Provincial Grand Lodge
News Archive
January ~ March 2007
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Demonstrate your writing skills
An International Short Papers Competition on matters Masonic is
being sponsored by the MW Bro the Pro Grand Master, Lord Northampton. The
competition is open to all Craft Masons in Lodges that are recognised and in
amity with the United Grand Lodge of England.
Direct access to the
competition is via
http://internet.lodge.org.uk/shortpaperscompetition
posted 30/3/2007
Freemasonry in trial by television
On Sunday 1st April at 10pm the National Geographic Channel is premiering in the UK a two hour programme entitled "Freemasons on Trial". The programme is being broadcast at 10 pm and lasts for two hours. John Hamill together with the Librarian of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and a number of serious American Masonic researchers are interviewed throughout the programme.
John Hamill has been sent a DVD of the programme and has worked through it. The first 90 minutes are a rather lurid, dramatised account of the various accusations and scandals falsely attributed to Freemasonry (eg corruption, satanism, Jack the Ripper, Roberto Calvi's death and the P2 affair in Italy, a shooting at a Masonic club in New York etc etc).
In the last half hour of the programme 15 minutes are spent effectively debunking the whole of the previous 90 minutes followed by a 15 minute re - enaction of the American 3rd degree (the part dealing with the death of HA) apparently staged with the permission of their Grand Lodge. John's fear is that because of the length of the programme and tabloid way in which the first 90 minutes are presented anyone watching it but not getting to the end will simply have their prejudices and misconceptions confirmed.
The National Geographic Channel has been advertising the programme this week. The Channel is available on Sky and cable systems and on some "freeview" packages but does not have a huge audience. The late showing on a Sunday evening may put many off or get them to record it! Because of the Channel it is going out on it is difficult to asses what reaction might be if any. The programme will, however, be repeated over the next few months and a reaction might build posted 30/3/2007
Anyone for cricket?
It is proposed to hold an inter-provincial (Worcestershire v Warwickshire) 20:20 cricket match this summer and in order to gauge the viability of the game, would any Brother who is interested in playing for the honour of their Province and in aid of their respective Festivals please contact Ed Baker at ed@ed-baker.com or on 07979 757074, with your availability and skills / experience!
The proceeds will go to the respective Festivals of each Province (may be even 60/40 in favour of the winners to add a competitive edge)
Once enough players and umpires have been identified, a venue and date will be announced in good time for the teams to prepare fully! posted 30/3/2007
Amalgamation in West Lancashire
The Provincial Grand Master for the Province of West Lancashire will witness his mother Lodge, Poulton Hall, amalgamating with Rowley Lodge and Sandylands Lodge to become Poulton Le Sands Lodge No 1051 in a ceremony to be held at the Dome Leisure Centre on Morecambe Promenade on Wednesday 4 April 2007. posted 30/3/2007
Autumn Glory
The tickets for this concert in aid of the 2012 Festival for the New Masonic Samaritan Fund at the Arts Centre at Warwick University on Sunday 7 October 2007 are available from Peter Astfalck on peter.astfalck@talktalk.net and not as shown on the flyer recently distributed to Masters of Lodges. His telephone number remains the same at 02476 229624. posted 20/3/2007
Lord Northampton's address to Grand Lodge on 14 March 2007
Today it has been my pleasure to invest Bro Nigel Brown as Grand Secretary. The new role of Grand Secretary means that he can concentrate on our Provinces and Districts and I look forward to visiting many of them with him in the forthcoming months.
Although the number of Grand Lodge Certificates issued in 2006 showed a drop of nearly ten per cent over the previous year, this is an exciting time for Freemasonry. I believe we are at a turning point. This is a turning point for the better. With this in mind we should all be renewing our efforts to find men of quality to join us. To do so we need to be able to openly voice the objectives and merits of our Freemasonry. We need to do this from the very beginning. By beginning, I mean from the moment we first interview a potential candidate. I am looking at initiatives to help this process.
It has always seemed strange to me that, for example, we ask the candidate those three very important questions after the ceremony has begun. He is in a state of darkness, has little understanding of the criteria for membership and even less chance of giving a reasoned answer.
