warwickshirefreemasons

Provincial Grand Lodge
News Archive

April ~ June 2007

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Number 21,000,000!

Mia Ruby Templeton is the 21 millionth Australian and that's official! To top it all, Mia Ruby was born on 29 June at the Epworth Freemasons' Hospital in Melbourne.   posted 30/6/2007

Freemasons' aid for non-Masonic causes

Members of the Freemasons' Grand Charity in General Meeting in London on 28 June 2007 approved grants totalling £569,800 to 14 deserving non-Masonic charities. Of the grants approved£50,000 will go to the Macular Disease Society to fund training in eccentric viewing techniques for older people with failing eyesight; £50,000 to the British Red Cross to fund a new Responder emergency response vehicle; £170,000 to the Parkinson's Disease Society for research at the Institute of Neurology into the PINK 1 gene which, when mutated, causes Parkinson's Disease; and £40,000 to Fight for Sight for research into abnormal blood vessel growth which causes eye disease.

All the money used for these grants come from the Freemasons of England Wales. The public is never asked to contribute.

For further details contact Rodney Pitham, Chairman of the Appeals and Donations Committee of the Council of the Freemasons' Grand Charity, on 0121 744 1328 or rodpitham@aol.com or Natasha Treweek on 020 7395 9394 or ntreweek@the-grand-charity.org  posted 30/6/2007

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution

The President and Chief Executive of the RMBI addressed the Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge on 13 June 2007. Anyone who is interested in what they had to say should go to http://www.grandlodge-england.org/news/rmbi-130607.htm  posted 22/6/2007

Provincial Visiting Scheme

The Provincial Grand Master wishes to assist Lodges with small memberships by organising a structured visiting programme to their meetings. The main thrust of this idea is to encourage Past Provincial Officers in particular to undertake visits in groups of not less than six at a time. It is also hoped to encourage Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts to join in the visiting to re-enact their ceremonies as stand in candidates.

If you feel you would like to help and be part of this new initiative, please get in touch with Peter Sorrill, the organiser, as quickly as possible. Peter hopes that a team of forty to fifty Brethren can be assembled which will mean that it will not be necessary for individuals to visit more than two or three times a year. He is available on 0121 475 1940 or 07770 425 468 or petersorrill@blueyonder.co.uk and will gladly supply further details of what is required and of the Lodges that need assistance.   posted 20/6/2007

The Pro Grand Master addresses Grand Lodge - 13 June 2007

"Brethren,

Today it is exactly forty years since HRH the Duke of Kent KG was elected as our Grand Master. On behalf of all our members I have written to congratulate him on such a remarkable achievement and expressed our wish that he will enjoy good health to enable him to continue as our Grand Master for many years to come.

More good news … I have just announced the remarkable sums raised by four Provinces for our Masonic charities. That makes a total of £14.6 million pounds. I attended the festival in Nottingham on Sunday when a new record was set of over £1000 per member in the Province. These are very large sums of money indeed and our thanks go to all those who have been responsible for such outstanding generosity.

Brethren, I am looking closely at our marketing and public relations. I believe that this is a very important area when it comes to attracting and retaining quality candidates. However, it needs a new dynamic approach. There are many initiatives taking place around the Country including open days and stands at County shows, all of which play a useful part in spreading our message to a wider audience. At the Centre we are particularly looking at improving our website and MQ magazine. This will all help to underpin our open approach on communication.

Open communication is important to the way we are perceived and therefore crucial to the future health of the Craft. I have said it before, but it is worth repeating, that this is best achieved by masons talking openly about the Masonry they enjoy to their families, friends and anyone who shows an interest in knowing more about us.

I have started my regional conferences with Provincial Grand Masters, accompanied by the Grand Secretary. The first of these was held at Sindlesham at the end of May, with three more to be held in Manchester, Bristol and Nottingham. I am also visiting our brethren overseas beginning with a trip to our Districts in India in November accompanied by the Grand Secretary.

