A new beginning

We are now a Lodge! We were consecrated on Saturday the 7th May as a Classic and Performance Motor Lodge, The Sir William Morris Lodge, number 10,003 in the Grand Lodge of England.

It’s different from other classic car lodges you’ll find in other Provinces, as this is a lodge for all masonic petrol heads. It doesn’t matter whether you have a fearsome Foden truck, a leaky Series 1 Landy, an elegant E type Jag, a naughty Norton Commando (yes bikes too!) right up to a nifty Nissan GTR. In fact, you don’t even have to have one – but could aspire to own one or just be a fan!

The lodge is named after that leading light in the British motor industry, Sir William Morris (aka Lord Nuffield, or 1st Viscount Nuffield) who was renowned for his immense contributions to charity, and luckily for us was a member of Oxfordshire’s Alfred Lodge No 340 for almost 60 years. We were very honoured that Alfred Lodge 340 was the sponsoring lodge.

We will officially meet 3 times a year over the summer months at Cardinal House near Oxford, plus many more times socially and informally, and especially at different car shows/events (where we will be closely working for the good of the community), and will be a working progressive lodge.

About us

Why a car club that is masonic?

You might well be asking why not just have an ordinary car club – why involve Freemasonry? Being a member of a car club is great – there’s lots of banter, help and support – so what’s the point of adding freemasonry into the mix?

Freemasonry has been around for hundreds of years – long long before the organisation that came together over 300 years ago to co-ordinate all the separate lodges, known as the United Grand Lodge of England. In that time, it has spread all over the World, and wherever you may go you will be sure to find a masonic lodge somewhere close by. The core principals of Freemasonry can be described in four simple words: Integrity. Respect. Friendship. Charity. Whilst there are many car clubs across the globe that possess some of those attributes, there are scarce few that can boast to offer all of them, and that are part of a global network.

If you’d like to find out more about what makes this group so special, read on further on this website or if you would like to make contact you can reach the Primus Master, Chris Wagstaff (and currently the secretary of Henley’s Temple Island Lodge ) where he’d be delighted to talk to you,

How it all began… the history behind Sir William Morris Lodge

Freemasonry has existed for hundreds of years. It has survived changes in monarchs, governments, leaders and social fashions. It has even survived World wars. But everything has to evolve in some way or another, including Freemasonry, and we are indeed evolving. It is true to say that in the past 40 years there has been a decline in numbers joining Freemasonry – but to an extent it is just following a straight line trend over 300 years, because the recent trend is simply mirroring the the immediate post war period boom – and not dissimilar to the property market, Freemasonry is coning back to its proper levels.

Society as a whole, however, has also changed. Fifty years ago there weren’t the calls upon one’s time as there is now, either at work or at home. Technology has radically altered our social landscape – with on demand entertainment on cinematic style screens at home, a dizzying multitude of apps and vast realms of information exacting our attention most of the waking hours. And that’s just scratching the surface. And as we are offered more, so we seem to demand more.

The traditional lodge – a sanctuary for many, offers an immense bond between its members. But adding a further layer of a shared common interest outside of Freemasonry is the cement that binds them even stronger. The Provincial Executive within Oxfordshire were keen that we investigate the interest by existing members of lodges within the Province for the creation of some special interest lodges, and a survey went out to determine the feasibility. At about the same time (DATE) a new lodge was about to be created, Oxfordshire’s first new one for XXX years, The Provincial Grand Steward’s Lodge No 9957.

The survey results were in – and demonstrated strong possibilities for the formation of a classic car lodge, a rugby lodge, a real ale lodge, a football lodge, and a fine dining lodge. The rugby boys were first off the mark, and created the Ruck and Maul Lodge No. 9974 which was consecrated in March 2019.

The WM designate, Chris Wagstaff, called together a meeting of interested parties at the Provincial Grand Lodge meeting at Kassam Stadium in October 2018, and all those present were in agreement to start the process of the formation of the lodge, and so it began…

Meet Nigel

The Lodge’s Assistant Director of Ceremonies

I joined Masonry about 30 years ago I was a medical rep covering the whole country and used to stay with friends in Devon, and Peter, my friend, always seemed to be at Lodge when I stayed so I thought if you cant beat em join em! So I made enquiries and I was initiated into Hampden Lodge (6290) in Thame in 1990. We were comparatively new to Thame at this time and found that we immediately had a new group of friends! Hampden is an unusual lodge in that, when we meet, our ladies go out for a meal as well so it meant new friends for Alison, my wife, too!

I get a lot of satisfaction out of the work the Freemasons do in the local area of Thame. We help to fund the Old Folks Christmas Party and whilst I was Master of Hampden Lodge I was able to fund a doppler for use in the local GP Practice, This is apart from the work done nationally by Freemasons.

I was very surprised when visiting New Zealand a few years ago we visited Shanty Town in the South Island where I met the Master and Treasurer of Advance Mawhera Lodge No 61 and was invited to their meeting. Unfortunately we had a hotel booked in Franz Joseph that night so had to decline. My point is you have friends at the other end of the world when you are a Freemason!

Six years after joining Hampden I was the owner of a 1966 Morris Minor convertible and wrote to our then local paper and suggested we form a Classic Motor Club in Thame. We met in a local pub and 12 people turned up. We are still going with an average of 60 members we have 2 tours a year one continental in Spring and one in October in the UK. Four members of the Classic Motor Club have since become members of Hampden Lodge and 3 members belong to other lodges.

We enjoy our vehicles with a monthly meeting, Pride of Ownership, Treasure Hunts, Summer Barbecue etc. This is why I am pleased to be a founder of the Sir William Morris Lodge as the ethos is the same – let’s enjoy our two interests Masonry and classic or sports cars.

I now have a foot in both camps having a 1962 Morris Minor Convertible called Mildred which belongs to my wife Alison and a 2001 MGF Trophy 160 called Marigold which is mine.