Freemasonry Today - Spring 2012

The Official Journal of the United Grand Lodge of England Number 17 ~ Spring 2012 £3.50

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Help for UK unemployed, p16 Freemasons’ Hall drama, p32 The evolution of a charity, p40

hOw TO givEONE MilliON TEDDY bEARS

ON SET wiTh ThE cREw OF pARADE’S END

iNSpiRATiON FOR ThE NExT gENERATiON

OlYMpicROwiNgMAchiNE

With support from the Freemasons, Joshua tonnar is hoping to row his way into gold medal contention p46

This year started on a high note. As part of our communication strategy and as a build-up to our tercentenary in 2017, we commissioned an independent

report on the future of Freemasonry. This report, specifically for the media, was produced by the respected Social Issues Research Centre in Oxford.

To launch the report I have just completed a successful regional media tour around the Provinces, talking to local radio and press, followed by national media activity. This is a classic example of our proactive approach. I plan to tell you about the report and the actual tour in the next issue, but let me give you a flavour of some of the important and encouraging findings.

The Future of Freemasonry report suggests that, contrary to much misleading commentary, Freemasonry does in fact demonstrate genuine openness and transparency. It concludes that Freemasonry is arguably more relevant today than ever before. In particular, the report highlights that Freemasonry acts as a ‘constant’ and provides members with a unique combination of friendship, belonging and structure, all of which can sometimes be absent in today’s fragmented society.

The report covers a fascinating range of topics including a section that highlights the importance Freemasonry places on the role of the family and the care of the less fortunate in society. It goes on to say that Freemasonry instils in its members a moral and ethical approach to life: it seeks to reinforce thoughtfulness for others, kindness in the community, honesty in business, courtesy in society and fairness in all things.

In this issue, you will find a fantastic collection of features and stories that clearly illustrate Freemasonry’s core values. On page 16 you can read about a Gravesend garage that is giving hope to unemployed young people by not just training them to be auto mechanics but also giving them the confidence to grow. Freemasons continue to

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support this and many other projects that are aimed at helping disadvantaged young people into employment or education.

Teddies For Loving Care donates teddy bears to comfort children in hospitals across the world. We talk to its founder, Freemason Ian Simpson, about how he started the project and the people whose lives it has touched. Later in the issue, we find out how Joshua Tonnar is rowing his way into Olympic contention with the support of a grant from the Freemasons. Meanwhile, a profile about the creation of the Royal Life Saving Lodge shows how the Craft brings together people from all walks of life, creating an environment where they not only discuss masonry but also share common interests, values and aspirations.

These stories all point to the sense of community, courtesy and honesty that are characteristic of the intrinsic strengths of Freemasonry today.

nigel BrownGrand Secretary

grand secretary’s column

‘In thIS ISSue, you wIll fInd a fantaStIc collectIon of StorIeS that clearly IlluStrate freemaSonry’S core valueS’

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CONTENTS

GRAND SECRETARY 3

NEwS AND viEwS 6 Masonic news from the UK and beyond

TRAiNiNG wiTh CATCh22 16Sophie Radice discovers how a scheme in Kent is transforming the prospects of young people

SENioR iNSiGhTS 23Peter Lowndes explains mentoring in Freemasonry

hiSToRY AND MYSTERY 26As the Royal Arch approaches its bicentenary, John Hamill digs into the intrigue behind its formation

Q&A wiTh SuSAN hENDERSoN 28UGLE’s Communications Advisor gives an insight into her role

DRAMA AT ThE TEMplE 32Luke Turton goes behind the scenes of the filming of period drama Parade’s End at Freemasons’ Hall

FREEMASoNS oN ThE TiTANiC 37 The tragic and the brave stories of some of those on board that fateful journey 100 years ago

GiFTiNG oNE MillioN TEDDiES 40We talk to TLC founder Ian Simpson about the inspiration behind the charity

GoiNG FoR GloRY 46Freemasonry is funding Joshua Tonnar’s pursuit of his dream of becoming a rowing champion

MASoNiC MAuRiTiuS 51How Robert Farquhar brought unity to the island after it came under British rule in 1810

YouNG MEMbERS 55Adrian Foster looks at initiatives to build networks between young people in Freemasonry

pipiNG up 58Naunton Liles discusses the preservation of the lodge organ and the argument for updating to digital

liFE-SAviNG lESSoNS 65The story of a specialist lodge

ChARiTiES upDATE 68Latest news of the fundraising activities of Freemasons up and down the country

libRARY AND MuSEuM 73A new exhibition on Freemasons in public life

lETTERS 77You tell us what you think

REFlECTioN 82John Hamill on the staying power of the Craft

The board of Grand lodge publications Ray Reed, Robin Furber, Graham Rudd publishing Director Nigel BrownEditorial panel Karen Haigh, John Hamill, Susan Henderson, John Jackson, Siobhan McCarthyEditor Luke TurtonConsultant Editor Michael Baigentpublished by August Media Ltd for The United Grand Lodge of England, Freemasons’ Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZEditorial Freemasonry Today, Freemasons’ Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ [email protected] contact Freemasonry Today, Madison Bell Ltd, 20 Orange Street, London WC2 7EF Wesley Tatton Tel: 020 7389 0823 Email: [email protected] Chris Goh Tel: 020 7389 0863 Email: chris.goh@ madisonbell.comCirculation 0844 879 4961 [email protected] Masonic enquiries [email protected] www.ugle.org.uk 020 7831 9811printed by Artisan Press© Grand Lodge Publications Ltd 2012. The opinions herein are those of the authors or persons interviewed only and do not reflect the views of Grand Lodge Publications Ltd, the United Grand Lodge of England or August Media Ltd.

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This magazine is printed on paper produced from sustainable managed forests accredited by the pEFC (programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes, pefc.org)

Cover image: Jude EdgingtonThis page: Mary Evans picture library/ onslow Auctions limited

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news and views

seep.26history and mystery Investigating the foundation of The Royal Arch

technology boost for hospices lifelites, the children’s technology charity, has expanded its operations, picking up several awards and securing record funds in the process.

A subsidiary of the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys (RMTGB), Lifelites donates packages of fun and educational technology for children who stay, learn and play in all 44 children’s hospices in the country.

In addition to providing the equipment, Lifelites installs and maintains it, as well as training care staff. It became a charity in its own right in 2006, and since then the RMTGB has provided in-kind assistance rather than financial support. This means Lifelites relies on donations from other sources including Freemasons, the public and companies such as Thomas Cook – whose Children’s Charity donated £60,000 in 2011 – and organisations like GamesAid, the gaming industry’s charity.

maJor contribUtion

Most of the charity’s volunteers are Freemasons, who assist in providing technological support in many of the projects and acting as trustees. ‘Our success is underpinned by our links with Freemasonry,’ explains Lifelites chief executive Simone Enefer-Doy. ‘Their support is vital to our continued growth. We also have a great relationship with both the RMTGB and Provinces across the country.’

