Freemasons Benefit Leicester Royal Infirmary

Leicestershire & Rutland Freemasons have donated £3,000 to the Leicester Royal Infirmary as the result of a fund-raising event at Freemasons’ Hall in Leicester.
    A candlelit soiree with champagne buffet supper was attended by a sell-out audience of 250 which included the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, the Deputy Lord Mayor of Leicester and the High Sheriff of Leicester. Entertainment was provided by a talented vocal quartet.
    The main beneficiary of the evening was the Leicester Royal Infirmary Nutrition and Colitis Charitable Fund on whose behalf Dr Jeremy Nightingale received a cheque for £3,000 from Michael Roalfe the Provincial Grand Master for Leicestershire & Rutland. The evening was attended by representatives of the masonic Provinces of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire, who are expected to donate a similar amount. Dr Nightingale said that the donation would help to fund the appointment of an additional specialist nurse who would have certain teaching responsibilities. The Nutrition and Colitis Unit benefits patients living in all parts of Leicestershire and Rutland.
    Supporting the Infirmary in this way enhances an on-going project in which Leicestershire & Rutland masons provide small teddy bears to children attending the new childrens’ emergency unit of Accident and Emergency. Funding for this 4-year project has already exceeded £14,000 and is expected to reach £20,000.
    Other funds raised during the evening will be directed towards the Leicestershire and Rutland Charitable Association from which a range of local masonic and non-masonic organisations receive financial assistance.
    For further information, contact Derek Portsmouth, Provincial Information Officer, Leicestershire & Rutland Freemasons. Tel: 0116 276 8938. Email:derekportsmouth@choughs1.freeserve.co.uk

Birmingham Delivery of Prestonian Lecture for 2004

The Tudor Lodge No. 1792 was the host lodge for the first of the three official deliveries of the Prestonian Lecture for 2004. Over 200 Brethren were present including Michael Price, Provincial Grand Master of Warwickshire, together with the Provincial Grand Masters for Shropshire and Staffordshire.
    Trevor Stewart, the Prestonian Lecturer, made a fresh and at times controversial presentation of English Speculative Freemasonry: Some Possible Origins, Themes and Developments. In the concluding passages, he clearly homed in on the need for a more dynamic Freemasonry. ‘Perhaps far too much of our time and energy is still being devoted to the preservation of status, to the acquisition of ever higher ranks and “better” regalia, to ensuring that our ceremonies are conducted with absolute, invariable precision as if our rituals were inviolable texts set in concrete ... the act of investigating the range of meanings of, say, masonic symbols is hardly a passive one – rather it ought to be much more dynamic ... I believe that Freemasonry will not come to mean much to the ordinary members of our lodges unless we find better ways of ensuring that the process of self-improvement is owned by them ... we might do worse than [revert] to a much more experimental, a more 18th century approach to Freemasonry, a willingness to dare to speculate imaginatively and customarily in our lodges ...’

Antients and Moderns

The Library and Museum of Freemasonry, London, has produced a leaflet Exploring Masonic Records: Antients and Moderns which provides an overview of the main archive sources for the study of Freemasonry.
    The recently-completed project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, was to conserve and catalogue 1,700 pieces of historical correspondence and 14,700 returns covering the history of Freemasonry from 1750-1820. The catalogue of this material is now available on the internet on the Library and Museum’s own website at www.freemasonry.london.museum and on the Access to Archives (A2A) searchable website (www.a2a.org.uk) which is part of the National Archives Network.
    The original documents are maintained in the archives of the Library and Museum and remain available for consultation by researchers and students alike in the reading room at Freemansons’ Hall, London.
    The letters include correspondence relating to many leading figures in eighteenth century history. These include politicians such as the Earl of Moira, the Prince of Wales who was later George IV while serving as Master of The Prince of Wales’s Lodge, No. 259, the furniture designer Thomas Johnson and the silversmith Thomas Harper. They provide a fascinating insight into the world of the eighteenth century, touching on the expansion of the British Empire, the French Revolution and the slave trade. Masonic lodges made annual returns of their members to Grand Lodge.
    These include lists of names of members, but also letters and notes providing an insight not only into the daily workings of a particular lodge but also into events in the local area.
    In conjunction with this project the Library and Museum has produced a leaflet Exploring Masonic Records: Antients and Moderns which provides an overview of the main archive sources for the study of Freemasonry between 1717, when Freemasonry was first organised under the Grand Lodge structure, and 1813.
    Further copies of this leaflet are available from the Library and Museum or can be downloaded from the Library and Museum website.

