CHESHIRE’s 275th ANNIVERSARY – OLDEST PROVINCE CELEBRATES! Happiness is the Grand Design, Canon tells cathedral assembly

While it is right and proper that the rituals of our lodges should remain the property of the members, yet let us never forget that The Grand Design of Masonry is to be happy and communicate happiness - not just among ourselves but throughout the world.
    So said the Rev Canon Richard Tydeman when he addressed well over 1,000 people who filled the magnificent structure of Chester Cathedral for a choral evensong service of thanksgiving in May as part of the 275th anniversary celebrations of Freemasonry’s oldest Province, Cheshire.
    Civic guests - including the county’s Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff, mayors and mayoresses, representatives of the armed forces, cathedral and free church delegates - joined with Grand Lodge representatives; Cheshire PGM RW Bro Timothy Raymond Roper Richards plus the PGMs of East and West Lancashire, the Isle of Man, Staffordshire, Shropshire, and Yorkshire West Riding; along with Province of Cheshire officers and wives and many hundreds of brethren and their guests for the impressive and poignant service.
    In his address, Canon Tydeman first of all traced the history of Freemasonry and, after referring to Cheshire Province’s history, said: “Let me consider the subject of Freemasonry in general and try to answer the age-old question ‘What is it all about?’”
    He quoted a story concerning “our Brother Sir Christopher Wren” who, when building St Paul’s Cathedral, decided he would like to find out about the work they were doing. Disguising himself, he found three men doing the same work, preparing a piece of stone. He asked each what they were doing and each gave a different reply. The first said he was “chipping bits of stone” and it was a dull and boring job; the second said he was trying to earn a living and the third replied: “Ah, I’m a lucky chap, I am. I’m helping a fellow called Christopher Wren to build a cathedral.”
    The Canon continued: “Work is something that we all have to do in this life, and many there are who, like the first man in the story, find their work dull and boring, the ‘daily grind’ they call it, something to be got through as soon as possible and then forgotten about. Others, like the second man, only think about work as a means of making money, doing as little work for as much money as possible in order to give them time and opportunity to do all the other things in life that they really want to do.
    “Of course, our modern system of conveyor-belt factories and mechanical operations can only make things worse. How can anyone become enthusiastic about shaping the same piece of metal or stone for a particular purpose if he hasn’t the faintest idea what that particular purpose is? Many a workman spends all his working life making sections of a machine without ever knowing - and therefore without ever caring what the finished machine is going to be.”
    Referring to the third man in the story he said: “Because he knew the end product would be worthwhile, he was able to make his own simple part of it worthwhile too.”
    He added: “There are times when I wonder whether the story of Wren and the workmen couldn’t also be applied to Freemasons. Here we are, brethren of various lodges, all doing the same job, trying to square our conduct and smooth and prepare our lives - but for what? It is all too easy for our masonry to become an automatic, mechanical sort of function: on the appointed day we go off with our apron in our little case; we open the lodge, repeat all the well-worn ritual, close the lodge and go off to get a drink with the feeling that our duty has been done for another month or two. Surely there must be more to it than that?
    “Then it cannot be denied that mercenary and other unworthy motives occasionally creep into our conduct too, and we sometimes find it useful to meet business acquaintances and make new contacts over drinks before dinner. But there must be more to Masonry than that!
    “Now, I put it to you that, like Wren’s third workman, what we need is a vision of the Grand Design. We want to see what Masonry is aiming at; and we shall never see that so long as we go on looking inwards all the time at our own little bit of work, or what we are going to get out of it. A cathedral is for all mankind: the secrets of its construction belong to its builders and craftsmen, but the cathedral itself is for the glory of God and the service of all men.
