14/10/2021
On 20th October, the United Grand Lodge of England will sign the Armed Forces Covenant, demonstrating our Commitment to the Armed Forces.
This will show that we are an Armed Forces-friendly organisation, to our members, staff, customers, suppliers, contractors and wider public, through our commitments to the Armed Forces community in this pledge and Covenant.
Throughout our 300 years of history, UGLE and our members have enjoyed a positive relationship with the armed forces throughout, creating Lodges for active and retired servicemen, sometimes connected to specific branches of the armed forces, sometimes to specific regiments and sometimes for servicemen in general. Military Freemasons helped Freemasonry move from being a small London based organisation into an international movement with many independent Grand Lodges all over the world. After both World Wars Freemasonry saw a massive influx of military personnel seeking the camaraderie they missed within Lodges up and down the country. Freemasonry held many attractions to servicemen, at home and abroad.
Membership of a Lodge could encourage comradeship and a sense of belonging. It could be educational and character building. It could provide a refuge in hard times or a home from home when stationed abroad. Sometimes, it was something to occupy the time or to relieve the boredom of garrison life. To ex-soldiers Freemasonry is seen as a continuation of elements of the service carrier, whether that is helping others, dressing for an occasion or the friendship of their mess, employment of veterans, recognising military skills and qualifications in our recruitment and selection process, and working with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) to support the employment of Service leavers.
Our members also benefit from the Circuit of Service Lodges which was formed in 1993. The Circuit exists to promote inter-visiting and thus fosters greater awareness of these special interest Lodges. The Circuit also marches as a platoon past the Cenotaph each Remembrance Sunday, arranges battlefield tours, and holds social and other events throughout the year.