I wonder if you would be so kind as to answer some questions I have please.
I have been interested in becoming a Freemason for some years and would like to continue giving back to others as well as continuing my own progression, including, hopefully, through masonry.
I have spent some time reading through much of the wonderful forum areas here on Lodgeroomuk, I’ve also visited http://www.ugle.org.uk http://www.supremegrandchapter.org.uk + a provincial Grand Lodge and some local lodge / masonic centre websites.
I have always enjoyed carefully researching and selecting any path prior to being lucky enough to being involved, be it my continuing 20+ year career in the aviation industry or my hobbies in / out of it (including enjoying not just being part of something but the history and linage too), I’d like to think my interest in becoming a mason will be just as enjoyable.
I notice that many lodges including their Provincial Grand Lodges provide a venue location for many other / sub / local lodges to meet at:
Q1: Are all of these many lodges available for potential new masons to join? Is there information literature available (including numbers of members, facilities, centre opening hours, I’m guessing some larger centres will have staffed hours) to aid a potential new member in selecting a particular lodge of interest?
I.e. One of my local Masonic Centres seems to have 15 lodges, 6 Chapters + Mark, Ram lodges, Ancient & Accepted Rite Chapters, Order of the Secret Monitor + Ancient & Masonic Order of the Scarlet Cord.
Q2: Are Chapters a continuation of Masonry via the Royal Arch? I guess Mother & Daughter lodges are self-explanatory, maybe! What are Conclaves, Mark & Ram Lodges?
Q3: Is it possible / usual to be a member of more than one lodge?
Q4: Lastly, do some lodges have particular interests, for instance, is there a lodge where members have an interest in aviation? If so, where would someone interested find such information?