A major masonic contribution last year came from the West Riding Masonic Charities that enabled a Soundbeam to be installed at the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice in Huddersfield. By using movement to produce sound, the Soundbeam enables children with even the most profound physical and learning disabilities to make music using whatever movement they can manage.

Provinces can become involved with Lifelites – who can showcase the equipment at masonic or other events – thanks to a donation from the Province of Surrey, which enabled the purchase of demonstration equipment. Lifelites staff can also attend after-dinner sessions and provide promotional material.

‘OuR success Is undeRpInned by OuR fReemAsOnRy lInks. TheIR suppORT Is vITAl TO OuR cOnTInued gROwTh’ sImOne enefeR-dOy, lIfelITes

Above: a delighted youngster tries out the new technology. below: essex masons celebrate the installation of a lifelites package at a local hospice

news and views


service of celebration when hereford cathedral gave thanks for the restoration of the cathedral close, it marked the fact in the printed service of celebration that herefordshire masons were among the 15 acknowledged contributors to the work of restoration.

The entries underline the support by Freemasons throughout the ages, making specific reference to the remodelling of the west front in 1908 following its collapse over a century earlier ‘which was made possible through the generosity of local Freemasons under the leadership of Dean James Leigh’.

The Very Reverend Hon. James Wentworth Leigh was Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire 1906-1923, and the Dean Leigh Masters’ Lodge was consecrated in December 1923. The west front of the cathedral has a representation of Dean James Leigh and a display of many masonic emblems. A donation of £15,000 from the Province and The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has been agreed for the Cathedral Refurbishment project.

daredevil fundraising

it was a case of ‘jump to it’ for teresa bridgland-taylor, when the wife of lodge master tim (dean Waterfield Lodge, No. 8089) joined the Red Devils Parachute Team and took the plunge at 13,000ft.

The sky dive was in aid of help for heroes. Teresa’s particular hero was the late bob mcduff, a former Master of Dean Waterfield Lodge, who at the age of 20 went ashore at normandy on d-day. A £1,167 cheque was presented to Andy Trickett, county volunteer co-ordinator for the charity.

recognition in alaska the United grand lodge of england has given recognition to prince hall grand lodge of alaska.

The grand lodge and its jurisdiction were consecrated by the prince hall grand lodge of washington on 6 september 1969, from three lodges operating in Alaska, which it had warranted in 1965. The prince hall grand lodge of washington was recognised by ugle on 10 december 1997. The prince hall grand lodge of Alaska shares jurisdiction with the grand lodge of Alaska, which had already granted it recognition.

sHining eXaMPle in devon

les hutchinson, chief executive of the rmtgb, and conrad donaldson, provincial grand charity steward for devonshire, presented a supreme Gold Certificate to John Hodkinson, Master of loyal lodge of industry, no. 421, to recognise the magnificent achievement of raising more than £50,000 towards Devonshire’s 2012 Festival.

les thanked the members on behalf of the children and young people who will benefit from their donation, saying, ‘They are a shining example of what can be achieved with organised fundraising, enthusiastic support and generosity.’

with just under a year to go, devon has already raised £3m and the appeal will conclude with an event on saturday 17 november at the Riviera International conference centre in Torquay.

BeverleY Hosts inter-faitH grouP

an inter-faith luncheon took place at the masonic hall, beverley, organised for religious groups by the province of yorkshire, north & east ridings, hosted by the provincial grand stewards’ lodge.

Among the 50 guests were representatives of a number of faiths including Anglican-Quaker, greek Orthodox, hindu, Roman catholic, church of england and the Reform and Orthodox Jewish communities.

The object of the luncheon was to explain freemasonry, which was given in a talk by deputy provincial grand master Jeffrey gillyon and philip daniels, a member of the provincial grand stewards’ lodge. provincial grand chaplain Reverend michael mewis was also present.

les hutchinson presents the certificate to John Hodkinson, watched by conrad donaldson

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freemasons have helped maintain hereford’s magnificent cathedral for more than a century

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suPPort for local Hereford HosPital a sponsored walk across central wales has raised £3,600 towards the purchase of two Ambulatory infusion pumps for patient use at the hereford macmillan renton cancer Unit.

freemasons colin Tudor and his walking companion Ian Talboys, as well as trustee cliff burkett, presented the equipment to chemotherapy staff nurse helen blundell and macmillan cancer support facilitator Alison stemp at the cancer unit in hereford hospital.

The donation is the latest in the continued support of hereford hospital by hereford freemasons. colin Tudor has agreed to relate his experiences during his recent and successful course of cancer treatment to fellow patients about to commence their own treatment. Alison stemp described colin as ‘inspirational – an example to others’.

marKing the QUeen’s diamond JUbilee in style to mark the Queen’s diamond Jubilee, the province of yorkshire, west riding will make grants available up to £250,000 to non-masonic causes in its area.

The Province was invited by the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid Roscoe, to become involved in the Diamond Jubilee. As the Province covers three Lord Lieutenancies, making grants that covered the entire vicinity was seen as an appropriate manner in which to mark the occasion.

Called the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Masonic Grants, £100,000 will be allocated to major grants and the rest will be for minor grants under £5,000. Provincial Grand Master John Clayton said, ‘It is fitting that an organisation such as the Freemasons, which instils a moral and ethical approach to life, should mark the occasion by making available these grants. In the past 25 years, the Province has given over £2.5m to support local non-masonic causes.’

Applications for grants, from recognised organisations, must have the support of a lodge or chapter in the Province.

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shown at the macmillan Renton cancer unit (l to r): cliff burkett, helen blundell, colin Tudor, Alison stemp and Ian Talboys

In celebration of the Queen’s diamond Jubilee, yorkshire freemasons are making £250,000 in grants available

news and views

polaris sUpport for cyberKnife a cultural event was held in aid of the cyberKnife appeal, organised by polaris lodge and chapter No. 4407 in association with other London lodges and chapters at the bharatiya vidya bhavan centre in west Kensington.

The guest of honour was Metropolitan Grand Master Russell Race, and the event was supported by masons and non-masons alike.

There was a cultural programme of Indian music and traditional dances performed by students of the arts, followed by a traditional Indian vegetarian meal prepared by renowned artisans to keep with the cultural theme. A cheque for £20,366 was presented to Russell Race in aid of the appeal. Significant additional amounts have subsequently been collected or pledged.

A presentation on the CyberKnife equipment was made by Stratton Richey, Metropolitan Grand Charity Steward, and Ruth Peberdy of The Ron Peberdy CyberKnife Charitable Trust, which she founded in memory of her late husband. As a former nurse with 30 years’ experience, Ruth now promotes the use of CyberKnife as an effective treatment for cancer via her charity.

london freemasons on show for the fourth year in succession, london freemasons supported the Lord Mayor’s Show and the installation of the 684th Lord Mayor of london, alderman david wootton.

This year’s float theme was the Metropolitan Masonic Charity’s appeal in support of the cancer-busting CyberKnife, currently in use and saving lives at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, which London masons are enthusiastically supporting.