    “So, while it is right and proper that the rituals of our lodges should remain the property of the members, yet let us never forget that the Grand Design of Masonry is to be happy and to communicate happiness, not just among ourselves but throughout the world.
    “At one time or another a whole lot of nonsense has been spoken and written about Freemasonry, usually be people who are either frightened by, or jealous of, the obvious appeal which the Craft has among men of good will. We have been accused of being a political party, or a sort of benevolent mafia, or a group dabbling in the occult, or perhaps a rather blasphemous religion!
    “The fault is partly our own: by being unnecessarily secretive we have given the impression that, because we meet behind closed doors, we must be up to no good of some kind. I do not suggest we should open our doors: our rituals must remain our private property, but let us make it quite clear that the communication of happiness is the sole aim of that ritual, both inside and outside the lodge. We do not advertise ourselves as masons by wearing badges in our buttonholes, but there is no doubt at all that the whole object of our institution should be outward-looking. We are charged to practise out of the lodge the duties we have been taught in it, so as to prove to the world its happy and beneficial effects, and that when anyone is said to be a member of it, the world may know that sympathy, justice and benevolence may be found here.
    “In a few weeks time the Church will be celebrating Whitsunday, the Festival of the Holy Spirit. On that day, the Day of Pentecost, nearly 2000 years ago, a little group of men met together in a small upper room in Jerusalem with the doors locked and properly tiled; and suddenly, like tongues of fire and a rushing mighty wind, the Holy Spirit filled them with power. They didn’t just sit there and congratulate each other. No, they immediately went out and began the real task of communicating happiness and demonstrating the love of God to all men.
    “May that same Spirit so move within our churches, our lodges, our hearts and minds, that we may go forth with the knowledge that each one of us, however humble, is helping the Great Architect of the Universe to build a cathedral for all mankind.”
    At the conclusion of the service, at which the two lessons were read by RW Bro Richards and Canon Tydeman, the PGM presented a cheque for £10,000 to the cathedral’s appeal for the new Song School.
    Addressing the Dean of the Cathedral, the Very Rev. Stephen Smalley (who led the service), W Bro Richards said: “We who are gathered here …are so grateful to have the opportunity of giving thanks to God for 275 years of formal recognition of Freemasonry in Cheshire. Of course Freemasonry existed long before 1725 and it is quite possible and indeed probable the operative masons 1,000 years ago were responsible for the construction of this ancient abbey building.
    “Over the centuries, great and humble men from the diocese and county have joined those in the Masonic Province to unite in fellowship and love for their fellow man, particularly supporting those in need. We thank you this evening for your friendship in the hope that the valued relationship between the county, the diocese and the Province may continue and prosper in the years ahead.
    “At the present time, the Province is engaged in raising upwards of £4 million for distressed and needy children together with those who care for them, and in addition this year the Grand Charity has donated £100,000 to the Royal Schools for the Deaf and The Brain Rehabilitation Centre in Chester.
    “In October we from Cheshire will provide five specially adapted mini-buses for the MenCap young persons’ charity which will be used throughout Cheshire at a cost of £125,000.
    “You will gather, Mr Dean, that a significant part of our efforts is directed towards young people and with this in mind I am conscious of your appeal for the new Song School for the choristers of this cathedral. Therefore, it gives me the greatest pleasure to present a cheque for £10,000 which coupled with our collection today, will cover the cost of the new electronic organ for the Song School.”
    In thanking the PGM, the Dean mentioned not only how welcome the money was but how opportune it was because only recently it had been learned that the cost of the project had risen considerably.
    Report by Doug Pickford.

