The Masonic Lodge in Halesworth was vandalised with graffiti

The graffiti at the Lodge of Prudence in Halesworth also included "scumbags the lot” and
“repent, secrecy is a sin”. 

The vandalism happened overnight on Thursday at the lodge in Market Place, and members found the graffiti on Friday.

It comes after the lodge had thrown open its doors to the public in an effort to show it is not a secretive organisation. 

The lodge has reported the incident to the police. 

People rallied around the members to remove the graffiti and walls have been repainted.

Peter Jacks, Worship Master of the Lodge of Prudence, expressed his gratitude to Jonny Thompson and other locals who "rallied and started cleaning it" before members of the Lodge arrived. 

He said: "It was wonderful as community came together. Wonderful people."

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Mr Jacks added: "We have recently opened our doors for people to see what we do. 

"We held an open day two weeks ago. "We are not a secret society.

"We are here for the benefit of the community. We are the second largest charitable organisation in the country, second only to the National Lottery."

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"We at the Halesworth lodge support many local charities and those in need," he said.

The Market Place Artisan Store opened a month ago. (Image: Market Place Artisan Store)READ MORE: Market Place Artisan Store has opened in Halesworth

The new Market Place Artisan Store is in the same building so had also been victim to the graffiti. 

Caroline Hazell, one of the owners of the store, said: "The community was really wonderful with lots of offers to help us clean it from other store owners and locals.

"It was very heart-warming."

"The good in this lovely community definitely outweighs the bad."

The store opened a month ago.

It sells and showcases local artists' crafts with 90pc of the shop’s contributors coming from Norfolk and Suffolk.