In July the Assistant Grand Master is visiting the District Grand Lodge of Sri Lanka for their centenary and the installation of their new District Grand Master and Grand Superintendent.

In early November we are hosting a special meeting of European Grand Masters to discuss the issue of regularity. The Masonic world has expanded with the creation of new Grand Lodges in Europe and as the mother Grand Lodge it is time to restate our fundamental beliefs when it comes to regular freemasonry.

Finally brethren I wish you all a very pleasant summer and look forward to our next meeting in September when we shall hopefully all have benefited from some rest and relaxation."   posted 20/6/2007

2012 Festival Jewel

A Festival Jewel is now available for all Warwickshire Brethren. It costs £15 or £15.50 if you wish to have it posted to you. There is a qualification. You must complete an application form confirming that you have pledged £100 or more to the Festival. With the kind permission of the Provincial Grand Master and the Grand Superintendent the jewel may be worn at all meetings of the Craft and the Royal Arch but only in the Province of Warwickshire. It may not be worn at the Festive Board.

The Festival Director, David Macey, will be writing shortly to Masters of Lodges in the Province and will send a supply of application forms. Arrangements are also in place for Royal Arch Chapters to be similarly informed. It is anticipated that all Warwickshire Brethren and Companions will wish to buy and wear this very well designed and attractive jewel.    posted 20/6/2007

The Freemasons' Grand Charity

A General Meeting of the Freemasons' Grand Charity will be held on Thursday 28 June 2007 at 6.00pm in the Grand Temple, Freemasons' Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ. Members of the Charity, i.e. Master Masons who are subscribing members of London and Provincial Lodges plus all other Brethren eligible to attend Grand Lodge and their partners or other non-Masonic guests may attend. The Deputy Grand President, the Most Honourable the Marquess of Northampton will chair the meeting which has been organised with the support of the Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London. To assist catering arrangements it would help if anyone wishing to attend the meeting would let the Grand Charity office know how many in advance - London2007@the-grand-charity-org should be used for this purpose. The agenda for the General Meeting together with reports is available from Lodge Secretaries.   posted 20/6/2007

A Masonic treat

Once again the Masonic Rooms and gardens at historic Guy's Cliffe at Warwick will be open to the public on Sunday 24 June 2007 at 1.00pm. There is an admission fee of £1 but car parking is free. A band will entertain for the whole of the afternoon, stalls and games will be among the attractions, and guided tours of the mediaeval chapel, now in use as Lodge Rooms, will be available on a regular basis. Go along and see and hear about the Freemasons and have a great time.   posted 20/6/2007

Remember them

A service of remembrance and re-union for National Service Day will be held on Sunday 24 June 2007 at 2.00pm at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire in the presence of Field Marshall the Lord Vincent of Coleshill. W Bro Ronald Eamonson OBE will lay a wreath in memory of all those Warwickshire Freemasons who made the supreme sacrifice. Everyone is welcome.    posted 10/6/2007

Phishing Masonic Internet scam

Another Internet scam which implicates Freemasonry is in circulation. This is the original e-mail with contact details removed:

"Good day sir,

Good Masons make good churchmen. Every clergyman can testify to the truth of this. They make loyal and sacrificing patriots. Our colonial history supplies the proof of this assertion. It is based on this that I wish to introduce myself as Prince Johnson, the only surviving son of one of the dedicated Masons from the District Grand Lodge of Sierra Leone and the Gambia (Lodge No. 1650, The Earl of Eglinton and Winton, Freetown). I am soliciting your assistance in seeing that my inheritance is transferred successfully from a Madrid Based finance institution to a safer country where I will be willing to relocate and start a new life.

General Emillio Aguinaldo, Filipino Hero, while addressing the Grand Lodge of the Philippines in 1955 said " Since becoming a Freemason, I forgot hate. Instead, I learned to love - to love God and my fellowman. I am now at ease with my own conscience. I only do what I think is right, and shun all evil. I also forget fear. I can be alone no matter where I am, what I do, or where I go. A clean conscience makes a man brave. I hope that Freemasonry has had the same influence upon all of you, which is an assurance of a better world to live in, and a happier humanity to live with."

