The Boston Masonic Building - (1860–1863)
To truly understand the experience of a freemason in this historic lodge, one must look to the spectacular building we call home. The Pilgrim Fathers Lodge meets at the Boston Masonic Centre located on Main Ridge West in the heart of Boston.
Designed by local architect G. Hackford, this structure is a highly revered architectural treasure, recognized as a Grade II* Listed building. Erected between 1860 and 1863, the hall is constructed in the visually striking Egyptian Revival style, directly modelled after the facade of the Temple of Dendur.
The Temple of Dendur was an ancient Roman-Egyptian temple commissioned by Emperor Augustus around 23 BCE in Nubia to honor the goddess Isis and two deified local brothers.
In a striking historical twist, the original Temple of Dendur in Egypt was dismantled in the 1960s to save it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. It was gifted to the United States and reassembled inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Because of this, both Boston, Lincolnshire, and New York share an authentic, structural homage to the exact same ancient monument.
Passing through this grand entrance, members and visiting brethren step out of the modern hustle of Lincolnshire and into a sacred, beautifully preserved space dedicated to the timeless principles of the Craft. Inside the temple, the architecture creates an atmosphere of deep solemnity, perfectly suited for the enactment of traditional masonic degrees.
For the members of Pilgrim Fathers Lodge, who gather regularly on the fourth Thursday of the month from September through April, the building is far more than a meeting hall. It is a sanctuary where history and modern fellowship seamlessly converge. The presence of the lodge behind this Egyptian style portico serves as a proud reminder of the longevity and historical depth of freemasonry within the province.
The Pilgrim Fathers Lodge No. 8795
The story of the Pilgrim Fathers Lodge No. 8795 is inextricably bound to the historic soil, waterways, and resilient spirit of Boston, Lincolnshire, UK. Long before speculative Freemasonry established its formal administrative footprint in the county, this corner of the UK served as the backdrop for one of the world's most defining journeys of faith and freedom.
In the early 17th century, a group of religious Separatists, who would later be immortalized globally as the Pilgrim Fathers, sought to flee persecution in England. In the autumn of 1607, they traveled secretly to the edge of Boston to board a Dutch vessel at Scotia Creek. Betrayed by the ship's captain, they were seized at the water's edge, stripped of their possessions, and brought up the river to the Boston Guildhall, where they were held in tight brick cells for roughly a month.
Though that initial attempt failed, their determination did not break; these same individuals later formed the core of the passengers who crossed the Atlantic aboard the Mayflower in 1620 to establish the Plymouth Colony.
When the founders of Lodge No. 8795 gathered in 1977 to establish a new evening lodge for local brethren, they sought a title that would forever anchor their contemporary assembly to the historical landscape outside their windows. They chose to honor these local pioneers.
Warranted in 1977 and formally consecrated in 1978, the Pilgrim Fathers Lodge stands as a living, modern tribute to that historical legacy. By bearing this distinctive title, every mason who steps across the threshold carries a profound connection to the values of perseverance, integrity, and the pursuit of truth that characterized the original travelers three centuries prior.
The Modern Craft and Brotherhood
Today, the Pilgrim Fathers Lodge represents a vibrant and dedicated community of men bound by the shared principles of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. Within the temple walls, the ancient ceremonies of the Craft are preserved with exact precision, allowing each new candidate to experience the progressive journey of the three traditional degrees—Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason—just as generations of freemasons have done before them.
However, the masonic experience extends far beyond the ritual floorwork. Following the formal business of the lodge, the brethren retire to the Festive Board, a traditional social dinner where fellowship truly flourishes. It is during these hours that the deep bonds of brotherhood are forged across different generations and walks of life.
Furthermore, the members share an enduring passion for "visiting"—traveling to other masonic lodges across Lincolnshire and the wider UK. This tradition of traveling allows the Boston brethren to support neighbouring lodges, observe subtle variations in ritual choreography, and broaden their networks of friendship. Because of the globally recognized, historic weight of the name "Pilgrim Fathers," traveling members are universally greeted with immense warmth and curiosity wherever they go.
Supported by its paired Holy Royal Arch Chapter, the Pilgrim Fathers Chapter No. 8795, the lodge continues to offer a comprehensive and enriching path for spiritual, philosophical, and social development. Deeply committed to charitable endeavors, community support, and personal growth, the Pilgrim Fathers Lodge remains a beacon of modern masonic tradition, securely anchored to the remarkable heritage of Boston, Lincolnshire.