So what we need to do is to give clear guidelines for these interviews. We must tell the candidate what he can expect from us and what we will expect from him. I am on record as saying that in this age of openness we should be able to discuss the purpose of our rituals with a candidate before he decides whether to join. To put it another way, no thinking man is going to join and then stay committed to an organisation that cannot talk about itself openly and with clarity. So we have to be clear in our own minds what the purpose of Freemasonry is and what our ritual means. When we are clear, we need to become good at marketing ourselves. Then, in the interview we can explain our Freemasonry in a way that fits the twenty first century and why it will be relevant to the candidate. That will allow us a better chance of competing for his leisure time, his finances and his intellectual stimulation.
I am sure like me many of you must feel frustrated when you open your newspapers and read how leaders in our society have been emphasising recently the importance of morality and tolerance. Yet as Freemasons we practise both those virtues and have been doing so for a very long time. We do not shout about it from the rooftops, but quietly practise in our everyday lives those lessons we are taught in our lodges. I spoke at Quarterly Communication in December 2005 about the need to explain ourselves through the virtues of tolerance and trust but there are other ways in which Freemasonry helps us. Anyone who has seen a timid brother climb through the Offices and pass through the Chair of his lodge with new-found confidence can see first hand how masonry instils leadership qualities in its candidates. It also provides a welcome social outlet for the lonely and bereaved. How many times have we heard a brother praising the support he received from his lodge when he lost a loved one, discovered he had a life threatening illness or just felt lonely and needed someone to talk to? These are some of the things we can explain to our candidates and the popular world to show the benefits we get from our Freemasonry.
Following my remarks at the last Quarterly Communication about the success of the Centre for Research into Freemasonry at the University of Sheffield I learnt soon after that Professor Andrew Prescott would be leaving his post there. I am pleased to say I have received a positive letter from the Vice Chancellor pledging the University’s strong commitment to the continuation and development of the Centre. He goes on to say that ‘they will shortly be advertising for a successor and will provide the necessary funding to ensure that this is a sufficiently long term appointment to attract a strong field of candidates’. We owe a debt of gratitude to Professor Prescott for all the efforts he has made to get Freemasonry recognised as a serious and worthwhile subject for academic research.
Since our last meeting the Grand Master has attended the seventy fifth anniversary of our District of Ghana. Last weekend I visited the Grand Lodge of Spain to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the re-establishment of regular Freemasonry in that country.
In May I shall be going to Edinburgh to represent the United Grand Lodge of England alongside the Grand Masters of Ireland and Scotland at the International Conference on the History of Freemasonry which is being hosted by the Grand Lodge of Scotland. It will be a remarkable gathering of academic lecturers drawn from all over the world and details can be found on their website, which will be published in MQ for anyone who is interested, www.ichfonline.org .
Brethren, on another subject, you should know that at the Annual Investiture the Grand Master is minded to make a positive statement about our relationship with the other long established and well known orders of masonry to which many Craft members belong. I believe this will be most welcome. posted 19/3/2007
Education with Integrity
VW Bro Reverend Neville Barker-Cryer is renowned for his enlightening and entertaining presentations, and the members of the Lodge of Integrity No 4563 are looking forward to hearing his talk 'A Walk Round Your Lodge Room' at their next Regular Meeting on Saturday 14 April at Yenton Assembly Rooms, Erdington, Birmingham commencing at 4.00pm.
If you would like to attend please contact the Lodge Secretary, John Norman, on 01584 856571. The dining fee will be £16.50. posted 19/3/2007
Freemasons sponsor doctors web site
St Mary's Lodge in Market Drayton in Shropshire is the sponsor of the newly launched web site for the Market Drayton Primary Care Centre in the town.posted 19/3/2007
Freemasons give away £1.3 million to worthy causes
At its Annual General Meeting in London on 14 March 2007 the Freemasons' Grand Charity approved the payment of grants totalling £1.3 million to a number of worthy non-Masonic charities. £100,000 goes to fund a respite care unit at a new Leonard Cheshire Home near Banbury, £60,000 has been donated to the Princess Royal Trust for Carers to fund a service for carers of people with mental health problems, £50,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust will contribute towards the cost of a new specialist 10 bed teenage cancer unit at Cardiff University Hospital and £50,000 is for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to fund a medical research project into Type 1 diabetes at Cambridge University.
