A New District Grand Master for Cyprus

When it comes to wine, King Solomon led the way by recommending the wines of Cyprus. Cyprus is a District of the United Grand Lodge of England, comprising nine lodges. Solomon’s masonic descendants decided, on 3 April this year, to check his taste, on the occasion of the installation of the new District Grand Master of Cyprus, RW Bro. Freddie Eleftheriades, by the new Pro Grand Master MW Bro. The Most Honourable the Marquess of Northampton, in Limassol, at the twenty-first annual meeting of the District Grand Lodge.
    The masonic programme of events included a demonstration of an 18th century ritual by Othello Lodge 5670, a delivery of the Prestonian Lecture for 2001, the Consecration of the St Barnabas Rose Croix Chapter, by MP Rev. Canon Richard Tydeman, Sovereign Grand Commander, the presentation of a vehicle for the physically handicapped by the District Grand Lodge to the Theotokos Foundation, the Consecration of the Agapinor Royal Arch Chapter by Lord Northampton, and the highlight of the programme of events, the installation of the new District Grand Master. During that ceremony Lord Northampton paid tribute to the work done by RW Bro Simon Waley, the former District GM, and by the District in general. He reminded those present that while we needed the wisdom and experience of the old, they should not be a block to the aspirations of the young.
    The proceedings were rounded off by a white-table festive board at which Lord Northampton repeated his personal view that the motto of the Craft should match the inscription of the Oracle at Delphi "Man, Know Thyself". The reply to the visitors’ toast was given by the Grand Master of Spain, MW Bro. Tomas Sarobe. Present throughout was the Grand Master of Greece, MW Bro. Dionyssios Papadatos.

Demand for a Register of Freemasons in the Lake District

On the 2 January 2001, the Lake District National Park Authority passed a resolution , "That membership of the Freemasons by Members of this Authority be notifiable forthwith in the Declarations of Interest Register, available for inspection by members of the public and press. That any such membership shall record the name of the Masonic Lodge to which the Member belongs". It was stated that it was a criminal offence to omit this information. By this action, Freemasonry is yet again implicitly accused of dishonesty and yet again singled out from all other organisations and clubs.
    When it was discovered that none of the twenty-six members of the Park Authority were Freemasons, the instigator of this antimasonic regulation, Ms M. Colquhoun belatedly admitted, "…there is a perception, which was wrong, that Freemasons were granted planning permission more easily than other people". But she made no move to withdraw the regulation. The Chairman of the Park Authority, Mr. P. Phizacklea, added, "I have no knowledge of any problems arising from Freemasonry and matters concerning the Lke District National Park Authority".
    The only conclusion to be drawn from this episode is that Freemasonry has been singled out for motives which rely more upon an ideological bias than upon the reality of the situation in the Lake District. Not surprisingly, local Freemasons are outraged. Keswick based W.Bro. Ken Bond, Information Officer for the Province of Cumberland & Westmorland, is pursuing action against this regulation based upon the recent Human Rights legislation. He is maintaining pressure upon the Park Authority to rescind this blatant example of discrimination. Grand Lodge is maintaining a watch on how this case develops.

Refusal of Donation by Pentecostal Church

The Birmingham Christian Centre, the Elim Pentecostal Church, has recently rejected Warwickshire Masons' donation of £1000 towards the cost of a mini-bus despite the donation having been requested on behalf of the Church by one of its members. Warwickshire Masons were told that the request had the approval of the Senior Paster of the Church.
    A Derby based Pastor said that as Freemasons could not hold office in the Church, it would be hypocritical of them to accept such a donation. Provincial Information Officer for Warwickshire, W.Bro. Rodney Pitham, pointed out to the Church that the Province of Warwickshire had donated some £160,000 to non-masonic causes, including many churches, this year, and that this was the only time ever that an organisation had refused such a donation.