New Provincial Grand Master for Yorkshire North and East Ridings

At York University Central Hall on 8 February 2003, Richard John Anderson was installed as Provincial Grand Master for Yorkshire North and East Ridings by the Deputy Grand Master Iain Ross Bryce, who is a former Grand Master of Yorkshire North and East Ridings, and at whose investiture Richard Anderson was present as a young Master Mason. The auditorium at the University was filled to capacity, as masons from every one of the 97 lodges in the Province attended to witness this unique event and show support for their new leader. In his first speech as Provincial Grand Master, Richard Anderson paid tribute to his late predecessor Judge Gerald James Kay Coles, who was much loved by the Brethren not only for his undoubted charm and wit but also for his deep understanding of the fundamental beliefs of Freemasonry.
    He then spoke to the Brethren about the need to enjoy their Freemasonry. ‘We have to work together, all of us’ he said, ‘to ensure that every member of this Province enjoys his Freemasonry. All of you enjoy it or you would not be here today, but what do we do to encourage others? Family, fellowship and fun are just three routes to enjoyment. I am sure you can think of others. I would add to these, faith, by which I mean belief, belief in a Supreme Being. That is the one single issue that binds us all together. That faith, which applies to every sleeping and waking moment of our lives, is fundamental to our being Freemasons.
    ‘Freemasonry is not just about ceremonies, the performances of which are a demonstration we enforce on our minds. It is not just about long winter nights feasting and toasting, which is part of our fellowship. Indeed it is not just about raising money, although that is a manifestation of our care for others less fortunate than ourselves. I suggest that it should be a way of life. The rules we apply in each other’s company should apply equally in our homes, at our work and in our communities. I would ask the question: are you a good Freemason, just once a month, or every hour of every day? Most of us, I suspect, are in between but I feel sure that we could all do a little better if we thought about it. Let each of us resolve today to do just that.’

MASONIC BIOGRAPHY Richard John Anderson
1981	Initiated into Huntcliff Lodge No 4539
1984	Exalted into Huntcliff Chapter No 4539
1994	Provincial Grand Pursuivant
	Founder Tees Tablers Lodge No 9564
1995	Master of Huntcliff Lodge No 4539
1996	Founder Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge No 9611
1999	Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies
	First Principal Huntcliff Chapter No 4539
2001	Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies
2002	Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies
	Past Provincial Grand Scribe N
2003	Past Assistant Grand Sojourner

The Five Shires Celebrate 250 Years In Style

Prior to 1753 only a few lodges had been established in the five counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire, but on 9 June 1753 Sir Robert de Cornwall, who lived at Berrington Manor, Leominster, was appointed joint Provincial Grand Master. It is difficult for us to understand the difficulties in transport and communications in those days, when few roads were capable of supporting wheeled transport in the wet winter months. Just one example illustrates the problem of attending lodge: there was no lodge in Ludlow, and for those wanting to attend the Leominster lodge, the meetings were held when there was a full moon, to make riding less hazardous. Most lodges in those days met in inns which could provide stabling for horses, and accommodation for their riders.
    Collective organisation between the Provinces was practically non-existent and it was not until 1790 and the appointment of Thomas Dunckerley, the natural son of King George II, that matters changed for the better. Freemasonry in the ‘Western Shires’ as they were once known, later expanded prodigiously and now has 11,000 members, adapting and changing itself as the world has changed, yet still retaining its essence as summed up in the landmarks of the Order.
    This year marks the 250th anniversary of the appointment of Sir Robert de Cornwall, and although the five shires have long been independent, each with its own Grand Lodge, they decided to get together on this unique occasion to celebrate the event. The Provincial Grand Master for Worcestershire, Barrie Cooper, as the senior of the five Provincial Grand Masters, presided over the celebration festival, held at the Hilton Metropole Hotel Birmingham. The Pro Grand Master, Lord Northampton, accompanied by Lady Northampton, was the Guest of Honour.

