Grand Charity among first to help Colombian earthquake appeal

The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has reacted quickly to the recent earthquake in Colombia with a donation of £10,000 to the British Red Cross’s emergency appeal.
    The earthquake is the most destructive to hit the country since 1875 and has left tens of thousands in urgent need of emergency assistance. The worst hit was the city of Armenia, capital of Quindio Province, with around 35% of the city destroyed. President of the Freemasons’ Grand Charity, Raymond Lye, says, “In a situation like this we felt we had to act fast. Our gift will hopefully go towards unearmarked relief work, as it can be allocated towards different relief items as the needs arise.”
    “This gift - among the first we received - will enable us to provide urgently-needed supplies, including food, shelter and medical supplies, to thousands of people.” says Clare Le Fort, Trust Fundraiser for the British Red Cross. “In addition, all relief items will be purchased locally, which supports the local economy and makes the relief operation more cost-effective.”

Edinburgh – a Masonic Secret

An article by Robert McNeil in The Scotsman (24.11.98) reports how local maverick historian James Gilhooley (author of A Directory of Edinburgh in 1752) has discovered that Edinburgh’s New Town (planned by Freemason and city architect GDW Milne in a period of flourishing Masonry in the 1760s) is based on pi, a principle to be found in the Temple of Solomon and the Great Pyramid. McNeil writes that, according to Gilhooley, “the reference points of the original early New Town were, to the east, the vestibule of the current Royal Bank of Scotland building in St Andrew Square; and, to the west, a point near the corner of Charlotte Square and Glenfinlas Street, the then limit of available land. If that distance of 469.3 metres is divided by the distance between Princes Street to the south and Queen Street to the north – 149.4 metres – the result is 3.1412, almost the value of pi, 3.1415.”
    According to non-mason Mr Gilhooley, the value of pi has esoteric centrality to the beliefs of Masonry “and nearly all of those involved in planning the New Town were Freemasons, including the lord provost, George Drummond William Milne, the city architect”. Derived from a circle, pi was used by the Egyptians in astronomical calculations as well as building. Mr Gilhooley said it was his training in engineering which led him to the discovery, adding that “If it wasn’t for Freemasons we probably wouldn’t have had a New Town. They were also involved in building the Royal Infirmary, the City Chambers, indeed anything that was built in the town between 1730 and the 1900s.”
    Not everyone is convinced. Andrew Fraser, president of the old Edinburgh Club, thinking it a strange idea, would like to see more evidence: “Milne was a master-mason but it is not too clear whether he was too keen on the mystical side of things.”

Scotland founds its last possible Provincial Grand Lodge

The Grand Lodge of Scotland has set up its last possible Provincial Grand Lodge: Edinburgh. The consecration, on 17th October 1998 in Freemasons’ Hall, was the last possible time a new Provincial Grand Lodge could be formed, as Edinburgh is the last area of Scotland in which a Province could be established. The first Provincial Grand Master is Robert Tait.
    The decision to form the Provincial Grand Lodge of Edinburgh was in order to better the advancement of Freemasonry in the capital city. Lodges in Edinburgh were previously administered by the Metropolitan District Committee, a Committee of the Grand Committee of the Grand Lodge of Scotland.
    A commemorative tie and jewel is available to reigning Masters and Wardens of the Scottish Constitution as well as for those who attended the event.

New booklets from Grand Lodge

The United Grand Lodge of England has published two brand new booklets explaining in plain English what Freemasonry really is. The booklets, Freemasonry: An Approach to Life and Your Questions Answered are part of Grand Lodge's new long-term public relations strategy and were written by Grand Lodge’s recently established PR Steering Group. Copies will be sent to all brethren (with further copies freely available) and will be issued to the media together with a news release.
    The Library and Museum at Freemasons’ Hall, London, has produced a new series of information leaflets. The leaflets cover a wide range of subjects such as English Royal Freemasons, Masonic Fire, Music and Freemasonry and the Secretary’s Toast (a fascinating custom sometimes found at the festive boards of lodges). There are also leaflets about imitative masonic orders such as the Ancient Order of Gardeners and the Nelsonic Crimson Oakes.
    John Ashby, Deputy Librarian and Curator at Freemasons’ Hall, says, “We often get enquiries about customs and traditions people come across at lodge meetings and elsewhere. These leaflets provide authoritative answers.” There are currently 19 in the series and more are planned for the future.

