JOINING CLEVELAND LODGE NO. 543

Cleveland Lodge is a Freemasons Lodge situated in the Market Town of Stokesley, Yorkshire North & East Riding. Our lodge is dedicated to promoting fellowship, personal development, and community service. We provide a welcoming environment for individuals seeking to explore the principles of freemasonry and contribute to the betterment of society.
			Are you thinking about joining freemasonry? Freemasonry is one of the world s oldest and most respected fraternal organisations. At its heart, it s about friendship, integrity, and charity. If you re someone who values personal growth, enjoys helping others, and is curious about tradition and symbolism, you may find Freemasonry to be a deeply rewarding path.
So, what's it all about? It s not a secret society it s a community. We meet regularly, take part in time-honoured traditions, and work together to support good causes. There s also plenty of social events, networking opportunities, and space to just enjoy being around like-minded people.
			Why do people join? Some join out of curiosity, others because they want to give back or find real community. Whatever your reason, Freemasonry offers a chance to connect, learn, and be part of something meaningful. Many military personal find Freemasonry an excellent fit, mainly due to it sharing many of the same principles. Sense of Brotherhood and belonging - One of the things many veterans miss after leaving the military is the camaraderie. Freemasonry offers strong a strong sense of brotherhood with regular meetings, and social events that help build friendships.
What do you do at your meetings? Each meeting can be completely different from the last. Depending on the number of members joining in a year, you will see several different ceremonies where you can be involved in as little or as much as you like. After each and every meeting we have what's called the Festive Board. This is the name given to a meal enjoyed after a meeting which involves socialising over a 3 course meal, toasting to any visitors amongst others and enjoying a few drinks from our fully stocked bar. A major positive is that once you are a mason, you're able to visit any other Freemason's lodge so if you're working away from home, or even on holiday, you'll always be able to find a meeting which you can attend.
			How much do I need to commit? Cleveland Lodge meets only 9 times a year, from January to May and September to December on the Monday nearest the full moon. This may sound very archaic but is a time honoured tradition of the lodge which subtly changes the date we meet each month. How much you decide to visit is completely up to you but there are many benefits to this, especially when you are a newer mason and are keen to find out and understand more.
Still Interested? Please get in touch with us and we'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. Each December we also host an evening where you can visit as a guest of the lodge where we can give you a tour of the building and you can experience a festive board for yourself where you can sit amongst the Brethren and find out a bit more.

2025 Cleveland Lodge No. 543