Freemasons feel a particular bond with the City of London, as the history of English Freemasonry has many similarities with the structures, aims and appeal of the ancient Livery Companies of the City. The first-ever Grand Lodge was also founded in the City by London masons meeting in a coffee house in St. Paul’s Churchyard in 1717.

The Lord Mayor’s Show is the world’s oldest civic procession, reflecting nearly 800 years of London’s history and marching unscathed through everything from the Black Death to the Blitz. It is a day out for half a million people, with millions more watching on television. The modern procession is more than three miles long.

the library & museum of freemasonry is putting on a free study day on wednesday 2 may entitled lodge, livelihood and locality at glenmore house in surbiton, surrey.

The study day will bring together researchers in the masonic and non-masonic communities to look at historical sources in Freemasonry and the locality. The day will also introduce sources to enable masonic researchers to put their work in the context of locality and hopefully persuade non-masonic researchers to include Freemasonry and fraternalism in studies of their local area.

Expert speakers will be present and there will also be a hands-on session to help people use and understand original sources. Examples will be drawn from Surrey and nearby areas.

The day is free and will run from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, including lunch. Places must be booked in advance by contacting Len Reilly, Project Manager, Historical Records Survey. By post: Library and Museum of Freemasonry, Freemasons’ Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London, WC2B 5AZ. By phone: 0207 395 9256. By email: [email protected].

the role of masonic history An example of masonry in the community: lord londesborough laying the foundation stone of the hull literary and philosophical society

A cyberknife in action – this revolutionary robotic radiosurgery system is used for treating tumours and other medical conditions

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freemasons taking part in the lord mayor’s show

more than nine million people are affected by age-related hearing loss in the UK, often caused when fibrocyte cells (found in the inner ear) start to degenerate.

Since 2006, The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has funded Deafness Research UK with £180,000 to look into the causes of age-related hearing loss. The loss of function in fibrocyte cells means that other parts of the inner ear begin to deteriorate, leading to further hearing loss and possible eventual deafness. Researchers at Keele University are attempting to grow new replacement fibrocyte cells inside the ear – the first study of its kind in the world.

If this project is successful it could lead to the possible prevention of age-related hearing loss, greatly affecting the lives of millions of people across the world. The initial grant funded a project that aimed to determine the role of cells in regulating the environment of the inner ear to maintain a stable condition. The results of the project were positive: evidence showed that fibrocyte cells appeared to begin

degenerating around two to three weeks prior to inner ear hair cells.

The short time frame between fibrocyte death and inner ear hair cell damage led researchers to believe that fibrocyte death caused inner ear hair cell damage, resulting in hearing loss. This gave real value to the prospect of exploring cell replacement techniques.

hUge progress

A further grant was then given to continue the project, which made huge progress by demonstrating a link between fibrocyte depletion and the death of inner ear hair cells. This led researchers to believe that if it were possible to replace degenerating fibrocytes using cultured cells, then it may also be possible to regenerate the damage done to hearing.

The latest stage has been to develop a transplantation technique to inject tagged cells into the inner ear, enabling researchers to determine whether the transplantation prevents or reduces age-related hearing loss.

news and views

12 seep.37titanic centenary Read about the freemasons on board

combating hearing loss

Aiding research into age-related deafness

help fOR phIlIppInes dIsAsTeR RelIef In December 2011, The Freemasons’ Grand Charity agreed an emergency grant of £15,000 to the red cross following a typhoon that pounded the southern philippines, bringing heavy rains and strong winds, which resulted in massive flooding and landslides.

More than 1,000 people were killed and the Philippines government declared a further thousand missing. Approximately 338,000 people were affected by the disaster and more than 10,000 homes destroyed. Experts estimated it would take up to six months to build temporary homes for the 60,000 who were made homeless as a result of the storm.

Tropical Storm Sendong was the 19th tropical cyclone to lash the Philippines during 2011. Most of the victims were asleep in the middle of the night when raging floodwaters pounded their homes following 12 hours of heavy rain.

Aid agencies have appealed for funds to help those affected. The United Nations is seeking £18.2m from donors to help provide water and sanitation to storm victims. if you would like to contribute, please visit www.redcross.org.ph/donatenow

A woman is rescued during the extensive flooding

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news and views


neW leader at east kent geoffrey dearing has been installed as both provincial grand master and grand superintendent of the royal arch in the province of east sussex by Jonathan spence, deputy grand master and past second grand principal.

The two ceremonies took place at the winter gardens theatre and functions building in margate. Jonathan spence reminded the companions and brethren that east kent is his home province, being a member of pentangle chapter and sir Joseph williamson lodge, both meeting at Rochester.

life-saving kit for guernseY eMergencY service guernsey’s st John ambulance and rescue Service (SJAR) has received a £4,000 grant from the freemasons’ grand charity for its marine operation provided by the flying christine iii, which is supported and maintained by voluntary grants.

The organisation, which celebrated its 75th anniversary last year, used the donation to purchase a life-saving defibrillator machine.

University challengeAs provinces around the uk welcome university students into the craft, the biennial universities scheme conference focused on why students are vital in ensuring the future of freemasonry.

More than 130 brethren gathered at Freemasons’ Hall, London, for the third Universities Scheme Conference. The Scheme is a pioneering initiative by Grand Lodge under the auspices of the Assistant Grand Master, David Williamson, to help forge links between well-placed, enthusiastic lodges and the many students – as well as other young people – seeking to become involved in Freemasonry.

There are currently 50 lodges under the Scheme across England and Wales, the West Indies and South Africa. In 2010 these lodges held 159 initiations of candidates found through the Scheme, and between them had over 300 members who were under 30. This year, the conference included presentations on recruitment, retention and break-out sessions on making masonry affordable.

A tremendous level of Provincial support has greatly contributed to the success of the Scheme. Five final-year students at the University of Bath have been initiated by St Alphege Lodge, No. 4095, Province of Somerset. Meanwhile over in Leicestershire and Rutland, Wyggeston Lodge, No. 3448 has forged links with Leicester University students.

The mood of the day was encapsulated by Mike Jones from the University Lodge of Liverpool: ‘Student recruitment is an ongoing process. You need to engage with students not only when they make their first enquiry, but all the way through the application process. You need to mentor them so that they feel comfortable.’ go to www.universitiesscheme.com for more details on the conference

catcHing tHe fisHing Bug fishing days out organised by masons have been growing in popularity.

The province of east kent members of the masonic Trout and fishing club certainly rose to the occasion when the club staged its final day out of the season with rod and line for portal school dover at the chart fisheries in the weald of kent. for the local masons it had been a successful season of fishing arranged especially for disadvantaged young people, and the prizes and certificates of achievement for portal school pupils were presented to the youngsters by deputy provincial grand master Roger Odd.

patience is a virtue for this young fisherman

The universities scheme conference was a fantastic success

news and views

14 a teddy a day how masonic charity Tlc is making a real difference seep.40

research funded by the freemasons’ grand charity has led to a new treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS).

