New Member of Supreme Council

John Cockin, FRCS, has been appointed to the Supreme Council, the body of nine which manages the Ancient and Accepted Rite in England and Wales.
    In the craft Bro Cockin is the Deputy Provincial G. M. for Oxfordshire as well as a long-serving member of the Board of General Purposes. He also holds high office in several other masonic orders. Before retirement he was a surgeon at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
    "John is highly regarded as a masonic administrator and he brings to the Supreme Council a wealth of masonic experience," says Jim Daniel, Grand Secretary General of the Ancient And Accepted Rite. "His appointment as our new Grand Chamberlain is definitely good news and has already been welcomed by many members of the Rite."
    Bro Cockin, who was initiated in 1969 when he was 36, replaces Robin McGarel-Groves OBE whose appointment to the Supreme Council expired in July this year.

Newfoundland Becomes a Grand Lodge

A new Grand Lodge is to be formed in Newfoundland and Labrador. At a ballot taken earlier this year, almost all of the 27 United Grand Lodge of England lodges voted to form an independent Grand Lodge. Only three lodges, Whiteway, Botwood and Gander, have chosen to stay with UGLE for the present. Although both the local District Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Grand Lodge of Scotland have agreed with the proposal, only the Cormack and Mic Mac Lodges will become founding lodges of the new Grand Lodge. The Grand Lodge of Ireland will not be involved because there are no Irish lodges in Newfoundland or Labrador. A deputation from the United Grand Lodge of England, led by the Pro Grand Master Lord Farnham, will go to St Johns in Newfoundland together with a deputation from the Grand Lodge of Scotland, led by the Grand Master Mason Lord Burton to establish the new Grand Lodge formally on 1 November. The District Grand Master of Newfoundland, Herman Starkes, says, "This support, coupled with the encouragement and support offered from masonic brethren in North America, augurs well for the task ahead of rebuilding the image and membership of our Fraternity in Newfoundland and Labrador." The ritual, regalia and lodge names will also be protected during the change. Lodges will be renumbered, but to preserve the history of the founding lodges, the new warrants will show both the new and existing numbers.

Scotland Museum Re-Opens

The Grand Lodge of Scotland is due to re-open its museum following building work over the summer. The display area will be doubled and the Grand Lodge has taken over a property next door where staff will be housed. There will be a stand-alone computer containing the catalogue of all the items in the library and museum, while computerisation of membership records is in the pipeline.

Province of Essex Publishes New Book

A Question of Masonry is an excellent masonic quiz book which will both entertain and test brethren who wish to sharpen up their masonic knowledge. A clearly produced 73 pages with soft cover will raise money for Essex’s Festival 2000, and costs £6.59 (inc. p&p). It can be obtained from the PGSec’s office, 2 Station Court, Station Approach, Wickford, Essex. SS11 7AT. Tel : 01268 571610.

Warwickshire Scouts Lodge Founded

On 12 July 1997, Provincial Grand Master, Stanley A Lates consecrated the Warwickshire Scout Lodge, saying at the Inaugural Dinner that “Scouting and Freemasonry have much in common with their aims and objects: camaraderie, good citizenship and a readiness to help those who need it most, irrespective of colour, race or creed.” The Lodge will meet at the new Solihull Masonic Centre in Knowle.

Centenary Celebration

Royal Army Service Corps, Royal Corps of Transport and The Royal Logistic Corps members of Nil Sine Labore Lodge (No 2736, EC) which meets at Freemasons’ Hall, are invited to a special Centenary meeting to be held there on Wednesday 13 January 1999. Members of the Corps should contact Bro. W.K. Jewell for more details. (Tel : 01872 863877. e-mail : Bill Jewell@compuserve.com) or the Secretary, Tel : 01534 856521.

Anglo-Belgian Lodge to be Formed

Service in Unity Lodge No. 7843 is planning to change its name in order to form a lodge for masons in England with Belgian affinities, as well as Belgian masons. Service in Unity Lodge currently meets four times a year at Freemasons’ Hall. The Secretary of the Lodge invites interested brethren to make contact : W.Bro. C.T.Marx SLGR, 76 Barn Hill, Wembley Park, Middlesex, HA9 9LQ. Tel : 0181 904 7616.

A Family Affair in Portugal

The consecration of the Chapter of Discoveries No 9409 (Supreme Order of Royal Arch Masons of England) on June 21st 1997 at the Hotel Almansor, Carvoeiro, by E.Comp.Michael Higham, Grand Scribe ‘E’, may well have doubled the strength of Royal Arch masonry in Portugal. For the Conways, it was very much a family affair. E.Comp. Freddie Conway was installed as the Founding ‘Z’, while his brother, Raymond Conway acted as Scribe ‘E’ in the consecrating team. Freddie’s sons Mark and Paul (the latter a founder) were both present while their mother Mrs. Jackie Conway did a superb job in organizing a hugely successful banquet to celebrate the occasion.
    The new Chapter has 31 founders (see photo) and is attached to the Lodge of Discoveries, both meeting at the hotel where the consecration was celebrated. Brethren or Companions wishing to visit will be very welcome and should contact either Companion Tony King on 089-515052 or W.Bro. John Davidge on 082-997177.