HFAF looking at founding new lodges

The Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons - one of the two women-only masonic organisations in England - is exploring the possibility of setting up new lodges in Israel, Spain and London.
    “We have several members with family relations in Israel who visit there on a regular basis, who would be more than willing to form the nucleus of a new Lodge,” says a spokeswoman, “but we need some contacts in Israel. Anyone living there who would be interested in joining a Women’s Lodge, please contact us.”
    Although the HFAF already has a lodge in Gibraltar it is now looking to start a lodge in the Marbella area of Southern Spain. As with the idea of the possible lodge in Israel, the HFAF has several members who visit the area. The HFAF also is looking to set up a new lodge in North-West London. Natalie Rose, Secretary of the HFAF’s Stability Lodge No 1 and Constance Leaver Lodge No 39, says, “First we need a suitable venue, as we have more than enough people ready to join it.”
    The HFAF is also currently researching a web page on Women’s Freemasonry around the world as it receives a lot of enquiries from women outside the UK, and would like to provide as much information as possible. Anyone who belongs to an order of Masonry for Women outside the UK, should e-mail them with details of their order, together with any web-site details and any contact names.
    For more information: The Honorable Fraternity of Antient Freemasons, 68 Great Cumberland Place, London W1H 7FD. Tel: 0171-723 9526. Email: 106637.2327@compuserve.com

A yearbook for London?

Many Freemasons are aware of Provincial yearbooks and how useful and informative they are. However, there has never been an equivalent for London, for a variety of historical reasons, not the least of which is that London comprises around 1,600 Lodges - more than twice as large as the largest Province (West Lancashire with around 530 Lodges) and larger than virtually all other Grand Lodges elsewhere in the world. However, with the rapid improvement in information technology, the previous problems of keeping, updating and publishing information on London Lodges and Chapters have lessened. The Assistant Grand Master would welcome comments on whether London Brethren would be in favour of this. Any views about this should be sent to the London Department in writing at Freemasons’ Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ.3

New IT system for London Department at Freemasons’ Hall

As part of the on-going programme of providing a constantly improving service to members of London Lodges and Royal Arch Chapters, the London Department at Freemasons’ Hall is implementing a new computer programme. It will, however, go live later than planned because it is likely the London Department will be relocated to the Wilde Street corner of Freemasons’ Hall.
    The Assistant Grand Master wishes to thank all those Lodge Secretaries and Chapter Scribes E who have made a great effort to provide information for the database.

The Icelandic Freemasons’ Choir

On January 30 1993, the Icelandic Freemasons’ Choir received a charter from their Grand Master to enhance the brotherhood of all song-loving masons by singing at masonic and non-masonic gatherings. The choir, now 65 strong, rehearses all winter long, guided by first-class musicians under the guidance of the Grand Lodge Master of Music. The first concert was given before more than 700 people at the Masonic Hall in Copenhagen in April 1997. This was followed by a string of sell-out concerts in Iceland. In April 1999, the choir will perform at the Masonic Hall in Reykjavik and at the Akureyri Church in the largest town on the north coast. According to press officer Halldór S.Magnússon the choir “has made definite plans for a trip to Israel and Egypt in Spring 2000. As we will be travelling through London, it would seem appropriate to visit our brothers in London en route. We would be most interested in attending a meeting in London and perform some singing there for the brothers. Another option might be to give a concert at the Masonic Hall for brothers and guests.”
    In 1995 a new organ was constructed for Reykjavic’s Masonic Hall and money was raised through the sale of a CD of masonic music performed by the choir with organ accompaniment. The CD – and further information – may be obtained from Halldór S.Magnússon at Smáraflot 30, 210 Gardabaer, Iceland. Tel: (354) 560 8580, 565 7647, 897 3720; Fax: (354) 560 8520; e mail: halldor_magnuson@isbank.is3

London easy riders

Huw Pritchard of Old Epsomian Lodge No 3561 is looking for a group of dedicated bikers (and he means motorcycles not push bikes!) who want a fun day out. He will make all the arrangements. If you’re interested, let Jim Blackledge know on 01708 225932 and he will put you in touch with Huw.

