Provincial Grand Master Mark Province of Monmouth

Many Mark Masons from the Province of Monmouthshire and 20 Provincial Grand Masters from other Provinces were present for the installation and investiture of David Ieuan James as Provincial Grand Master by the Pro Grand Master John Hale.
    For the Pro Grand Master it was his first visit to the Province and he said that it had been a delightful day. In his inaugural address, the new Provincial Grand Master thanked the Pro Grand Master, John Hale and praised his predecessor, Brian Charles Cull, saying how in his ten years as Provincial Grand Master he had served with dedication and distinction and also promoted openness and encouraged more social events where wives could join in. A successful Craft base, he said, could only lead to a stronger base for Mark Masonry.
    David James was initiated in the Homfray Lodge, No. 1562, in 1974, Master in 1983, was a founder of Lodge of Concord, No. 9010, was advanced in Maius Lodge of Mark Master Masons, No. 1031, in 1979 and in the Craft was appointed Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2000.

Red Cross of Constantine Surrey Charity

The Order of the Red Cross of Constantine is enjoying a very active period, particularly in the Division of Surrey. The Intendant-General for Surrey, Roy Leavers, in addressing the Divisional Conclave recently, said that each and every Knight had a responsibility for growth in the membership, and stressed that it was important that the ceremony of installation of a new Knight should be conducted in such a manner as to leave a lasting impression.
    The Division of Surrey has an enviable record when it comes to charity giving. Their two main targets for fund-raising have been Hearing Dogs for the Deaf and Farm Africa. For the latter charity, enough money had been raised to purchase 10 high-yielding Toggenburg goats to reduce poverty among small scale farmers in the drought prone areas of Kenya. These crossbreed British goats have been placed with the Dairy Goat and Capacity Building Project, which aims to reduce poverty amongst small scale farmers in drought prone Kitui and Maringi districts by increasing the productivity of dairy goats, and providing access to animal healthcare.
    There had been some press reports critical of providing animals in general, and goats in particular, to the poorer areas in Africa. These reports have proved unfounded, and have been countered by a BBC report which focused heavily on the benefits to smallholders in Kenya.

Allied Masonic Degrees Expand

The Allied Masonic Degrees are one of the fastest-growing Orders in Freemasonry worldwide. New Councils are consecrated regularly in England, and the Grand Council, under their longserving and energetic Grand Master, Michael Herbert, have a constant stream of engagements in support of a growing organisation.
    The District of the Southern Counties in particular has now grown to the point where it has become necessary to divide it into three. The decision was taken recently to create two new Districts: those of Surrey and of Sussex. As a result, the Grand Master presided over the ceremonies which gave birth to a newly-reconstituted District of the Southern Counties, and the consecration of the two new Districts. The new District of the Southern Counties comprises five Councils, that of Surrey has six and Sussex has four.
    To the record number of Brethren who had attended, the new District Grand Prefect for Surrey, Raymond Hussey, said that it was their responsibility to promote the Order and to encourage younger Brethren to join. Indeed, the District was in the envious position of having two new Councils ready to be consecrated. www.alliedmasonicdegrees.co.uk

Mark Master Masons Provide for Hospital in Hereford

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, led by Provincial Grand Master John Eley, has raised £10,000 from within the membership of 600 and purchased state of the art equipment for Hereford County Hospital A & E Department.
    The Province has held many functions over several months to raise funds with overwhelming support from members, and the Provincial Grand Master said that following the lead of Brethren who had established the needs of the department, it was decided that support would be channelled in that direction. The equipment was a high-specification variable height resuscitation trolley, incorporating an X-Ray facility and a pressure-relieving mattress, two portable easy-to-use ventilators, lightweight and suitable for patients of all ages and can be used in all situations, even in a helicopter, and two Pulse Oximeters, which monitor a patient’s pulse and oxygen in the blood.
    Andrew Ballam and Liz Symonds, A & E Consultants, explained to those present how the equipment will work. Liz Symonds commented afterwards ‘We are grateful and delighted to have this new equipment which will benefit many patients and make our work easier’.