Shopmobility in Wigan

It is almost 12 months since the masons of Wigan donated four specially adapted motorised scooters to the Borough’s shopmobility scheme. These additional scooters have added greatly to this popular scheme. Each scooter cost £2,000 and each carries a small plaque indicating the source of the donation.
    Chairman of the Wigan group of lodges, Stanley Oldfield, has received many letters of thanks for supporting the community so well and says, “This has not been just about raising money, but getting involved in providing something which was so greatly needed and much appreciated by the local community.”

Mandate makes its Mark

Mandate Lodge (No. 4258) under the Mastership of W Bro Simon Woolf has broken all records for the lodge in its 78 year history this year by raising over £5,500 for its chosen charities. Not bad for a London lodge of just over 50 members. With a large contingent of Turkish members, the lodge raised £1,500 for the Relief Appeal following the devastating earthquake in Turkey last year. The Past Assistant Grand Master of Turkey, RW Bro Celil Layktez will be visiting to thank Mandate Lodge at the Installation meeting in May for its kind generosity.
    However, the spearhead of the campaign was in support of one of the RW Assistant Grand Master, The Most Hon.The Marquess of Northampton’s chosen charities for London lodges to raise much-needed money to fund the Asthma Campaign’s research into the causes of asthma. Over £3,000 was raised for this worthy cause, and nearly a third of that money came from a raffle held at the Ladies Festival Weekend in Cambridge at the Garden House Moat House, who very kindly gave the lodge a Weekend Break for Two to raffle off as a first prize.
    The hotel was also able to extend its help to the lodge even more when Bro Bill Henries (Master elect) was not able to come to the ladies weekend due to sudden bereavement in the family. Bro Bill was due to sing the Ladies Song to the Lady President and without a replacement singer in sight, things were looking fairly desperate, but in stepped the events manager from the Hotel, Bro Peter Snellgrove, to offer his services and sang the Ladies Song (see picture above). The hotel manager coolly said after the event that this was all part of the service!

Grand Lodge of Greece Recognised

The Grand Lodge of Greece (GLG) has again been recognised by the United Grand of England (UGLE) after being in the wilderness for seven years.
    The decision was taken at the UGLE quarterly communications meeting in June, following a lengthy debate initiated by former UGLE Grand Secretary RWBro Commander Michael Higham.
    He had wanted the UGLE to also restore recognition to the rival National Grand Lodge of Greece (NGLG), but his attempt failed.
    The meeting also passed a resolution affirming "its established practice of not recognising a second Grand Lodge in a territory without the consent and agreement of both Grand Lodges concerned."
    The GLG was first recognised by the UGLE back in 1875, but in June 1993 recognition was withdrawn because of its "encouragement of the discussion of politics in Grand Lodge and its subordinate lodges."
    In September that year UGLE accorded recognition to the NGLG, but unusually, the overwhelming majority of Grand Lodges with which the UGLE was in amity did not back this move.
    Last September the UGLE decided not to recognise any Grand Lodge in Greece for the time being despite the NGLG continuing to be regular. It was felt that the two Grand Lodges needed to sort out their differences.
    The UGLE was advised by the Board of General Purposes to approve the re-recognition of the GLG on a number of grounds. First, because it has a lodge on the island of Zante where the one English lodge in Greece is located.
    Moreover, the District Grand Master of Cyprus was also urging recognition of the GLG in the interests of the nine English lodges under its jurisdiction.
    In addition, it is the larger and older of the two Greek Grand Lodges, and is currently recognised by the overwhelming majority of the Grand Lodges with which the UGLE is in amity.
    Commander Higham described the UGLE |proposal as an "unnecessary development, possibly dangerous and embarrassing in our relations with other Grand Lodges."
    The NGLG wanted both Grand Lodges recognised, but the GLG did not want the NGLG recognised. Commander Higham said that, in seeking re-recognition, the GLG should not be allowed to impose conditions.
    The Earl Cadogan, President of the Board of General Purposes, rejected criticism of the proposed recognition of the GLG only. He said that the UGLE had to act "in the best interests of all its members." He warned that the dispute had separated son from father and brother from brother.
    He added that the recognition of the GLG was the "strong recommendation" of the Board of General Purposes. They were adopting a procedure that was well established with Grand Lodges with which the UGLE was in amity.
    RWBro Sir John Welch, Chairman of the UGLE External Relations Committee, backed the Earl Cadogan. He said the practice of not recognising a second Grand Lodge in a territory without the consent and agreement of both Grand Lodges concerned was an "eminently sensible convention observed for many years."
    He added that Grand Lodge had never officially confirmed such a convention, and that was why the meeting was being asked to pass the resolution. "It must be formalised" he commented "or we could end up with many more complications."
    A strong plea for recognition of the GLG came from RWBro Simon Waley, District Grand Master for Cyprus. He said: "This issue has caused great upset and sadness. Families cannot visit each other’s lodges, and it has caused problems for Greeks worldwide."
    Both the resolution on recognition of foreign lodges and that to recognise the Grand Lodge of Greece were passed with only a few hands raised in opposition.