I write you today with clean conscience believing that you will honour my email ASAP for more details of what my wish is.

Thanks,
Prince Johnson."

This type of e-mail is intended to induce the unwary to provide personal details and should always be ignored and you are advised not to respond to unsolicited e-mails of this nature. What is disturbing is the fact that Freemasonry is being used in this way. The author, 'Prince Johnson', does not claim to be a Freemason himself but seeks legitimacy for his actions by claiming that his father was a Freemason and a member of a Scottish Lodge.    posted 10/6/2007

Masonic email scam

The Internet scams in which emails are sent out to individuals informing them that they have been chosen as recipients of a major pay out from Masonic charitable funds have been re-appearing with a new twist. They are being sent out as if from one of our Provinces and are "signed" with the name of the actual Provincial Grand Secretary. The email address and other contact details under the name of the Provincial Grand Secretary, however, are not those of the Province or its Secretary! As with other Internet scams ------- hit your delete button!    posted 10/6/2007

Masons control the housing market

According to a new ‘Safe as Houses’ homebuyer report from AA Legal Services two per cent of young Britons thought freehold properties could only be bought by Freemasons!    posted 10/6/2007

Prestonian Lectures

The Prestonian Lecturer for 2006, W Bro D S Angell, in addition to the five official deliveries, has delivered his lecture "The Victoria Cross - Freemasons' Band of Brothers" on 78 other occasions.

The Lecturer for 2007, RW Bro R B F Khambatta, Past District Grand Master for Pakistan, has given or will give four official lectures on "The Grand Secretaries 1813 - 1980".

The Trustees of the Prestonian Fund have appointed W Bro R D T Sillett PJGD as Prestonian Lecturer for 2008. The title of his lecture will be "The Language of the Ritual". Arrangements for the delivery of this Lecture to selected Lodges will be considered by the Board of General Purposes in November and applications are now invited from Lodges. Applications should be made to the Grand Secretary through the Provincial Grand Secretary W Bro Nigel Burton at 2 Stirling Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 9SB.    posted 10/6/2007

2012 Festival in aid of the New Masonic Samaritan Fund

The total at the end of May stood at £621,000    posted 10/6/2007

Human rights of Freemasons upheld

The European Court of Human Rights on 31 May 2007 determined in a case against the Government of Italy that there had been a violation of Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) of the European Convention on Human Rights taken in conjunction with Article 11 (freedom of assembly and association). The applicant was an Italian Masonic association which groups together several lodges. It has been in existence since 1805.

The application to the Court concerned a Regional Law in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. That law laid down, among other things, the rules to be followed for nominations to public offices for which the Region was the appointing authority. In particular, it required candidates for such posts to declare to the president of the regional executive and the appointments board of the Regional Council whether they were a member of a Masonic or, in any event, a secret association. The absence of a declaration constituted a ground for refusing appointment.

The Court held that, having regard to the negative effects that the obligation to declare one’s membership of a Masonic lodge might have on the applicant association’s image and associative life, it could claim to be a “victim” of a breach of Article 11 of the Convention. That conclusion meant that there had been an interference with its right to freedom of association. It followed that the facts in question fell within the ambit of Article 11. Article 14 of the Convention was therefore applicable.

The Court observed that the provision in question distinguished between secret and Masonic associations, membership of which had to be declared, and all other associations. Members of the latter were exempted from any obligation to make such a declaration when seeking nomination for public office, and could not therefore incur the statutory penalty for an omission.

Accordingly, there was a difference of treatment between the members of the applicant association and the members of any other non-secret association.

The Court further stated that, examining the issue under Article 11 of the Convention taken alone, it had found that the prohibition on nominating Freemasons to certain public offices for which the Region was the appointing authority was not “necessary in a democratic society”. It had observed that penalising someone for their membership of an association was unjustified, since that fact was not in itself legally reprehensible.

