Freemasonry and the Cape of Good Hope

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The Southern point of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope, was opened up by the Dutch East India Company as a trading station to supply ships on the route to the East Indies with fresh produce. Freemasonry in the Netherlands, founded in 1756, was expanding rapidly and, with many masters of ships being Freemasons, it was natural for a Lodge to be founded at this halfway station under the banner of the Grand East of the Netherlands (G.E.N.).

Vale Lodge celebrates ‘The Ladies’

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Members of Vale Lodge No 5256 held a very successful evening at the Longlands Hotel, Tewitfield, near Carnforth to celebrate and honour ‘The Ladies’. The WM of the lodge Bill Byrne and the principal guest, his wife Ela, were delighted to welcome fellow Masons, family and friends to their special evening, which was orchestrated with precision and humour by the lodge director of ceremonies Norman Mitchell.