£500,000 has also been set aside for grants to adult hospice services in 2007, and £100,000 will be used for grants to children's hospice services in 2007. £5,000 has been donated to Ely Cathedral.
The Freemasons' Grand Charity receives its funding from
Freemasons in England and Wales. Unlike other organisations, no money is
collected from the general public. posted
19/3/2007
Catholic Church maintains opposition to Freemasonry
A high ranking Vatican official has restated Church teaching on Masonic associations, saying that Catholics who enrol in such associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive communion.
Apostolic Penitentiary regent, Bishop Gianfranco Girotti made the statement on Thursday 1 March 2007 at a conference on the topic of Freemasonry held at the St Bonaventure Pontifical Theological Faculty in Rome. The bishop presided over the congress held in cooperation with the Socio-Religious Research and Information Group of Italy. Officials of Masonic associations and Grand Masters also took part in the meeting.
Bishop Girotti reminded his listeners that the Church has always criticised the concepts and philosophy of Freemasonry, considering them incompatible with the Catholic faith. He mentioned the last official reference document, "Declaration on Masonic Associations," which was signed by the then prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, on 26 November 1983. The text states that since the principles of Masonic associations "have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church," membership in them, therefore, "remains forbidden."
"The faithful who enrol in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive holy Communion," adds the declaration signed by Cardinal Ratzinger, who is now Benedict XVI.
Fr Zbigniew Suchecki, an expert in the subject, quoted number 1374 of the Code of Canon Law, which reads: "Whoever is inscribed in an association that plots against the Church must be punished with a just penalty; whoever promotes or directs that association, must be banned." "Masonry's attempts to express divine truths are based on relativism and do not agree with the principles of the Christian faith," Fr Suchecki said. Bishop Girotti made reference to the statements of some priests who have declared publicly their membership in Masonry and called for the intervention of "their direct superiors," not excluding the possibility that "measures of a canonical character might come from the Holy See." posted 9/3/2007
Charity comes home
The 19th Annual Meeting of the family of Charity Lodges will be held at the Provincial HQ at 2 Stirling Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Saturday 12 May 2007. The meeting will commence at 4.00pm after which there will be a demonstration of the First Degree Ceremony by members of the Black Country Heritage Lodge, with dinner at 6.00pm. Applications to attend should go to John Wells on 0121 777 4194 or john@wells111.fsnet.co.uk posted 6/3/2007
Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Warwickshire will be held at the Provincial HQ at 2 Stirling Road Edgbaston Birmingham on Saturday 19 May 2007. Doors will be open at 9.30am and the Annual Meeting will commence promptly at 10.30am. The Provincial Grand Master expects that all his Lodges will be represented by the Master and Wardens in addition to those Brethren who will receive appointments to or promotions in Provincial Grand Rank. Application forms for attendance and lunch at the Meeting are now with Lodge Secretaries. Master Masons are encouraged to attend but they cannot vote. It is regretted that Brethren below the rank of Master Mason cannot attend. posted 6/3/2007
Annual Investiture of Grand Officers
Notice of the Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge to be held on 14 March 2007 indicates that the next Annual Investiture of Grand Officers will take place on 26 April 2006. This is clearly an error. The Annual Investiture (to which admission is by ticket only) will in fact take place on Wednesday 25 April 2007 at Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen Street, London.posted 6/3/2007
Improving access for the disabled
Roger Bennett, the Master of Ipsley Lodge in Redditch, has a staircase chairlift which he can make available to any Masonic Rooms in the Province of Warwickshire. Further enquiries to and details from Roger on 0792 080 9348. posted 6/3/2007
Rudyard Kipling and Freemasonry
Richard Jaffa, a Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master of Warwickshire, is to present an original paper of his own on the influence of Freemasonry on the works of Rudyard Kipling at the meeting of Linwood Lodge on Tuesday 13 March at the Masonic Hall at Knowle, Solihull. Reservations can be made with Andy Bryson to hear this informative presentation on andy.bryson@btinternet.com or 01564 784491 or 07721724585 posted 1/3/2007
Freemasonry in London
The Province of Warwickshire has a long standing and happy relationship with the London Warwickshire Lodge which meets at Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen Street, London. Rodney Pitham, Assistant Provincial Grand Master, is organising a visit to the Installation Meeting which will take place on Monday 30 April and a number of Brethren are already signed up to attend and to stay to dinner. Coach travel is being arranged with convenient pick up points. If you wish to take part please get in touch with Rodney as soon as possible on 0121 744 1328 or at rodpitham@aol.com posted 1/3/2007
Helping others
The members of Holy Well Lodge which meets at Southam resolved at their February meeting to donate £200 to The Extra Care Trust and the same amount to Dogs for the Disabled, The Warwick Hospital Coronary Care Unit, The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys, The Homeless at Risk Unit in Rugby and the Warwickshire Association for the Blind. This all adds up to a magnificent total of £1,200. Congratulations go to them for this act of kindness and generosity. posted 1/3/2007
Learn about surgery from the experts
At its next meeting on Saturday 31 March 2007 the Warwickshire Installed Masters Lodge is fortunate enough to have a number of surgeons from the Royal College of Surgeons coming to give a talk (in layman's language!) about the research they are currently doing in various disciplines so there will be something of interest for everyone.