New United States Initiative

A masonic body called the Masonic Restoration Foundation has come into being in the United States, at least partly to counter the idea of mass initation which has been adopted by many Grand Lodges, an idea against which Freemasonry Today has campaigned. The Masonic Restoration Foundation is the embodiment of a nationwide movement seeking to preserve and reinforce the initiatic tradition of Freemasonry in the United States. It provides education and assistance to Master Masons from recognized jurisdictions interested in creating and successfully running new lodges based on time-tested, traditional masonic ideas and practices from Europe as well as the United States. The idea is to foster a network of lodges and individuals of strong spiritual and intellectual character that will help preserve masonic traditions for future generations. Their President, Dennis Chornenky, writes on page 22.

Portland Pillars to Celebrate Queen's Jubilee

The Province of Dorset and its constituent lodges work very hard to ‘raise the positive profile of Freemasonry’, and in consequence their relations with local authorities and local press are good. This was evident recently when the Freemasons of Dorset, members of Portland Town Council and the children of Portland combined in a ceremony to lay the foundation stone for the Portland Jubilee Gateway. This pair of Portland stone columns, to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, will include scenes from Portland history. The Provincial Grand Master for Dorset, Harry Barnes, accompanied by Portland Mayor Councillor Steve Flew, members of Portland Town Council, senior Dorset Freemasons and Brethren of the Portland Masonic Lodges took part in the ceremony. Ten local schoolchildren, from Tophill Junior School, presented the Provincial Grand Master with their contributions for the time capsule, which contains historical items, in addition to the children’s work, and was placed in a cavity beneath the foundation stone. The stone was set in place, under the direction of the Provincial Chaplain, Rev Raymond Weaver, using the same masonic ceremony as that used by Christopher Wren, a great advocate for the use of Portland stone, when laying the foundation stone for St Paul’s Cathedral. The Provincial Grand Master placed cement at each corner of the stone, which was lowered in three distinct movements and checked with a plumb rule, level and square. Corn, wine and oil were sprinkled on the stone, to the accompaniment of psalms, to signify the hope of continued good fortune and abundance. The childrens’ teacher said after the event that they had had a wonderful time, and would never forget it.

School Lodges Host Breton Visitors

The First Annual South West Region Meeting of the Federation of School Lodges has been held at Tiverton, Devon. Among those lodges represented were the lodges of Truro School, Blundell School, Taunton, Wellington and Millfield.
    The programme for the evening was a demonstration of the third degree of a French ritual by the Britanny Lodge,
    No. 225, Grande Loge Nationale Française, and was the culmination of efforts by Freemasons on both sides of the English Channel going back over thirty years.
    The Old Plymothian & Mannameadian Lodge No. 6279 hosted the proceedings with dispensation from the Provincial Grand Master for Devon.
    Among the visiting Brethren were Denis Phipps, Provincial Grand Master for Surrey, the Provincial Grand Master for Devonshire, Robin Osborn, and the Provincial Grand Master for Somerset, David Jenkins, as well as Doctor Michel Gortchakoff, Grand Maître Provincial d’Honneur together with many Grand and Provincial Officers from England and France. The Chairman of the South West Region, Gerald Buckingham said ‘the Federation of School Lodges has always worked hard to foster reciprocal visiting amongst member lodges in this country and now there is also a desire for closer cooperation with out French Brethren to identify and make contact with French school lodges, and eventually to extend the scheme to encompass other European jurisdictions.’