Hampshire And Isle Of Wight New Provincial Grand Master

At the Guildhall in Southampton on Wednesday 2 July, the Assistant Grand Master, David Williamson, installed Brian Bellinger as Provincial Grand Master for the Province of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. In sweltering heat, over 1,300 Brethren had gathered, mostly from the Province, but a good number had also come from neighbouring Provinces.
    The new Provincial Grand Master was installed and invested in an impressive manner by the Assistant Grand Master, who is a Hampshire mason. In his inaugural address Brian Bellinger paid tribute to his predecessor, and said: ‘I will devote my fullest energies to the task before me, but the Province is not one man, and I hope I will deserve the support of all our Brethren to take the Province forward.’ He continued: ‘We are all privileged to belong to the great brotherhood of Freemasonry. In what appears to be an increasingly secular society and divided world, let us not forget the beliefs we have all professed in a Supreme Being and actively practise the masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth.’
    In his address to the Provincial Annual General Meeting, he laid emphasis on recruitment and retention. ‘If we are to attract candidates of integrity who will embrace our ideals and carry them forward to future generations, we must look to . . . how we involve our families . . . who themselves are made to feel included and appreciated.’

MASONIC BIOGRAPHY Brian Charles Bellinger
1969	Initiated in Phoenix Lodge No 257
1970	Exalted in Chapter of Friendship No 257
1980	Master of Phoenix Lodge
1982	First Principal Chapter of Friendship
1988	Provincial Junior Grand Warden
1989	Provincial Grand Registrar Royal Arch
1990	Founder and first Master of Rotary Lodge of Hampshire No 9389
1991	Provincial Grand Registrar
	Assistant Grand Registrar
1994	Third Provincial Grand Principal
1995	Member Board of General Purposes
1996	Assistant Provincial Grand Master
	Past Grand Standard Bearer Royal Arch
1997	Past Senior Grand Deacon
1998	Deputy Provincial Grand Master
1999	Past Grand Sword Bearer
2002	Master of Thomas Dunckerley Lodge No 9514

New Deputy Grand Master Announced

At the meeting of Grand Lodge on 10 September it was announced that Iain Ross Bryce would be retiring as Deputy Grand Master and that his place would be taken by Peter Geoffrey Lowndes, who was Grand Director of Ceremonies until April this year. The Pro Grand Master Lord Northampton mentioned the invaluable service that Iain Ross Bryce had rendered to Grand Lodge during his tenure of the office. He will remain as 2nd Grand Principal of Royal Arch. Peter Lowndes is well-known to Freemasons throughout the country and in overseas Districts for the faultless way he has conducted the office of Grand Director of Ceremonies. Freemasonry Today will publish a full report in the next issue.

Dorset Freemasons Raise £1.2 Million

More than 850 Dorset Freemasons with wives and partners celebrated the conclusion of a campaign during which £1,220,618 was raised for the Grand Charity. National disasters such as the Mozambique floods and the El Salvador earthquake have received much needed financial aid from donations made to the Red Cross and almost £500,000 is distributed to 193 Hospices in England and Wales each and every year.
    The celebration was presided over by the Provincial Grand Master for Dorset, Harry Barnes, and the Guest of Honour was the Marquess of Northampton who was accompanied by Lady Northampton. The Lord Lieutenant for Dorset, Capt. Michael Fulford-Dobson, the High Sheriff for Dorset, Mrs. Sally Weld, and the Mayor of Bournemouth, Councillor Mrs. Anne Rey were also present, together with the President of the Grand Charity, Raymond J. Lye, who responded to the toast ‘Success to the Grand Charity’.

Hampshire Masons Honour Historic Hospital

On 22 October 1929 the foundation stone of Lord Mayor Treloar’s Hospital was laid by the then Pro Grand Master, Lord Ampthill. Sir William Treloar, who had been initiated in St Mary’s Lodge No. 63 in 1881, was Lord Mayor of London in 1905. During his mayoral year he raised enough money, and more, to found an institution for London’s disabled children. The hospital was instituted in the dilapidated huts which remained from a military hospital in Alton Park. Treloar then launched a further appeal to provide permanent buildings, hence the laying of the foundation stone in 1929. Although the hospital is no longer standing, a remarkable testament remains in the form of The Octagon, built nearly one hundred years ago by the disabled children who were patients at the hospital.
    On Saturday 5 July this year, the original foundation stone was re-laid, and a photograph of the original laying was presented. This stone and the photograph form part of a permanent exhibition in a museum in the Octagon.
    At the re-laying and presentation, the recently-installed Provincial Grand Master for Hampshire, Brian Bellinger, together with some of the children, was accompanied by a small group of masons, and television’s Alan Titchmarsh, who lives locally, together with civic dignitaries.