In November last year it was announced that trials into a new drug, alemtuzumab, had been successful – a significant development for MS sufferers.

MS is one of the most common neurological conditions among young adults, affecting around 100,000 people in the UK. It is an autoimmune disease, in which the body’s immune system mistakes friend as foe.

Since 1991, researchers at Cambridge University have been working on this revolutionary drug. In 2010, The Grand Charity gave £100,000 towards this research. Results have shown that it is a much more effective treatment for early stage relapsing-remitting MS than the current approved drug.

The results also show it may repair damaged brain tissue, enabling the recovery of neurological functions.

Research leader Alasdair Coles said: ‘Three important results emerge from these trials. First, just eight days of alemtuzumab significantly reduces the risk of having a relapse or becoming disabled over the next three to five years, compared with the standard active drug, interferon-beta. Secondly, many patients on alemtuzumab experience an improvement in disability, which is not seen after standard treatment. Finally, although alemtuzumab causes potentially serious side effects, these can be identified and treated provided a monitoring schedule is carefully followed.’

It is hoped the drug will be approved by the UK and US regulatory bodies in the next two years.

unique ritual disPlaY in gatesHead a unique occasion for the royal arch took place at a special convocation held under the auspices of the provincial grand chapter of durham.

For the first time in over 200 years it was performed outside of the province of bristol, being held at gateshead where 12 companions from the provincial grand chapter of bristol, including grand superintendent Alan vaughan, gave the display.

The decision was taken last year by supreme grand chapter to authorise the demonstration of the bristol ceremony. much of the equipment, including a series of coloured veils, was specially constructed by the bristol companions for the occasion. The demonstration team gave an excellent display of The passing of the veils and a bristol exaltation ceremony.

canine partnership when the brethren of King henry viii lodge raised substantial funds for the charity canine partners two years ago, wheelchair-bound brian haynes and his dog beasley were invited to the lodge to receive a cheque for the charity. he was so impressed with what he saw that he became a mason.

Last year, Brian presented another cheque on behalf of the lodge for £3,000 to Canine Partners, which enables working dogs like Beasley to assist disabled people in living an independent life. The lodge, which meets at St Albans in Hertfordshire, wants to fully fund the training of a puppy through to it becoming a fully-fledged canine partner. With the 22-month training of a dog costing up to £12,000, continued fundraising is needed.

Once trained, the dogs’ repertoire is virtually endless: they can pick up the phone, open doors, take off socks, open refrigerator or washing machine doors, help an owner who may have fallen, summon help, switch the lights on and off, and go shopping with their owner, where they can take items from the shelf before gently offering the sales person a credit card or wallet.

freemason-funded research has led to a vital breakthrough in multiple sclerosis treatment

beasley prepares to go shopping

mUltiple sclerosis breaKthroUgh

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education

gearchangerCatch22 transforms the lives of unemployed young people by training them as auto mechanics and boosting their confidence, as Sophie Radice discovers

It is easy to understand why an eighteen-year-old would look forward to coming to Catch22 in Gravesend. The bright, welcoming space has a fully functioning garage, a learning suite on

the upstairs mezzanine and is buzzing with activity. A group of young men in overalls are being put

through their paces by project manager Rob Barlow in the garage workshop. Another group is working on the computers upstairs, honing their CVs with the help of senior tutor John White. The functional but warm atmosphere is mirrored next door at Auto22, a social enterprise garage, which has a reputation with Gravesend locals for being efficient and friendly, as it ploughs all its profit into Catch22.

Catch22 is a local charity with a national reach, working with young people and others who find themselves in seemingly impossible situations. The charity offers services that help young people develop the confidence and skills to find solutions that are right for them – whether it’s getting back into education or training, choosing to stay out of trouble, finding a safe home or living independently after leaving care or custody. Catch22 believes that as young people become more positive, productive and independent, the whole community benefits.

education


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‘Here you feel tHat tHe staff really want you to do well. tHey’re interested in Helping you’ george burman, 18

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education

The local Freemasons first started supporting Catch22 in Gravesend because of a chance meeting between John White, whose father was a member of the Peace and Unity Lodge, and a friend of his father’s, also a Freemason. John invited him to the workshop and showed him how they introduce young people into the working environment of a fully equipped motor garage, as well as improving their numeracy and literacy. Martin Ransom was so impressed with what he saw that the Macartney Lodge at Gravesend donated £1,500 from its Lodge of Instruction funds to the local young people’s charity.

The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has been a regular funder of Catch22 over the years, and has donated £60,000 towards the funding of Auto22 since 2008. The Council of The Freemasons’ Grand Charity believes that the grants for disadvantaged young people are among the most important awards it makes, particularly as youth unemployment is at an all-time high, with one in five 16 to 24 year-olds now out of work, full-time education or training.

tHe personal toucH

Eighteen-year-old Catch22 student George Burman is proud that he has landed a job in Auto22, starting in the next few weeks. George is training for his Level 1 Diploma in Auto Mechanics, having already successfully gained an ABC Level 1 Award in Motor Vehicle Studies (Mechanics). He tried learning carpentry at his local college, but found it difficult to focus and dropped out. George heard about Catch22 from Connexions, the government information, advice and support service for 13 to 19 year-olds, and says that as soon as he walked in and met

tutors John White and Robert Barlow, he knew that this course was going to be different.

‘It is so easy to get lost in a big college but here you feel that Rob and John really want you to do well. They’re interested in helping you and making sure that you’re on the straight and narrow,’ he says. George and his father wrote a moving letter to express how pleased they were with George’s place at Auto22. He calls Catch22 a ‘life-changing experience’.

Robert Barlow worked in youth opportunities training for seven years and was delighted when the chance to teach young people auto mechanics came up, as this used to be his profession. ‘Some of these young people have either come from very difficult circumstances or seem to have lost their direction. But I find that if I treat them with respect then they treat me with respect. If I expect a lot of them and give them the right support they come up to my level and – more often than not – do me proud.’

John White, a qualified engineer, worked in a pupil referral unit and a secure training centre before being offered the job at Catch22. ‘You see their confidence go right up when they have applied themselves and successfully completed a course. This is not a quick-fix solution – many of these young people need considerable help in their life skills, such as reading, writing and how to present themselves. We are proud that many of those that have come here go on to get work.’

John recounts a recent Catch22 success story – a student landed a well-paid job as a mechanic on the Sainsbury’s fleet of lorries. ‘He came back to tell us the good news,’ says John. ‘Even if they don’t immediately get a job, the fact that they have applied themselves here seems to stand them in

‘even if [students] don’t immediately get a job, tHe fact tHat tHey Have applied tHemselves Here seems to stand tHem in good stead’ john white, senior tutor

a tutor demonstrates the techniques of auto mechanics to catch22 students


education

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education

more opportunities for youtH The Grand Charity has donated over £4 million to fund projects that provide opportunities for disadvantaged young people across the UK, the aim of which is to help them achieve a better life and realise their potential. In 2011, more than £350,000 was donated for this cause, demonstrating the Charity’s dedication to helping young people in England and Wales.

