Lodge of Discoveries No 9409

Lodge Meetings

Held at the Tivoli Hotel, Rua António Crisógono Santos, 8600-678, Lagos. (GPS 37º 06′ 20.56″N 8º 40′ 34.64″W) on the following dates: 2024

The third Thursday in January 18th, February 15th, March 21st, September 19th (Installation), October 17th and November 21st. *(March & November) The Chapter of Discoveries will meet at 3.30pm before the Lodge meeting.

All contacts via the Lodge Secretary, John Bergstrom-Potter. PAGDC:

Mob: (+351) 910 666 613, Tel : (+351) 282 997 439, Email : sec@9409.eu

Lodge of Instruction Meetings

Held at the Tivoli Hotel, Rua António Crisógono Santos, 8600-678, Lagos. Monday night at 5.30pm dates can be obtained from the Secretary.

The Lodge Crest

The Lodge Crest was finalised after a number of designs had been considered. A departure from Masonic symbolism was agreed in the interests of introducing an international symbolism.

The centre field depicts a map of Europe and North Africa with prominence given to Great Britain and Portugal, drawing attention to the close ties that exist, both historically and in Freemasonry.

The arrows radiating out into the Atlantic allude to the voyages of discovery encouraged by Prince Henry the Navigator. It is appropriate that the west coast town of Sagres is highlighted because this is where Prince Henry established a School of Navigation, the remains of which can still be viewed today. Geographically, the voyages started from more northern ports of Portugal.

The outer part of the Crest is formed by an Armillary Sphere. When the Portuguese National Assembly of the 21st August 1911, sanctioned a Republican form of government, the State Coat-of-Arms adopted by the Republic was essentially the Arms of the Royal House of Bragança, since modified to some extent: the shield remains the same, but this is now placed upon an Armillary Sphere, an old nautical instrument, in reference to Prince Henry the Navigator and the voyages of discovery which contributed to Portugal’s past greatness.

For the technically minded, an Armillary Sphere is simply described thus:

A model displaying the mutual dispositions of the imaginary circles of classical astronomy in which metal circles were used to represent the celestial equator, the ecliptic, the tropics, the Artic, and Antarctic circles, the hours of the day, the horizon and a meridian. Delivery from ancient astronomical instruments, Armillary Spheres became particularly popular in the 17th and 18th centuries.

As Masons, we strive to discover new boundaries of friendship, discover ways to strengthen existing ones, discover within ourselves the charitable nature of man, discover the pleasure of meeting, conversing, debating and socialising without discord.

This will be a guiding principle of the Lodge, and it will be enhanced, so that in coming years, this will truly be known as: “THE LODGE OF DISCOVERIES”

A Royal Arch Chapter is attached to the lodge.