Decade of English Craft in Portugal

Masons from Spain, Gibraltar, Scotland, Wales and England travelled to the Algarve in mid-March to join members of the UGLE in a 4-day festival to celebrate 10 years of English Freemasonry in Portugal.
    In March 1990, the Rt Hon Lord Farnham had consecrated the first English lodge in Portugal, appropriately named Prince Henry the Navigator Lodge, to recall the bond established between England and Portugal by the treaty of Windsor over 600 years earlier.
    The 10th birthday celebrations (held in March 2000) culminated in a Festival Meeting and Grand Ball at the Almansor Hotel in Carvoeiro, attended by over 200 masons, wives and friends. Greetings were extended by the Honorary British Consul Dr José Pearce D’Azevedo OBE, by Rt W Bro Joseph de Haro, the District Grand Master of Gibraltar, by Rt W Bro Dr Ernesto Guillem Bosco, the PGM of Andalucia, by Rt W Bro Morris Downie, the PGM of Ross and Cromarty, and by letter from the Assistant Grand Master of the Regular Grand Lodge of Portugal (Legal), and Rt W Bro Dr Mario Martin Guia, who was unable to attend.
    Beautiful gifts of lead crystal were received by the senior English Freemason in Portugal, VW Bro Richard Beardsley, who was the first Master of the first lodge in 1990; and since 1995 has held the office of Grand Inspector, responsible for the Group of Lodges and Chapters in Portugal. In his keynote address he said he was reminded of Lord Farnham’s words 10 years earlier, paraphrasing Drake’s Prayer, that no matter how exciting it was to set out on a great voyage of discovery, the greater glory lay in the fulfillment of it, carrying it through to a successful conclusion. He said he expected more and more English Freemasons would be seeking the retirement sun of southern Europe, bringing with them a natural desire to continue their Freemasonry in a manner familiar to them. He prayed that “the masonic ideals that throw bridges over all national boundaries will lead us into flexible ways of dealing with this demand in a satisfactory way for us all.”
    The Grand Inspector reminded the ladies and non-masons at the meeting that Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth were the three great principles on which Freemasonry was founded. None was more important than Relief or charity; not just helping needy Freemasons, but going out to meet the challenges of the greater world. He announced that all the charitable proceeds of this Festival would go to the Red Cross Appeal to help the children of Mozambique, expected to be in excess of £2,000.

Ablaze with Colour!

There is an added splash of colour at Fleetwood, Lancashire’s Masonic Hall.
    Brethren attending the dozen Craft and side degree orders at the promenade hall can gaze out from its Victorian elegance across the sweep of Morecambe Bay to the grandeur of the Lakeland fells. Once inside, however, the outlook was less dramatic, with the plain panelled walls of the lodge room much in need of enhancement.
    But now the temple is shimmering with colour, as a dozen glittering emblems of all the Fleetwood orders adorn the walls, following completion of a remarkable three-year task undertaken by retired pharmacist John Pilkington, 64, and former local govt officer Stephen Wadsworth, 53 – both of Broadwater Lodge No 9027.
    The emblems are around a sq. metre each. Their canvas frames, needing 324 stitches per sq. inch, have consumed a staggering two and a half miles of silk and gold thread, inserted by more than a million and a half stitches!
    The project was born when W Bro Wadsworth, who had suffered a series of stress-induced heart-attacks, was looking for a relaxing therapy. Embroidery opened its delicate doors to his nimble fingers. According to Stephen, “John did the designs which symbolise the trawling and maritime history of the town, from lodge jewels and medals, and I used them as stencils for the cotton and silk stitching.”
    The emblems were dedicated in a ceremony staged by Wyre Lodge 7704, and conducted by West Lancashire’s PGM, Colin Penty Wright, who told more than 100 lodge members and guests on 6 April 2000: “This unique event is a tribute to the dedication and skill of the brethren who crafted these emblems, and is also a reminder of the part Freemasonry has played in the history of Fleetwood.”
    The pair are currently working on a banner for the West Lancashire Province’s 175th anniversary next year. Framed colour replicas of the emblems are on sale from Fleetwood Masonic Hall (Tel: Peter Baxter on 01253 823271), along with an impressive full colour brochure (proceeds to the Hall’s Building Fund).