Other recent grants: The Amber Foundation, which received a £25,000 donation, helps unemployed young people into education or work; £50,000 was given to Place2B which provides support for young people in difficult circumstances; The Who Cares? Trust received £30,000 to help youngsters in care; CSV received £28,000 towards providing catering training; and the Helena Kennedy Foundation received £36,000 to help children who have grown up in care progress into further education.

good stead. It improves their circumstances and self-esteem, and teaches them how to deal with regular employment.’

The Freemasons’ involvement does not end with handing over cheques. Both Adrian White and Roger Hammond are among a number of local Freemasons who regularly visit Catch22 to offer their support. Adrian’s wife has recently become a volunteer and learning mentor at the centre – Catch22 Gravesend is hoping to attract more female students to auto mechanics. Local businessman and Freemason David King MBE has also been offering financial advice and planning to Catch22, so that ‘they can concentrate on what they do best – and that is training and mentoring these young people’.

As you drive away from Catch22, you are left with a real sense that here, at least, young people feel that there are adults who can see their potential and are prepared to take them seriously. As John White says: ‘We give them a second chance, which not many people do. It would be so unfair to write them off at such a young age. Our students have shown what a bit of self-esteem can do.’

auto22 is a social enterprise garage that ploughs all its profits back into giving young people a second chance through catch22

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Understanding the light toUchWith mentoring high on the agenda, Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes takes the opportunity to give clarity and perspective to what it means for Freemasons

You have all heard that the Mentoring Scheme is designed to eventually mentor members at all stages of their masonic progress. Initially this is especially for candidates – the next generation – during the three

degrees and then to encourage them to continue their progress into the Royal Arch. London and all Provinces now have a Metropolitan or Provincial Grand Mentor who currently is responsible for liaising with the lodge mentor. For the avoidance of doubt, the lodge mentor is responsible for coordinating and selecting suitable brethren to be the personal mentors. It is most certainly not the intention that the lodge mentor should carry out the task himself – the personal mentor is best described as a friend and guide.

We all have our own ideas about what mentoring is and, for that matter, what it is not. Indeed, some believe there is no need for mentoring and some believe they are already mentoring perfectly satisfactorily. These sentiments are understandable without an explanation of what we actually mean by mentoring and what we are trying to achieve. In an ideal world, mentoring would happen naturally, everyone would be looked after as a matter of course, and this, in turn, would take care of issues such as recruitment, retention and retrieval – the three ‘Rs’.

Whatever your idea of mentoring might be, one of the aims we should all keep in mind is the promotion of an environment of belonging, understanding, involvement and enjoyment within the lodge. The skill will be to achieve this with a ‘light touch’.

tHREE StagES Of mEntORing

But first, let’s look at the word ‘mentoring’, which is translated in so many ways – rather like our masonry. Let me be quite clear: mentoring is not just about the Lodge of Instruction, valuable though that is for advancement in masonic ritual. Rather, it is mostly about pastoral care: seeing that the candidate is looked after, kept informed and that that support and care remains throughout each member’s masonic life.

In terms of the mentoring scheme, I see pastoral care being eighty per cent of what mentoring is all about. Put simply, the real test is how you would like to have been welcomed when you first joined and how you would like to have been supported from then onwards. I do not want to have a complicated or onerous scheme but rather one that is as natural as possible yet, at the same time, allows consistency of advice and support.

Mentoring has essentially three stages. The first two are straightforward as they cover logistics, basic ritual meaning and developing a sense of belonging. The third – how to talk about our Freemasonry to the non-mason – needs more explanation as it links in with our overall communications strategy that supports an external-facing organisation and underpins our new ambassadors’ scheme.

The first stage is for each candidate to understand the basic logistics that are involved in becoming a Freemason. Essentially, they should get a proper welcome. A candidate should never

‘in an ideal World, Mentoring WoUld haPPen natUrallY, eVerYone WoUld Be looKed aFter as a Matter oF coUrse’

SEniOR inSigHtS

24 fOOtER HEaDlinE Footer text: pa qui dus, ut faccabore aut qui dus SEEp.22

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feel under-briefed and should be made aware of his financial and time commitments. During this stage the personal mentor answers any questions the candidate may have for him to gain a sense of belonging. In other words, there should never be any surprises.

cOmmOn unDERStanDing

The second stage is to understand the basics of the ritual, especially after initiation and then passing and raising. But this understanding should be about the ability to answer questions about the myths that non-masons have. Right from the start, members can counter the questions about the so-called funny handshakes, the nooses and trouser leg being rolled up. The questions need to be answered accurately and without embarrassment – I am not talking about an in-depth knowledge, but more a common understanding. The mentor can, of course, point them in the right direction for this additional and important information as they require it. It is not, however, part of the new mentoring scheme.

We all understand the need to look after candidates, but it is the third stage of giving them the confidence from the very outset in order that they can speak to family and friends about Freemasonry. This is vital to ensuring our future. A candidate needs to understand how to talk to the non-mason about what Freemasonry means and we aim to have as many members as possible being ambassadors for Freemasonry. An ambassador is not a rank or office, it is a mode of behaviour. On the fundamental understanding that we recruit only people who live up to our principles, an ambassador will not only understand the basics of ritual but will also talk to others about their Freemasonry.

To quote the Grand Master: ‘Talking openly about Freemasonry, as appropriate, is core to my philosophy, central to our communications strategy and essential to the survival of Freemasonry as a respected and relevant membership organisation.’ It is with these three stages in mind that the Grand Secretary’s working party is producing succinct mentor guidelines. I see mentoring as a ‘light touch’ resulting in everyone enjoying their Freemasonry even more and feeling comfortable in talking to their family and friends in an informed and relaxed way.

‘We aiM to haVe as ManY MeMBers as PossiBle Being aMBassadors For FreeMasonrY. an aMBassador is not a ranK or oFFice, it is a Mode oF BehaVioUr’

SEniOR inSigHtS

a successful mentoring scheme is key to Freemasonry’s future

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The royal arch

On 22 July 1766, the first Grand Chapter in the world came into being when members of an independent chapter met in London to draw up what is now

known as the Charter of Compact, converting their chapter into the Excellent Grand and Royal Arch Chapter, with Cadwallader, ninth Lord Blayney, at its head. We know this because the chapter’s minute book, which commences with a meeting held on 22 March 1765, stills exists. Until as recently as the late forties, however, masonic historians believed that the Grand Chapter had been formed in 1767.

The mystery can be traced back to the charter itself, which concludes with the statement that it was signed at the Turk’s Head tavern in Gerrard Street, Soho, on 22 July 1767. It wasn’t until masonic historian J R Dashwood examined the document in 1949, while preparing a paper on the first minute book of the original Grand Chapter, that evidence of tampering was discovered. Dashwood noticed that at the top of the document, in the recitals of the styles and titles of Lord Blayney, a capital P (standing for Past) had been inserted clumsily before the words Grand Master of Free and Accepted Masons. At the other end of the document, it was equally clear that the original final digit of the year had been scraped off and been substituted in all cases, except the Anno Lucis (AL) date, with a seven. In the AL date the final digit had become a one.

