New Australian Governor General a Freemason

The new Governor General of Australia, Major General Michael Jeffery, who was sworn in on August 11 2003, is a keen and committed Freemason.
    Maj. Gen. Jeffery was initiated in St George’s Lodge No 6 (Western Australia) on November 23 1994, passed in Hale Lodge 308 on December 21 1994 and raised in St George’s Lodge on March 17 1995.
    ‘Freemasonry fundamentally teaches morality, self knowledge and an approach to life, to make a brother a better man within himself,’ he said. ‘It reinforces the family responsibilities of its members, while supporting an ethical and compassionate consideration for others in the community, business and society in general. It also promotes charity. This is no doubt due to the calibre and good character of the men it has attracted to its ranks.’
    Maj. Gen. Jeffery has a long and enviable military record and was awarded the Military Cross for courageous action and the South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.
    Today he sees the battle being for the future of our youth, an area in which Freemasons should become involved.
    ‘In order to maintain a code of ethical behaviour, we need to provide role models who promote good moral behaviour,’ he said. ‘A strong and sustained relationship with at least one adult with an even temperament and the ability to evoke positive responses can help even high-risk youth from falling off the rails. Freemasons are one such group of people who can have a profound impact on the lives of many young people.’
    Maj. Gen. Jeffery and Marlena, his wife, have four adult children and four grandchildren. Two of their sons are serving army officers.
    With acknowledgments to David Hudleston and New South Wales Freemason

Grand Master of Russia Joins Royal Arch

A unique ceremony took place at the Harrow Masonic Centre in October 2003, and a little masonic history was made, when Harmony Chapter No. 5835 hosted a meeting at which the Grand Master of Russia, Dmitriy Denisov was exalted in the Royal Arch. There being no Royal Arch Masonry as yet in Russia, Supreme Grand Chapter had authorised a number of Freemasons from Russia to be exalted, and the Province of Middlesex had been asked if they could arrange for Dmitriy Denisov and his Deputy Grand Secretary Vladimir Nikitin to be exalted.
    The Russian party arrived on the morning of Friday 10 October, and in the afternoon the exaltation ceremony for both Russian Brethren was conducted. The Russian Grand Master speaks no English, but Vladimir Nikitin is bilingual, so that the ceremony was conducted with intantaneous translation throughout. Officiating for the first part was Grand Superintendent for Middlesex, David Cons, and for the second part Deputy Grand Superintendent Ernest Ainsworth. The following day the Russian party attended a ceremony in Emulation working in Twickenham, and flew back to Moscow on the Sunday, having spent just 48 hours in England. The Grand Superintendent for Middlesex has been invited to Moscow next summer, and the long-term hope is that Royal Arch Masonry can be introduced into Russia.

A Nomad's Lodges in Iraq

Sam Lee only had a meeting or two under his belt as Master of Hiram Lodge No. 40 (North Carolina) when he was despatched to Iraq by the military. There being no lodges in that country, Sam asked permission to hold meetings of his Lodge while in Iraq. Grand Master Charles Lewis, seeing the plight, granted the dispensation.
    The Lodge has provided an outlet for servicemen stuck in a place where distractions, much less recreation, are a rarity and mostly self-created. Lewis’ dispensation allowed Lee to call his meetings for the purposes of ‘fellowship and instruction’. No degrees or regular business of a lodge are allowed.
    Masons from around North Carolina have attended meetings. Masons from Missouri and New York have also enjoyed the hospitality of the Lodge. Minutes from May meetings indicate eight Masons at each meeting. Programs have included educational programs and discussions sharing personal stories of Freemasonry.
    For several of them, this overseas version of Hiram Lodge is just a continuation of a busy masonic career. For others, it’s been an opportunity to finally have the time to go to lodge. For all it is an oasis, a place of quiet in a foreign storm.
    With acknowledgments to The North Carolina Freemason

