Off to a tee

The Masonic Golf Tournament organised by Cirencester Masonic Golfers raised £2,000, divided equally between the New Masonic Samaritan Fund 2006 Festival and the Mark Benevolent Fund 2003 Festival. A similar tournament is to be held on Wednesday 28th June 2000 when it is hoped to raise a similar amount for the benefit of the two Festivals.

A busy Lodge!

A Ladies’ Supper was organised by Sackville Lodge, Sussex, in the recently completed Centenary Building which sports a new bar, toilets and dining facility to enable all lodges to dine in-house. The event in October was graced by the presence of the PGM of Sussex, RW Bro Ian Lay and his wife Jill who officially opened the new facility, watched by 61 masons and wives representing the lodges that meet at the East Grinstead Masonic Centre which celebrated its centenary in September 1998.

Logically speaking

The AGM of the Logic Ritual Association will be held on Monday 8 May, at Freemasons’ Hall, Gt Queen Street, London. Members of lodges using the Logic Ritual for their ceremonies will be invited to attend and there will be a guest speaker. Further details of the association which incorporates The Logic Club (est. 1881) can be obtained from the Secretary, W Bro Chris Craddock, at 98 Longthorne Street, London, SW6 6JX.

Festival ambition

With an ambitious target to achieve for the 2003 Festival in support of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution, the Province of West Kent is already in top gear. Fund-raising centres around Chapters and Lodges (a sponsored coast to coast cycling event raised £1,200) but the Province’s Special Projects Team is also active. A very successful Italian Extravaganza realised £1,300; a Summer Ball raised £2,900 and a sponsored walk organised by Festival Committee Chairman WBro Gordon Davie (when every Master and MEZ in the Province was sponsored to walk a mile around Oakley House, the home of West Kent Freemasons) raised well over £21,000. It was led by PGM, RW Bro ‘Bill’ Bryen.

Angling for sponsors

The Masonic Trout and Salmon Fly Club is holding its first major charity event on 10 May which will give visually impaired children the opportunity to sample the delights of fly fishing for trout. The occasion is at Syon Park, Brentford, Middlesex, and costs £35 to sponsor or attend. Said events organiser and reporter Bro Jim Webster: “We are looking for further individual child sponsorship along with, if possible, a couple of celebrities who would be willing to talk and interact with the children.” He can be contacted at 98 Whaddon Chase, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 3QS, telephone 01296 424284, fax 01296 424289.

Portuguese plans

The Lancaster Lodge No 9413 (the only EC lodge to meet in Estoril, Portugal) plans to hold its second Ladies’ Festival, a week of masonic and non-masonic activities, at the resort from 15-21 May. All masons from recognised Constitutions and wives are welcome. Events include a visit to a museum with masonic connections, a visit to the Royal Palace in Sintra, a wine tasting, golf, a visit to Caravelos market and to the Expo ’98 site. Booking details can be obtained from the Secretary, Bro W. Wiet Buma, at Rua de S Remo Lote 4, 1st floor 2765, 447 Monte Estoril, Portugal.

Was this the first?

It is believed that the first initiation of the new millennium took place on 3 January within the Province of Sussex. Brian Kolimbarides was initiated into the Lodge of St. George by, W Bro Anthony John William Le Vere. Pictured is the WM with the Newly Entered Apprentice.

Hospice donations

Two Cornish hospices benefited from cheques totalling £5,500 given by Cornish Freemasons. The 17-bed Mount Edgcumbe hospice at St Austell and the seven-bed St Julia’s at Hayle cost £2.5 million a year to run. Chairman Nick Barwell received the cheques from PGM RW Bro Nicholas Barrington who said this £5,500 continued the annual gifts from the Grand Charity of Freemasons in the United Grand Lodge. In 1999 £500,000 was given to 187 hospices making a total of £3 million in recent years. In addition the Cornish Province and the lodges in the county gave other individual amounts through members’ fund-raising. He was accompanied by Assistant PGM John Davey of Penzance.

Cheque from Province

A £1,000 cheque has been presented to the Princess Marina Centre, an adult residential home for sufferers of Cerebral Palsy, by the Province of Buckinghamshire Centenary Fund. The fund is designed primarily to provide computer and Internet experience for the residents.

Happy holidays

West Lancs masons have supported the North West Handicapped Children’s Holiday Group to the tune of £750. William Huck, Assistant PGM of the Province (pictured right) presented a cheque from the West Lancashire Community Fund to the Holiday Group, which will go towards funding the cost of holidays and social events for disabled and disadvantaged children. The West Lancashire Community Fund is a well-established masonic charitable fund. Also pictured are, left to right: Neil Worsley (fundraiser), W Bro J. R. Jackson, PJGD, chairman of Chorley Group of Lodges and Dawn Craghill (fundraiser).

Lodge celebrates

The 75th anniversary of the founding of Bassetlaw Mark Lodge No 810 saw the Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro R G Bradley appoint W Bro RN Grummitt as the first Provincial Grand Charity Steward. W Bro A R. Perry was presented with a lodge banner by the Secretary W Bro. B D Lee on behalf of his wife, Lilian, who had made and donated the banner to mark the anniversary. At the festive board Mrs Lee received from the Master a cut glass bowl (pictured) in recognition of her work.

