FREEMASONS RETURN 'HOME' TO TATTON PARK

In 2006, the Freemasons of Cheshire came out of their Lodges and into the garden at the RHS Flower Show for the first time. In 2008, they will throw a little more light on what Freemasonry is with a specially designed Masonic garden entitled:  'On The Square'.

• The black and white pavement represents the light and dark, good and bad, the joy and sorrow of our chequered existence as we journey through life.
  
  
• The garden also expresses the symbolic meaning of Freemasonry, through colours, plants, shrubs, trees and a waterfall.
  
  
• The three great stone columns with Doric, Ionic & Corinthian chapiters, supplied by Haddonstones,  represent Wisdom, Strength and Beauty'.

Many of the features embody aspects of the long and distinguished Masonic heritage.
Charity plays a central role in Freemasonry.  Nationally, we are the largest contributors to charity in the United Kingdom after the National Lottery.  Charity is said to be the distinguishing characteristic of a Mason's heart and every new Freemason is taught:  'Charity, like its sister Mercy, blesses him who gives as well as him who receives.'

Freemasonry at Tatton Park has a long and distinguished history. Numbered amongst the many Provincial Grand Masters of Cheshire, were Sir John Grey Egerton who was installed in 1810 as the seventh Provincial Grand Master, the Rt. Hon Lord Egerton of Tatton, installed in 1883 as the tenth and The Hon. Alan De Tatton Egerton M.P., installed in 1900 as the eleventh Provincial Grand Master of Cheshire. 

Visitors to the RHS Flower Show often ask what happens to the various gardens when the show is over.  The Freemasons of Cheshire will donate and rebuild their garden in a peaceful corner within the grounds of the East Cheshire Hospice, in Macclesfield.