Only members of a Masonic association were under an obligation to declare their membership when they sought nomination to certain public offices for which the Region was the appointing authority. No objective and reasonable justification for this difference in treatment between non-secret associations had been advanced by the Government.

Accordingly, the Court held that there had been a violation of Article 14 taken in conjunction with Article 11 of the Convention.    posted 10/6/2007

Back in time

David Old, the Deputy Grand Superintendent in the Royal Arch Province of Warwickshire and a Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master of Warwickshire, earlier this year made a nostalgic return to the land whence he derived his birth and infant nurture - India. The photograph shows David presenting to W Bro Jayant Ashu the Master of Lodge St George No 2532 in the District Grand Lodge of Madras with his Grandfather's (William Charles Old) Past Master's Jewel dating back to 1922/23.    posted 1/6/2007

A great spectacle

Trevor Cavill, Provincial Grand Registrar, has in his possession eight pairs of spectacles left behind at the Annual Meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge on 19 May 2007 and their owners have not yet come forward. Trevor can be contacted on 0121 454 4422.    posted 1/6/2007

Freemasonry Universal - a true Brotherhood

This photograph is a fine example of Freemasonry universal - the principal officers of the Grand Lodge of Quebec. From left to right they are Dr Rene Kakou, Junior Grand Warden, Opkar S Sandhu, Deputy Grand Master, John A Prosnick, Grand Master, and Hagop Djebedjian, Senior Grand Warden.    posted 1/6/2007

Provincial Grand Master's Address to Provincial Grand Lodge 2007

"Brethren, I congratulate all those I have had the great pleasure of investing with Provincial Rank or promoting to higher office. I would remind you all that you have an important leadership role to play in the Craft in Warwickshire. You need, by your own example, to set high standards for the Brethren within your Lodges to follow. I expect all the acting officers to support the Provincial events during the coming year and particularly to visit Lodges throughout the Province, especially those who are small in numbers.

I should like to record my great appreciation to the retiring Provincial Officers for the wonderful support they have given to me during the year and to thank them for their commitment. I think that they have been some of the best I have had.

You all know that since the 1st January 2005 the number of promotions I can make has been severely reduced. This rule is due for review by the 1st January 2008. I wrote to Grand Lodge in January seeking a much higher allowance for promotions for this year but, to date, I have not had a reply.

At his business meeting with Provincial Grand Masters and Grand Superintendents in April the Pro Grand Master made reference to this matter and said that it should be discussed by the Provincial Grand Masters’ Forum which were due to meet the following day.

At the Forum I proposed that with respect to promotions the Craft should return to the situation prior to 2005, in other words that the restriction should be removed completely. The proposition was seconded by R.W.Bro. Graham Rudd, the Provincial Grand Master for Derbyshire who is present with us today. I am pleased to say that the proposition was approved unanimously by the Provincial and District Grand Masters present and that result has been communicated to the Pro Grand Master. Only two nights ago W. Bro. Rudd and myself were able to talk to the Grand Secretary on the subject. I have done my best on your behalf Brethren. We must now be patient and see what the review committee recommends.

The Visiting Officers scheme has been most successful and I wish to record my thanks to all who have taken part and to the Lodges for making the Visiting Officers welcome.

I am pleased with the steady progress we are making in raising funds for the Festival and I thank all of you who have made significant contributions. I do urge those brethren yet to commit to a regular direct debit payment to do so. Charity collections, valuable as they are, will not by themselves raise the target we have set ourselves. We need to channel all our charitable giving towards the Festival. The Province, who distribute approximately £100,000 each year to non-Masonic charities will look after that side of things.

The number of Initiates joining Lodges in this Province shows a modest increase over last year but membership remains the biggest challenge facing us all. We need to redouble our efforts to find men of quality to join us. To do this we all need to have a clear idea in our minds as to the objectives and merits of freemasonry and then to communicate this to potential candidates. We need to market ourselves better remembering, to quote the Pro Grand Master, that we are competing for their leisure time, their finances and their intellectual stimulation.

