Fraternity Lodge 4315 was consecrated on the 10th January,1922, at Freemason’s Hall, Cooper Street, Manchester. Our origins lie with Ardwick Lodge, No 2185, with a number of their Members also being our Founders.

Ardwick Lodge was founded on the14th March, 1887 and is the ‘Mother’ of Fraternity Lodge.

We held our Centenary celebration, on the 18th January 2022, in the presence of the Provincial Grand Master, Senior Officers of the Province and Area and to our delight, members of Ardwick Lodge.

In 2025, following discussions, we agreed to work with our Mother Lodge, Ardwick 2185, who changed their Meeting night to meet at the same time and venue. We remain independent Lodges but it gives the opportunity to witness and be present at 2 meetings, on the same evening, amongst friends, followed by what is called a Social Board, where in each others company, we enjoy a 3-course meal, in a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere.

We are a very friendly, welcoming Lodge, which puts emphasis on enjoying our Masonry, enhanced since the above arrangement, with Ardwick Lodge. We are very well supported by our wives/partners families and friends at social events, including Lodge and those organised at Stanley House, Area and Province.

Both Practice and Lodge Meetings are held at Audenshaw Masonic Hall. We
have 7 Meetings a year, on the 3rd Tuesday, Jan, Feb (Installation, when the new Master is Installed), March, April, Sept, Oct, Nov. Our Meeting times usually commence between 6pm and 6,30pm.

We hold Practices, or Rehearsals, to prepare for the Meetings, on the 2rd Tuesday preceding the above Lodge Meetings, commencing at 7.30pm.

We have three main Social Functions each year: a Spring Social in May; a Ladies’ Weekend in Blackpool (Ladies Evening on Saturday) in November and Christmas Party in December. We raise money for Charitable causes during these events and also by holding raffles at each of our regular Lodge meeting’s “Social Board” meal following the Lodge meeting proper.

Fraternity Lodge is a “Grand Patron” of the 2026 Festival, which means it has raised a certain amount towards the current Provincial fund raising drive, and has had an excellent reputation, over many years, for our charitable fund raising for Masonic, National and local charities. In addition to Masonic Charities we have recently donated to Age Concern, Natalie Kate Moss Trust (researching bleeds on the brain), Manchester Cats, a girl’s netball club, Willow Wood Hospice, Believe and Achieve, supporting children and families affected by Cerebral Palsy, The Christie Hospital and in addition to further donations to some of these charities, we will be proposing at out February Installation Meeting, a donation to a local charity, supporting the homeless.

bob.downes4@gmail.com