MTGB Millennium Project

On 9 December 1998 the Rt Hon the Earl Cadogan, DL, President, Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys announced in Grand Lodge details of a major initiative to be implemented by the Trust which will bring significant and lasting benefits to the children's hospice movement in England and Wales.
    There are currently 17 children's hospices in England and Wales offering invaluable respite and terminal palliative care to children who are not expected to live into adulthood. In some cases respite care is given for anything up to 10 years of the child’s life. Despite their severe medical condition many of these children display an incredible determination to live life as normal and where possible to continue with their education.
    The primary object of the Trust is to look after the children of the families of Freemasons. It is only after discharging this duty that it may, if funds permit, assist other children. In exercising this ability to assist non-masonic causes the Trust has established a £7.5M designated fund, which will in the first instance, enable children's hospices to realise the potential of information technology for both educational and recreational purposes. Demelza House in Kent is the first children's hospice to have benefited from the Trust’s plans. In the near future a further 3 hospices will join Demelza and enable the Trust to pilot the effectiveness of the equipment provided.
    The ultimate aim is to equip each children’s hospice with similar technology and to develop and maintain a hospice network which will enable sick children, siblings, parents and nursing staff located at different hospices to communicate with each other by computer.
    Leslie Hutchinson, MBA Planning and Development Co-ordinator, Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys

More Aid for Hospices and Cancer Relief

In January 1999 East Lancs PGM James D Hemsley presented cheques totalling £1200 to two local charities at the East Cheshire Hospice, Macclesfield. The money came from the last annual Sounding Brass and Voices concert, held at Stockport Town Hall last November organised by Nos 1 and 3 Districts. Similar concerts organised by these Districts have, since 1986, raised more than £20,000 for local charities. The photo shows PGM James Dunsford Hemsley presenting two £600 cheques to Chief Executive Sheila Goodliffe (left) on behalf of the hospice, and Nurse Lorraine Creech for Macmillan Cancer Relief. Pictured left to right are Martin Ross, Jim Seddon (East Lancs Communications Group Press Liason Officer), Colin Firth and Geoffrey Ross.

East Lancs PR Campaign in gear

East Lancashire is preparing a determined PR campaign now that a fighting fund set up by PGM James D Hemsley has almost reached its target.
    The Province’s 406 lodges were asked for a voluntary one-off levy of £1 per member and, so far, nearly £9,500 has come rolling in. The campaign is being planned by a recently-established Communications Committee, chaired by retired journalist Norman Pickles, who has been the Province’s Press and PR Officer since 1995. He has been joined by five others, all of whom will join in regular seminars to monitor progress.
    As well as continuing the policy of Open Days – 11 have been held in nine different masonic halls in the past three years – the new committee already has plans for selected volunteers to be trained in handling the media, the provision of display equipment and for a panel of speakers to explain the Craft to outside organisations. They will also be considering follow-ups to last year’s booklet Freemasonry Explained, distributed to all 10,000 masons in the Province to help them to be more open about the Craft. “There is undoubtedly a growing acceptance of the need for an active campaign, and we shall be doing all we can to improve our image and counter popular misconceptions about Freemasonry” says Norman Pickles.

Royal Arch aids Wiltshire Air Ambulance

The Wiltshire Air Ambulance relies entirely on charity to run its service. In October 1998, the 17 Chapters of Wiltshire, together with donations from the other Degrees and Orders raised the excellent sum of £9000 to help keep this invaluable service in the air.

