VISIT OF PRO GRAND MASTER TO ITALY FOR 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REGULAR GRAND LODGE OF ITALY

Saturday 5 April marked a landmark in the history of the Regular Grand Lodge of Italy. The tenth anniversary of its foundation, attended by the Pro Grand Master, Lord Northampton, was celebrated at a meeting in the beautiful town of Taormina in Sicily.
    The Hotel San Domenico, which provided a unique atmosphere for this special occasion, is an old monastery built in 1430, reconstructed and restored in the late nineteenth century while retaining the original structure. It is surrounded by a garden of rare beauty.
    Some 350 brethren representing lodges from many parts of Italy participated in the ceremony, which was carried out with impressive dignity. Apart from the Pro Grand Master, the meeting was attended by numerous high-ranking foreign visitors, amongst them the Grand Master of Ireland, Eric Waller, and representatives of the Grand Lodge of Turkey.
    Grand Lodge was opened in due form by the Grand Master, Fabio Venzi, who gave a warm welcome to the visitors. He said this was an important day for the Regular Grand Lodge of Italy and for maintaining the ideals of Freemasonry. These were, he said, the ideals based on freedom of conscience, equality of man, tolerance and reciprocal understanding, but avoiding Freemasonry for political or religious discussion, which should remain a personal matter for each individual. The Regular Grand Lodge of Italy had seen a steady growth in its ten years’ existence, had created a publishing house, published two magazines of which one was bilingual, and promoted charitable initiatives. He drew attention to the award of a three-year scholarship at the University of Sheffield for a student writing a thesis on The Influence of Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry in Italy up to 1805, and the provision of funds from the Grand Charity to the Telthon Institute for Gene Therapy for research into gene and stem cell therapy for the cure of Muscular Dystrophy.
    The Pro Grand Master Lord Northampton brought the fraternal greetings of His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent. He complimented the Grand Master on his efforts, and for promoting masonic principles. The strength of a Grand Lodge was to be judged on quality rather than on great numbers. Lord Northampton received from the Grand Master the Order of the Blazing Star, the highest honour which the Regular Grand Lodge of Italy can confer.

NEW PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER FOR CORNWALL

The fourteenth Provincial Grand Master in the 250-year history of Cornish Freemasonry, James Kitson of Saltash, was installed on 20 March in a colourful ceremony at Newquay. Brother Kitson becomes head of some 80 lodges with 4,000 members overall.
    The installation was conducted by the Assistant Grand Master, David Williamson, who told those present that it was an important day in the history of the Province.
    In his inaugural address Brother Kitson said that although Freemasons believed in tolerance, liberty of conscience and the brotherhood of man, the non-masonic world seldom seemed to appreciate this. ‘So often the finger of public criticism has been pointed at Freemasonry’, he said. ‘Even, it seems, the new Archbishop of Canterbury has had a few words to say on the subject. Yet such remarks are unjustified because we know the role that the individual mason plays in our communities. It is wholehearted, generous and unselfish. At any time down the years Freemasons can be found in positions of responsibility and care throughout the Province, whether it be as a church officer, member of a parish or district council, leader of fundraising for medical and lifeboat charities or whatever. Our fellowship is a basis on which we have built our commitment to public service for the good of others. It is a realistic and practical answer to criticism of our movement. Let us not be afraid to tell the outside world so.’

MASONIC BIOGRAPHY James Kitson
1979	Initiated into Caradon Lodge No. 8543 at the age of 27
1987	Master of Caradon Lodge
1988	Founder of Caradon Royal Arch Chapter No. 9483
1992	Founder of Robert Eliot Lodge No. 9483
	Founder of Launceston Castle Chapter No. 1037 (Rose Croix)
1993	First Principal of Caradon Chapter
1994	Assistant Provincial Grand Master
1995	Master of St Anne’s Lodge (Mark Master Masons)
2002	Deputy Provincial Grand Master
	Master of Robert Eliot Lodge
2003	Provincial Grand Master

NEW PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER FOR LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND

On Thursday 10 October 2002 Michael H Roalfe was installed as Provincial Grand Master for Leicestershire and Rutland by the Pro Grand Master, Lord Northampton. The ceremony was held at Freemasons’ Hall in Leicester, which was packed for the occasion, and was attended by more than 400 from across the Province and also from other Provinces. For many of the brethren this was the first time they had attended the installation of a Provincial Grand Master, it being nearly 14 years since Derek Buswell, his predecessor, was appointed to the office.
    At his first meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge on 29 November, the Provincial Grand Master recalled the joy and pleasure the Province had given to over 650 less privileged children drawn from the Charities supported by the Province during the Freemasonry in the Community Week earlier in the year. He reminded the brethren how important it was, having secured candidates, to ensure that they do not lose interest in Freemasonry in their early years. For some newly-made brethren, the lack of ritual knowledge might make them feel inadequate, and confidence and enjoyment were to be generated by attending lodges of instruction. The basic principles of masonry were brotherly love, relief and truth, but it didn’t stop there, he said. It was essential that we enjoy our Freemasonry and he would do all he could to make that come about.