Old Quintonians return

At the outbreak of World War II, some 400 boys and masters of Regent Street Polytechnic Secondary School (founded by Freemason Quintin Hogg in 1886) were evacuated from London to Minehead, some staying at the masonic hall. Since over 14 of the schoolmasters were masons, Exmoor Lodge No 2390 granted them honorary membership until leaving in 1944. Recently, 48 Old Quintonians (as the Old Boys are known) together with wives and partners, returned for the 60th anniversary of their arrival, coming from as far away as the USA. Visitors were at last able to get behind the temple’s locked doors to check if their initials were still in the Robing Room tables! They presented the lodge with two embroidered alms bags and later presented a commemorative seat on the harbour thanking the then residents for their hospitality.

Divine Service

November saw the third annual Divine Service at Chelmsford Cathedral shared by members of the public and Freemasons of Essex. The congregation was led by the PGM, RW Bro Col. Sir Neil Thorne, OBE and his Deputy, VW Bro Peter Nevens, OBE (pictured).

Grand Superintendent takes the Chair

Surrey’s Democratic Chapter No 9451 has gained a fine reputation for charitable work within the Province. Recently, an electric wheelchair was presented to the RMBI home at Shannon Court by E.Comp. James N Edgerley, Grand Supt. in and over the Province of Surrey on behalf of the Chapter. Jenny Murphy received the gift on behalf of the home.

Christmas cheer

Christmas was given a hearty welcome at Lostwithiel, Cornwall, with carol singing and the presentation of a cheque for £2,200 to the Meningitis Trust. It was the result of fund-raising by members of Restormel Lodge in the town and was presented by W Bro John Davey, the Assistant PGM, Cornwall. Restormel’s Master, Reg Hicks and his wife Esme chose the Trust as their charity as it had a special meaning for them as they had lost a seven year old son to this illness over 30 years ago.

Yorkshire tributes

Anchor Lodge 1337 in the Province of Yorkshire North and East Ridings paid tribute to its oldest member, Norman Bryning, in January. Bro Norman has not only reached 100 years of age but has also achieved 60 years in Freemasonry. As well as Deputy PGM Donald Davinson and the Assistant PGM Thomas Henry Wood, more than 60 brethren attended the meeting.
    Two Anchor Lodge members paid warm and glowing tributes. Bill Pickering, a former pupil of Norman’s at the Allertonshire School in the 1930s reminisced on school life while Alan Aungiers spoke of the contribution Norman had made to Anchor Lodge.
    The Deputy PGM, on behalf of Anchor Lodge, presented a chair for his personal use while attending lodge, a Provincial tie and re-presented him with a certificate acknowledging 60 years in Freemasonry. Norman thanked everyone for the gifts and those who had contributed to the evening and spoke of friendships he had made over the years. He urged members to be more open about their masonic connections. The picture shows W Bro Norman Bryning MBE trying out his new chair flanked by David Millard, WM Anchor Lodge, and Donald Davinson DPGM Yorks N & E Ridings. (NB: FMT apologises for erroneously placing Anchor Lodge in Suffolk in the last issue)

Marquess was guest of honour

Guest of honour at Harringay Lodge No 2763’s centenary meeting at the London Masonic Centre was RW Assistant Grand Master the Marquess of Northampton. He was accompanied by W Bro J. Spence, W Bro GF Redman (Assistant Grand Secretary) and W Bro the Rev AJ Davey, Past Assistant Grand Chaplain. Assistant Secretary of the lodge, W Bro Keith Sukes, delivered a summary of its history, referring particularly to London life in 1899. At the festive board the Assistant Grand Master received cheques for £1,000 for the New Masonic Samaritan Fund, £500 for the charity for the homeless, Alone in London, and the same amount for the Asthma Research Campaign.

Old and new under same banner

In January, Cheshire’s Assistant PGM, W Bro Horace Thompson, dedicated Conway Lodge No 4881’s banner at the Masonic Temple, Birkenhead. W Bro George Crossland (aged 85 and the lodge’s oldest member) was banner donor while the lodge’s newest member, Bro Kevin Phillips (initiated Nov. 1999) acted as banner bearer.

Widows’ Brooch

The Broken Column Brooch identifies the wearer as a Masonic Widow. The brooch was first used in the American Civil War for the ladies of masons at war. Because so many men did not return and the ladies continued to wear the brooches they became accepted as a widow’s brooch throughout the USA and Canada. Over 4,000 have been sold to date in the UK and cost £3.50 (inc. presentation box and card), £1 of which goes to the New Samaritan Fund. They are available from W Bro D. A. Cole, 25 Pondfield Road, Hayes, Kent, BR2 7HS.

Father and Son

On 28 October 1999, the Assistant Grand Master, the MW the Rt Hon The Marquess of Northampton invested W Bro Roopa Gidoomal and his son, W Bro Chandru Gidoomal with the London Grand Rank. According to Grand Lodge records, this was the first occasion where a father and son were invested at the same time. W Bro Roopa Gidoomal is the PM of the Lodge of Eastern Bon Accord No 7071 which meets at Gt Queen St, and of the Lodge of Humility with Fortitude No 229 which recently celebrated its bi-centenary, and which meets at Mark Masons’ Hall, Piccadilly.