Giant Step for Freemasonry

When a Southport Freemason visited the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland he came across a piece of 125 year old Masonic graffiti.
    Christopher J Brooks of West Lancashire Lodge, No. 1403, was working in Ulster and during a day off paid a visit to the famous landmark. Seating himself on one of the perfectly formed hexagonal rocks to have a bite of lunch he saw, carved in the rock next to him, some graffiti dated 1878.
    He said: ‘Perhaps John Orr was a local Freemason wanting to make his mark, but whoever he was, he was obviously extremely proud to be a member of our fantastic organisation and even in 1878 was not embarrassed to fly the flag. I’m not suggesting for one minute that we go around defacing natural phenomena, but let us have more of telling the world about ourselves and how proud we are to be Freemasons.’

Tribute at the Royal Masonic Variety Show

During what proved to be possibly the best Royal Masonic Variety Show to date, both the audience and performers joined together to sing the wartime favourite ‘We’ll Meet Again’ as a tribute to Dame Vera Lynn who was watching the show, and also - significantly - it was held on Armistice Sunday.
    The Grand Master, HRH The Duke of Kent, was once again the guest of honour and the cast included a host of well-known and popular stars, all of whom gave of their time freely, to enable a significant donation to be made to the RMBI and other nominated charities.
    Bradley Walsh was compere, while topping the bill was TV personality Brian Conley, along with regular favourites Roger De Courcy, Jim Davidson and Lesley Joseph. The energy, talent and enthusiasm of the Itali Conti boys and girls was as infectious as ever, and choreographer was Bonnie Lythgow.

‘Spectacular Meeting’s’ Charity Donations

As a result of what has been described as ‘a spectacular meeting’, £2,000 has been presented to Prostate Cancer Research and £2,325 to the Dr Francis Bowen Trust, which supports a physics student at the University of Jamaica.
    The Lodge of the West Indies, No. 9424, a member of the Commonwealth Lodges’ Association, hosted the meeting at Freemasons’ Hall, London, when the guests included 15 Past Masters of the University Lodge of West Indies, No. 7128, from Jamaica.
    After an initiation ceremony in the Logic ritual, dinner was at the New Connaught Rooms when, having been joined by their ladies, the fund-raising was undertaken. The Dr Francis Bowen Trust is named after the late Past District Grand Master of Jamaica and Cayman Islands.

London’s Festive Concert Brought Cheer

The Grand Temple was the venue for London’s first Festive Concert, which proved to be an evening of great Christmas cheer and delight for everyone present.
    Andrew Parmley and Bob Corp-Reader had worked hard to assemble a superb array of talent, with two school choirs (Grey Coat Hospital and Longdean), plus the Anglo Sierra Leone Choir and the Reading Central Band of the Salvation Army. Frank Renton compered the evening and the organist was David Adams.
    Despite being injured in a car accident 24 hours previously, Sarah Freestone, a particularly gifted musician, gave an impressive violin solo and the other fine soloist was Caroline Lenton-Ward, head of music at Grey Coat Hospital School.
    There were three readings, the first by the Rev. Peter Hemingway with an evocative Dylan Thomas excerpt; the second by talented and confident 12 years old Louise Roper and thirdly by Roger Royle who had the audience in fits of laughter with a Willy Russell piece about the school nativity play.
    All gave freely of their time, helping to increase the donations to The Richard House Children’s Hospice and Muscular Sclerosis Action for Children.

Support for the Gurkha Welfare Trust

Durham’s Prince Edwin Lodge, No. 4519, has presented £750 to the Gurkha Welfare Trust.
    The money was the result of a raffle organised by Lodge Secretary Eric Pyke who said: ‘I have supported the Gurkhas for a number of years. I have a soft spot for them, they are simply the best.’

Classic Cash for Whizz-Kidz

The first Masonic Classic Car Run, held last year, proved so successful that organiser John Cole has planned another - and he hopes it will be even bigger.
    Thanks to the 93 classic and historic vehicles that took part in the first, which was part of Freemasonry in the Community Week, £33, 130 was raised for Whizz-Kidz, a charity which provides mobility equipment for disabled children.
    The second is planned for Sunday, June 1st, and is scheduled to finish at Drayton Manor Park in the West Midlands and John Cole is hoping for at least 150 vehicles competing, and £50,000 being raised.
    Any owners of classic or historic vehicles who are thinking of competing in the run, which is again sponsored by Central Regalia, can contact John on 01934 811116.

