Library & Museum Designated Status

The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council has recently announced that the collections held by the Library and Museum of Freemasonry at Freemasons’ Hall in London have been awarded Designated status as a collection of international significance. The Designation scheme identifies the preeminent collections of national and international importance held in England’s non-national museums.
    At the core of the collections held by the Library and Museum of Freemasonry is that assembled by the United Grand Lodge of England. The collections represent a wide range of fraternal organisations, including those for women, in the UK and overseas, and is the broadest and most comprehensive collection of such material in the UK.
    The Museums Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), national government body for the heritage sector, identifies Designated Collections as ‘nationally and internationally significant, vital to the cultural and artistic life of the nation’. The Library and Museum in Great Queen Street is now one of only 65 whole collections in the country to have this impressive status. Director Diane Clements said ‘This is public recognition of the vital role Freemasonry has played in the UK’ s history. It will give us a much higher profile in the sector and is a culmination of the work of the staff of the Library and Museum over its 170 years.’

New Provincial Grand Master for Bedfordshire

Over 400 Brethren were present at the installation and investiture of Michael Sawyer as Provincial Grand Master for Bedfordshire by the Assistant Grand Master, David Williamson. In his opening remarks, the Assistant Grand Master reminded the Brethren that an installation stood between the past and the future and he paid tribute to the past Provincial Grand Master, Martin Foss. The future of the Province would now rest in the hands of the new Provincial Grand Master.
    In his inaugural address, the new Provincial Grand Master said, ‘In taking over the reins from Martin Foss I am grateful to him for the legacy of a very happy Province and I am determined this happiness will continue during my tenure of office. It will be a challenge to encourage lodges to attract more candidates, although I would not wish to see quantity take over from quality. Brethren there is a need to involve our families in our masonic activities. We have our own private times during our lodge meetings, but I firmly believe it is necessary for lodges and Provinces to organise and encourage events that involve the whole family.’

MASONIC BIOGRAPHY Michael John Sawyer
1970	Initiated Wenlock Lodge, No. 6093
1975	Exalted St. Mary Royal Arch Chapter, No. 3654
1980	Provincial Grand Steward
1982	Master Wenlock Lodge, No. 6093
1988	First Principal St. Mary Royal Arch Chapter, No. 3654
1990	Past Provincial Grand Supt of Works
1992	Past Grand Standard Bearer Joined Bedfordshire Lodge of Installed Masters, No. 7301
1995	Founder Bedfordshire Lodge of Provincial Grand Stewards, No. 9577 Provincial Grand Secretary
1996	Provincial Grand Registrar Royal Arch Master Bedfordshire Lodge of Provincial Grand Stewards, No. 9577
1999	Master Bedfordshire Lodge of Installed Masters, No. 7301
2000	Past Junior Grand Deacon Founder Martin Foss Lodge of Research, No. 9722
2001	Assistant Provincial Grand Master Provincial Grand Scribe N Royal Arch
2002	Past Senior Grand Deacon
2004	Deputy Provincial Grand Master
2005	Past Grand Sword Bearer

Freemasons Supporting Royal Marine Cadets

The Royal Marines Plymouth Lodge, No. 9528, has for several years now supported their local Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps, who get little government support as they are an independent group, not part of the Combined Cadet Force.
    The Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps members are young people, boys and girls, who for the most part come from less privileged backgrounds, some from singleparent families. The Corps is dependent on donations of cash, uniforms and equipment from parents and their friends, and donations of old uniforms from former Royal Marines and their dependents.
    These young people take a great pride in belonging to their organization and provide a guard of honour for Lodge Ladies Nights.
    At the special Lodge Trafalgar Night celebration, they put on a superb drill display, of which any full-time professional Royal Marine unit would be proud. They carry out various forms of adventure training when they are taught discipline, self reliance, fitness and respect for others amongst many other valued attributes. Belonging to this excellent Cadet Group is instrumental in giving the youngsters a well-rooted social and community sense.
    Recently the Lodge has been successful in obtaining a donation from the WAKE Fund for the sum of £750. It is the Lodge’s intention to round this sum up to £1000 and to present this amount to the Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps.
    Most of the membership of the Lodge is made up of former Royal Marines and other former servicemen who were attached to or worked with the Royal Marines Commandos.

Prestonian Lecture in Reading

Reading Lodge of Union, No. 414, in the Province of Berkshire, celebrating 175 years as the oldest existing lodge formed in Berkshire, hosted the first official presentation of the Prestonian Lecture 2007. The Lecturer was Dr. R. B. F. Khambatta, Past District Grand Master for Pakistan, who held the attention of a large audience as he described the personalities and politics of many former Freemasons, in his lecture entitled Grand Secretaries 1813-1980. Afterwards the Provincial Grand Master for Berkshire, Mike Hooton, presented Brother Khambatta with a silver-gilt tumbler, on either side of which are chased the square and compasses and a secretarial quill, and a symbolic representation of the Lodge number, 414, as a memento of the occasion.
    The Brittania silver tumbler is gold-plated inside and measures about 6cm. high by 5cm. diameter. The pivot of the compasses is a lapis lazuli cabouchon, with four similar cabouchons on either side, making the lodge number, 414. On the opposite side above the assay marks of the London Assay Office, is a chased quill, the emblem of the secretary. The lapis lazuli is from Pakistan, Brother Khambatta’s native country.
    The design of the tumbler is such that it cannot be knocked over, provided it is not too full. It can be used as a bell to attract attention, or in extremis as a gavel.