Deramore Masonic Lodge No 290, Belfast, Northern Ireland

                                  

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Welcome to the official site of Deramore Masonic Lodge No. 290 Free and  Accepted Masons of Ireland We are located in The New Mount , Masonic Centre, Park Avenue, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Our regular stated communications are on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 7:30pm. We are dark during the months of June, July and August.

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Message from the Worshipful Master

Brethren:

I sincerely thank you for your trust in electing me as your Worshipful Master.

It is with humility and gratitude that i will carry out the duties of this important office. I resolve to uphold the true aims and traditions of Masonry for which purpose I solicit your support, advice guidance and attendance in 2008.

Fraternally Yours, W. Bro. Andy McCann 

                                         Worshipful Master

 

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Location

 

The New Mount, Masonic Centre, 45 Park Avenue, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

 

MAP GENERAL:

MAP IN DETAIL:

     

Contact us by email:     deramore_290@hotmail.com

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Officers of the Lodge 2008

                  

Worshipful Master:......................W.Bro. A. McCann

Senior Warden:..............................Bro. S. Mcfarlane

Junior Warden:V.W.Bro. R.H. Thompson P.P.G.L.J.W. 

Treasurer:..................................W.Bro. G. Dennison

Secretary:....................................W.Bro. R.E. Martin

Dir. of Cer:................................W.Bro. R. Campbell

Steward of Charities:.................W.Bro. R. Campbell

Almoner:..........................................W.Bro. G. Ferris

Senior Deacon:...........................W.Bro. E. Chapman

Junior Deacon:.................................W.Bro. J. Ferris

Inner Guard:........... V.W. Bro. J. Johnston P.G.L.J.W.

Chaplian:....................................W.Bro. W. Belshaw

 

Representatives to charity board and Widows fund:

Bro. S. Mcfarlane and W.Bro. W. Belshaw

 

Representative to Management Committee:

W.Bro. E. Chapman

 

Representative to G.L.B.O.P.

V.W.Bro. R.H. Thompsom P.P.G.L.J.W.

 

Representative to Inspection Committee:

W.Bro. R. Campbell P.G.L.A.

 

Representative to The Mount Centre Charity Board:

W.Bro R. Campbell P.G.L.A

 

Auditors:

W.Bro. R.E. Martin and

V.W.Bro. R.H. Thompson P.P.G.L.J.W.

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What is a Freemason

 

Freemasonry is one of the world's oldest fraternal organizations. The lessons Freemasonry teaches in its ceremonies, are to do with moral values. Freemasonry's acknowledgement, without crossing the boundaries of religion, is that everything depends on the providence of God. Freemasons feel that these lessons apply as much today as they did when it took its modern form at the turn of the 17th century.

Despite what many people claim, Freemasonry is not in any way a secret society. Freemasonry's so-called secrets are solely used as a ceremonial way of demonstrating that one is a Freemason. In any case, Freemasonry has been exposed by the media for almost as long as they have existed. The real point of a Freemason promising not to reveal their secrets, is basically a dramatic way of promising to keep one's word in general.

Other reasons why Freemasonry cannot be called a secret society, are that Freemasons do not promise to keep their membership a secret. Where and when Freemasons meet are matters of public record.

It is ironic that Freemasons used to be quiet about their membership. They were and still are taught never to use it to advance their own interests. Critics have taken this the wrong way and think that there is something secretive and nasty because of the silence. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Masonic ceremonies are secular morality plays, which are learned by heart, by members of the lodge for the benefit of the person who is becoming a Freemason. Each ceremony has a message for the candidate. A further reason why Freemasons do not go around broadcasting their contents is simply because it would spoil it for the candidate. The same way you would not tell someone the ending of a good book or a film, you would not tell someone about the ceremony.

Freemasons are required to profess and continue in a belief in a Supreme Being. Their ceremonies include prayers, which are not in any way a substitute for religion. It has no theological doctrines, it offers no sacraments, and it does not claim to lead to salvation. By having prayers at its meetings Freemasonry is no more in competition with religion than, say, having a meal where grace is said.

Freemasons are not allowed to discuss religion or politics at meetings. Freemasonry's aim is to encourage its members to discover what people from all different backgrounds have in common. As is all too well known, debate about religion and politics can lead to heated discussion rather than enlightenment.

A Freemason is thus basically encouraged to do his duty first to his God, and then to his family and those who dependent on him. He is to help his neighbors through charity and service.

None of these ideas is exclusive to Freemasonry, but all should be universally acceptable and Freemasons are expected to follow them.

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How do i become a mason

Becoming a member of our Fraternity is not a difficult task ...

If you look around you, you very well may discover that you are already in the company of Masons ... look closely for bumper stickers or medallions with the "Square and Compass" insignia - look for rings, tie tacks and/or lapel pins with the insignia ... and if you find one amongst your acquaintances, make inquiry with him about joining "the Craft" ...

If you don't find a friend who is already a Mason, look in the telephone directory (under "Masonic Lodges" or in the yellow pages under "Fraternal Organizations"), and pick a Lodge near you. Drive by the Lodge building during the day - many Lodges have an active Secretary with regular Office Hours ... if so, stop in and make inquiry. (Several of our Lodges find that well over half of our new members come from drop-in visits, which sometimes turn into long conversations held in the Lodge office.) If there are no Office Hours posted, call the Lodge on the telephone, and leave a message - someone will get back to you. Or another way would be to make note of their next scheduled meeting date and time, and drop in about a half hour before the meeting starts ... and it will probably flow from there into him presenting you with a "petition" for membership. (You should, of course, pick a Lodge whose meeting nights pose no conflict with your current activities!)

Once a petition is submitted, the following things happen, in the following order:

The petition is read, for the benefit of the membership, at the next regular Stated Communication ("Business Meeting"), and the Master of the Lodge will appoint an investigating committee (usually several senior members of the Lodge), who will contact you and find a mutually-convenient time to meet with you, to talk to you, and to determine if you meet the prerequisites for membership (which are generally that you are an honest and upright man, who conducts his affairs with dignity, and treats all mankind fairly and decently) ... they will then report their findings to the Master. (Since it is not practical that you meet each person who will be balloting on your petition, the "committee" interviews you and reports their findings, through the Master, to the entire Lodge.)

The petition will be read at the next Stated Communication, and it will be voted on by the membership present. If you are accepted as a member, you will be contacted by the Secretary, and instructed as to when and where to report for your "First Degree" - that of "Entered Apprentice" - at which time the Lodge, in full ceremony, will confer the ancient rites and rituals of that Degree.

You can meet no finer group of men than those you will find in a Lodge of Free Masons - and, in our opinion, no higher ideals to hold yourself to.

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Help with photograph page

 

To all past and present members of  Deramore, Please could you email any photograph you may have to deramore_290@hotmail.com  with an explanation of the photograph. ie who it is, location, date and the event.

Thanks you,  W. Bro. Andy McCann W.M.

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Last update: 15/02/08

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