About Maritime Lodge No. 3025

Province of East Lancashire · United Grand Lodge of England

Consecrated 1904 · Over 120 Years of Brotherhood

Maritime Lodge No. 3025 is one of the Province of East Lancashire‘s long-standing Masonic lodges, with a heritage stretching back more than 120 years. We meet at Hemsley House, The Crescent, Salford — a home we have occupied since 1945 — and we welcome men of good character who share our commitment to integrity, friendship, respect and service.

A Heritage Rooted in Salford

Maritime Lodge was consecrated on 16th June 1904 at Ordsall Hall — one of England’s finest surviving medieval manor houses, standing at the heart of what was then one of the country’s great industrial and maritime cities. Salford at the turn of the twentieth century was a thriving port, its docks connected to the world by the Manchester Ship Canal, opened just ten years earlier. The lodge took its name from that maritime spirit, established to provide a meeting place for seafaring brethren in the port of Manchester.

The warrant of constitution was granted on 24th February 1904, and the lodge was formally consecrated that June before a large assembly, its first Worshipful Master installed with the full ceremony of the Province of East Lancashire. The furniture, supplied by one of the country’s leading Masonic outfitters, has given satisfaction to the members ever since.

The lodge’s first regular meetings were held at the Salisbury Hotel, Trafford Road — a short walk from the docks that inspired its name. By 1913 it had also made use of Ordsall Hall for special occasions, maintaining that connection to its consecration site.

Standing Firm Through Two World Wars

Maritime Lodge has weathered some of the most turbulent periods in modern history. When war was declared in September 1939, Provincial Grand Lodge suspended the lodge’s scheduled meeting. The brethren adapted: meetings moved from Thursday evenings to Saturday afternoons to conserve fuel and allow members to return home before dark, and the summer months were exchanged for winter ones to suit the demands of wartime life.

The hall at Ordsall suffered severe damage from enemy aircraft during the Second World War. By special dispensation of Provincial Grand Lodge, the lodge relocated in March 1945 to the Masonic Hall at 41 The Crescent, Salford — the building known today as Hemsley House, which has been the lodge’s home ever since. That the lodge continued to meet at all during those years is a testament to the resolve and commitment of its members.

Growth, Legacy and a Daughter Lodge

In the years following the Second World War, Maritime Lodge not only endured but flourished. By 1951 it was strong enough to sponsor the formation of a daughter lodge — Kersal Lodge No. 7043 — a mark of real vitality and an enduring part of the lodge’s legacy within the Province.

The lodge has welcomed distinguished visitors from Provincial Grand Lodge on a number of occasions over the decades, maintaining its place within the wider Masonic community of East Lancashire throughout its history.

Resilience in Changing Times

Like many lodges, Maritime has faced the challenge of changing times. Membership fluctuated significantly across the later decades of the twentieth century, and there were periods when the lodge’s future seemed uncertain. Yet it endured — supported by the loyalty of its members, the dedication of those who served in office year after year, and the unshakeable conviction that what the lodge stood for was worth preserving.

That conviction was vindicated. Maritime Lodge celebrated its centenary in September 2004 with a special meeting at Hemsley House, attended by the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master and a large assembly of visiting brethren from across the Province. A Centenary Warrant was presented, Centenary Jewels were conferred, and a donation of £1,000 was made to the Grand Charity Festival. It was an evening that demonstrated clearly that Maritime Lodge — more than a century old — had not only survived but had earned the respect of the Province.

“Whose eternal optimism and dogged resolution that Maritime would not go the way of the Titanic, but would remain afloat — as indeed we are, and getting stronger week by week.”

What We Offer Today

Today, Maritime Lodge meets six times a year — in September, October, November, January, February and March — with our Installation meeting held in October. Each meeting is followed by the festive board: a dinner at which the bonds of friendship forged in the lodge room are deepened over good food, loyal toasts, and the easy company of brethren.

We are a lodge that values warmth as much as tradition. Visiting brethren are always welcomed with genuine hospitality, and we take pride in the fellowship that fills the room at every meeting. Our Masonic work follows the working of the Province of East Lancashire, and we carry out that work with care and commitment.

The lodge supports a range of charitable causes — locally, provincially and through the United Grand Lodge of England — in keeping with one of Freemasonry’s most fundamental principles: that every brother has a duty to his community.

Thinking of Joining?

Freemasonry is one of the oldest and most widely respected fraternal organisations in the world. It asks of its members nothing more than a belief in a Supreme Being, a commitment to ethical conduct, and a genuine desire to support their fellow man. It offers in return a brotherhood that crosses every boundary of background, profession and age.

Maritime Lodge welcomes enquiries from any man who feels drawn to what Freemasonry represents. You do not need to know a member to make an enquiry — though if you do, a conversation over a cup of tea is often the best place to start. We are also delighted to welcome visitors from other lodges; if you would like to attend as a visiting brother, please get in touch.

Whether you are curious about Freemasonry for the first time, or an experienced Mason looking for a lodge that combines genuine fellowship with a proud history, we would be very glad to hear from you.

To find out more or to register your interest in joining, please contact us.