The Royal College of Surgeons is not funded by the NHS but is a registered charity which relies solely on legacies and donations. In 1967 the United Grand Lodge of England, representing the Freemasons of England and Wales, set up a Trust Fund of £500,000 for the College to help them with their aims to enable surgeons to achieve and maintain the highest standards of surgical practice and patient care. This has helped Freemasons to donate in excess of £3 million to the College since then which has contributed to some of the many significant advances that have been made in surgical techniques during that time, especially during latter years. This will have been or at some time in the future will be of benefit to us all.
Each year, four million people undergo surgery. Some operations are minor, while others are lifesaving or will dramatically enhance the quality of life of the patients concerned. In every case, the patients place their trust in the hands of the surgeon. The College honours this trust by maintaining and improving surgical standards throughout England and Wales. Their training, education and research programmes are intended to advance the knowledge and skills of surgeons so that the treatment received by patients is of the highest standard.
Anyone wishing to attend should get in touch with Trevor Siddall at trevor.siddall@talk21.com or 01604 830467. The meeting place is 2 Stirling Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 9SB and the talk is likely to start at approximately 6.00pm. posted 1/3/2007
Masons hit by bugging
Police have launched an investigation into suspicions that meetings at one of Northern Ireland's largest Masonic Halls were bugged after recordings were received in the post by Freemasons at the headquarters of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim in Belfast.
Masons have been left mystified by the suspicions of secret recordings. There have been no demands or threats received by them. posted 1/3/2007
Your local Masonic chemist
Alchemy Lodge No 3950, meeting at 2 Stirling Road, Edgbaston,
Birmingham, was originally formed in 1919 by Pharmacists for Pharmacists and
always had a core membership from the pharmaceutical and allied trades. Now
numbers have declined significantly and although the Lodge is open to members
from all walks of life, it would be nice to see more members from the
profession that founded it.
If there is anyone, particularly members
of the pharmaceutical and allied trades, willing support this fine old lodge by
joining and bringing it back to its former status, please contact the Lodge
Secretary, David Bramham, at 25 Walsall Road, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield B74
4ND or by telephone on 0121 308 5905. posted
27/2/2007
Warwickshire Freemasons aid worthy causes with £101,000
The Provincial Grand Lodge of Warwickshire with some 5,400 Freemasons has just donated some £101,000 to 150 charitable organisations with individual grants ranging from £250 to £3,000. Amongst those who have been assisted are the Birmingham Dogs Home with £250, the Coventry Boys Club (£250), St Mary's Church Temple Balsall (£500) and Warwick Hospital Cancer Ward with £1000.
Michael Price, the Provincial Grand Master and Head of the Warwickshire Freemasons, said:
"The needs of others are important to Freemasons and charitable giving is the most fundamental principle of Freemasonry. I am most grateful to the members of the Province who through their continuing generous financial support make these donations possible on an annual basis. We know from the recipients that the support is appreciated."