Sporting Masons Help Local Disabled Children

Around sixty Somerset Freemasons and friends enjoyed a Charity Banquet at Nailsea Masonic Hall to present cheques to two organisations. Gill Edwards from Avon Riding Centre for the Disabled was presented with a cheque for £1500. She said that the money would be used to support Barry, one of their best horses, and that Olympian Lodge was now his official sponsor for the coming year.
    The Avon Swifts were next to benefit when they received a cheque for £1800. Ian Kingscott, the Secretary of the charity, explained that they work to encourage people with disabilities to take part in sport. A grant from South Gloucester Council had recently been withdrawn, so the money presented by the Freemasons would be vital in enabling them to continue to run the gala.
    The membership of Olympian Lodge is drawn from past and present sportsmen in the Bristol, Somerset and Gloucester areas. When the Lodge was formed on January 8th 2000, it was decided that the members would make an effort to support local charities providing facilities for the disabled. Previous beneficiaries have included The Somerset Disabled Cricket Club and The Wheelchair Rugby Players .

Freemason in Round Britain Yacht Race

Russell Howarth, Senior Warden of his West Lancashire lodge, took part in the 2003 Round Britain Challenge Yacht Race. The event was to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the legendary yachtsman Chay Blyth winning the Round Britain and Ireland race. The race was open to anybody between the ages of 21 and 60, from all walks of life and regardless of sailing experience. They competed in eight 72ft. ocean-going yachts, each one having a crew of eighteen. The volunteer crews, each one having a professional skipper and mate, set off from Southampton in a clockwise direction around Britain and Ireland, travelling non-stop at an exhilarating pace for more than 1800 nautical miles in widely varying weather conditions, and finally returning to Southampton two weeks later.
    After an initial training sail, Russell caught a bad cold, which developed into a chest infection and finally led to pneumonia. The infection returned in late March when he had to go into hospital for a second time. Despite this serious illness so close to the race, Russell was determined to compete, and his courage was amply rewarded when his yacht Logica CMT finished in first place.
    All of the sailing clothing Russell wore throughout the voyage had a masonic logo printed in a prominent position, and on the race website he adopted the slogan ‘Squaring round Britain with the aid of a Compass’. He raised sponsorship from his company for the funds necessary to take part in the race and used the event to attract further money for charity. In the event he raised close to £1,000 which has been donated to the Motor Neurone Disease Association, and other local charities.
    With acknowledgment to The West Lancashire Freemason

Monitors for Babies in Cornwall

When their baby was born prematurely, Ian Reynolds, Master of Carlyon Lodge, No. 7392 in St. Austell, Cornwall, and his wife Phillipa, knew that things would not be easy. But nothing prepared them for the many visits to hospital in Truro and the long periods spent there by baby Benjamin, during the necessary treatment for respiratory conditions.
    As a special ‘thank you’ Ian and his family, supported by Cornwall Freemasons, set about raising funds for the hospital where Benjamin had received such attentive care. Among the events organised were a fashion show at the Hotel Bristol, a barn dance and a barbecue. In total, they raised £5,000 and this money enabled them to purchase a portable Saturation Monitor for the Polkerris Ward in the children’s unit at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro. The new monitor is used to measure the oxygen in a baby’s blood, and is an indicator of how well his lungs are working.
    Baby Benjamin and his parents, together with grandparents John and Della Vian, visited the hospital to present the Saturation Monitor. The handover was made by John, who is lodge Charity Steward. Phillipa remarked ‘The staff on Polkerris Ward have been tremendous. They have given Benjamin the very best care and have been so supportive throughout the time that he has been unwell.’

