University Lodges Scheme Launched

The Assistant Grand Master, David Williamson, has started a Universities Lodges scheme, and a number of lodges have already joined. The aim is to open up wider opportunities for undergraduates and other university members to enjoy Freemasonry.
    The Assistant Grand Master hopes that the success of Apollo University Lodge at Oxford, and Isaac Newton University Lodge at Cambridge will be replicated across the country. He said ‘This is a challenge for the lodges that have chosen to participate. Young masons under 25 make up only about a quarter of one percent of the membership of the Craft in this country, so we want make the Craft more accessible to young men. The recent approval by Grand Lodge to reduce fees for under 25s by half, will act as an encouragement.’
    Oliver Lodge, chairman of the Group, said ‘Oxford and Cambridge have proved just how popular Freemasonry can be at universities. I hope we can help to make those same wonderful experiences available to more prospective masons.’
    There are participating lodges in nine university cities, for whom the Group is providing encouragement and guidance. The participating lodges so far are: St. Alphege Lodge, No. 4095 (Bath); University of Birmingham Lodge, No. 5628; Saint Vincent Lodge, No 1404 (Bristol); Isaac Newton University Lodge, No. 859 (Cambridge); Universities Lodge, No. 2352 (Durham); Apollo University Lodge, No. 357 (Oxford); University Lodge Sheffield, No. 3911.

Commonwealth Lodges Association

The Lodge of the West Indies, No. 9424, a member of the Commonwealth Lodges Association, hosted the Biennial Festival of the Association recently at Freemasons’ Hall London.
    The Commonwealth Lodges Association was formed in 1972 and includes 37 member lodges from the Commonwealth and former colonies. It is a registered charity which endeavours to give aid to small charities throughout the Commonwealth.
    The evening had a Caribbean theme; the menu included several West Indian dishes and music was provided by a steel band, which accompanied the Organist at the meeting, and also afterwards during the reception, at which rum punch was served, and at the Festive Board. The Metropolitan Grand Master, Lord Millett, the Deputy Metropolitan Grand Master, Russell Race and the Chairmen of the Metropolitan Groups were present.

Masonic Teach-in at Newbury

At the Newbury Masonic Hall in Berkshire a Teach-In was held recently by John Avery, Preceptor of the Thatcham Class of Instruction, who is also Secretary of the Berkshire Masonic Education Committee. This was the latest in a series that was started some years ago, when the Class of Instruction does not rehearse degree ceremonies, but receives presentations and engages in a question-and-answer session afterwards.
    The highlight of the evening was a presentation ‘The Development and Significance of the Tracing Boards of the Three Degrees’ given by John Avery himself. He pointed out that the tracing board is in fact one of the immovable jewels of the lodge, so called because ‘they lie open and immovable for the Brethren to moralise on’. He guided his audience through the history of tracing boards, the old practice of ‘drawing the lodge’, mentioning the correct practice of laying the board flat on the floor of the lodge rather than standing against the pedestal, and the symbolism of many of the objects depicted such as the key, the seven stars, the mosaic pavement and many others.

The Hall in the Garden

Staff at the Library and Museum in London are often told that the real star of the visit is Freemasons’ Hall itself and this year the summer show ‘The Hall in the Garden’ is proving it. Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said recently ‘The Freemasons’ Hall must be considered one of the most imposing and theatrical Art Deco buildings in the capital.
    The exhibition tells the story of the three Freemasons’ Halls and their place in London, using recently discovered and researched objects, pictures and documents. It is attracting international interest from public and media alike with journalists from countries as diverse as Romania, Italy and Japan discovering the wonders of the building and gaining more understanding of Freemasonry in the process.
    The famous picture of Ruspini leading the Girls’ School pupils through the hall is on public display for the first time in many years, and other highlights include a newly discovered trowel used to lay the 1864 foundation stone. The centrepiece is the carpet woven for the installation of Edward VII and objects that survived the burning down of the previous Grand Temple.
    More than a thousand visitors have already seen the show which will run until 20 October. A richly illustrated book to accompany the exhibition has been published by Lewis Masonic price £14.99, available from Letchworth’s shop at Freemasons’ Hall. www.letchworthshop.co.uk

Freemasons Supporting Air Ambulances

There is a long tradition of support for Air Ambulances from individual masonic Provinces, and Dorset and Cambridgeshire, two of the smallest Provinces, are the latest to direct their fundraising into this vital resource.
    To mark the 6th anniversary of the foundation of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance service, a reception was organised to thank the many supporters who provide the £3,500 a day necessary to keep the service operational. The entire cost of this service is met by charitable donations. To coincide with this celebration, Dorset Freemasons presented a further cheque for £5,000 bringing their total fundraising over the past 12 months to £22,000.
    The Provincial Grand Master for Dorset Harry Barnes presented this latest cheque to Nichola Howkins, of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Service. Accompanying the Provincial Grand Master was another Dorset Freemason Martyn Powell, who a little over 12 months ago was dramatically rushed to Dorchester Hospital from Bridport following a very serious motorcycle accident.
    Across the other side of the country, in one of the largest donations ever made to the charity, the Cambridgeshire Masonic Benevolent Association has contributed £55,000 to support the critical work of the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
    The cheque was presented to the charity by Chris Godden, Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Cambridgeshire, and Malcolm Woolf, Chairman of the CMBA, when the brand new air ambulance, Anglia One, visited Cambridgeshire for the first time recently. It flew in to the Quy Mill Hotel so that supporters and fund-raisers could take a closer look at the new aircraft and meet the doctors and paramedics.
    Commenting on the donation, Malcolm Woolf said: ‘We believe that the EAAA plays a key life-saving role across the region. As Freemasons, we aim to support the charities which make a real difference in our own area.’
    Simon Gray, Executive Director of the EAAA, commented: ‘It’s an absolutely fantastic contribution and we’re so grateful to the CMBA for helping us in this way. The advanced equipment carried by the aircraft will help the paramedics provide an even higher level of care to victims of accidents and emergencies.’

Runcorn Open Day a Big Success

At a recent Open Day at the Runcorn Masonic Hall in Cheshire local residents benefitted from the openness of Freemasonry in the town. Many visitors said that they had learned a lot from the visit. The day was organised by the Ellesmere Lodge, No. 758, with assistance from members of other Lodges who meet in the Hall.
    Displays included famous Freemasons, the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys, masonic poems and masonic regalia. Presentations were made to two local charities, one of them to Halton Haven Hospice to equip a medical centre.
    A spokesman said ‘We have increased the awareness of Freemasonry in the town, and a wider audience now appreciate what we do and what we stand for.’

Local Charities and Tsunami Victims helped by Shropshire Freemasons

At Freemasons’ Hall, Crewe Street, Shrewsbury recently the Freemasons of Shropshire made their presentation to local charities. This presentation is a well-established fixture, and as it is held regularly every year, it helps to raise the profile of Freemasonry in Shropshire within local communities.
    This year, a total of just under £18,000 was presented to representatives of local charities, who had been invited into the Temple at Crewe Street by the Provincial Grand Master, James Hodgson. The list of local charities receiving awards included the Severn Hospice, Hope House Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Relief.
    The Provincial Grand Master announced that the £21,000 raised by Shropshire Freemasons shortly after the Asian tsunami disaster, on Boxing Day 2004, was to be used to purchase ten new fishing boats for the village of Maruthankeni in Northern Sri Lanka. This village of 500 families was completely destroyed by the tidal waves and resulted in the deaths of 1000 villagers with 2000 others displaced.