Having initiated Candidates we need to maintain and stimulate their interest. With this in mind I shall be introducing a mentoring scheme for Lodges in the autumn. This is not another intrusion into your Lodge, Brethren, but a way in which the Lodge itself can be pro-active. A way in which a member of your Lodge can demonstrate an interest in and assist the newer members to a better understanding of the Craft, the Lodge and what is expected of them. If they are better informed they will feel much more comfortable within the meetings, their enjoyment will increase resulting in a higher degree of commitment.

Our Lodge meetings are always more enjoyable when the labour is carried out competently and expeditiously. To achieve this, the meeting of the Lodge committee and the Lodge of Instruction are key in planning the business and rehearsing the ceremonies. Although the Lodge committee does not, and should not, rule the Lodge it is a very important part of Masonic life. A Lodge without a regular active meeting of Past Masters and Officers is rather like a ship without an engine room, drifting like flotsam on the sea. The leadership comes from the Worshipful Master but he is entitled to expect the attendance and support of the Past Masters.

An innovation by Grand Lodge during the past year is the formation of the Rulers’ Forum. Within groups of Provinces there is a Rulers Forum Group and it is to this Group that we earlier appointed our representatives. The objective of the Rulers’ Forum is to provide the grassroots membership with an opportunity to raise issues of concern to all of us which may ultimately be debated with the Rulers. Any Brother in this Province should feel free to raise an issue of concern to him with me by letter through the Provincial Grand Secretary making reference to the Rulers’ Forum. I will then raise the subject, his behalf, within our Group Forum.

Continuing from last year, when for the first time at an Annual Meeting, I spoke about Edgbaston Assembly Rooms Ltd., of which every Brother in the Province is a member, I should like to give a brief update.

The major refurbishment was undertaken in July and August last year and is obvious to all visiting the Clarendon Suites. Business is starting to increase as a consequence. It takes time to spread the word that our tired building has been revitalised. Currently, year to date, we are in profit. I am hopeful that will continue to be the case at the year end in June.

We are now budgeting for next year when we hope to build on the foundation laid this year, with an increased profit, to substantially reduce our indebtedness.

I should like to record my thanks to the Brethren in the Lodges, Chapters and Orders which meet here for their support and for their kind letters of appreciation. Likewise to those other Brethren who have brought functions here or who have generously given their expertise and time to the company.

Very regrettably during the year four Lodges, George Beech, Faithful, Felicity and Sincerity found that, despite sterling efforts on the part of their members, they were unable to continue and handed back their Warrants. I am pleased to say that most of the Brethren in those Lodges are continuing with their Freemasonry in other Lodges.

We have several small Lodges in this Province and in an attempt to be able to support them W.Bro. Peter Sorrill (Lodge of Hope) has undertaken to form groups of brethren who will visit a small Lodge, if requested, to support them. If enough Brethren volunteer it should not prove to be an over-onerous task.

On the subject of small Lodges my experience is that we must never write them off prematurely. Let me share with you the experience of Grosvenor Lodge No. 938. In December 2004 when their numbers were very low the Lodge passed a resolution to hand back the Warrant after 142 years. In January 2005 the Worshipful Master, W.Bro. Abeyomi Cole came to see me to say that he did not agree with the decision and would I give him some time to find some Initiates. This I agreed to do and in April 2005 a double initiation took place in which I had the privilege of helping out the Lodge by acting as a Junior Deacon. At that time W.Bro.Robert James joined the Lodge to serve as Secretary, subsequently becoming the Master for two terms, performing several ceremonies. The Lodge has now had twelve Initiates, have one balloted Candidate, a further two Candidates proposed and two more probable Candidates to be interviewed. This just goes to show that we never know what lies ahead.