Grand Old Man of Freemasonry Remembered

At the end of January a memorial service was held at St Anne’s Church, Manchester to honour the life and work of Ian Hugh Donald Brown, Manchester’s first children’s officer whose pioneering work made him a national figure, changing the face of child care not only in the northern city but throughout the country. James Dunsford Hemsley, the Provincial Grand Master for East Lancashire, gave an address about the remarkable nonagenarian’s 72 year masonic career which ended last November when Ian died at the age of 95. Hertfordshire child care officer Bob Holman, author of The Corporate Parent: Manchester Children’s Department 1948-1971 (published in 1996) also gave an address.
    Ian’s masonic career started at the age of 23 when he was initiated in 1926 into Brownrigg Lodge of Unity in Gillingham, Kent, where he grew up in Poor Law care. He started work in local government aged 16, but in 1926 began a decade’s service in the Royal Navy, followed by a return to local government which would eventually lead him in 1946 to Manchester as an assistant education officer. In 1948, when local authorities had to set up children’s departments, Ian became Manchester’s first children’s officer, responsible for closing the austere Styal Cottage Home and placing the 400 resident children in small groups of about eight in 59 former council houses with a house mother and her husband, so that the children grew up in a family atmosphere. Ian insisted that brothers and sisters stayed together (when a boy, his mother dead and father abroad, he was sent into the workhouse with his brother; his sister was sent elsewhere and he never saw her again). Authorities from all over the country came to see the 59 children’s homes and copied Ian’s pioneering methods.
    W Bro Brown, founder member of Festival Lodge No 7605, received Provincial honours, being appointed in 1969 to Provincial Grand Steward, and in 1981 to Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden. Ian finished his masonic career as Chaplain, a position he held for several years until his death.
    Jim Seddon, Communications Group, Province of East Lancashire.

First Lady to address a Royal Arch Meeting

History was made when Miss Jane Reynolds, Chief Executive of the RMBI, visited the Sussex First Principals Chapter of Royal Arch Freemasons in Brighton: the first lady to address a Royal Arch meeting.
    The Sussex Masonic Centre was host to masons from all over Sussex and beyond to hear Miss Reynolds talk about the foundations of the Institution in 1842, the varied range of services it offers, and the growth of its Homes from the 1850 opening of the East Croydon Home to the 19 Homes it now runs, looking after some 1100 residents. She also spoke about the many other services operated by the RMBI and future expansion of care.
    Miss Reynolds stated that the RMBI “has a daunting challenge: to provide a comprehensive range of services to meet the needs of an increasingly large number of older masons and their dependants. It faces this challenge with enthusiasm and vigour, with professional staff balancing the needs of business-like efficiency with a commitment to providing services of the highest possible quality.” (Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex website: freemasonry.net/sussex/)

Anglo-Foreign Lodges Association Reunion

Thursday 6 May 1999 will see the Biennial Reunion of the Anglo-Foreign Lodges Association to be held at Freemasons’ Hall, Great Queen Street in the presence of the Pro Grand Master MW Bro the Rt Hon Lord Farnham and Senior Grand Officers from Britain and overseas.
    Helvetica Lodge No 4894 is acting as Banner Lodge and has invited the Persévérance Lodge No 17 (Geneva, Grand Lodge Swiss Alpina) to give a demonstration in French of the First Degree with a lecture by their Orator. The meeting will start in the Grand Temple at 16.45, followed by dinner in the Grand Hall of the New Connaught Rooms.
    The inclusive cost for admission will be £39 (£9 for the demonstration only). Applications with cheques made payable to the Anglo-Foreign Lodges Association should be sent to Jack Howell FCIOB, 5 Mulberry House, Victoria Park Square, London E2 9PQ (Tel: 0181 980 2437) to arrive no later than 22 April, giving address, surname, initials, title, Craft rank, lodge name and number.

