As Provinces around the UK welcome university students into the Craft, the biennial Universities Scheme Conference focused on why students are vital in ensuring the future of Freemasonry

More than 130 brethren gathered at Freemasons’ Hall, London, for the third Universities Scheme Conference. The Scheme is a pioneering initiative by Grand Lodge under the auspices of the Assistant Grand Master, David Williamson, to help forge links between well-placed, enthusiastic lodges and the many students – as well as other young people – seeking to become involved in Freemasonry.

There are currently 50 lodges under the Scheme across England and Wales, the West Indies and South Africa. In 2010 these lodges held 159 initiations of candidates found through the Scheme, and between them had over 300 members who were under 30. This year, the conference included presentations on recruitment, retention and break-out sessions on making masonry affordable.

A tremendous level of Provincial support has greatly contributed to the success of the Scheme. Five final-year students at the University of Bath have been initiated by St Alphege Lodge, No. 4095, Province of Somerset. Meanwhile over in Leicestershire and Rutland, Wyggeston Lodge, No. 3448 has forged links with Leicester University students.

The mood of the day was encapsulated by Mike Jones from the University Lodge of Liverpool: ‘Student recruitment is an ongoing process. You need to engage with students not only when they make their first enquiry, but all the way through the application process. You need to mentor them so that they feel comfortable.’

Go to www.universitiesscheme.com for more details on the conference

Somerset masons have funded a 2005 diesel Renault Master with 12 seats, air conditioning and a wheelchair lift power∼operated via the back doors and will be available to local lodges to be used for the benefit of their local community.
Under-privileged groups will be offered day trips free of charge. The vehicle will be driven by a lodge member who will be responsible for collection and delivery. It will be displayed at the Royal Bath & West Show in June.

Bath’s impressive masonic museum in Orchard Street has moved to the vaults and is now open to the public for tours, illustrating the site’s unique history as the first provincial theatre to obtain a Royal Warrant, later becoming a Catholic church. A series of non-masonic events have been staged from the Bath Literature Festival to a reading of the First Night of Pygmalion with Tim Piggott-Smith and Stephanie Cole.
     In October the site celebrated its 260th anniversary and, in conjunction with the Bath Theatre Royal, is staging a one-man show with Chris Harris in Kemp's Jig. Bristol masons have launched a website www.oldtheatreroyal.com and have produced a professional guidebook.