Opening Our Doors: Heritage Open Days at Henley Masonic Centre
Once again, members of Round Table Thames Valley Lodge No. 9697 helped to welcome visitors to Henley Masonic Centre as part of Heritage Open Days, giving members of the public an opportunity to step inside, explore the building and discover more about Freemasonry in Henley.
Heritage Open Days take place across England each September, opening the doors to historic buildings and fascinating places that the public may not ordinarily have an opportunity to visit. For Henley Masonic Centre, it is also an excellent opportunity to dispel some of the myths that still surround Freemasonry and simply show people who we are, what we do and what happens inside a Masonic Lodge.
Exploring Henley Masonic Centre
Worshipful Brothers Tony Wright and Allan Dishington led tours of the building, taking visitors through the Masonic Temple, or Lodge Room, and the various associated rooms within the centre.
Rather than simply seeing the building, visitors were able to ask questions and learn about how the rooms are used, what happens at a Lodge meeting and the meaning behind some of the traditions and ceremonies that form part of Freemasonry.
Tony and Allan were joined this year by Tony's wife, Claire, who is also a Freemason and a member of a women's Freemasons' lodge in Caversham.
Claire's involvement provided another interesting perspective for visitors and helped demonstrate something that can sometimes be lost among the popular perceptions of Freemasonry: while we are immensely proud of our history and traditions, Freemasonry today is very much part of the modern world.
What's All the Regalia About?
One of the most visually interesting aspects of Freemasonry is undoubtedly our regalia.
Worshipful Brother Allan Dishington brought along examples of regalia from several of the other Masonic Orders of which he is a member, providing visitors with an opportunity to see the different aprons, collars and other items and, importantly, to understand what they represent.
To somebody seeing Masonic regalia for the first time, it can perhaps appear rather mysterious. In reality, the different designs, colours and symbols often tell a story: they can identify an office someone holds, a particular Masonic Order or a stage in their Masonic journey.
Being able to see these items close-up and ask questions about them is exactly what an open day should be about.
Freemasonry in the Community
Perhaps the most important message from events such as this is that modern Freemasonry is open and increasingly visible.
Our members live and work within the same local communities as everyone else. They have families, careers, businesses, hobbies and commitments, and come from a wide variety of backgrounds. What brings them together is friendship, shared values, personal development and a desire to make a positive contribution to the communities around them.
That contribution is often charitable, but charity should never be thought of purely in financial terms.
Of course, Freemasons raise and donate considerable sums for good causes, but giving back can be much simpler than that. It can mean volunteering your time, helping at a local event, checking on somebody who lives alone, collecting shopping for a neighbour or simply recognising when somebody needs support and doing something about it.
Sometimes the most valuable thing we can give another person is our time.
The Values Behind Modern Freemasonry
Four themes — Reach, Tradition, Transform and Volunteer — help explain what Freemasonry seeks to represent today.
Reach is about being open, visible and accessible. Freemasonry should not feel hidden, distant or impossible to understand. It means being present within our communities, building genuine relationships and demonstrating our values through our actions rather than simply talking about them.
Tradition recognises that Freemasonry is rooted in centuries of history, ceremony, values and shared experience. We are proud of that heritage. Being modern does not mean abandoning our past; it means respecting our traditions while ensuring they continue to have relevance for the people joining Freemasonry today.
Transform is about personal development. Freemasonry encourages us to grow as individuals, develop confidence, learn new skills, listen to different perspectives and build friendships with people we might otherwise never have met. At its simplest, it is about trying to become a better version of yourself.
Volunteer reflects something that has always been at the heart of Freemasonry: giving back. Whether that means fundraising, supporting charities, helping within the local community or simply giving our time when it is needed, it is about getting involved and making a difference.
Opening the Door
Heritage Open Days are about buildings and history, but for us they are also about people.
They give us an opportunity to meet those who live around us, answer questions openly and allow visitors to see Freemasonry for themselves rather than relying upon the myths and misconceptions that have surrounded it over the years.
Our thanks go to Tony, Allan and Claire for giving their time, and particularly to everyone who came through the doors of Henley Masonic Centre, looked around, asked questions and took an interest in what we do.
For an organisation sometimes associated with closed doors, perhaps one of the best ways of explaining modern Freemasonry is very simple:
Open the door, welcome people inside and let them see for themselves.
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