Brethren, I hope we have demonstrated this morning that with planning and foresight ceremonies can run smoothly and expeditiously. I should like to record my thanks to the Provincial Grand Secretary and his staff, to the Provincial Grand Registrar and his deputy, to the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies and his team, to the Provincial Grand Stewards’ Lodge of Warwickshire and to the staff of the Clarendon Suites for their assistance in making this mornings meeting possible.

In conclusion I wish to thank all the Lodges for the very warm welcome they have always extended to me and my team. I have witnessed ritual of a very high standard and have had the pleasure of enjoying your company when I have visited your Lodges. We have a very happy Province in Warwickshire. Let all of us always remember that we are here to enjoy our freemasonry, to be happy, to communicate happiness and, most importantly, to practise out of the Lodge those duties we have been taught in it."    posted 1/6/2007

New Presidents for Masonic Charities

At the Annual Investiture in April the MW Grand Master was pleased to appoint and invest new Presidents for two of the four principal Masonic Charities in the English Constitution. VW Bro Hugh Stubbs is now the President of the New Masonic Samaritan Fund, for which this Province is in Festival, and VW Bro Willie E Shackell CBE has become the President of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.    posted 1/6/2007

Three to Finish

Gerry Barker, founder and senior Past Master of the Lodge of Perception No 8492 in Warwickshire, recently had his 80th birthday. With Bill Kerley and Alan Craske of the same Lodge in support Gerry celebrated his birthday with a 80 mile cycle ride. In addition to completing the distance, he raised £1,600 for his church restoration fund at St Chads in Lichfield.

The photo shows Gerry in the centre with Bill on the left and Alan on the right.    posted 1/6/2007

Charity Golf Day

The members of De Montfort Lodge invite you to take part in a Charity Golf Day on Thursday 7 June 2007 at Henley Golf Club. This is a Stableford competition with teams of four players. There will be a dinner and prizegiving in the evening. Details and application forms from Roger Zambonini on 01789 488770 or Jeff Pearson on 01564 784289.    posted 1/06/2007

The Blessing of Material Light

'The Blessing of Material Light' is the theme of the 2007 Summer Conference of The Cornerstone Society. It is being held at the Berkshire Masonic Centre in Sindlesham and a principal contributor is Julian Rees, the Deputy Editor of Freemasonry Today. Further information and booking details are on www.cornerstonesociety.com    posted 1/06/2007

A unique occasion

Athol Lodge hosted a unique meeting on 2 May 2007 with members of a daughter Lodge, the Lodge of Israel and a granddaughter Lodge, the Lodge of Loyalty, taking part in the proceedings at the Masonic Hall, Severn Street, Birmingham. The Festive Board was held in the Joseph Cohen Hall in the nearby Singers Hill Synagogue. This was the first occasion when the three generations of this Masonic family had come together. 92 Brethren attended.    posted 9/5/2007

Address by the Grand Master - Annual Investiture - 25 April 2007

Brethren, I start by saying a very warm welcome to everyone attending our Grand Lodge meeting today and I congratulate all those whom I have had the pleasure of investing with Grand Rank or promoting to higher office. As Grand Officers I would remind you that you have an important leadership role to play in the Craft. As well as continuing to set high standards for the Craft to follow, I hope you will also be active in promoting greater openness about our Freemasonry, which I consider essential. Together with helping us to understand our own place in Freemasonry, this more open approach should also ensure we are better prepared to explain our Masonry to our family, friends and acquaintances. There is no doubt in my mind Brethren, that with today’s rapidly changing society, Freemasonry is more relevant than at any other time.

Many of you will be aware that the four main Masonic Charities, the Grand Charity, the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys, the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution and the Masonic Samaritan Fund will shortly all be under one roof here at Freemasons’ Hall. This move will, I believe, bring enormous benefits. I have in mind, for example, increased liaison between the Charities themselves and between them and the United Grand Lodge of England, as well as shared resources.

The Rulers’ Forum had its first meeting in December and from all the comments I have had it has got off to a good start. I will be happy if it achieves three things.