One explanation is that despite the fact that many of its senior members were involved in the Royal Arch, the Premier Grand Lodge was not well disposed towards it and would not recognise it as part of its basic system. Dashwood argued that it

the Lord BLayney mystery

As the bicentenary of the inclusion of the Royal Arch chapter into ‘pure antient masonry’ draws near, John Hamill examines the mystery behind its formation

right: Cadwallader, ninth Lord Blayney and Grand master of the premier Grand Lodge in 1766. masonic historians believe the Charter of Compact may have been doctored to avoid scandal over his involvement

would have been a huge embarrassment to them to have their current Grand Master, Lord Blayney, as a member. As head of the order, Blayney would have been one of the prime movers in turning a private chapter into a governing body as well as being the principal signatory to its founding document. On 22 July 1766, Blayney was still Grand Master, but by 22 July 1767 he had retired from that high office. Hence, Dashwood argued, the alterations were made to suggest that the events all took place after Blayney ceased to be Grand Master.

That theory appeared to meet with general acceptance until, in 1998, Freemason Yasha Beresiner gave a short talk on the charter in Supreme Grand Chapter. He queried whether, as most of them were involved in the chapter, the hierarchy of the premier would have been embarrassed by the events in July 1766. Beresiner theorised that it was more likely that once news got around that a new masonic order had been formed, and the Grand Master was at its head, their members would have flocked to join it.

a pious fraud

Another mystery is the twenty-one signatures on the left of the charter who attested that they accepted the terms documented ‘on the Day and Year above written’. Dashwood described this as ‘a pious fraud’. He had good reason for doing so as of the twenty-one signatories only the Earl of Anglesey was present in the chapter on 22 July 1766, having been exalted that evening. Of the remainder, more than two thirds had not been exalted at that date. The majority of them were exalted between 1767 and 1769.

While it is always satisfying to solve a mystery, in the great scheme of things does it really matter that the document was tampered with? Surely what is important is that the events of July 1766 took place and gave birth to the Excellent Grand and Royal Chapter, enabling members of the premier Grand Lodge to become involved in the Royal Arch.

Had it not existed, it could be argued that the ‘antients’ would not have had the numerical strength to persuade the premier Grand Lodge, in the negotiations leading to the union of the two Grand Lodges in 1813, to accept the Royal Arch as a part of ‘pure antient masonry’. Had that not happened we would not have had our indissoluble link between the Craft and Royal Arch. And, very importantly, would have no reason to have a party in October 2013 to celebrate its bicentenary.

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The royal arch

it Wasn’t untiL masoniC historian j r dashWood examined the Charter of ComPaCt in 1949 that evidenCe of tamPerinG Was disCovered

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First person

‘The besT way To counTer neGaTive PercePTions oF Freemasonry is To PuT ouT loTs oF PosiTive inFormaTion’


First person

How did you come to work for UGLe?I’d just moved back to London and popped into an agency looking for a job. They sent me for an interview around the corner at ‘a charity’. As I walked along the road, I realised it was Freemasons’ Hall, as I had recently been reading about Freemasonry. I was interviewed by Director of Communications, John Hamill, for the role of his PA and got the job. This was in 2002 and it couldn’t have worked out better in that I’d been wanting to find out more about Freemasonry and there I was sitting with one of the foremost experts.

Did your previous experience prepare you for your new job?Before UGLE, I worked in different areas – from social services, to model agencies and advertising. I last worked for the BBC on news and before that on Comic Relief, sharing an office with Richard Curtis, who wrote Four Weddings & A Funeral. These experiences gave me a good overview of how organisations work and where to find information.

How did you become a female Freemason?I’d been here a few years before I realised there were regular women’s grand lodges and I wondered if

I should join. The Grand Secretary at the time knew I was interested and introduced me to the master of a female lodge who put me forward as a candidate. I already had preconceptions of Freemasonry’s ancient traditions, the rituals and origins and the idea of the knowledge that could be imparted, and the experience was pretty near to what I’d imagined. I’m now a junior warden and am steadily learning more. With Freemasonry, you’re thrown in with varied people who you wouldn’t be otherwise – it’s good for you.

How does your relationship with the provinces work?We were doing MQ Magazine and I started helping more with the editorial. That merged with Freemasonry Today to make the magazine we have now and I took on the duty of liaising with the Provincial information officers in gathering stories. They have an important role in bringing to our attention anything that might be of interest in terms of local events or any problems. They also disseminate information from Grand Lodge and have been doing a great job in getting our message out to the local press and communities.

How do you deal with negative press?National newspapers are in the habit of making slurs about Freemasonry, which it’s very difficult to do anything about. We are an unincorporated organisation, so have no protection under the libel laws. If they make a statement that is untrue or defamatory we can write to them to make a correction but they’re under no obligation to print it. The best way to counter these perceptions is therefore to put out lots of positive information about Freemasonry and hope that it will enable more people to recognise the negative remarks as nonsense.

PubliciTy wiThouT sPin

As UGLE’s Communications Advisor, Susan Henderson’s job is about managing relationships – from dealing with unusual enquires to overseeing information flow

First person

seep.46GoinG For GoLD The youngster rowing himself into olympic contention 30

Where does this negativity come from?In the Second World War, Freemasons were being sent to concentration camps in Germany and it was decided that Freemasonry should keep a low profile in the UK in case of invasion. Before this, the sight of Freemasons laying foundation stones or participating in parades was common. After the war, the low profile became a bit of a habit. The Cold War also made spy novels popular and these would sometimes cast Freemasons as key characters, so the idea caught light in the public imagination that Freemasonry was a secret organisation. We became aware of this and tried to counter it but the image portrayed in fiction is – to some people – more interesting and exciting than the truth.

What else do people believe?We get some crazy questions asked through the website – for example, if I join Freemasonry, will I gain magical powers or will it make me rich? A few people have the bizarre idea that Freemasons are reptilian aliens. The more sane anti-masonic ideas tend to be that Freemasons use their membership to gain personal advantage in their careers. When you think about it, that’s the daftest

of all because if people want to conspire or do each other favours, they can do that at any time and at any place – in the pub, the golf club, or across the garden fence.

so there are still big misconceptions about Freemasonry?People misunderstand what the obligations are and what should be kept private. There is no obligation to favour other Freemasons and the only tangible privacy relates to the signs and passwords that give you the right to be present in a particular degree ceremony. They are no more sinister than pin numbers and are used only in the lodge. The passwords and signs are believed to have originated through medieval stonemasons who travelled around the world looking for work and needed to prove their level of competence when they arrived at a distant lodge.