Cornwall comes Together

Masonic leaders from throughout the West Country and beyond were among some 700 guests at the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall’s annual meeting at Newquay on Saturday 1 April.
    PGM Nicholas Barrington said that those present were members of a wonderful fraternity: “Do your best to share it with friends. A man is a mason when he learns how to pray, how to love and how to hope. When he has kept faith with himself, with his fellow man and with his God.” In wishing all the masons much enjoyment in their Freemasonry in the coming year, the PGM spoke of the planned 250th anniversary celebrations for the Province in 2002, and its special festival for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
    There are well over 4,000 members in Cornwall, but numbers had fallen across the land in the last decade. “We need more initiates,” said Nicholas Barrington, “people who would justify the privilege of becoming Freemasons. They are around, and it is our responsibility to this wonderful fraternity to give them the opportunity of joining.”
    A cheque for £3,500 towards the 2002 Festival was presented by Bill Gilbert, the profit from the Provincial Ball & Draw. A collection in aid of the Cornwall Air Ambulance raised £1,000. The Province had made many gifts to Cornish charities over the previous year, including the two hospices, Cheshire Homes, the Salvation Army, Air Ambulance, the Fire Brigade, the Deaf Association, and the RNLI.
    A day of presentations of awards for masonic service was followed by dinner at Newquay’s Hotel Bristol. A Provincial church service takes place at Bodmin parish church on 15 October.
    Meanwhile… the ladies committee of the Towan Lodge at Newquay, Cornwall, has given £850 to the League of Friends of the local hospital which is working hard to complete planned extensions.
    The money was raised through a series of events, including bingo, coffee mornings, whist-drive and a Victorian tea party.
    June Colvill, daughter of Ron Kemp, the Master of Towan, presented the cheque and said: “We are delighted to help a local charity. We recognised the hard work and dedication the League undertakes in supporting both patients and relatives.
    R Douglas Williams MBE, Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden.

Bro Norman Reflects

In the Spring issue, Plumblines reported on W Bro Norman Bryning’s reaching the grand age of 100 years, with 60 of those years well spent as a Freemason. The Editor thought it would be a good idea to ask Norman if he had any thoughts to express on the past, present and future of Freemasonry. This is what W Bro Norman had to say:
    “It was in October 1939 that I was initiated into Freemasonry and over the past sixty years I have maintained an active connection with my mother lodge, Anchor Lodge No 1337 in Northallerton, North Yorkshire.
    “Much has happened since then but I still remember the shock I had on hearing the words of the obligation in the First Degree indicating the dire consequences should I ever betray the secrets of Masonry. Fortunately the words of the charge after initiation which followed, indicating my duty to God, my neighbour and myself calmed my feelings as a committed Christian and a confirmed member of the Church of England. Wisely, the harsh terms of the obligation have now changed and my regular attendance and active participation in everything connected with the lodge, over so many years, have proved my devotion to Masonry.
    “Nevertheless I have felt that over the years Masonry was too inward looking. Commendably, much was done to help masons and their relatives who had come on hard times but too little to help causes affecting the general public. Fortunately this had changed in recent times as instanced by the large number of outside bodies supported financially by Masonry and in the money raised for the refurbishing of the stained glass window in York Minster.
    “Yet another aspect of Masonry that has caused some hard thinking has been secrecy. There is always a tendency to feel that where there is secrecy there is something sinister to hide. This of course is not always the case and so I have always been of the opinion that an “open-house” policy enabling the general public to visit lodge premises and be told something of the history and activities of Masonry. Indeed anything that is likely to eliminate the idea held by some members of the public that masons get undue advantages just because they are masons, when applying for jobs. For my part I have always made the fact that I am a Freemason an open secret!
    “We as masons use the term ‘Brother’ in our dealings with one another. This is good, for I think that more could be done to develop the family spirit in Masonry. This leads me to suggest that in view of the diminishing numbers joining societies such as Masonry and Rotary these days, consideration should be given to development of the social side of Masonry whereby wives, female friends and indeed families could join us. In the none-too-distant-past all the meetings of the lodge in the year were given over to ceremonies. This is no longer the case in many lodges and hence the need to develop interesting features such as lectures, discussions and films.
    “In 1996 I was awarded the MBE for services to the community. Prior to the award a submission was made to the Prime Minister of my many activities over the years. Freemasonry was referred to, for it should be said that many members of the Craft are known to be pillars of their local communities.
    “On January 3rd 2000 I celebrated my 100th birthday. On January the 8th, some seventy-five guests, including family, relatives, friends and associates joined me at a very special luncheon. You may have guessed that members of Anchor Lodge No. 1337 were among my guests.”
    Norman Bryning Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden

Warwickshire Gift for Church Roof

Stanley Lates, Warwickshire’s PGM and head of some 6,400 masons attended morning service at the church of St Mary the Virgin, Temple Balsall, with his wife Rosemary, on Sunday 5 March at the invitation of the vicar, Rev Dr James Woodward.
    Freemasons had responded to the appeal launched by the vicar for the restoration and repair of the roof to this fine church, a wonderful example of Giles Gilbert Scott’s work. The PGM presented a cheque for £1000 to James Woodward at the service. Dr Woodward said: “This substantial donation is a great boost to our appeal, and I cannot begin to thank enough the Provincial Grand Master and the Freemasons of Warwickshire for their generosity. We often hear adverse criticism about Freemasons, but I feel that the congregation and the public should appreciate the good work they do. We were absolutely delighted that the Provincial Grand Master and his wife were able to attend our service.”
    Stanley Lates said: “I am grateful to the Freemasons of Warwickshire for their unending and generous support which enables me to make donations of this nature from time to time each year to non-masonic charities. It is particularly fitting on this occasion that we should be helping this church to be restored to its full glory once again, since Freemasons trace their origins to those early masons who built the magnificent cathedrals of medieval times.”
    Rodney Pitham, Provincial Deputy Grand Secretary, Provincial Grand Lodge of Warwickshire.

Royal College of Surgeons visits Yorkshire

Most Freemasons are aware that the income from the investments of the trust fund set up for the 250th anniversary of Grand Lodge in 1967 is placed at the disposal of the Royal College of Surgeons of England to further research in the science of surgery. The total granted by the fund to the College to date is £2,557,608.
    But how many masons are aware of what research is undertaken with a Freemasons’ Research Fellowship and by whom?
    On Thursday 2 March 2000 a total of 108 wives and masons of the Province of Yorkshire North and East Ridings met in the Crystal Room at the Parsonage Country House Hotel, Escrick, York, to listen to an evening of presentations by no less than seven Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, of which five were holders of the RCS Freemasons’ Research Grant.
    After a short welcoming address by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Yorkshire North and East Ridings, VW Bro Donald Davinson, the first speaker, Arthur Stephen FRCS, a Research Fellow from Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, gave a talk on Insecticides: the Framer’s friend or foe? Mr Stephen’s research involved male sheep farmers who were found to have wedge fractures of the vertebral column, a disease associated with osteoporosis. He suggested that a cause for this could be the use of organophosphate pesticides.
    The next Freemasons’ Research Fellow, Miss Emma Sidebotham FRCS from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool, spoke on Combating Hirschsprungs disease in children. This is a bowel disease found in one in 5000 children.
    The subject of preserving transplant organs and, particularly, advances in the science, was dealt with by Irfan Ahmed FRCS from St James’ Hospital, Leeds. R Ahmed’s talk was followed by four further talks from Freemasons’ Research Fellows on subjects as diverse as bladder problems, blood-circulation advances (to prevent amputation) and, finally, virtual reality surgery – a taste for the future, delivered by Nick Phillips, who explained the use of inter-active computers to put surgeons around the world in touch with each other, as well as the potential future of brain surgery.
    Concluded by a buffet supper that enabled the brethren and ladies to mingle with the speakers, the evening was very well received by all, many commenting on the youth, enthusiasm, liveliness and accessibility of the talks. If your Province would enjoy a similar occasion, full details can be obtained from Martyn Coomer, Secretary to the Research Board, The Royal College of Surgeons of England, 35-43 Lincoln’s Inn Field, London WC2A 3PN. Tel: 020 7869 6612.
    TR Peacock, Chairman Provincial Grand Charity, Province of Yorkshire North and East Ridings.