First, there are many excellent initiatives coming out of London and the Provinces which because of geographical reasons and lack of communication are only taken up by a few and not disseminated to a wider audience. The teddy bear children’s hospital scheme is an example of how slowly a good idea percolates through our organisation. The Rulers’ Forum should act as a central exchange for new ideas.

Secondly, much effort is wasted duplicating things which could be used uniformly by us all. Many Provinces, for instance, have their own booklets for initiates, Fellow Crafts and Master Masons. Then there are booklets on the work of the Almoners, Charity Stewards and other Lodge Officers as well as on mentor schemes and our charities. I believe a lot of effort and cost could be saved if we took the best points from all of them and created something uniform which we could all use. One group in the Rulers’ Forum is doing just that for mentor schemes and it will be interesting to see how that develops.

Thirdly, it must act as a forum for grass roots Masons to debate issues, which concern us all, with the Rulers and other senior members of the Craft, and act as a conduit for disseminating the results through their groups to the Lodges.

In the course of the memorable and most enjoyable meeting of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons, where I was present as a guest of their Grand Master, my brother Prince Michael, I had the opportunity to see also many other long established, well known and respected Orders of Masonry to which many Craft members belong. I believe this may be a good moment for me to say something about them.

The Preliminary Declaration of the Act of Union of the two Grand Lodges in December 1813 says that it was ‘declared and announced that pure Antient Masonry consists of three degrees and no more’, that is to say ‘Entered Apprentice, the Fellow Craft and the Master Mason, including the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch’. This has been the position for nearly two hundred years and will remain unchanged.

However, since many members of the Craft are members of these Orders, I am pleased to acknowledge formally their existence and regularity, and in particular their sovereignty and independence. The best known of these orders are: Mark, Ancient and Accepted Rite, Knights Templar, Royal and Select Masters, Royal Ark Mariner, Red Cross of Constantine, Allied Masonic Degrees, Order of the Secret Monitor and Knight Templar Priests. I also accept the valuable role they play in providing additional scope for Brethren to extend their Masonic research in interesting and enjoyable ways.

The Orders I have just mentioned are simply the best known and largest of those practised in London, the Provinces and Districts overseas. I am aware that there are in addition others that have a valid place in Freemasonry and with whom we enjoy a good relationship. What is important is that Brethren who join these other Orders still retain their membership of a Craft Lodge and I am pleased that the Orders will be encouraging their members to do so.

In early March, Brethren, I was in Ghana to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of that country’s independence. During my visit I also attended the seventy-fifth anniversary of the District Grand Lodge of Ghana. At the meeting, attended by nearly 500 Brethren, I appointed Brother His Majesty Osei Tutu, King of the Ashanti, to Past Senior Grand Deacon and I am pleased to have invested him here today.

Finally, Brethren, I know you would all want me to express our thanks to the Grand Director of Ceremonies and his team for the meticulous way in which they have run this meeting, as well as to the Grand Secretary and his staff for their careful and thorough organization behind the scenes.    posted 8/5/2007

More help from Freemasons

Thanks to the hard work of parents and their children with contributions from local Freemasons four-year-old Sophie Musgrave, a pupil at a school in Workington and who is battling against a brain tumour with chemotherapy treatment, is off to Disneyland Paris later in the summer.    posted 8/5/2007

Freemasons help victims in Darfur

The President of The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has approved an emergency grant of £50,000 to the British Red Cross, as a major initial contribution to a new £2 million appeal to support the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross/Crescent (ICRC) in Sudan. The crisis in Darfur has been going on for a number of years but the situation has significantly worsened over the last few months.

The President strongly believes that the practical work of the Red Cross fully deserves the support of The Freemasons’ Grand Charity to assist in a situation where man’s inhumanity to man has resulted in such appalling deprivation for innocent women and children.

Increased attacks on humanitarian workers in the region are threatening the health and welfare of civilians by forcing aid agencies to withdraw staff and suspend their work. The ICRC is one of the few organisations that is able to cross the front lines of Darfur's conflict to reach and assist people in need from every affected community.

