Sir Bevis Lodge
Sir Bevis Lodge Hall interior - Southampton Temple

Amity Circles

Some 16 years ago there was a Provincial initiative to ensure that Masonic widows had somewhere to socialise and meet other widows. In that way they might not feel too lonely.

There were already two such clubs in the Province of Hampshire and Isle of Wight, and after the Provincial Grand Master visited one of them, he declared there should be such clubs throughout the Province.

I was at the meeting to launch the one set up in the central part of Hampshire at Winchester. Following this meeting I became the Treasurer of the club — “The Acorn Club”.

Whilst this web-note is about the Acorn Club, I know that many of the others have similar ideas for their members. A list of clubs and their contacts is available on the Provincial Web Site:
Amity Group – The Provincial Grand Lodge of Hampshire & Isle of Wight

If you want to know more, contact them directly. There is no club meeting at Albion Place where Sir Bevis meet.

Whilst started for Masonic widows, the Acorn Club now has members who are “elderly” who have a connection to Freemasonry — both females and males.

“Elderly” is in quotes because at one stage the Acorn Club had a widow in her 30’s. She later remarried and moved away.

Elderly brethren attend, and if they are married, bring their wives along.

Throughout the year the Acorn Club has a series of events, most are coffee mornings. These start with a cup of coffee or tea with biscuits, followed by a talk or demonstration, and then a light lunch.

The charge to the members is £7, and in theory the club breaks even on this.

There is a raffle — nicknamed the “Con”. The members donate the prizes and buy raffle tickets, then win back what they have donated!

The proceeds from the raffle:

There are summer outings and a trip to a pantomime in December. At the panto, the members are quite vocal at the appropriate times:

“He’s behind you!”
“Oh no there isn’t!”
“Oh yes there is!”

The Acorn Club has also joined with other Amity Circles, for example on a boat trip around the Isle of Wight.

I think a good time is had by all.

If you know, locally, an elderly freemason or a widow, why not tell them about these clubs? As mentioned, there is a full list on the Provincial website.

Note also that other Masonic Provinces run similar clubs.

If you can help in some way — for example:

Why not contact a club?

Thanks to W. Bro. Gerard W Cavalier for transcribing.