Great Success of 13 May Cornerstone Conference

On Saturday 13 May, Freemasons' Hall London, housed the first conference organised by The Cornerstone Society, entitled ‘Three, Five, Seven or More’, an all-day event, which proved a resounding success, drawing 200 brethren to Temple No l.
    The Grand Secretary, Jim Daniel, opened the proceedings, and spoke eloquently of the need to improve our understanding of the Craft. He reminded all present that Freemasonry possesses great truths that compliment the world’s major religions, emphasising brotherly love, truth, charity and tolerance.
    The first speaker, Bro. Professor John Grange, echoed these sentiments in the opening talk which examined the teachings contained in the first degree. This was followed by Clive Hicks, an architect, who spoke on the magical aspects of the Cathedral at Chartres, and treated the delegates to a sumptuous slide presentation. After a short interlude, the author, Bro Michael Baigent and the RW Assistant Grand Master, the Marquess of Northampton, shared the limelight to deliver their captivating elucidations on the inner meaning of the third degree, and compared the masonic mysteries to other systems of enlightenment that have existed throughout the ages.
    The pace did not slacken after lunch, as Bro Matthew Scanlan spoke on what he referred to as the essence of the Masonic teaching, the building of ‘The Temple Within’, and quoted extensively from texts ranging from the early Christian centuries up until the formation of the Grand Lodge in 1717. This was followed by a rewarding question time.
    The day ended with a talk on the side degrees delivered by the Grand Secretary of Mark Masons’ Hall, Tim Lewis, together with a ritual demonstration, narrated by W Bro Julian Rees, who enjoined the brethren to make a more imaginative use of drama and music, in order to enhance the impact of the ceremonies upon the candidate. The verdict: a very enjoyable day – ‘encore Cornerstone!’
    The website www.workingtools.co.uk welcomes comments, enquiries and suggestions.

The Pennsylvania Masonic Academy

Thomas L Jackson, until December 1999, the long serving Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania thought that the millennium would bring retirement. His RW Grand Master, Robert L Dluge, had other views. It is no great secret that masonic membership in the United States of America has been steadily falling. Pennsylvania has put in place several programmes over the last decade to at least halt and then, hopefully, reverse the trend.
    Grand Master Dluge’s principal concern is that the heaviest losses of membership were amongst professionals. The reasons for those losses are varied and complex - changing work patterns, social changes such as the sharing of family responsibilities, shorter leisure time but more attractions on offer. Grand Master Dluge asked an important question: what in practical terms does Freemasonry offer the thinking man, regardless of his working background? The short answer is: not a great deal.
    Grand Master Dluge’s experimental solution was to form a Masonic Academy, the first formal sessions of which took place over a weekend in March 2000.
    To cater for different approaches, the Academy is in three sections: Leadership Training; a school for Ritual; the Academy of Masonic Knowledge. The success of the venture is indicated by the participation of over 650 brethren in the first weekend conference.
    Thomas Jackson is Chairman of the Academy of Knowledge, assisted by a committee of senior academics from universities within Pennsylvania. The intention is to have two conferences per annum (March and October) with keynote speakers from both outside the USA and from within. The purpose, according to Thomas Jackson, is “to present a learning opportunity for those Pennsylvanian Freemasons interested in the Fraternity’s origins, purposes, accomplishments and reasons for being”.
    I was privileged to be the first ‘international’ speaker and shared the day with Dr Russell F Weighly, military historian and Professor Emiritus at Temple University. Nearly 200 brethren attended the morning and afternoon sessions. I had been asked to speak about our current problems and Dr Weighly spoke about the ‘Age of the Enlightenment’, its effect on Freemasonry and the involvement of both in the birth and early development of the United States. Each talk was followed by a period of questions and discussion in which I was fascinated - and heartened - by the enthusiasm and interest shown by the audience. It was one of the most stimulating days I have spent in a long time.
    In addition to its two conferences, the Academy of Knowledge is developing a ‘home study guide’, using the internet, to enable those interested to increase their masonic knowledge at their own pace and to fit with their busy family and working lives. Successful completion of the course will result in a diploma.
    A third project will be the consecration of a lodge of research, with Thomas Jackson as the Charter Master. As in other constitutions, the purpose of the lodge will be to receive and discuss papers on masonic topics. It will provide a forum to air papers, which it is hoped, will result from the ‘home study guide’ courses.
    The three branches of the Pennsylvania Masonic Academy deserve to succeed. On the strength of the first weekend the enthusiasm and will to succeed are there.
    John Hamill