The conflict has resulted in millions of displaced people. Civilians’ freedom of movement is limited, affecting access to fields for planting and also preventing traders from reaching markets. As a result many people are still heavily reliant on food aid and the protection that only the Red Cross can provide

The ICRC, supported by the British Red Cross, is now providing all basic services in Gereida Camp, one of the world's largest displaced persons camps where over 120,000 people are stranded. The situation is deteriorating and eight times as many people are now seeking refuge in the Camp compared to when it opened in 2004.

The Charity’s grant will go towards providing food, shelter, health clinics, clean water supplies and sanitation facilities for children and families in the Camp.    posted 4/5/07

The smoking ban – how it affects you and your Masonic Hall

Owners and managers of Masonic Halls in the Province of Warwickshire are reminded that the date for England going smoke free in public premises and workplaces is 1 July 2007. The aim of the new law is to protect people from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke, both in the workplace and in premises the public are admitted to, including vehicles. It does not control smoking in the open air, or on domestic premises. The law affects all Masonic Halls in the Province of Warwickshire.

Those in control of Masonic Halls will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the law and will need to show that they took all reasonable measures to ensure compliance. They are also required to ensure that appropriate no smoking signs are displayed in prominent positions at entrances.

Members of the public and employees are responsible for ensuring that they do not smoke in areas designated as smoke-free under the legislation. Rooms cannot be set aside for those who smoke. They must go outside.

The new law will be enforced by City, Borough and District Councils.

Further detailed information can be obtained by calling the Smokefree England helpline on freephone 0800 169 169 7 or on the Smokefree England website at www.smokefreeengland.co.uk which also gives guidance about and examples of the relevant signs.    posted 4/5/07

Situation vacant

A Resident Steward is required for Coventry Masonic Hall to manage the premises and to arrange provision of formal catering and associated services. A spacious two bedroom flat with free utilities is provided. Excellent working conditions. Salary by negotiation. Applications in writing, enclosing a current CV, should go to Martin Bazeley, 14 Bigbury Close, Styvechale, Coventry, CV3 5AJ. The closing date is 26 May 2007.    posted 11/4/2007

In need of music?

The Lodge of Rectitude has produced a CD of Masonic Music, containing 21 tracks recorded to professional standards, for use in the Lodge Room and its ceremonies when an organist is not available. The CD is for sale at £7:50. Les Dacombe, the Secretary of the Lodge, will take orders on les.dacombe@ntlworld.com    posted 11/4/2007

Provincial Church Service

The Provincial Church Service will be held at the Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick on Sunday 10 June 2007 at 3.00pm. The Provincial Grand Chaplain, the Rev Canon Denis Claringbull, will lead the service assisted by representatives of the Jewish, Sikh and Muslim Faiths. The theme for the service is 'PEACE' since Freemasonry has an important role to play in helping to establish and promote world peace.

This is an important event in the life of the Province and the Provincial Grand Master expects all his Lodges to be represented. Application forms are now with Lodge Secretaries and Masters and Wardens have received individual invitations.

The service is open to all - it is not restricted to Masons. All those attending, except those Freemasons who will take part in a procession, should be seated no later than 2.30pm. The doors will be open at 2.00pm. All Freemasons will be clothed in the regalia of the Order.    posted 11/4/2007

Webmaster runs for Marie Curie

W.Bro Stuart Thorpe, the Provincial Webmaster is to run 5 miles in the Knowle Fun Run on Sunday May 13th. Stuart's partner, Sarah, lost her husband to cancer, and Stuart's predecessor as webmaster passed away also as a result of cancer, so Stuart thought this would be a deserving Charity to benefit from his exertions. Sarah & her family will also be running, but as she is considerably younger than he, will probably be enjoying their third drinks by the time he crosses the finish line.

If you would like to sponsor Stuart, please e-mail your pledge to webmaster@warwickshirepgl.org.uk   posted 11/4/2007

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