gala Dinner on Saturday 9th February 2019, held at Magna, Rotherham.


This year it was the Mayor of Barnsley, Councilor. Steve Green’s chance to see the total amount for his chosen charities, which are Barnsley Hospice and Barnsley Independent Alzheimer’s & Dementia Support (BIADS), boosted by a massive £2,500 presentation from the Provincial Grand Master, Right Worshipful Brother David Pratt.  A further £2,000 was raised at the event for other local Masonic Charities and the whole evening was again an outstanding success.


From left to right: 

Mrs. Tracey Green (Mayoress of Barnsley), Councillor Steve Green (Mayor of Barnsley), Mrs. Carmel Taylor (President of Wickersley Womens' Institute,), Right Worshipful Brother David S. Pratt, Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Yorkshire West Riding and Worshipful Brother David Taylor (Chair of Area 4 Gala Dinner Committee).


The Mayor of Rotherham Councillor Eve Rose Keenan, Right Worshipful Brother David Pratt, Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Yorkshire West Riding, Worshipful Brother John Boyington CBE the Assistant Provincial Grand Master and Worshipful Brother David Taylor Master of Gothic Lodge at the Masonic Gala Dinner at Magna on Saturday 3rd February 2018.


The event raised over £2000 for local charities and The Mayor also received £2500 towards her chosen Charities from the Provincial Grand Master's Fund in a surprise presentation during the evening.


Members of twelve Masonic Lodges from this area, along with their friends and families, joined forces to enjoy a wonderful evening's entertainment and through their efforts many worthy causes in our region will benefit.  This inaugural event for South Yorkshire Freemasonry is hoped to be the forerunner of further similar functions in the future.

Gothic Lodge has many international links to Freemasonry. In 2013 the Fraternitatae Number 11 Lodge of Ploestic in Romania visited Gothic Lodge and South Yorkshire for a week. Our current Worshipful Master, Andy Heald has been a member of both lodges and brethren of Gothic Lodge had travelled to Romania in 2010 and the 2013 trip was a return exchange by our Romanian colleagues. 

 

In the photograph, Gothic Lodge members stand at the rear while Fraternitatae members are seated.

Charity

Charitable giving of time and money is a fundamental part of any Mason's duty.

This Summer Gothic Lodge sponsored the Bramley family who ran The Great North Run on behalf of Martin House, a hospice for young children in Wetherby. Martin House is an inspirational place that cares for children with life-limiting conditions and the Bramley's ran in memory of baby Emma who spent much of her short life at Martin House.

In 2018 Gothic Lodge gave a donation to South Yorkshire Scouts to help them purchase new tents.







Swinton Gothic Masonic Lodge hand over a donation of £500 to Newman School, to help with refurbishment costs of the school’s outside classroom. Head teacher Paul Silvester (left) is seen receiving the cheque from the Lodge Master David Taylor. Also pictured are pupil Ibraheem Nadeem, teacher in charge of the school council Rob Watson (second right) and Lodge charity steward John Almond.  
Provincial Grand Lodge Honours for Gothic Secretary, Ian Smallman.
There was a pleasant surprise interruption to our November 2019 meeting, when Ian Smallman, our stalwart Secretary of many years (second left), was granted Provincial Grand Lodge honours as a Past Provincial Assistant Grand Standard Bearer. These were presented by Deputy Provincial  Grand Master, John Boyington (on the left).
Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Brian Littlejohn (on the right) then promoted Worshipful Brother David Taylor (second right) to Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden. Proudly looking on was the Gothic Worshipful Master, Andy Heald (Centre).

Celebrating 50 Years of Masonry


Worshipful Brother Chris Bramley of Gothic Lodge is presented with his 50 year certificate by Worshipful Brother Rodney Tolson, Assitant Provincial Grand Master. Chris was inititated in 1966, following his father into the craft as a member of Gothic Lodge.

The Principles of Freemasonry

Brotherly Love

Every true Freemason will show tolerance and respect for the opinions of others and behave with kindness and understanding to his fellow creatures.

Relief

Freemasons are taught to practise Charity and to care, not only for their own, but also for the community as a whole, both by charitable giving and by voluntary efforts. Freemasons raised over £48 million in 2018 for charity.

Truth

Freemasons strive for truth and honesty, requiring high moral standards and aiming to achieve them in their own lives.Freemasonry is not a religion nor is it  a substitute for religion. Freemasonry demands from its members a respect for the law of the country in which he works and lives. It's principles do not in any way conflict with it's members duties as a citizen or those owed to their family. Work and Family life come before any Masonic roles. These principles should strengthen them in fulfilling their public and private responsibilities.