Berkshire

On Tuesday 27 October 1998 Provincial Grand Secretary W Bro Raymond Head PAGDC gave an address to Berkshire’s First Principals’ Chapter No 3684 in his office of MEZ 1998-99 on the theme of “Let your light shine”. In the address, W Bro Raymond made the point that the purpose of Craft Masonry and the Supreme Order is to inculcate through allegory a proper pattern of existence, not to offer historical information about the remote past: “the Royal Arch gives us a set of spiritual rather than temporal values at a spiritual level to follow and requires us to think more about our relationship with the Supreme Being.” he said. In conclusion, the Provincial Grand Secretary quoted from the ‘Comfortable Words’ of the 1662 Holy Communion Service: “Let your Light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” While the source was Christian, he added that “Father in Heaven is, after all, only another name in a long list of names that can be used to describe the Supreme Being in which we all place our trust – otherwise we should not be here.”

Cheshire

Brian Hernon, a Past Master of Glenwood Lodge No 6573 (Hyde) and former administrator for the RAF’s Red Arrows Display Team is putting his singing talent to the service of the Royal Oldham Scanner Appeal. Having recently raised more than £3000 at the Appeal’s Autumn Gala, he is now launching a CD and tape of his favourite songs. Appeal manager W Bro Norman Armstrong-Kersh says: “Brian Hernon is undoubtedly a mason who puts his money – or in this case, his talents – where his mouth is. He has a most beautiful tenor singing voice and is very popular. The proceeds from the CD and tape will go towards the £1m needed for state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment which will help those people who need speedy and accurate diagnosis, especially children and the elderly. There will also be a donation to masonic charities. The CD costs £9.95, the tape £3.95, plus £1.25p&p, and are available from: Brian Hernon ‘Song for ROSA’, Block B, NHS Trust HQ, Westhulme Ave., Oldham OL1 2PN, and all cheques should be made payable to R.O.S.A.

Dorset

In 1914, members of Union Lodge of Dorchester, Massachusetts, USA marked their visit to the Lodge of Faith & Unanimity No 417, Dorchester, Dorset, by the presentation of a gavel, still used at the Festive Board today. Brethren of Union Lodge again visited Faith & Unanimity Lodge in 1996 to mark their 200th anniversary. A return visit was planned, and on 10 October 1998, 15 brethren of the Dorset lodge took their seats as visitors for Union Lodge’s Installation meeting in Quincy, Boston, and afterwards presented their WM with a replica of the 1914 gavel which, it has been promised, will now become the ‘Lodge Gavel’.
    Sixteen brethren, 14 wives, two sons and two daughters enjoyed day trips to Plymouth and Cape Cod. Marvelling at the famous foliage of a New England Fall. There were also walking tours of Boston and a visit to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and their Most Worshipful Grand Master. Much interest came from comparing rituals, an interest culminating in a demonstration of an English First Degree ceremony on the last night of the week, in the presence of two RW District Deputy Grand Masters. Union Lodge had performed their First Degree on the previous night and it was heard said afterwards that “They’re the same and yet totally different.” Much swapping of names and addresses will doubtless keep the two lodges in touch and Union Lodge are already talking about their next trip to Dorset. Freemasonry truly is universal.
    W Bro David Dunford. WM, Lodge of Faith & Unanimity No 417.

Hertfordshire

The Most Honourable the Marquess of Northampton DL consecrated Hertfordshire’s 205th lodge on 2 September 1998 in Temple No 10, Great Queen Street. The lodge was formed in honour of the Provincial Grand Master and bears his name: Michael Batham Jones Lodge No 9675. The first Master to be installed was W Bro Gerald Scott OBE, the Assistant Provincial Grand Master. Three weeks later, the RW Provincial Grand Master announced his Millennium Appeal, calling on Hertfordshire brethren to support the restoration of Duke Humphrey of Gloucester’s tomb. The chantry is situated next to the shrine of St Alban, a legendary alumnus of ancient Masonry, and is an important site of interest to the many vistors to the Abbey church of St Albans.
    The Kindred Lodges Association chose The Royal Masonic Girls School at Rickmansworth in the Province for their autumnal meeting on 24 October 1998. Pathfinder Lodge No 8236 (Yorkshire West Riding) played host to an association comprised of 32 lodges with a common interest in scouting and other youth organisations. Also on 24 October, Halsey Hall, Watford, the Masonic Centre for South West Hertfordshire, held an Open Day. Despite very heavy rain, the event had a steady stream (no pun intended) of visitors throughout the day and great interest was generated from all concerned.