Hereford Masons Working With Local Age Concern

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Herefordshire are maximising plans to raise the profile of Freemasonry in their Province at the same time as helping local charities. It is their policy not just to give money, but to focus on some specific object or project. Consequently when they received a general appeal from Age Concern recently, they enquired exactly what was needed. Age Concern replied that they had already prepared a great deal of information for a handbook to help elderly people, but did not have the money to publish it. This was an excellent opportunity to support a worthy cause and at the same time make the general public aware of the part which Freemasonry plays in the community. ‘I suggested that the name of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Herefordshire should be included in the title of the handbook,’ said the Provincial Information Officer Clifford Burkett. ‘One thousand copies have now been distributed to the public, and every lodge Almoner in the Province has a copy as well’. The Province was particularly keen that other Provinces, who had not yet initiated such schemes, might learn from their experience and copy the scheme to suit conditions in their own areas, thereby showing the true face of Freemasonry to the public at large.

Gothic Flats For The Masonic School?

The Royal Masonic School for Boys was closed in the summer of 1977, when on 11 July the last assembly and chapel service was held. The school, originally founded at Wood Green in 1865, moved to the newly completed building at Bushey in 1903. The foundation stone of the school was laid by the Duke of Connaught in 1900 and the cost of the buildings was £100,000.
    The International University, who owned the premises until recently, have sold the site to developers, who plan to convert the School into 307 flats. As the traditional school buildings are subject to a preservation order, their exterior form will be maintained, including the impressive clock tower and administrative block. However, there is concern as to what will be done with the nine magnificent stained glass windows in place in the main school Assembly Hall, or what was referred to as Big School. The windows are in blocks of three, and depict Old Testament figures, and the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Connaught in the apex. What is to become of these unique and memorable windows which have such great masonic connotations? Big School is to have intermediate floors inserted and be converted to appartments, which will reach up to the open roof trusses and are supposed to incorporate, unchanged but divided horizontally, the stained glass windows. This was the plan that caused the most bemusement amongst the Old Masonian visitors who puzzled over who might pay a substantial sum for a ‘Gothic Penthouse’ that would not allow them views over the surrounding countryside! There is therefore considerable and understandable concern, that the final fate of the these historic and unique windows may not be as presently planned.
    Since it was the rulers of the Craft who decided in 1977 to dispose of this historic School, the question is being raised as to whether it would be possible for them to intervene to rescue these magnificent and historic windows, even at this late date.

RMTGB A Sponsor For Disabled Children

The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys was a major sponsor of the 2003 National Junior Games for children with disabilities held at Stoke Mandeville from 24 to 28 September.
    The National Junior Games is an annual event organised and hosted by the British Wheelchair Sports Foundation in conjunction with other National Disability Sports Organisations for children with disabilities aged between 11 and 18 years. This is the second time the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys has sponsored the National Junior Games. This year’s £10,000 grant helped to fund the costs of the games for around 180 children from across the UK who attended, accompanied by around 80 escorts and 70 officials.
    The children have a physical or mild sensory disability. They receive instruction from qualified coaches and experienced athletes with a disability in a wide range of sports including archery, athletics, basketball, fencing, powerlifting, shooting, swimming and table tennis. ‘We are delighted that the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys has again agreed to be a major sponsor for the National Junior Games’, said British Wheelchair Sports Foundation Trust Officer, Melinda Arthur. ‘The games provide the inspiration for many of the children to achieve far more than they had previously thought possible, and enables them to further develop mentally and physically’.

Insurance Brings In Charity Money

Since 1996 the firm of Ingram Hawkins and Nock have been insuring masonic buildings round the country, using insurance cover tailor-made to the needs of masonic organisations, from private lodges right up to Provincial Grand Lodges. They now insure more than 575 buildings throughout the country including the majority of Provincial Grand Lodge centres. Besides the considerable savings accruing to masonic organisations through having their own ‘custombuilt’ insurance, some £55,000 has found its way back through donations made by Ingram Hawkins to masonic charities through the various Provincial centres. The Company is not resting on its laurels however. ‘The scheme continues to grow,’ said Rex Ingram, ‘by virtue of more and more management boards of masonic buildings realising the quality of the product. We hope very shortly to achieve rebates to masonic charities exceeding the £100,000 mark.’