Provincial Grand Master of Valencia makes surprise visit to Summer Camp

Blasco Ibanéz summer school in Guadalest

On Friday, 8th July, the Provincial Grand Master of Valencia, RWBro Norman Wheatley, made a surprise visit to the Blasco Ibanéz summer school in Guadalest to visit the children and see for himself how the school was progressing. For the last four years, Freemasons in Spain have sponsored under-privileged children to attend this summer school for both enjoyment and learning in a friendly and safe atmosphere. At present thirty-five children are at the school, of which eighteen are from the El Preventorio children’s home in Gandia.

Norfolk 2016 Festival Appeal exceeds target to raise over £2 million

Freemasons Norfolk

Donations from the Norfolk 2016 Festival Appeal, in aid of the Freemasons’ Grand Charity, came to a staggering £2,051,686.44. The incredible total was announced at a Festival Finale dinner, held at St Andrew’s Hall in Norwich, on Thursday 26th May.

Posted: 14th June 2016

Freemasons from the Province of Norfolk have exceeded their target to fundraise £1.5 million for the Norfolk 2016 Festival Appeal by over £500,000.

John Paul Jones – Freemason and Naval Commander of the Revolutionary War

John Paul Jones   Freemason and Naval Commander of the Revolutionary War

John Paul Jones is probably the best known Naval figure of the Revolutionary War He was born John Paul (The Jones was added later in America) in Kirkeudbright Scotland on July 6, 1747. His father, also named John Paul, was a gardener and his mother was Jean MacDuff. There were seven children in his family, John was number five. His oldest brother William Paul migrated to Fredericksburg, Virginia and was an important point of contact on this side of the Atlantic.

Freemasons Connect with Civil War – Pennsylvania Masons

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On April 10, 2015 to commemorate the Sesquicentennial (150 years) of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. These notable Civil War reenactors, calling from north to south, each share one thing in common – they are all brother Masons – with many of them hailing from Pennsylvania Lodges.

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Wallsend Festival 2016

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The display stand was situated immediately inside the entrance to the Customer Service and Library complex and so it was an excellent spot. The team consisted of 5 fine men in the persons of W Brothers Dave Watson, Bob Bruce, Steve Reay and Brothers John Holmes and Tom Clifford.

On Saturday 2nd July 2016 the Wallsend Masonic Hall’s “A Team” was in action at the Wallsend Festival. The aim was to advertise and promote Freemasonry in Wallsend. The display stand was situated immediately inside the entrance to the Customer Service and Library complex and so it was an excellent spot. The team consisted of 5 fine men in the persons of W Brothers Dave Watson, Bob Bruce, Steve Reay and Brothers John Holmes and Tom Clifford.The event was not particularly well attended and there were long periods of inactivity. There were visitors from Canada who were after directions to an ancestral home in Wallsend and were more than happy with the directions we gave them although it was nothing to do with Masonry but we made friends.The upside of the day was that we got two young men interested in what Freemasonry is about and one of whom left his personal details. Tom has since been in touch with this gentleman and has arranged to meet him on Wednesday. Well done, Tom. Bob also had the contact details with another gentleman but he is still waiting to hear from him.All in all it was a quieter day than anticipated but rewarding was all part of a learning curve.