Middlesex

Masons in Middlesex have presented a cheque for another £1000 to the Harlington Hospice Association, the London Borough of Hillingdon charity which established the local Hospice at Home service in 1993, and opened the Reg Hopkins Day Care Hospice in 1996. The cheque was presented to the Acting Chairman of the Harlington Hospice, Tony Henry, by Alan May, Middlesex’s Assistant Provincial Grand Master, at the Uxbridge Masonic Centre in Hillingdon. The money has been allocated to the Harlington Hospice from the Grand Charity Hospice Project which has been going since 1984 and which has given over £2,100,000 overall to help hospice services in England and Wales. In 1998, Middlesex masons contributed some £4.25 million to the Grand Charity following the Province’s most recent five year fund-raising festival.
    On 27 November 1998 at the White House Community Centre in Hampton, cheques for another £2200 were presented by the Rev David Bonner, Pro Provincial Grand Master for Middlesex, to Kate Turner, the Founder and Chief Executive of The Shooting Star Trust (see photo).
    The Trust faces the challenge of raising £5m to acquire a site to build a Children’s Hospice in Middlesex. Ms Turner said that she “was delighted that Freemasons are taking such an active part in helping us raise the much needed finance to establish the Hospice. Donations to the Trust from Middlesex Freemasons over the last three years is now in excess of £10,000.” - and on 29 January 1999 at the Harrow Masonic Centre in Kenton, John Kemp, the Deputy PGM for Middlesex, presented the Chairman of St Luke’s Hospice, John Corner, with a cheque for £1000 towards the opening of the new Kenton Grange Hospice for day and residential care later this year. “We are delighted that Freemasons take such an active part in helping us raise the much needed finance to maintain and expand the services offered by our local Hospice organisation. Donations to St Luke’s from the Freemasons’ Grand Charity, and many private lodges in Middlesex over the last four to five years now exceeds £55,000.” said Mr Corner. In 1998, the Grand Charity gave a total of £350,000 to 338 non-masonic charities.

Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire

The Provincial Male Voice Choir of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire has been rehearsing hard in recent months and has fulfilled several engagements at Empingham, Peterborough Cathedral and, on 13 December, before the residents of Cornwallis Court at Bury St Edmunds. On 20 December, a festival of nine lessons and carols at Peterborough Cathedral attracted a congregation of 1200, including RW Bro Nicholas Hart, Provincial Grand Master for Northamptonshire. Bro Max Dolby led the choir and W Bro Paul Knappett played the organ. On 16 May 1999 the Pro Musica Ladies Luncheon at Corby will have the opportunity of witnessing the high standard set by the choir. New members are always welcome and those interested in future arrangements should contact either the programme secretary, W Bro Keith Spain (Tel 01778 422280) or Bro Don Shiells, publicity manager (Tel 01536 746371).

Northumberland

On 26 November 1998, W Bro Gerry Ash PPJGD of East Boldon presided over a formal gathering of brethren, their ladies and guests in the Starlight Lounge of mv Victoria during a P&O Mediterranean cruise at which £175 was raised for charity. Captain Chris Sample accepted £100 while £75 went to the New Masonic Samaritan Fund. It transpired that the Deputy Cruise Director, Mr C Bourdiec was a brother mason and W Bro Ash asked the New Masonic Samaritan Fund for one of its Fund Jewels to be sent to Bro Bourdiec at the P&O Offices at Southampton. In turn, Bro Bourdiec (John Readhead Lodge No 3217, Co Durham) has agreed to have the jewel suitably displayed near the Reception.

Surrey

On Friday 27 November 1998, Beverley Royal Arch Chapter No 5006 invited ladies and friends to an evening in the Chapter Room followed by a Festive Board. After a short Convocation the Chapter was closed and the Companions escorted their guests, including the M.E 3rd Grand Principal The Rev Peter Hemingway, his wife Babs and the Mayor and Mayoress of the Royal Borough of Kingston into the Chapter Room. With Companions and Officers in their full regalia and robes, E.Comp Richard Crane MA, Grand Treasurer, PPGJ, gave an address on the meaning of Royal Arch symbolism to an appreciative gathering. The occasion was rendered even more memorable for the M.E Grand Superintendent James Edgerley and his wife Anne who were proud to see their sons Anthony and Bill occupying the First and Third Principals’ Chairs respectively.