Opportunities for Charitable Funds

Jane Reynolds, formerly Chief Executive of the RMBI, now has an association with the Ambassador Theatre Group, which runs a number of West End theatres. Among the shows the group currently has running are Blood Brothers, Abigail’s Party, The Woman in Black, Romeo and Juliet, Sing-a-long-a-Abba and the productions at the Donmar Warehouse.
    Through her, tickets are also available for some shows at other theatres, including Nutcracker, or at Sadlers Wells, and The Tempest, starring Derek Jacobi, at the Old Vic.
    She is eager to let Freemasons know she can, through her connections, obtain substantial reductions on theatre tickets for group bookings and also suggests there is a splendid opportunity for fund-raising. Having acquired reduced price tickets a donation element could be added to benefit a Festival or other charity .
    If you would like more information about the shows, Jane would be delighted to hear. Telephone 020 7624 6395, e-mail: Jane Reynolds@onetel.net.uk

Yorkshire Strip Sponsors

Whitby Town Under 15s’ football team is the latest to be kitted out in new finery, courtesy of Yorkshire Freemasons.
    The team is the fifth to be sponsored by Lodges in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Yorks North and East Ridings - Caedmon Lodge, No. 6965 in Whitby - with the two most recent to this being by Wyke Millennium Lodge, No. 9696, Tickton, and Camalodun Lodge, No. 660, Malton. The Millennium Lodge was the final one to be formed during the last millennium.
    The idea stemmed from a request to sponsor a kit which was mentioned in the province’s newsletter, and the other lodges took the idea on.
    Provincial Grand Master Donald Davinson said, jokingly, ‘So far, no evidence has emerged that our allegedly supernatural powers and unbenign influence on events are being transmitted to the teams!’
    He also mentioned that he hopes lodges might decide to sponsor girls’ netball teams, for example, to show there is no discrimination.

Death of Longest-Serving Freemason

Fred Bunday, who died on December 28, 2002, was at the time, the longest-serving Freemason in the UK.
    Born on November 28, 1900, he was initiated into the Lord Kitchener of Khartoum Lodge, No. 2767, on November 4, 1926. He was to have received his long service certificate at regular Lodge on January 2, 2003, but sadly died just days before at the RMBI home in Chislehurst.
    In 1998, at the instigation of President Chirac, he became a Chevalier of the Legion d’Honneur, for services to France during World War One, the highest honour that France may bestow on a foreign national.

Clerkenwell Trio’s Spontaneous Collection

Impressed by the difficult work undertaken at the St John at Hackney Community Centre, Clerkenwell Freemasons decided to have a special collection to raise funds. When three representatives went along to present the cheque, they heard how the centre desperately needed a digital camera, so the trio dipped into their own pockets to find the cash.
    Clerkenwell Centre is not far from St John at Hackney and the seeds were sown for the donation of £2,105 when one Freemason was chatting to London Information Officer Graham Roper about the good work there. The centre offers a refuge during the day to anyone in need, as well as specialist counselling and activity classes in art, creative writing, photography and carpentry.
    Each day some 90 people use the centre, which depends on charitable donations and gifts such as food and clothes. It accepts anyone and in the mornings provides hot drinks and food. The classes and counselling are held during afternoons.
    The money was raised during Freemasonry in the Community Week, when all Clerkenwell lodges and chapters were asked to donate. Graham Roper, Dennis Brown and Dennis Ramsey went along to present the cheque, and heard how the centre’s camera was broken and there was no money to purchase another, so they made the spontaneous collection between them.

Grafton Rose Croix: A Riot of Colour

Whilst there may be differences of opinion on the wearing of black ties, all at Grafton Rose Croix Chapter, No. 138 agreed to sport different coloured waistcoats at their December meetings.
    Treasurer Peter Simkins told Freemasonry Today: ‘None feel disrespect in doing so. The importance of the ritual has always been respected.’ He added: ‘In 1990 GDC Peter Lowndes said: ‘Freemasonry is fun’ and it certainly is at Grafton Rose, London. Whilst daily work may be drab, leisure time is not.’

Yorkshire Masons’ Housing Scheme

The opportunity was taken at the installation of the New Grand Superintendent of Yorkshire North and East Ridings to sign Heads of Agreement for the building of a sheltered housing scheme for Freemasons and their families in York.
    The photograph shows Trevor Broadley, Provincial Grand Master, Yorkshire West Riding (left) and Donald Davinson, Deputy PGM in Charge and Grand Superintendent Yorkshire North and East Ridings exchanging signed agreements. Provincial Grand Chapter John Trout who drew up the agreement. It is hoped the housing scheme will be open in about three years.