Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons 150th Anniversary

The Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons celebrates its 150th Anniversary this year. The celebratory meeting will be on Thursday 26 October, 2006 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, presided over by the Grand Master, H.R.H. Prince Michael of Kent, in the presence of the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, HRH The Duke of Kent. The celebratory meeting will be open not only to Mark Masons but also wives, partners and non-masonic guests. There will also be a preview of an exhibition on Mark Masonry at Freemasons Hall, Great Queen Street, London on Monday 23 October, and a celebratory dinner held at Guildhall on Wednesday 25 October, presided over by the Grand Master.

Rose Croix Assists Poole Hospital

The Rose Croix District of Dorset recently answered a call for help from Poole Hospital who had issued a ‘Wish List’ of items needed by them. Among these was an immobilisation board to form part of a new state-of-the-art radiotherapy machine being installed in the Oncology Department, and in March this year a cheque for £ 3760 was handed over from the eight chapters of the District to pay for it. The board is used to support patients as they undergo accurately-centred radiotherapy treatment. Each chapter supported the appeal through their Charity Funds and individual contributions.
    The Dorset District of the Ancient & Accepted Rite, known as the ‘Rose Croix’ is one of the smallest in the country but has one of the oldest Chapters, Weymouth Chapter, No. 4, whose warrant is dated 21 March 1852.
    This present charity donation follows help by the District in conjunction with Wiltshire District. The two Districts when they were formerly a single District, donated £2,000 to pay for the training of a ‘Hearing Dog for Deaf People’.
    Although all the members of the District support other charitable appeals in their lodges and chapters, the ‘Rose Croix’ in Dorset is pleased to show that a Christian Order of masonry can play its part.

Order of St. Thomas of Acon supports Canterbury Cathedral

At Canterbury Cathedral recently, David Kibble- Rees, Grand Master of the Commemorative Order of St. Thomas of Acon presented the Archdeacon, Patrick Evans, with a donation towards Cathedral funds of £2,500 to support stonemasons working on the restoration of the stonework of the Cathedral.
    Michael Harridine, the Grand Preceptor of the Order for London and the South East Counties, commented ‘The Order is a Christian chivalric Order dating back to the Crusades. The November meeting is held in Canterbury followed by a symbolic pilgrimage to the Cathedral and a short service of prayer and contemplation in the Eastern Crypt. We are delighted to have the opportunity of making this contribution to the Cathedral Stone Restoration Fund.’
    The Commemorative Order of St. Thomas of Acon is an independent Order restricted to those who are already members of the Order of Knights Templar. An Order of a similar name was founded in the 12th century during the third Crusade, was dissolved by Henry VIII and revived about 30 years ago. The Order embraces the twin principles of humility and kindness. The Order is named after St. Thomas à Becket, to whom a church, built by the first Prior in Acre, had been dedicated. The name Acre was subsequently anglicised to Acon.
    For further information, visit: www.geocities.com/jloat