WIDOWS’ BROOCHES

In issue 12 Freemasonry Today reported on the Broken Column Brooch, which identifies the wearer as a masonic widow. It was first used in the American Civil War by the ladies of masons at war. Because so many men did not return from the war, they became accepted as the brooch of a masonic widow. Sales of these brooches in the UK have so far resulted in more than £10,500 going to the New Masonic Samaritan Fund and the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution. The price is still £3.50 with about £2 going to the charities mentioned. Because of the demand, the badge is now also supplied as a pendant at the same price. It comes in a little presentation box explaining its history. Enquiries to Ray Collings, 21 Bicknor Rd, Orpington, BR6 0TS Tel 01689 874088; email rgcollings@hotmail.com

SOMERSET FREEMASONS KEEP LIFEBOAT AFLOAT

Peter Harris, ex-Royal Air Force man and Master of Gordano Lodge No. 6244, is not so confident the high seas are for him. As he climbed on board Portishead’s inshore lifeboat ‘Denbar Sage’ to make the £800 donation to Lifeboat Chairman Colin Wilson, he visibly wobbled, although the craft was still on its trailer on the slipway at Redcliffe Bay. The Portishead Lifeboat Trust is independent of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, but still needs over £20,000 a year just to keep afloat.

LODGE SOCIAL EVENTS HELP FUND CHARITY

When Joe Bulley became Master for the second time of Saint Bernard Lodge No. 5361 in Minehead, he decided against having another Ladies’ Festival, but instead chose a charity and organised three fund-raising events. By holding a wine-tasting evening, a concert put on by a local choir, a summer buffet and barbecue at a local tea-garden, with some help from the Charity Steward the total raised amounted to £1250, donated to the Sargent Cancer Care for Children. Pamela Fry, the Fund-Raising Organiser, who received the cheque on behalf of the charity, said the money would be spent locally to finance social workers at Taunton’s Musgrove Park Hospital, to allow them to look after some 300 children.

OPERATIC MASONS

Members of the Lodge of Simplicity No. 7865, which meets at Mark Masons’ Hall in London, provided four Yeoman Warders in addition to the character Sir Richard Cholmondeley, in the PHEOS Musical Players’ production of Glibert and Sullivan’s Yeoman of the Guard which was staged for a week at the Watersmeet Theatre in Rickmansworth, Herts. They managed to raise £913 for the Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre at Mount Vernon Hospital in Northwood, Middlesex, which works to improve the lives of people affected with cancer.

CANONBURY MASONIC RESEARCH CENTRE

Public lectures organised by the CMRC are held on Wednesdays, 7.00-9.00 pm. 16 February: John Acaster FCBI Hon. FIWO, Sir Francis Bacon, Religion and the Secrets of Freemasonry. 16 March: Peter Nockolds, Alchemy and Astrology – The Hidden Tradition of the Rosicrucian Alchemical Text of Atalanta Fugiens 1617. 20 April: Dr. John Carey, The Old Gods and Craft Traditions in Medieval Ireland 18 May: David Rankin, The Angelic Legacy of Dr John Dee. 15 June: Prof. Ronald Hutton, The History and Nature of Modern Paganism To reserve a place at the lectures please send a cheque for £7 made payable to Canonbury Masonic Research Centre. Enquiries: Carole McGilvery 020 7226 6256 - email: mcgilvery@canonbury.ac.uk www.canonbury.ac.uk

CENTRE FOR RESEARCH INTO FREEMASONRY SHEFFIELD UNIVERSITY

The Centre organises monthly seminars during the academic year on a wide range of subjects connected with the history of Freemasonry. Speakers for the 2005 programme will include Professor Roger Burt (University of Exeter) on Freemasonry in the mining industry, Professor Gervase Rosser (University of Oxford) on medieval guilds, Professor Jeffrey Thyssens (Free University of Brussels) on Freemasonry in Belgium, and John Hamill (United Grand Lodge of England). Admission to the seminars is free, and all are very welcome. To receive a copy of the seminar programme for 2005, contact Julie Banham, Centre for Research into Freemasonry, Floor 14, Arts Tower, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN (e-mail: j.p.banham@shef.ac.uk; tel. 0114 222 9890). Details of seminars can also be found on the Centres’ website: www.shef.ac.uk/~crf

THE CORNERSTONE SOCIETY

The series of individual talks to lodges continues. The first in the new year will be given on Friday 11 February 2005 when Julian Rees will give Michael Baigent’s talk at Woodcote Lodge No 4891 (Croydon, Surrey) entitled Digging into the Degrees – Lodge Orators for the 21st Century. Croydon Masonic Halls, 73 Oakfield Road, Croydon. The Lodge will open at 4 pm. Send a stamped addressed envelope and a cheque for £25 for the meeting and dinner, cheques made payable to Woodcote Lodge, addressed to I.H.D. Scales, 49 Bradmore Way, Coulsdon, Surrey CR5 1PF Tel 01737 553704. A ticket will be sent.
The same talk will be given on Tuesday 1 March 2005 at West Sussex Masters Lodge No 8963, at the Masonic Hall, 7 South Pallant, Chichester. The Lodge will open at 5.30 pm. It is understood that the Provincial Grand Master will be present. Send a stamped addressed envelope and a cheque for £15 for the meeting and dinner, cheques made payable to West Sussex Masters Lodge, addressed to Henry Cole, 89 Valley Park Drive, Clanfield, Hants. PO8 0PS. Tel. 023 9259 9168 email gargicole@btinternet.com A ticket will be sent.

QUATUOR CORONATI

Thursday 17 February 2005 Chicken and Egg – the Emblem Book and Freemasonry Speaker: Andy Durr. Thursday 12 May 2005 Great Men in Freemasonry – the case of Goethe Speaker: Ewald P Kwaadgras. Thursday 23 June Less Than Fraternal – the Ray V. Denslow-John H. Cowles Affair Speaker: G. Lemmons yasha@compuserve.com Tel 077 6829 2066