Promoting the Fraternity across the World
Freemasonry consists of fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local fraternities of stonemasons, which from the end of the fourteenth century regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities and clients. The degrees of freemasonry retain the three grades of medieval craft guilds, those of Apprentice, Journeyman or fellow (now called Fellowcraft), and Master Mason. These are the degrees offered by Craft (or Blue Lodge) Freemasonry. Members of these organisations are known as Freemasons or Masons. There are additional degrees, which vary with locality and jurisdiction, and are usually administered by different bodies than the craft degrees.
The basic, local organisational unit of Freemasonry is the Lodge. The Lodges are usually supervised and governed at the regional level (usually coterminous with either a state, province, or national border) by a Grand Lodge or Grand Orient. There is no international, world-wide Grand Lodge that supervises all of Freemasonry; each Grand Lodge is independent, and they do not necessarily recognise each other as being legitimate.
Buckinghamshire Freemasons were recently delighted to award the Adult Learning Foundation (ALF) at Longridge on the Thames more than £3,500 towards climbing equipment for their climbing and high ropes facilities.
The Craft Provinces of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire with the Mark Province of Staffordshire and Shropshire have, over that period, between them donated £1.1 million. This includes donations from individual Lodges, Provinces, other orders in the counties and from the Masonic Charitable Foundation (formerly the Freemasons Grand Charity).
Perhaps the most universal symbol of Masonry, other than the Square & Compass or the seemingly all pervasive letter G, is that singular mark of distinction which every Entered Apprentice is first presented with –the white lambskin apron. Recognised around the globe as the distinguishing “badge” of the Mason, the lambskin apron is rich with symbolism and practical instruction for the speculative initiate of our Craft who is willing to seek more Light.
Oliver was elected onto the hall committee a couple of years after it had moved from Abbey Road to its present home in Fairfield Lane. He has served on the committee throughout the intervening 55 years. Following several years as chairman he has served as president for the past 28 years until he stood down from that role at the annual general meeting in 2017.
Freemasons from West Wales will be hosting their own teddy bears’ picnic as part of celebrations to mark 300 years of Freemasonry while raising awareness of the excellent work of one of its most important Masonic charitable initiatives, the Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) Appeal.
On the 25th July, at Peterborough Masonic Hall, a cheque for £6,000 was presented to the Papworth Hospital Charity. The presentation was made to Mr…
The campaign for the £2,000 equipment was launched by the patient participation group at Graham Road Surgery in 2015 when its then-chairman Alan Rice became aware of the lack of defibrillators in Weston.
A windy day at Birling Gap provided the scenic backdrop for the presentation of £1000 to the East Sussex Association of Blind and Partially Sighted People (ESAB). Members of the Lodge of Peace and Fraternity made the donation, which was match funded by Sussex Masonic Charities, to help the Saltdean and Peacehaven Social Group develop its membership and provide opportunities for people living with incorrectable sight loss
The service was given by the Provincial Grand Chaplin for Cumberland and Westmorland and was attended by their Provincial Grand Master RW Bro Norman Thompson DL, members of Whitwell Lodge No. 1390, Huddleston Lodge No. 6041 and Bro Mayson’s family.
Bright sunshine marked the start of the fourth and final stage of the Tour yesterday. Fifteen members of the Dorset Masonic Bikers group accompanied the Banner to the last five venues thereby completing the challenge of escorting it to every Masonic building in the Province of Dorset, a magnificent achievement befitting this #Tercentenary celebration year.