Pro First Grand Principal installs Grand Superintendent for Bedfordshire

The Province of Bedfordshire was honoured recently by the Pro First Grand Principal, Lord Northampton, who installed and invested Robert Lovesey as the new Grand Superintendent for Bedfordshire. Among the large company of Companions gathered were 13 Grand Superintendents from other Provinces.
    In his inaugural address, Robert Lovesey said how fortunate he was to have inherited from his predecessor such a happy Province, and that he could take it forward and build on its continuing success. ‘If the Royal Arch is to retain its relevance in today’s society,’ he continued, ‘it has to be attractive to new and prospective members.’ Positive measures had to be taken to ensure meetings began and ended at convenient times for the majority, particularly those who still worked. It was his opinion that non-essential ritual might better be reserved for a meeting when no candidate was available, while adopting a shortened version, where available, together with greater sharing of the work, would add vibrancy to the meetings.

MASONIC BIOGRAPHY Robert John Lovesey
1976	Initiated St. Andrew’s Lodge, No. 803
1985	Founder Bedfordshire Centenary Lodge, No. 9151
1988	Master St Andrew’s Lodge, No. 803
	Founder Bedfordshire Lodge of Benevolence, No. 9288
1990	Master Bedfordshire Centenary Lodge, No. 9151
1992	Past Provincial Junior Grand Deacon
1993	Exalted St. Andrew’s Royal Arch Chapter, No. 803
	Provincial Grand Registrar
1996	Provincial Grand Charity Steward
2000	Founder Martin Foss Lodge of Research, No. 9722
2001	First Principal St. Andrew’s Royal Arch Chapter, No. 803
	Provincial Grand Secretary
2004	Assistant Provincial Grand Master
	Past Provincial Grand Standard Bearer, Royal Arch
2005	Senior Grand Deacon

Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London Appeal

The London Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Appeal by the Metropolitan Grand Lodge has announced that it has passed its first million pound mark. The London Appeal Director is impressed by the response and says he is looking forward to the next two and a half years. The appeal has until February 2009 to run, and the Appeal Director Stratton Richey reports that an award scheme has been approved by the Metropolitan Grand Master.
    The RMBI Appeal the levels are for lodges are Bronze £2,500; Silver £5,000; Gold £7,500; Platinum £10,000; Diamond £12,500. For chapters the levels are Bronze £1,500; Silver £3,000; Gold £4,500; Platinum £6,000; Diamond £7,500.
    For Platinum level the Master would be invited to attend the AGM and receive it in person from the Metropolitan Grand Master. For Diamond level the Master and a Junior Master Mason would be invited.
    Stratton Richey is available for lodge Charity Stewards to contact him, and he is available to give a talk about the appeal. Email metlad@btinternet.com

Grand Charity Celebrates 25 Years

This summer, grants of more than £72 million and 25 years of charitable activities were marked at the largest General Meeting of the Grand Charity held to date. Hundreds of people attended the meeting, chaired by Lord Northampton, to hear more about the work of the Grand Charity from guest speakers, including past Presidents of the Grand Charity and ex-newscaster and Vice President of Help the Hospices, Martyn Lewis.
    Since 1981, over 30,000 Freemasons in need and their dependants have benefitted from financial support from the Grand Charity, which has also given nearly £6 million through its Hospice Grants scheme and more than £5 million to support the work of the other central masonic charities.
    This commitment to supporting people in need was underlined when the meeting approved a further tranche of grants totalling over £1.4 million, including support for air ambulance services, asthma research and the youth opportunities charity Skills Force.
    Speaking at the reception held after the meeting, the newly appointed President of the Grand Charity, Grahame Elliott, expressed his gratitude to Freemasons for their support, which enables the Charity to make the grants celebrated during the meeting. ‘Over many years,’ he said, ‘it has been the Grand Charity’s privilege to support thousands of individuals in need and hundreds of non-masonic charities, with donations totalling over £72 million. This is only possible because of the generosity of Freemasons and their families and I am delighted that so many people are here tonight learning more about the Grand Charity’s continuing work.’
    The meeting was also an opportunity for many of those present to meet Grahame Elliott, the newly appointed President of the Grand Charity. The Chairman of East Lancashire Masonic Trust, a Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master and Past Treasurer of East Lancashire Province, he takes on the new role following Raymond Lye’s retirement earlier this year.
    Grahame’s background is that of a Chartered Accountant. Although he is now retired, he retains a number of nonexecutive directorships and considers himself fortunate to have become more involved in masonic matters over the past 20 years. This included his appointment to the Council of the Grand Charity in 2003 as the 2004 Grand Charity Festival Representative for the Province of East Lancashire. His involvement with community and nonmasonic charitable activities also continues.
    Copies of the addresses given at the meeting are on the Masonic News page at www.grandcharity.org.