Can Freemasons help counter these opinions?Some members are overly defensive about Freemasonry because of anti-masonic attitudes. We need to help our members deal with this, to help them calmly explain that it’s not just an organisation for white Anglo Saxon Protestants. In Ireland it used to be said that there were only two things that united them – rugby and Freemasonry. There’s always been one United Grand Lodge with Catholics and Protestants attending without a problem and it’s little things like this that members can tell their friends.

is your job largely about countering negative opinions?Not at all. Most questions are from people who want to know about Freemasonry and I spend a lot time answering those. If I answer 30 emails a day that’s 7,800 people a year who will have received a good response, which is invaluable. People don’t think M&S or Selfridges are good companies because they have a nice leaflet or website, they like them because they know they’ll get good service and that’s the best form of publicity. People are too sophisticated these days to be influenced by public relations spin. They go on word of mouth or direct experiences. Days, weeks, years later a casual conversation in a pub about that experience will mean a good impression of Freemasonry is being spread.

Does Freemasonry need to change?Organisations that follow the whims of the day tend to lose their identity and, to use a marketing term, Freemasonry’s unique selling point is its ancient traditions and its symbolism is its branding. We would be fools to tamper with that. Our strength is that we have remained much the same through many political changes and fashions. I’d personally like everyone to understand that we are not even allowed to discuss politics or religion in the lodge, so can hardly be colluding; that there have been established female lodges for over 100 years; and that we’re not just recently jumping onto some politically correct bandwagon, but have always been a welcoming universal brotherhood.

‘our sTrenGTh is ThaT we have remained The same ThrouGh many PoliTical chanGes and Fashions’

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Behind the scenes

How to make a costume dramaAs Parade’s End becomes the latest high-profile production to shoot at Freemasons’ Hall, Oscar-winning producer David Parfitt tells Luke Turton why he enjoys filming there

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Benedict Cumberbatch is in earnest conversation with a colleague as he hurries down a long corridor that leads to the huge bronze doors

opening into the Grand Temple at Freemasons’ Hall. Cutting a dash in an Edwardian three-piece suit, the actor abruptly stops when a small woman with a big voice bellows, ‘Cut!’

Cumberbatch is shooting a scene for the BBC adaptation of Ford Madox Ford’s Parade’s End novels. Set between the twilight of the Edwardian era and the end of the First World War, the tetralogy charts the love triangle between English aristocrat Christopher Tietjens, played by Cumberbatch, his beautiful but cruel wife Sylvia, and Valentine, a young suffragette he falls in love with. The two central novels follow Tietjens’ exploits in the army in France and Belgium, as well as Sylvia and Valentine in their separate paths over the course of the war.

An imposing art deco building in Covent Garden, Freemasons’ Hall has had a close working relationship with Film London, which aims to grow the capital’s film industry, since 2001. Today, it is doubling up as – among

Behind the scenes

other things – the Department of Statistics for Parade’s End. ‘This is supposed to be the lobby of one of the most modern government offices and that’s meant to be the outside world,’ laughs Oscar-winning producer David Parfitt as he points behind the camera to the Grand Temple. ‘The novels are set between 1912 and 1918, so we’re slightly ahead of ourselves with Freemasons’ Hall. But the architecture is classic enough for it to look like a modern building from about 1910.’

With a career that has seen him working alongside Kenneth Branagh and Robert De Niro in 1994’s Frankenstein, and Gwyneth Paltrow and Dame Judi Dench in Shakespeare in Love in 1998, Parfitt has recently finished post-production on My Week With Marilyn. ‘The scale of the shoot is not dissimilar to Marilyn but that was eight weeks and this is nearly seventeen. We’re on day seventy now, which is tough,’ says Parfitt. ‘We’ve shot in the Home Counties, in Yorkshire, Belgium for six weeks, and chose Freemasons’ Hall when we got back.’

Next to the Department of Statistics, in the Grand Temple’s entrance hall, builders are putting up a mini set of a Belgian drinking club for a scene to be shot later in the day. Parfitt explains that the crew

above: even the vestibules get a chance to star during the filming of Parade’s End. above right: the production crew need to adapt the actual layout of a building to suit the requirements of the show

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didn’t get all that they needed at the end of a very busy shoot in Belgium. ‘But it’s a fairly close-up shot and we’ve brought along one piece of the set. We’ll patch the sequence together in post-production.’ The builders are politely but loudly requested to stop hammering and drilling while Parfitt and his crew shoot the corridor scene again.

finding the right fit

‘Stand by to shoot. Rolling. And action!’ Cumberbatch strides down the corridor with Stephen Graham, who currently plays Al Capone in Boardwalk Empire. Pulled along on a trolley by a frantic assistant, the camera hurtles down the passage in front of Cumberbatch and Graham, but something isn’t right. ‘Reset, go again!’ The camera is rolled back and the scene starts once more, with the two actors hitting their marks perfectly for what must be the twentieth time that morning. Finally, the director is happy and it’s time for a break. The actors retire to the Grand Temple, now a temporary changing room.

Having shot at Freemasons’ Hall over 1994-95 for The Wings of the Dove, which starred Helena Bonham Carter, Parfitt is keen to make as much use


Behind the scenes

‘tHe novels are set between 1912 and 1918, so we’re sliGHtly aHead oF ourselves witH Freemasons’ Hall. but tHe arcHitecture is classic enouGH For it to look like a modern buildinG From about 1910’david ParFitt

of the building as he can. ‘We’ll make the upper balcony into a grand opera box,’ he says pointing upwards enthusiastically in the entrance hall. ‘The Hall is unique architecturally – it’s in London so it’s accessible and there’s always a part of the building you can use. We were looking at Victoria House, up the road, as a possible location but you can only use that at weekends,’ says Parfitt, adding that experience has taught him to view buildings like Freemasons’ Hall in a very different way. ‘You’ve got to stand back and not be fooled by the geography of the building. When we first came into the Hall, we all had to come up the stairs into this area. We’ve now decided that, for the purposes of Parade’s End, this is ground level so you don’t have to worry about shooting the stairs. It’s all about making those leaps and using specific elements rather than being slavish to the layout.’

Adapted for television by British playwright Tom Stoppard, the five-hour series is due to air in the second half of 2012 on BBC2. We can look forward to a stunning rendition of the novel, with Cumberbatch joined on screen by the likes of Rupert Everett and Miranda Richardson. Viewers can also get extra points for spotting Freemasons’ Hall in its many supporting roles.

On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the RMS Titanic’s ill-fated maiden

journey, the Director of the Library and Museum of Freemasonry,

Diane Clements, investigates the stories of the Freemasons on board

Freemasons and the titanic


Finalvoyage

W ith 2012 marking the centenary of its first and only voyage, the RMS Titanic has become one of the most famous ships in history. After setting sail from

Southampton for New York City on 10 April 1912 with 2,223 people on board, the ship hit an iceberg four days into the crossing, at 11.40pm on 14 April 1912, and sank at 2.20am the following morning.

More than 1,500 people died – the high casualty rate due in part to the fact that, although complying with regulations of the era, the ship carried lifeboats for only 1,178 people. The Titanic was the largest passenger ship in the world at the time and the

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Freemasons and the titanic

he helped women and children into the lifeboats and finally stepped back to meet his fate. He had been initiated in America Lodge, No. 3368, in June 1909.