Sydney Anglicans Ban Freemasons

The conservative Sydney Anglican Synod is at public loggerheads with Freemasons of New South Wales after the Diocese decided effectively to ban Freemasons from church services and from using church facilities.
    Australia’s largest, richest and most theologically conservative Anglican diocese made the move following a debate which linked Freemasonry with witchcraft and Satanism.
    ‘The resolution is pure discrimination, smacks of bigotry and religious fundamentalism and is a betrayal of all Freemasons who practice the Anglican Faith,’ said Tony Lauer, Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and Australia Capital Territory.
    ‘First and foremost, Freemasonry is tolerant and respectful of all religions and admits all men of good character who have a commitment to self improvement and to serve their community. Our one requirement is that they have a belief in God as the Supreme Being. We do not question their other beliefs,’ he continued.
    ‘We accept members of all faiths as Freemasons, as long as they have this belief, hence many of our lodge members work within their communities with men of many faiths including Jews, Sikhs, Hindus, Catholics and Muslims,’ added Mr Lauer.
    The motion, passed on October 20, also ‘requests that councils of all Anglican schools . . . consider any association that their school may have with any Masonic lodge, and to withdraw from any such association’.
    Australia’s largest city’s most prestigious schools, The King’s School, Shore and Trinity, are Anglican, have ‘old boys’ Lodges and were specifically mentioned during the debate.
    The motion was put by Reverend Bill Winthrop, Rector of St Paul’s Church, Lithgow, who banned Freemasons including Past Grand Master Harold Coates from his congregation in December 2001 and then refused to conduct Harold Coates’ funeral in April 2002.
    Mr Winthrop told The Sydney Morning Herald that a synod motion passed in 1988 condemning Freemasonry as ‘leading people away from God’, was not cast in strong enough terms.
    The latest motion said Freemasonry and Christianity were ‘fundamentally and irreconcilably incompatible’ and that Freemasonry ‘teaches and upholds a system of false religious and spiritual beliefs that are contrary to biblical Christianity’.
    With Acknowledgments to New South Wales Freemason

New Zealand Freemasons Go To School

In August, the 400 pupil Irongate Primary School, in the Hastings suburb of Camberley, New Zealand, hosted a visit from twelve Freemasons all dressed in full regalia. The visiting Brethren included the Deputy Grand Master, two District Grand Masters, the Master of Lodge Frimley No 359 and his Wardens, plus six Frimley officers.
    The occasion was the presentation of a year’s supply of books for the school’s Books in Homes project. With support from the Grand Lodge Board of Benevolence, Lodge Frimley had responded to a request made by the head teacher of Irongate School, Nigel Foster, when he had spoken to the Lodge Brethren on the success of the Books in Homes scheme and how a sponsor was being sought.
    Books in Homes was started by author Alan Duff and has helped thousands of primary school pupils throughout New Zealand to earn ownership of a book of their choice, which they take home. The pupil has to be found behaving good to qualify for a certificate and a chance to choose a book. In some instances this is the only book found in that home.
    After being met at the main gate by three pupils who acted as guides, the visiting party was escorted to the library to robe in regalia before being taken to the school hall where all the pupils were assembled to sing a song of welcome. Selected pupils from the different age groups then made speeches of thanks for the books.
    A former Irongate pupil, now a student at Hastings Girls High, spoke of the benefit of reading books and the knowledge gained through study. The Books in Homes scheme had helped her to gain the confidence to study and to carry on to university next year.
    With acknowledgments to Colin Heyward, New Zealand Freemason

California Masons Protecting Kids

‘KIDS ID’ is a programme adopted by the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of California to provide a significant community service to the many communities in California. All too often, one reads a story of a lost, runaway or apparently abducted child. Between June 1984 and September 1992, there were 29,514 nationally reported cases across the United States, and the numbers are increasing. This programme is designed to facilitate the safe recovery of these youngsters by the authorities.
    A picture and thumb prints of the child are taken and transferred to a single sheet of paper and given, free of charge, to the parents for safekeeping. No information is taken from the parent or child at the time of the photo taking or thumb printing. The printout of the picture and thumb prints are given to the parents with the instructions on the back on how to use the document. Neither the picture, thumbprints nor any other information is retained by the computer system. If the child is ever missing, the parents may provide the picture and thumb prints of the child to the authorities. Law enforcement agency searches are enhanced by this expeditious information. Parents are urged to use this free service often.
    With acknowledgments to California Freemason