Sir William J Clarke – First Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Victoria

Sir William J Clarke – First Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Victoria

The foundation stone of the Freemasons Hall in Melbourne was laid by him in March 1885, the finished building being consecrated by him to Masonic purposes in March 1887. In 1889 he became the very first Most Worshipful Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Victoria, an amalgamation of the three bodies that had operated at that time under their own constitutions. In 1885 he had largely financed the building of the Freemasons’ Hall at 25 Collins Street.

Derbyshire Freemasons donate £2000 to Drum Hill Scout Camp

Photo of the Master of Pioneer Lodge, W Bro. Andy Brown, accompanied by the Charity Steward, W Bro. Don Newing, and W Bro. Tony Harvey, presented the County Commissioner for Derbyshire, James Stafford, accompanied by the centre’s project manager, Tom Stoddart, with the cheque for £2,000.

When Pioneer Lodge learned that Derbyshire Scouts needed a new activity and accommodation centre at the county camp site, Drum Hill, members wanted to support the venture. Not only had some of them been volunteers at the site over the years, and some had actually helped build the previous centre, Birch Hall, but Pioneer Lodge itself has had a long attachment to Drum Hill.

Award for Herefordshire Freemasons part in £1.1 million donation to Midlands Air Ambulance

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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).

Dorset Freemasons Bikers Banner Tour – Final Stage

Dorset Freemasons Bikers Banner Tour – Final Stage

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.