Warwickshire

History was made many times over on 30 November 1998 at a regular meeting of the Installed Masters Lodge when the lodge was called off and for the first time ladies joined brethren, still in regalia (by dispensation), in the Main Temple of the Provincial Headquarters in Edgbaston. The purpose was to hear a paper presented by Mrs Snezana Lawrence on the connection between geometry and Freemasonry. No lady had ever addressed the lodge before. Mrs Lawrence, now the Director of the Canonbury Masonic Research Centre, displayed detailed knowledge of her subject and was warmly applauded. Her assertion that Euclid, the founding father of geometry, probably did not exist, came as a surprise to the newest joining member W Bro John William Euclid Walker who could not believe that his illustrious namesake may not have lived. 150 brethren and 100 ladies attended the event, organised by W Bro David Old after having read Snezana’s article On Euclid in last Spring’s Freemasonry Today. He proudly declared that “Mrs Lawrence and her paper will be remembered for many years in Warwickshire. It was a pleasure to receive her and to have our ladies with us as well on this unique occasion.”
    History was made again on Saturday 5 December 1998 when RW Bro Stanley A Lates consecrated the 200th lodge in the Province at the Provincial Headquarters in Birmingham. Named the Stanley Lates Lodge No 9683, its first Master is the VW Bro RV Wallis PGSwdB, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and Grand Superintendent in the Royal Arch. 200 brethren witnessed what Stanley Lates described as “a wonderful and momentous masonic occasion”, adding that it “was a signal honour that the MW Grand Master had graciously consented to this new lodge bearing my name.”

West Lancashire

In 1954, RW Bro W Hannay, then PGM for the Province, saw over the foundation of The Hannay Masonic Residential Trust, to cater for the needs of elderly masons and their wives and dependants who might be homeless or living in unsatisfactory conditions. The Trust purchased the Tithebarn, Moor Lane, Great Crosby, Liverpool, opened as the Tithebarn Residential Home in 1957. In those days much of the maintenance of the home was left to volunteer tradesmen from within the fraternity. In spite of limited funding, the Trust went on to purchase Fairlawn, a home in Lytham St Annes and later turned land adjacent to the Ecclesholme Masonic Hall, Manchester, into the Ecclesholme Residential Masonic Home. Nowadays, the administration of the homes is in the hands of the RMBI. It was while VW Bro Kenneth Moxley was West Lancashire’s PGM (1990-97) that he was approached by W Bro Fred Sullivan with the idea of extending the Tithebarn funds from his family’s Trust, The Sullivan Foundation. On October 1 1998, a ten-bedroomed extension, the Maud Sullivan House (named after W Bro Fred’s wife), was opened, the result of co-operation between the two men, the RMBI, the bankers and a magnificent donation of £450,000. W Bro Fred was a mason for over 50 years within the Warrington Group and is now living in retirement on the Isle of Man. He is a regular visitor to the Tithebarn, which now caters for over 40 residents. Chairman of the Friends of Tithebarn, Herbert Norcott, told FMT: “Freemasons of West Lancashire will all be forever grateful to VW Bro Moxley [who retired from the office in 1997] for the many hours he devoted in bringing this matter to a satisfactory conclusion and for his dedication. We are equally indebted to our Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro Colin Penty Wright (Patron of the Friends of Tithebarn) for his time spent in finalising matters.”
    West Lancashire’s PGM also attended another interesting event in October: a commemorative dinner and plaque-unveiling held by the original Craft Lodge Fidelity (1256) to mark the centenary of the laying of the foundation stone of the Masonic Hall in the ancient market square of Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire. Fidelity Lodge originally met at the nearby Black Bull Hotel, but the rowdiness of boisterous farmers attending the cattle markets led to members buying the present site, a former courthouse – complete with cells! The courthouse was demolished and Fidelity reigned. 100 years on, 12 lodges and nine other masonic orders use the building for their meetings. To round off the celebrations, a Thanksgiving Service took place at the historic church of St Chad, led by the vicar of Poulton-le-Fylde, Rev Colin Williams. The photo shows from the left: Bro SG White (WM of Fidelity Lodge), W Bro Leon Tax, W Bro JN Pryce, RW Bro Colin Penty Wright (PGM) and W Bro Steven Reid (Assistant PGM).

Yorkshire North and East Ridings

When their 200 year old lodge banner became too fragile for further service, Minerva Masonic Lodge No 250 in Hull turned to the Bishop Burton College for advice and assistance. Mrs Margaret Ward, a final year embroidery student at the College, produced a new banner (from photographs alone as the original was too fragile to handle) as her practical examination project. Not only were the City & Guilds of London Institute Examiners moved to commend the work, but Minerva Lodge Master, Chris Brown of Ryehill, said the lodge was so impressed with the exceptional quality of the banner that they readily accepted the College’s suggestion to sponsor the award of a trophy for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Stitched Textiles’. The trophy takes the form of a silver salver and will be competed for annually by final year students in the Embroidery School. Minerva Lodge 250 is the oldest surviving lodge in Hull and is the largest in the Province of Yorkshire North and East. More information on the Province’s charitable activities may be obtained from Chris Brown (01964 622239) or Donald Davinson (01757 638851). The photo shows John Bird, PM of Minerva Lodge (left) and Chris Brown, Minerva’s WM, congratulating Mrs Ward after the presentation ceremony.