Birmingham Cathedral has received £1000 for its music department, Castel Froma, a nursing home in Leamington £500, the Deep Impact Theatre Company £500 for its work in improving the outlook of youngsters by introducing them to the Arts, The Little Sisters of the Poor £500, and Victim Support £500 for its counselling work. Hospices in the Province, including Acorns, St Mary's and Myton Hamlet, have all received substantial gifts.
Unlike other organisations Freemasons do not collect money from the public. It all comes from their own pockets.
A full list of the non-Masonic causes to benefit can be obtained from Michael Irving or Pam Hegarty on 0121 454 0554. posted 27/2/2007
A masonathon
Over 100 brethren were present at a unique meeting of the Old Worksopian Lodge in Nottinghamshire in February. In the morning the Past Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro Stuart Hill conducted a Third Degree ceremony assisted by Grand Officers (including Warwickshire's Michael Irving as Senior Warden) and Honorary Members of the Lodge. After lunch, the Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro Robin Wilson, accompanied by his Deputy and Assistants and assisted by 21 Acting Provincial Officers (having granted his own dispensation) conducted a triple Second Degree ceremony. After a tea break the Lodge Officers conducted a First Degree ceremony. Thankfully the bar was opened in good time before the Festive Board! posted 27/2/2007
A taste of the Orient
At the meeting of Barnard Lodge on Tuesday 13 March 2007, Stelios Kiosses of Three Spires Lodge will be giving a talk and presentation of Japanese Swords. Japanese Swords have been made for over a thousand years. Many people consider them one of the finest examples of artistry in steel. This talk is an introduction to the appreciation of Japanese Swords (Nihonto). Barnard Lodge meets at Stirling Road and details and a Summons can be obtained from the Secretary, Michael Squires on squires.mb@googlemail.com or 0121 454 9229. posted 27/2/2007
Precedence of Visiting Officers
When the Visiting Officer makes his ‘official’ visit to each Lodge once a year, he will take precedence over Grand Officers and Provincial Grand Officers as he sits in the Lodge and at the Festive Board. He will be saluted as the representative of the Provincial Grand Master after the minutes. If the Visiting Officer is a Grand Officer he will be saluted first of the Grand Officers. If he is a Provincial Grand Officer he will be saluted first of the Provincial Grand Officers. posted 27/2/2007
Masons gift to hospital
People suffering from a swelling condition can now be treated in more comfort at Worthing Hospital. Lymphoedema sufferers, a condition which causes swelling of the arm, leg, face or chest, have a new electronic couch on which to receive their treatment thanks to a donation from the Worthing Freemasons. The Freemasons raised £1,000 towards the couch – the lymphoedema clinic at the hospital raised the remaining £800 needed by selling its old couch. David Deane was the principal Masonic fundraiser; his wife Maria suffers from the condition and is treated regularly at the Worthing clinic. posted 23/2/2007
If you are interested in crossing the border!
At the next meeting of Robin Hood Lodge, No 5877, at Moseley Masonic Hall, Kings Heath, Birmingham, on Friday 23 March 2007, members of Lodge Doric Kilwinning No 68 of the Scottish Constitution, will demonstrate a Scottish Second Degree Ceremony.
The Master, Wardens and Brethren of Robin Hood Lodge will be delighted to welcome any visitors who wish to witness this very interesting ritual. The dining fee of £15 includes pre-dinner drinks and wine at the Festive Board.
For further information, or to reserve your place, please contact the Secretary, Jack Winder, on 01789 400679 or by email at jw@caprim.freeserve.co.uk posted 23/2/2007
Masonic murder!
Mercia Lodge will be hosting a Murder Mystery lunch on Sunday 1st April at Alderson House, Warwick. The cost including lunch will be £20 a head. Brethren and their friends who are interested in this lunch with a difference should get in touch with Rex Lowin on 01604 858605 or rex@lowin.net posted 23/2/2007
Anything Goes in Rugby
Our congratulations go to Stuart Esworthy, Provincial Junior Grand Warden Designate, and the rest of the cast for their outstanding pereformance at the Rugby Theatre on 14 February of the delightful musical by Cole Porter. Thanks also to all the Brethren and their ladies who attended the buffet at the Masonic Hall and the show which resulted in a donation to the 2012 Festival of £440. posted 15/2/2007
Live advertising!
