About us

Eling Manor Lodge CV

If you’re looking to join Freemasonry or are already a Freemason and looking to join another Lodge, and you’re searching for a modern, active and progressive Lodge... Then Eling Manor is the one for you. We have members of all ages and backgrounds with a good mix of working and retired Brothers, providing interesting and enjoyable conversation at our meetings.

Meetings take place on a Friday evening in the Totton Masonic Centre two minutes from the A36, Totton Bypass, providing easy access from the New Forest, the Waterside and the M27 motorway.

The Lodge has a very active social side, which in turn raises funds from within our Lodge Members, for Local and National Charities as well as Masonic Charities via the Masonic Charitable Foundation.

A few words from our Worshipful Master:

“Eling Manor Lodge has a long-standing reputation for being a well-attended friendly Lodge and one that carries out its ceremonies to the best of everyone’s ability, while recognising that the idea is to have fun and enjoy taking part in our meetings.”

What is Freemasonry?

Freemasonry dates back to the medieval Stonemasons’ Guilds, thus being based on a fraternal organisation with a long, complex and interesting history depicted in our ceremonies. Modern Freemasonry has just celebrated its 300th Anniversary under the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE). During this time it has evolved into a fraternal brotherhood for self-improvement, strengthening of morality, charitable giving, good fellowship and providing a service to all. Attending and taking part in the meetings reminds us of how these attributes form the foundations of wider society.

We are an inclusive society with no political inclinations, and although we share certain religious values such as Integrity, Charity and Respect of others, we are not a religious group, nor are we a secret society, we are simply a society with some secrets.

More about Eling Manor Lodge:

Traditionally Lodges were encouraged to invite close friends and family members to join. Now, to encourage a wider variety of interests and ensure the longevity of the Eling Manor Lodge, we are actively encouraging good men to join from out side of this circle, thus continuing and promoting the principles of Freemasonry but with fresh thinking to ensure that Freemasonry remains relevant and compatible with modern life, allowing the balancing of the commitments we all have to our families and work with that of Freemasonry.

As a Masonic Lodge Eling Manor is a comfortable environment to make new, often life-long friends, provides an opportunity for self-improvement, to gain confidence, share experiences, help others and above all have fun.

More information can be found on our web site: https://www.elingmanor.org.uk .

Our Members:

Eling Manor Lodge is one of the largest in Hampshire currently with sixty-four members, the majority of whom attend regularly bringing with them Brethren from other Lodges as guests making for a wonderful atmosphere in the Temple and afterwards during the dining.

The Lodge meets seven times a year on the first Friday of the month, starting at 6pm, from February through to May and after a summer break we continue from October to December. There are other meetings which our members are encouraged to attend to help guide the Lodge.

We are a very active and sociable Lodge currently having members with ages ranging from 25 to our eldest member who is 96 years old and still attends and we have the son of one of our Founders as a member. The numbers have dropped a little since Covid, the good news is that we are successfully increasing in membership, sometimes having to carry out multiple ceremonies to satisfy demand.

Our Membership comes from a variety of occupations including the Building Trade, Technical and Engineering, Education, Public Services and our Armed Forces, some are retired whilst others are still working hard. Hobbies and Interests are fairly mainstream with some are not and include; Freemasonry of course, many are athletic doing cycling, running, spending time in the gym and playing competitive sports, whilst others are more relaxed enjoying photography, travelling, music, we have a bagpipe player in our midst, amateur radio, motoring events and collecting rarities, to name a few.

Social Activity:

The meal after the meeting is the start of our social activities, these are always a joyous occasion with congenial conversation and much merriment. The food, and beer, are good at the Totton Masonic Centre and varied, usually a three course meal plus cheese and coffee, all at a reasonable price.

Socially we have several gatherings throughout the year to include family and friends. These have taken the form of Summer BBQs, Golf days, Sponsored events, Christmas get-togethers (sing-along with a brass band), Gala Dinners, Skittles... the list goes on. Some are planned to raise money for charity, others are just for fun, and some are not so traditional!

You would be most welcome to join us at one of our social events where you can get to know our members and make sure that Eling Manor is the right Lodge for you, details are on our Lodge web site.

Our Charities:

Uniquely for a society that raises money for Charity we look to ourselves for donations, which are raised by contributions from the Lodge members and our Social Events, giving a little but often and as much as each individual feels that they can comfortably afford.

It should be understood that Freemasons don’t just look after ourselves, we are local men who support local charities and causes with financial donations and volunteer assistance, whichever is more suitable.

Since 2020 Eling Manor Lodge has raised and donated over eleven and a half thousand pounds to many Local Charities (©£3,300), National Charities (©£2,900) and Masonic Charities (©£5,300), including the Masonic Charitable Foundation, details of which can be found on the UGLE website.

The Local causes and charities that we have supported since 2020 include: Hospices; Disability Support; Health and Research Charities; Support and Societies for the young and old.

What new members and guests have said about Eling Manor Lodge:

“I immediately made friends”

“Everyone is willing to chat and pass on their experiences”

“Being able to get involved has given me more confidence”

“Everyone seems to enjoy themselves”

“I like the idea of giving to local causes”

“Eling Manor is friendly and relaxed but does take Freemasonry and what it’s about seriously”