Good evening Quarrymen

This weekend’s paper delves into the intriguing history of Freemasonry during the tumultuous era of the Napoleonic Wars, focusing on the unique role Masons played as prisoners of war. It explores how approximately 200,000 members of the French Army, including Freemasons, were captured and incarcerated in England.

Despite the harsh conditions, these Masonic prisoners demonstrated remarkable resilience and brotherhood, establishing lodges even within the confines of prison ships and land prisons. The paper highlights how these lodges functioned as a testament to Masonic values of fraternity and mutual support, shedding light on a little-known aspect of Masonic history during one of Europe’s most defining periods.