On Sunday 7 October 2007 a concert 'Autumn Glory' is being promoted at the Arts Centre at Warwick University to assist in raising funds for the New Masonic Samaritan Fund, for which the Province has a Festival in 2012. Those taking part include the Warwickshire Symphony Orchestra and the Stratford upon Avon Gilbert and Sullivan Society. The compere will be Ed Doolan, the well-known BBC broadcaster. The auditorium has facilities for an audience of 1230.
Programmes will be on sale on the evening of the concert. We can offer advertisers a full page in colour for just £200. The back page will cost £300 and half pages £125. If you wish to avail yourself of this exciting advertising opportunity please get in touch with our designer Nick Essex on nick@english-art.com or 01604 706088; he will be pleased to discuss your requirements.
Any reference to Freemasonry, a rank in the Order, or membership of a Lodge in any advertisement is strictly prohibited.
Heritage Open Days
The Provincial Grand Master is keen to reinforce the excellent and successful work carried out by Lodges and Brethren in the Province during the ‘Freemasonry in the Community’ week in 2002. His view is that we should remind members of the general public that we are a part of the community as opposed to being apart from it. We need to demonstrate that we are a group like many others that give generously of our time and our money to help those less fortunate in our respective communities. As an essential ingredient of this renewed initiative he is encouraging those who operate Masonic Halls in the Province to take part in the Heritage Open Days (HODs) which run from 6 to 9 September 2007.
HODs celebrate England's architecture and culture by offering free access to properties that are usually closed to the public or normally charge for admission. Every year in September, buildings of every age, style and function throw open their doors, ranging from castles to factories, town halls to tithe barns, parish churches to Buddhist temples. It is a once-a-year chance to discover hidden architectural treasures and enjoy a wide range of tours, events and activities which bring to life local history and culture. Free of charge and literally on people's doorstep, HODs are an event for everyone, whatever their background, age and ability. Co-coordinated nationally by the Civic Trust in partnership with English Heritage, the event thrives on the enthusiasm and expertise of local people. Thousands of volunteers from all walks of life share their knowledge and memories with some 850,000 visitors every year, making HODs England's largest voluntary cultural event.
Brethren are asked to speak to those who are responsible for the
operation of their Masonic Hall and urge them to participate in this event, at
the same time volunteering to assist on the day or days selected for the Hall
to be open. posted 12/2/2007
Masons boost to children's aid
An organisation that helps treat ill children at home has received a welcome new year's boost from Rugby Masons. £600 raised from Eastfields Lodge's Christmas lunch and raffle has been handed over to the Children's Hospital at Home based in the town. Tony Osbourne, a Past Master of the Lodge, said: "We wanted to do something for the community and especially for the Children's Hospital at Home, who do such a good job in the town." posted 8/2/2007
We
will remember him
A Memorial Service to be conducted by the Rev Canon Ken Phillips,
Past Provincial Grand Chaplain, to celebrate the life of John E Marston, Past
Assistant Provincial Grand Master, will be held at St James’ Church,
Leamington Road, Styvechale, Coventry at 1.00pm on Tuesday 27 February. All
brethren, friends and acquaintances will be most welcome. posted 8/2/2007
Lunch for the Festival
Harbans Gumman and Mrs Narinder Gumman cordially invite you to the Ladies Luncheon for the Lodge of Serenity on Sunday 24 June 2007 (12.30 pm for 1.00 pm) at the Windmill Village Hotel and Golf Club, Birmingham Road, Allesley, Coventry. The cost is £19.00 per person. Proceeds will go to the 2012 Festival. Reservations should be made with John Wish on wish141030@aol.com or 01676 533 296. posted 7/2/2007
National Clay Pigeon Shoot
The National Masonic Inter-Provincial Clay Pigeon Shooting Competition will be held at the National Shooting Centre Bisley on Saturday 25 August 2007. The Shoot will be a 100 Sporting Clay Bird Competition commencing at 9.30am until 1.00pm. If you wish to enter please contact Mike Bushby on buzzby6543@tesco.net or 01403 249760 or sports@surreymason.org.uk posted 31/1/2007
Women Freemasons do exist!