Seeds Sown of Royal Arch in Yugoslavia

A chance remark made by a Yugoslav Freemason to his English masonic friend that he wished to introduce Royal Arch Freemasonry into Yugoslavia planted a seed from which a project grew. This project was that the Province of Cheshire, under their Grand Superintendent Timothy Richards, should gather together a number of Companions from two or three Chapters to conduct an exaltation ceremony on a group of Yugoslav Brethen, thereby preparing the way for the introduction of Royal Arch Masonry in their country.
    A joint convocation was planned, under the Charter of Eureka Chapter, No. 4940, but also involving Meridian Chapter, No. 5060 and Norbury Chapter, No. 5656.
    The Yugoslav party consisted of no less than seven Brethren, lead by the Grand Master of the Regular Grand Lodge of Yugoslavia, Brother Jovan Vasiljevic himself.
    The exaltations were conferred by the combined skills of the three Principals of each of the three Chapters present, under the watchful eye of the Grand Superintendent, who addressed the newly-exalted Companions. ‘When you arrive home,’ he told them, ‘you will be able to tell your families how much you enjoyed the occasion, and how, in a collective way, you have contributed to making history today in the Province of Cheshire.’
    To round off the proceedings, the First Principal of Eureka Chapter presented the Grand Superintendent with a cheque for £1,500 as a donation to the Festival for the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys.

Freemasons in Classic Cars

The inaugural Masonic Classic Car Run was held in the summer of 2002 and proved so popular that it was decided to hold the event on an annual basis. The event in its first two years has raised nearly £50,000 for charity. The total to be raised this
    year will be split between the ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’ charity, which enables terminally-ill children to go to Lapland to meet Father Christmas, and each entrant’s Provincial Grand Charity.
    Following last year’s run a number of entrants suggested the formation of a Masonic Classic Vehicle Club, to encompass motorcycles and commercial and military vehicles, as well as classic cars. Entrants in all three runs to date – some three hundred Brethren – have been invited to become members of the new club.
    The Provincial Grand Master for Essex, Sir Neil Thorne, has agreed to be Chairman. The inaugural committee meeting of the Club was held in London, and the main topic for discussion was an initial contact, via United Grand Lodge, with the Grande Lodge Nationale Française, to identify a suitable location in the Champagne region for a Masonic Classic Vehicle Club fraternal visit, including members’ classic vehicles, in September this year.
    The club logo will be the Square and Compasses over crossed chequered flags. The Grand Secretary, on behalf of Grand Lodge, has already wished the club well. Initial reactions to the club formation have been good, and many Brethren have become members.
    For further information contact: John Cole at 01934 811116. Email jcole1701@aol.com

Maltese Preceptory Consecrated

The Waller Rodwell Wright Knights Templar Preceptory and Priory was consecrated in London by the Supreme Grand Master Leslie Felgate Dring, in the presence of over one hundred Knights Templar. There were 32 Founding Knights and 72 officers and guests assembled from far and wide. The founding Eminent Preceptor, Nicholas Peter George, was installed by the Supreme Grand Master.
    Waller Rodwell Wright, after whom the Preceptory is named, was born in Bury St. Edmunds in 1775, read civil law at Cambridge and was called to the Bar in 1800. From 1804 he took a constructive interest in the reorganising of the degree of the Red Cross of Constantine, and also played an important part in the establishment of the United Grand Lodge of England, his name appearing as one of the five signatories, immediately following that of the Duke of Sussex, in the Articles of the Union of the Moderns and the Antients.
    Under the authority of its Warrant, a Preceptory has power to hold a Priory of Knights of Malta. The inaugural meeting was therefore held in the Masonic Hall in Valletta on the island of Malta, and at that meeting 30 Founders were present, two new members were admitted and several more candidates have been proposed.

Wiltshire Masons Help Special Needs Children

Wiltshire Freemasons have an enviable record of supporting local charities, none more so than Vale of Avon Lodge in Chippenham. Children from St Nicholas Special Needs School enjoyed a day out in the Cotswold Water Parks. Twenty-eight children, or students as the school prefers to call them, went by coach to Keynes Water Park where they enjoyed the special facilities for children, including the beach, sensory park, and the wildlife of the park. The children and their teachers and staff were joined by lodge members and their wives for the day. The school staff were glad to have a little extra help, to enable them to have a relaxing time as well.
    Mrs Julie Dyer, Head Teacher of the school, said that the children looked forward to the event, and specially appreciate this extra day out provided by the Freemasons. The idea was started during the Freemasonry in the Community Week staged in 2002 and seems to be continuing in the same spirit.
    When the children leave the special needs school, they receive a portfolio giving a history of their time there, and photographs of this event will be included in the portfolio as a record of the day.