MASONIC BIOGRAPHY Michael Henry Roalfe
1964	Initiated into Lodge of Friendship No. 7168 aged 29
1968	Exalted into Chapter of Welcome No. 5664
1976	Installed into Isle of Patmos Conclave No. 277 (Red Cross of Constantine)
1977	Perfected in Hugh Latimer Chapter No. 558 (Rose Croix)
1979	Master of Lodge of Friendship
1980	Inducted into Amity Conclave No. 51 (Order of the Secret Monitor)
1981	Advanced in East Goscote Lodge of Mark Master Masons No. 970
	Installed in Rothley Temple Preceptory No. 152 (Knights Templar)
1984	Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies
1988	Received into Leics and Rutland Tabernacle No. 122 (Knights Templar Priest)
1989	Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies
	Elevated in Rutland Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners No. 1051
	Most Wise Sovereign of Hugh Latimer Chapter
	Received into Leicester Council No. 146 (Order of Royal and Select Masters)
1990	Sovereign of Isle of Patmos Conclave (Red Cross of Constantine)
1991	Provincial Third Grand Principal, 30th degree (Rose Croix)
1992	Admitted into Ratae Council No. 124 (Allied Masonic Degrees)
1994	Founder of Uppingham in Rutland Chapter No. 9119
1995	Deputy Intendant General (Red Cross of Constantine)
	Supreme Ruler Amity Conclave
1996	Master of East Goscote Lodge No. 970 Provincial
	Sword Bearer (Order of the Secret Monitor)
1997	Sub Prior for Leics and Rutland (Knights Templar)
1998	Assistant Provincial Grand Master Intendant General for East Midlands Division (Red Cross of Constantine)
	Precepter of Rothley Temple Preceptory
	Provincial Registrar (Order of the Secret Monitor)
1999	Senior Grand Deacon, Deputy Provincial Grand Master
	Master of Leics. and Rutland Lodge of Installed Masters
	Provincial Grand Inspector of Works (Mark)
	Commander of Rutland Lodge
2000	High Priest Leics. and Rutland Tabernacle
	Past Provincial Guide (Order of the Secret Monitor)
2001	Founder Lutterworth Council No. 234 (Order of Royal and Select Masters)
2002	Provincial Grand Master Past Great Registrar (Knights Templar)
	Thrice Illustrious Master, Lutterworth Council
2003	Deputy Grand Sword Bearer (Royal Arch)
	Grand Senior Deacon (Mark)
	31st degree (Rose Croix)
	Past Grand Third Pillar (Knights Templar Priest)

ROCK OF GIBRALTAR – FROM ADVERSITY TO ADVANTAGE

A remarkable evening was experienced by 140 members and guests of Gibraltar Lodge No. 4997 in London on 22 February. This lodge is very lucky to have survived. In 1936 the lodge was based in Malaga and General Franco forced it to cease its activities. With increasing unrest, the Royal Navy despatched a destroyer to Malaga to evacuate British subjects. The last person to leave was the Secretary of the lodge, clutching the Warrant, pursued down the jetty by Franco’s police!
    Meetings continued in Gibraltar for another 2 years. In 1939 the lodge transferred to Tangier until 1940, when all meetings were suspended because of World War II. After Morocco gained independence in 1956, Freemasonry became a prohibited activity, and in 1961 the decision was taken to hand in its warrant after 22 years on the continent of Africa. In 1962 it was proposed to resuscitate the Lodge to meet in London for the benefit of Gibraltar masons returning to the UK. So it was that in September 1963 they initiated their first candidate under Gibraltar Lodge. The Lodge motto became ‘Ex Calpe Amiticia’ (‘Friendship from the Rock of Gibraltar’). The Lodge has prospered in London ever since.
    The meeting was honoured by the presence of a retinue of Grand Officers, and three of the 1963 re-forming Founders, one of whom, Derek Mason, had flown in specially from his home in Florida.
    The whole evening was a marvellous testament to resilience and friendship from the Rock of Gibraltar, and raised over £1000 for various charities.