At the close of the meeting of the Ronald Albutt Lodge of Mark
Master Masons No
1818 to be held on 6 March 2007 at the Masonic Hall in
Erdington Birmingham, RW Bro Mrs Marilyn Harwood, The Grand Inspector for the
Midland Counties of the Order of Women Freemasons, will be speaking about her
responsibilities and experiences. The event is open to both men and women and
you do not have to be a Freemason. To book your place for the meeting and/or
dinner after the talk, please contact Adrian Rawlins on 0121 682 0699 or
arawlins@aol.com posted 30/1/2007
New Provincial Grand Secretary
Nigel Bister has announced that he is to retire as Provincial Grand Secretary for Warwickshire at the Annual Meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge in May. The RW Provincial Grand Master, Michael J Price CBE, has been pleased to appoint as Nigel's successor Nigel Burton JP, Provincial Grand Steward and a Past Master of Vellum Lodge. posted 18/1/2007
Learn more about the 2012 Festival
David Macey, the Festival Director, and other members of his small
team, are available to attend Lodges and make a presentation of no more than 10
or 15 minutes to tell you all about the Festival, its aims and objectives,
fundraising events and how you can help boost the appeal fund. David can be
contacted on david.macey@virgin.net or on 01562 884538. posted 18/1/2007
Freemasonry and medicine
Dr Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, a medical practitioner in Kumasi, Ghana, has spoken on the topic, "The Hippocratic Oath, its import and relationship with Freemasonry" at a symposium on medical issues in Kumasi recently. The symposium was organised by the District Grand Lodge of Ghana (English Constitution) and marked the 75th anniversary celebration of the District. Unfortunately we do not have a transcript of Dr Kuffour's address. posted 10/1/2007
The Masonic Charities
To keep up to date with what the National and Provincial Masonic Charities are doing with your money you can learn from the Provincial Grand Charity Steward for Warwickshire, Chris Grove, when he lectures to Corinthian Lodge on 20 January at 2 Stirling Road Edgbaston and Holte Lodge on 13 February at Knowle. The Corinthian Lodge contact is Terence Martin on tjm111y@btinternet.com or 07973 504868 and Richard Stowe can give details of the meeting of Holte Lodge on 01905 796462 or r.h.stowe@amserve.net posted 9/1/2007
Fortieth Birthday Celebrations
As part of its 40th year celebrations Solihull Lodge will hold a
Lodge of Rehearsal and Instruction Festival at the Regular Lodge meeting at
Knowle on Monday 19 February 2007. The initiate for the ceremony will be the
first initiate of the Lodge in 1966, Ian Ramsey who is now resident in the
Province of Dorset.
The Lodge is to be graced with the presence of
the Provincial Grand Master of Dorset together with some of his Provincial
Officers. The meeting will start at 6.00pm and the approximate cost of dining
will be £16. Brethren wishing to attend should contact Michael Morris on
m28morris@yahoo.co.uk or 07812099997
posted 9/1/2007
Tributes to a Masonic President
"Gerald R. Ford embodied the tenets of Freemasonry. He upheld the values of personal integrity and of being true to his word, and in a time of great crisis, Brother Ford, a true patriot, also sought to heal our ailing Nation. As our President, he represented our fraternity well. On behalf of the Grand Lodges of Free and Accepted Masons of the States of Michigan and New York, the Masonic Service Association of North America, and Masons everywhere, we offer our sincere condolences to Betty Ford and her family on the passing of Brother Gerald Ford, a humble man who calmly guided our country out of one of its darkest hours.
Neal I. Bidnick
Grand Master
Grand Lodge of Free and
Accepted Masons of the State of New York
Walter F. Wheeler
Grand Master
Grand Lodge of Michigan,
Free and Accepted Masons
Richard E. Fletcher
Executive Secretary
Masonic Service
Association of North America"
Eminent Freemason in Warwickshire
VW Bro His Honour Judge Ian Alexander QC, Grand Registrar of the United Grand Lodge of England, will be attending the regular meeting of the Tudor Lodge at 2 Stirling Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham on 12 February 2007 to deliver a lecture on Freemasonry. Further details for this important event are available from Ian George on 07774 120003 or on Ian.georgeuk@btinternet.com
