history - South Molton Freemasons

The refurbishment of Freemasons’ Hall in New Road, South Molton continues, with the latest project being the redesign and redecoration of the main ground Floor Dining Room.

40 members and Guests enjoyed a sumptuous meal

The newly upgraded facility was relaunched on Friday 23rd January 2026 with 40 members and their guests attending a
Burns Night Supper.

The Haggis is Piped in carried by Worshipful Master David King

As is Traditional on such occasions, the Haggis was piped in to the skirl of the Bagpipes, played with gusto by Exeter Piper and Freemason Glen Bishop. Guests were then treated to a magnificent rendition of Robert Burns’ Poem “The Address to a Haggis” by Jim Ferguson.

Jim Ferguson doing “The Address to a Haggis”

Following the meal, our own resident Scotsman, Ray McIntosh treated everyone, with a fine rendition of “My Love is like a red red Rose”. another Burns Poem set to a traditional Scottish tune.

The refurbishment of the main dining room is part of a long term renovation project to protect this unique Grade II Listed Building and to make it more suitable for Community use. As well as redecoration; the project included replacement of the old fixed Furniture, new Curtains and new energy efficient Lighting.

A team of Lodge members pitched in to ensure that the room was ready for the event. It was a close run thing, but in true “Changing Rooms” style the project was completed just in time for its official launch.

Lodge Members Richard and Pip trying to avoid a “Del Boy” moment!

The next phase of the refurbishment project will be to improve disabled access to the first floor with the installation of a Stairlift and to make the historical museum displays more available to local Historians and Students for study and research.

Freemasons’ Hall is now available for use by local Groups and Organisations. If you would like to hold a meeting here please get in touch using the button below

Click Here

In January 2023 a very rare event will take place at Freemasons’ Hall in London when an “especial” meeting of the United Grand Lodge of England will take place. The Reason: to celebrate the publication in 1723 of the first “Book of Constitutions”

Authored by Dr. James Anderson, the Book of Constitutions eventually became, after many republications over the centuries, the rulebook by which Freemasonry is governed throughout the world.

Published in a time of political upheaval (the Jacobite Rebellion having only been put down a few years earlier), the importance of this book lies in it’s promotion of enlightenment principles such as religious tolerance, the promotion of education and science, meritocracy; and a world described by rational observation rather than religious dogma. It also espoused constitutional government and democratic accountability.

Those principles still reverberate to this day as they form the bedrock of the policies of modern liberal and democratic governments throughout the world.

As well as the “Especial” meeting there will be a new Exhibition at the Museum of Freemasonry in London called “Inventing the Future”, a three day conference at Queen’s College, Cambridge from the 22/24the September 2023; and a new book by Ric Berman also called ‘Inventing the Future’ which is available at The Shop at Freemasons’ Hall and online at Amazon.

Much more detailed information is available on
the new 1723 Constitutions website.

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