The Friends of the Library and Museum, established in 2001, enables individuals (whether UGLE members or not), lodges and chapters to support the Library and Museum by way of an annual subscription. Friends receive regular newsletters – the latest features new research about the links between women Freemasons and the suffrage movement – and can attend special events.
     This Autumn there is a chance to have a private view of the Women and Freemasonry exhibition and hear a talk about the history of women and Freemasonry. A second event will be a talk about masonic medals produced to commemorate special events or individuals. A special display of these medals will be on show for the evening.
     Subscriptions raised through the Friends are put towards the cost of new acquisitions, including one recent purchase. In July, the Library and Museum purchased another of the limited number of 1780 Hall Medals. These were issued to individual members and lodges who had provided interest-free loans to help fund the cost of the first Freemasons’ Hall in Great Queen Street.
     In all, 82 individuals were presented with this medal including the Grand Master, eight Provincial Grand Masters and various other Grand Officers. The Library and Museum collections already included three individual medals for Rowland Berkeley, Robert Butler and Bartholomew Ruspini. The latest acquisition is the medal for Thomas Sandby, the architect of the building. The inscription on the medal gives his name and the initials GA, as he is the only man ever to hold the rank of Grand Architect.
     The acquisition was also supported by a donation from Mid-Surrey First Principals Chapter No 7388.