OUR STORY
Freemasonry began in the town of Ballymena on the 5th April 1759 when Grand Lodge issued Warrant No 317 to Archie McAlester Gent, James Moore Gent and Joseph Deane Gent. This Lodge was known as The Orange and Blue Lodge, as its members trimmed their blue aprons with orange ribbon. It is important to point out that there was no political significance in the colour orange, which was only selected to make Lodge Members stand out from other Lodges at the annual St John’s Day services.
Broughshane lodge 246 dates back to 1805, where it initially met upstairs in the Thatch pub, next door to the Masonic Hall built almost 100 years later in 1904.
Broughshane is a buoyant lodge, bucking the trend elsewhere by attracting a stream of new members who are attracted to the warmth of welcome, genuine friendship and attention to fundraising for local charities. The social life is very important, with many meeting up to visit other lodges or have days out. We are glad to have close ties to our local lodges and many further afield, particularly Victory No 689 in Omagh.
In recent years, our ties with Bucknaw No 194 have led to members joining in the famous "Giro d' Buckna" charity bike ride form Buckna to Carnlough, which in three years raised money which provided three community defibrilators and allowed for substantial donations to a range of charities.