Wear Harmony Masonic Choir – Last Concert

In 1990 brethren from the Sunderland area lodges formed a male voice choir under director W Bro Ken Henderson. Initially providing entertainment for Sunderland Lodge No 4114, collections were taken in support of the RMBI 1999 Festival, kicking off a practice which – eight years and 250 performances later – has raised £10,500 for the RMBI.
    During the years, the choir has sung to lodges throughout the Provinces of Durham and Northumberland, raising funds for several churches and charities such as Mind, Alzheimers, Huntingdon and Macmillan Nurses. The choir’s highlight occurred last December when it entertained the PGM, RW Bro Dr Alan Davison and his officers at a special Provincial Grand Lodge meeting in South Shields. The choir received a standing ovation from a packed hall but – alas - numbers have diminished from the original 24 to 16 and it was decided to disband. The final performance was given at the annual carol evening held in Sunderland’s Masonic Temple on 13 December 1998 to an audience of nearly 200 brethren and their families.
    Eddie Howell would like to talk to anyone interested in reforming the choir on Wearside 0191 5672377.

Demonstration Team Tops £10,000

The Sutton Coldfield Demonstration Team recently topped the £10,000 mark raised for the New Masonic Samaritan Fund during 1998, having raised more than £50,000 for the cause in the past six years from the donations of brethren throughout England.
    In February 1995 the team (drawn from Midlands Provinces) won its first international cap when it was invited by the Ramon Llull Lodge No 9 (Spanish Constitution) to Palma, Majorca, where it performed before the Gran Maestro of Spain, the late MW Bro Luis Salat. As a result of that most friendly encounter, other degrees of Masonry have been introduced into the Balearic Islands.
    Authentic re-enactments of 18th century lodge workings (the three degrees) are performed in costume by the team in a colourful, informative and entertaining way. Members also present to Royal Arch Chapters – in more sombre clerical attire – a re-enactment of the Fourth Degree of the Antients (Passing of the Veils) ceremony of c.1807, normally seen only in the Province of Bristol.
    The team is currently recruiting locally and in the regions. Enquiries for demonstrations or membership can be obtained from the Assistant Secretary and Team Leader, W Bro AT Elwell PPGSwdB, High Street, Church Eaton, Stafford ST20 OAG. Tel: 01785 823000.

Great Priories to hold conference in Scotland

The fifth triennial world conference of Great Priories (the masonic bodies which administer the Masonic Knights Templar) is to be held in Scotland from 23-30 August 2000. Plans and preparations are already well in hand.
    Main events will be held at Stirling with a wide range of events throughout Scotland. As well as the conference itself, there will be other events such as meetings of various masonic orders, ceilidhs, musters and visits to sites of historic interest such as Rosslyn Chapel. Up to date information and current details of the programme can be found at: greatprioryofscotland.com

New internet sites

Three new interesting internet sites are the Grand Lodge of Ireland, Nottinghamshire’s 2007 Festival Appeal, and the London Masonic Centre at Clerkenwell.
    The Grand Lodge of Ireland’s is designed in a lively and clear way and includes a photographic tour of Freemasons’ Hall in Dublin (see image from the net), details of the forthcoming 275th anniversary celebrations to be held in June 2000, information for Lodge Secretaries, and information for anyone interested in becoming a Freemason. The address is: www.irish-freemasons.org/
    Nottinghamshire’s web page mostly concerns the Province’s 2007 Festival Appeal for the New Masonic Samaritan Fund, although there is plenty of information about the Province in general. The address is: www.freemasonry.org/notts2007/
    The London Masonic Centre at Clerkenwell, just north of the city, is the first centre in London to go on the web. The well-organised site gives details of the various lodge and chapter rooms available as well as other facilities, all of which can be booked on-line. The address is: www.london-lodges.org/clerkenwell/

SLGR age limit abolished

The Grand Master’s advisors have agreed to end the age limit on Senior London Grand Rank. This now means that candidates of any age can be put forward for the honour. “The age limit has caused some upset in the past,” says the Assistant Grand Master, Lord Northampton. “I think everyone will be much happier now that this has at last been changed.”