Promoting the Fraternity across the World
Lord Barnard was initiated into Agricola Lodge in 1961 and became its Worshipful Master in 1968. He was appointed as Provincial Grand Master in December 1969 and installed in 1970, a position he held for 28 years, during which time, he performed his duties and responsibilities with impeccable distinction.
Jim Woods, a grand officer and a past master of Peace and Unity Lodge No 3966 and Landmark Lodge No 7273 is in his 74th year. For many years he was the local care officer for the lodges and chapters on the Fylde coast
The event was very well supported with 32 golfers taking part. Following the distribution of prizes a magnificent £610 was raised for Masonic charities and a further £50 for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital; chosen by the Captain of Southport Old Links Golf Club for the hospitality shown by the staff and club.
The Royal Arch Provincial Executive of Essex have produced 2 new leaflets to enhance the understanding of the Exaltation ceremony for the Exaltee and Royal Arch Companions alike. “The Exaltation Ceremony – Setting the Scene” and “Sojourners Readings” are intended to be read at the relevant parts of the ceremony and all Royal Arch Chapters are encouraged to adopt these.
During the afternoon the stiff breeze often presented a challenge to the competitors which added humour amongst the players with golf balls constantly spinning out of control. At the end of the competition the player’s ranks were swelled when the Ormskirk and Bootle Group Chairman Frank Umbers and others joined them for a well-earned drink at the 19th hole.
As Masons, we are all introduced during our ritual lectures to the Masonic symbol of the Point Within a Circle, and instructed in its’ allusion. The most interesting thing to me during my own such introduction was that the figure representing this symbol contained not only a point within a circle, but also two straight vertical lines touching the sides of the circle. It was explained during the ensuing lecture that these lines represented the two Holy Saints John, namely John the Baptist, and John the Evangelist. This struck me as peculiar to say the least, and I have been trying to figure out this peculiarity ever since.
The need for this further essay was first made apparent to me when—in my capacity as Secretary of the Lodge and Editor of the Transactions—I began to receive inquiries from Brethren as far away as Vancouver and Singapore, asking for materials and information which might help them to complete their own papers on Kipling, and I found, to my surprise, that while our library contains a great deal of relevant material, there has never been a paper on Kipling in our Transactions.
The concept of what constitutes a man is time honored and tested. The traditional role of men has been essential to the development and maintenance of society. Learning to think for ourselves, to form our own judgments, to trust our decisions, to comprehend, to expand our knowledge, to choose this course of action over that, to decide between good and bad, have through the millennia been recognized as the attributes that define a man.
Records of Royal Arch activity in England, in today’s Supreme Grand Chapter, start with the entry in the first minute book of the unnamed ‘Excellent Grand and Royal Chapter’. They are dated 22 March 1765 and show the first meeting to have been held at the mysterious and still unidentified Mr Inge’s premises, until the move to The Turk’s Head in Gerrard Street, Soho, London on 12 June of the same year. It took a further four years before Supreme Grand Chapter issued warrants establishing the first new Chapters under the jurisdiction of the Order.
The sight of Freemasons gathering in their colourful regalia is a rare and intriguing spectacle. But be prepared to be dazzled, as we rock-on down to Margate and East Kent Freemasons in celebrating the annual festival of Provincial Grand Chapter.