New Era and CHIPS

February saw New Era Lodge No 7400’s presentation of a large cheque to CHIPS (Children’s Integrated Playschemes) at Chigwell, Essex. The sum of £4,665 more than quadrupled previous lodge efforts.
    CHIPS provides summer and weekend play programmes for physically and mentally handicapped children. Like many lodges, New Era had been through some unsettling years but the fund-raising effort galvanised the lodge, revitalising membership and promoting a cohesive bond looking to the future in strength.

Emergency Grant to Children

Children and carers at Francis House Children’s Hospice, Didsbury, Manchester, will find life a little bit more comfortable thanks to help from the Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys.
    The charity has provided the money to pay for valuable patient-lifting equipment at the hospice for children. Automated overhead hoists will help children get with ease from chair to bed or bath.
    Gter. Manchester district judge Peter Walthall, East Lancs’ new PGM, presented a cheque for £5,233 to the hospice. Mrs Pam Daley, area fund organiser for the hospice read a note from administrator, Sister Aloysius: “The hoists are for the benefit both of the children and the members of the care team. In time it is hoped we will be able to afford hoists for each of the bedrooms.” PGM Peter Walthall added: “This is only one of many emergency grants we make to hospices in our Province. And the same is true of other Masonic Provinces throughout the country.”

Young at heart Mason

Horsa lodge No 2208 (Hants & Isle of Wight) was alarmed when Bro Frank Bradley Martin intimated that he thought he might resign because he was getting on a bit! Instead the lodge, taking into consideration that he was only 97 years young, made him an honorary member.
    Bro Frank, educated at Bristol’s Clifton College, was initiated into Whitsun Lodge 2943, Bristol, by his father. He was a member of St George’s Lodge, Singapore Province of East Archipelago in 1930 for 4 years, and then joined Duke of Normandy Lodge, Jersey, from 1934 until 1939 when he became an RNVR minesweeper skipper. Six years after becoming a Conservative councillor for Coventry in 1957, Frank joined Horsa Lodge and celebrated 65 years in the Craft in 1993.
    Frank and Kathy Martin recently accompanied lodge members to a lodge in St Malo, and to St Martin’s Lodge in Guernsey, when members pushed Bro Frank in his wheelchair triumphantly across sandy Herm Island.

Masonic Bell Appeal

The three historic bells of the parish church of St Michael the Archangel, Kirkby in Malhamdale having rung for over 400 years are falling silent. The reason: the frame is too old. Not so the bells. The tenor bell was cast as recently as 1602 and is reputed to weigh 25cwt. (Its tone was woven into the text of Kingsley’s Water Babies, written at Tarn House, Malham). Its sister bell, cast in 1617, is listed. By adding 3 lighter bells it will increase the possibilities for ringing them and provide an opportunity to teach youngsters, ensuring continuity of service ringing for generations.
    To date, £12,000 of the required £35,000 has been raised for the new frame and rehanging. Each new bell costs about £6,000. (One redundant bell has just been located at Plymouth at a considerable saving). “GOD save our CHURCH, our QUEEN and REALME”, reads the inscription on the tenor. What could be inscribed on the new bell – ‘To the glory of the Great Architect’? Suggestions would be welcome along with donations from lodges – thankfully received and faithfully applied. There will be a gourmet evening at the renowned Angel Inn at Hetton in October to raise funds.
    Cheques can be made out to Kirkby Malham Bell Appeal. C/o: David Humphreys, Daisy Mount, Airton, Nr Skipton, N Yorkshire BD23 4AE.

The Talkington Three

At Burgoyne No 902’s first meeting of the year (in Middlesex), W Bro Jack Talkington initiated his grandson Bro Russell Talkington (a Lewis), with his father W Bro T Talkington as the IPM. Is this a first?

Mark cheque

On Saturday 29 January 2000 at a Burns Night held at the Masonic Hall, Hexham, Northumberland, a cheque for £10,000 was presented to representatives of the Rainbow Trust.
    The cheque was presented by RW Bro Peter Magnay, the PGM of the Northumberland Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons. The £10,000 was a donation from the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons Fund of Benevolence.
    The Rainbow Trust helps families who have children with life threatening or terminal illness. They have a respite house in Hexham.

Gavels from the Ladies

W Bro BC Chare, Master of the Lodge of St Oswald No 5094 (Worcestershire) received from the Lodge Ladies Committee a set of 3 gavels to mark the millennium. The Ladies Committee, founded in 1982, is active in raising money for local charities and supporting the lodge with new regalia, refurbishing the lodge banner and organising formal and informal ladies evenings, days out and holidays from Bruges, Paris and – this year – California.

French Twin

In 1995, Bro Bruce Lindsay of Vernon Lodge No 1802 (Notts.) bought a holiday home near to Ales in the Cevennes. There he met brethren in French-speaking lodges. The Loge Saint-Jean des Cevennes No 273 (Grande Loge Nationale Française, Province de Septimanie) works Emulation ritual, as does Vernon, and it was decided under Bruce’s Mastership to ‘twin’ the two lodges.
    On Saturday 11 February, brethren of the Loge Saint-Jean des Cevennes met their English Brothers at Retford’s Masonic Hall and Très Vénerable Frère Christian Lehoussel presented a collarette and jewel to Vernon’s WM on behalf of the Province de Septimanie and the Grande Loge Nationale Française.

Oxford Musical Extravaganza

Brethren are invited to experience the unique melodic sound of Big Band favourites played in unforgettable style by The Keystones, including members of the ASAPH (Musicians) Lodge No 1319, at the splendid Oxford Town Hall on Sunday 10 September 2000 at 6.30pm.
    Tickets are £12.50 each in support of the Province of Oxfordshire Millennium Appeal for its RMBI Festival 2001.
    To avoid disappointment, book tickets now by contacting W Bro Joe Mitty PJGD on tel: 01865 862741; or see the website http://www.byinternet.com/cavmascen/rmbi/index.htm for more information.

Judges in Freemasonry

Any person interested in the whole issue of Masonry and the Judiciary would be well advised to get a hold of a bound paper by RW Bro His Honour Judge Gerald James Kay Coles QC, PGM Yorks. North & East Ridings. It is a very well written, stimulating account of this issue and others facing contemporary Masonry and is available for £2.50 from the latter Province’s office at The Mews, Main St. South Duffield, Selby, N.Yorks. YO8 6ST.

Voyagers’ gift to RNLI

At the end of a World cruise on 24 April, fifteen masons from England, Scotland, Wales, Australia, USA and Barbados presented a cheque to the captain of the Saga Rose. The captain accepted a cheque for £150 on behalf of the RNLI. W Bro Derek Traylen acted as Secretary for 12 meetings.

Sixty years a Mason!

The RW Provincial Grand Master of Surrey, Terry Doyle, is here shown presenting Bro Austin William, Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden, of the Royal Edward Lodge No 4787, with a Certificate of Merit for Sixty Years in Masonry. The presentation took place earlier this year at the Guildford Masonic Centre, Surrey.

Radio Masons

The consecration of the new masonic Radio Millennium Lodge No 9709 (especially for those interested in radio communication and electronics) will take place at Urmston Masonic Hall, Westbourne Road, Urmston, Greater Manchester on Saturday 4 November next.
    For details about this new masonic lodge please contact J Platt. G3FEV, Springfield House, 242-252 Newchurch Rd. Rawtenstall, Rossendale, lancs. BB4 7QX. Tel: 01706 211339. Fax No 01706 222587.