Promoting the Fraternity across the World
In what must be a very unusual, if not unique occasion, the Immediate Past Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire, RW Bro Rodney Smallwood, Installed the present Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro The Rev’d David Bowen, into the Chair of Dean Leigh Masters’ Lodge on 16 May 2016
The Masonic Charitable Foundation has awarded £65,000 to the INSPIRE Foundation to fund a research project which aims to improve the quality of life and independence of people with spinal cord injuries. The research project will be led by young research scientist Sean Doherty who broke his neck in a mountain bike accident in 2008 at the London Spinal Cord Injury Centre based at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore. Sean broke his neck in a mountain bike accident in 2008 and subsequently lives with Tetraplegia which means he is both disabled and has limited hand and arm function. Sean is originally from Gloucestershire and studied at the University of Cardiff.
Provincial Grand Stewards’ Lodge hosted W Bro Ron Baker, whose presentation of the ‘History of Masonic Fire’ is both entertaining and noisy.
Ron demonstrated different methods of firing, inviting the master, W Bro Tony Putterill, his wardens and lodge members, suitably issued with firing glasses, to join in the fusillade. ‘North Devon Fire’ was particularly popular.
Tony used the opportunity to announce the launch of a new Bristol Blue firing glass; celebrating the Tercentenary of the United Grand Lodge of England next year.
ILKLEY Freemasons’ Ben Rhydding Lodge donated £1,074 to local charity Carers Resource during the recent Carers’ Week.
This year the Herefordshire Masonic Charity Association invited representatives of those local charities to a coffee morning at the Masonic Hall in Kyrle Street, Hereford. They were welcomed by the Provincial Grand Master, Rev David Bowen, and were given a brief talk on the history of Freemasonry and the part that charity plays, by the Provincial Charity Steward, Nick Swan
Founded in 1880, the Leopold Lodge is number 87 and as one of the oldest in the Clarence Valley, its 136 year history is something that Very Worshipful Brother Rod Smith doesn’t want to see forgotten.
On 2nd July 2016 Alder Tree Lodge No 9289 held a Charity Black Tie Dinner on behalf of The North Hampshire Deaf Children’s Society at Farnborough Masonic Centre. Following a successful raffle raising £475.00 the Master W. Bro Brian Lawrence was able to present the Charity with a cheque for £600
THE MASONIC RELIEF ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, appears to have made contact with the Grand Lodge of Scotland, in the midst of the 1st World War
There was read to Grand Committee a letter from Right Worshipful Brother W. H. Melish of Cincinnati, the Chairman of the Executive Committee of an Association which has been organised in the United States of America, for the purpose of raising a Relief Fund to aid the needs of Freemasons and their families who are sufferers through the European War
The Somerset Antient Mark Masons is not a Lodge but a demonstration team of international repute! The team has thirty or so members and is organised by W.Bro Barrie Baker. The team performs a ceremony that predates the formation of The Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons, the demonstrations are enacted in costume and have taken place all over the UK and Europe
Swinton Charitable Trust makes grants to organisations, other charities or voluntary bodies and general charitable purposes. The trust reported their annual donations to non-Masonic charities for 2016 and the total sum donated was a magnificent £15,560.39.