Hertfordshire Mark Masons Present Ambulance

In May 2001, as part of a nationwide Mark Masons’ initiative, the Mark Province of Hertfordshire presented a state-of-the-art ambulance to St. John Ambulance. The presentation was made at St. Albans Cathedral.
    The Mark Province then felt that they would like to fund their own Ambulance. Following a 3-year appeal by Keith Emmerson, Provincial Grand Master for the Mark Province of Hertfordshire, more than £50,000 has been raised within 30 months. This money has been given solely by the members of the Order from their own resources, not from public collections. It has enabled the purchase of a Crusader 900 Ambulance which is fully equipped for everything, from minor operations to resuscitation of heart attack victims.
    The Hertfordshire Mark Ambulance was dedicated and formally handed over to St John Ambulance in May this year at St Albans Cathedral. The service of dedication took place as part of the service of Choral Eucharist. The formal handing over ceremony took place outside the West Door.
    Keith Emmerson placed his hand on the Ambulance while speaking the formal words of presentation, and the County Commander of St. John Ambulance, Dr Christopher Lund, laid his hand on the Ambulance and spoke the words of acceptance, thanking the Mark Masons of Hertfordshire for their generosity. The Chaplain of St. John Ambulance then blessed the Ambulance.
    Full Mark dress regalia was worn both inside the Cathedral during the dedication service and outside at the handing over ceremony. The St John members present wore their own ceremonial regalia.

Development of Masonic Orders in India and the Far East

In October this year the Order of the Secret Monitor will celebrate fifty years in the Far East. This important Order, also known as the Brotherhood of David and Jonathan, was introduced into the Far East when the Hong Kong Conclave, No. 136, was consecrated in 1955. News of the development spread to Malaysia and Singapore, leading to the consecration of the Eastern Archipelago Conclave, No. 359, in 1991. Since then, a further four Conclaves have been consecrated, two in Hong Kong and two in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
    In the same period, other masonic Orders have been established in the Far East, notably three Rose Croix Chapters, a Cryptic Council in Kobe, Japan, and four Knights Templar Preceptories and Priories covering Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. In addition to this, five Councils of the Order of the Allied Masonic Degrees have been consecrated in the same countries since 1999. These consecrations were conducted by the Grand Master of the Order, Michael Herbert.
    Late last year, Col. Keith Hind, Past Grand Master of the Grand Council of the Order of Royal and Select Masters, led a team from Mark Masons Hall in London, which visited Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and India. While in India they visited Chennai (Madras), Mumbai (Bombay) Shimla and New Delhi.
    During the trip, Keith Hind consecrated the following three new Councils of Royal and Select Masters: the Keith Hind Council, No. 255, in Kuala Lumpur, the Bombay Council, No. 248, in Mumbai, and the United Himalayan Council, No. 257, in Shimla.