Percy Cornelius Taylor, aged 32, was a Past Master of Musgrave Lodge, No. 1597, at Hampton Court, and a cellist in the ship’s orchestra. The band famously kept playing as the Titanic went down, with all eight members sadly perishing.

Two Liverpool-based stewards, Robert Arthur Wareham, aged 36, from Toxteth Lodge, No. 1356, and Arthur Lawrence, aged 35, a member of Neptune Lodge, No. 1264, also died.

Henry Price Hodges was a 50-year-old salesman of musical instruments from Southampton who was travelling as a second-class passenger en route to Boston. He had been initiated in Caulsentum Lodge, No. 1461, Woolston (Southampton), before joining Royal Gloucester Lodge, No. 130. Pierre Giuseppe Bochet, meanwhile, had moved to London from Aosta in Italy where he worked in the catering trade. He joined the Titanic at Southampton as a waiter, aged 43. He was a member of Loggia Italia, No. 2687 and also Columbia Chapter, No. 2397.

oFFicer and gentleman

One Freemason was known to be among the survivors. Herbert John Pitman, aged 34, was third officer on the Titanic. He helped to load and lower one of the lifeboats and row it towards the nearby ship Carpathia. Pitman went back to sea with other liners and served in the Merchant Navy in the Second World War. He had joined Abbey Lodge, No. 3341, in Hatfield in 1909 and remained a member until his death in 1961. A letter from the lodge congratulating him on his rescue was sold at auction in October 2011.

As the Titanic was bound for New York there were many American passengers. The condolences of several grand lodges, including Hungary and Cuba, to the Grand Lodge of New York are recorded in the proceedings of that Grand Lodge in May 1912. Three New York casualties were also recorded. Henry Harris was a New York theatre manager and a member of Munn Lodge, No. 100. Frank Millet was vice chairman of the Fine Arts Committee, based in Washington DC, and member of Kane Lodge, No. 454. Alexander Holverson was a member of Transportation Lodge, No. 842. Another Freemason casualty was Oscar Scott Woody, a clerk in the on-board post office. He was a member of Acacia Lodge, No. 16, in Virginia.

The passengers on the Titanic were drawn from all walks of life so it is no surprise that the Freemasons, casualties and survivors, were too.

Previous page: the Titanic left Southampton on its maiden voyage on 10 april 1912. above: advert for White Star line’s Titantic, the ‘world’s largest liner’

the band Famously kept playing as the titanic went down, with all eight members sadly perishing

loss of this ‘unsinkable’ ship was a major news story around the globe and covered by masonic newspapers.

The Freemason’s Chronicle wondered whether Grand Lodge itself would ‘vote a considerable sum… to one of the funds now being raised in different parts of the country’. This didn’t happen but the Chronicle recorded lodge donations, at the suggested rate of one guinea, to a Freemasons Titanic Fund, which the paper established, and which were then sent on to a larger fund set up by the Daily Telegraph.

Fallen heroes

Among the English Freemasons who died on the Titanic was Howard Brown Case, aged 49. Case was the managing director of the Vacuum Oil Company (part of the Standard Oil Company), based in Rochester, New York, and was establishing the company’s operations in the UK. He lived at Ascot with his wife, two sons and two daughters and was described as ‘an exceptionally hard worker’ with a ‘magnetic personality’. Case had been travelling in a first-class cabin and some survivors recalled that

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CHARITY FOCUS

Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes confers with the TLC mascot


CHARITY FOCUS

Back in October 1999, Freemason Ian Simpson took his wife, Angela, to Southend Hospital’s A&E unit after she had an allergic reaction causing her windpipe to

swell and block. Anxious and frightened, the couple decided to do something to say thank you to the A&E staff and, with the help of Ian’s lodge, the Teddies For Loving Care appeal was born.

Teddies For Loving Care (TLC) is a simple idea. Freemasons donate money to their lodge’s TLC appeal, and the appeal (organised by each individual Province) donates teddy bears to the local A&E to be given to distressed children receiving treatment.

Ten years later, and Ian, now the TLC chairman, is about to see the millionth teddy bear donated to an A&E unit. Where that will happen, he’s not entirely sure, but TLC has been so successful that it could be anywhere from Essex to America, as the cause has gone global.

The appeal had much more humble beginnings, however. Firstly, Ian brainstormed the Thames Mouth Lodge in Southend, and along with Neil Beverley, Brian Procter and others, set a plan in motion. ‘When we started we were planning

BRINGING IT TO BEAR

With Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes as its patron, Teddies For Loving Care is about to give out its millionth teddy bear. Anneke Hak charts its ten-year evolution

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CHARITY FOCUS

on only doing it here in Southend. Then we thought, “Hang on a moment, it’s probably something we could do over the whole of Essex,”’ Ian reveals. ‘We then got together to promote the concept and raise money to launch it.’

The first TLC bears arrived in A&E units in March 2001 and, as it was self-promoting, raising money for the appeal wasn’t too much hard work. ‘It wasn’t too long before somebody knew someone who had been given a teddy bear,’ explains Ian, ‘and so it was self-perpetuating, because people’s own children and grandchildren got help through the campaign.’

Before long the appeal had moved beyond the Provincial boundaries of Essex, much to the organising mason’s delight, and slowly over the past ten years nearly all the Provinces have joined in. The appeal has even moved abroad, catching on in Cyprus, Gibraltar and the United States.

From emergency staff’s testimonies, it’s clear how helpful TLC is to the practitioners working in A&E departments up and down the country. ‘They think it’s wonderful,’ says Ian. ‘An A&E consultant said publicly that TLC teddies were one of the attributable benefits that had given rise to a reduction in treatment times for children.’

Sarah Lewis, Emergency Matron Practitioner at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, has been using the teddies for a number of years and agrees about the benefits they bring. ‘It means so much to the nurses,’ she says. ‘It makes our lives easier and the children feel safer and it’s not so traumatic for them. The teddy system works so well because it’s such a simple idea. It’s something the children love and makes them feel special. The parents see that you really value their child, they’re not just another number and they’re being seen as an individual.’

CReATIng A dIveRSIOn

And the teddy bears aren’t just employed to comfort the child either; the nurses will quite often use them as a diversion technique in order to get their jobs done quickly and efficiently. ‘Often we use the teddy to mimic the injuries that the child’s got,’ explains Sarah. ‘We’ll put a sticky plaster on the teddy’s arm if the child has hurt theirs, so we can use it as a diversion technique.’

Sometimes, however, the child is too young to notice the presence of a new soft toy. It’s during these times that the parents draw comfort from

Top left: Teddy poses at Freemasons’ Hall. Below left: vice patron of TLC John Webb (far left) with Peter Lowndes and staff at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow. Right: a youngster finds comfort in a TLC bear

Seep.68CHARITIeS UpdATe Read more about Freemasons’ fundraising 44

CHARITY FOCUS

knowing that they’re not alone in their ordeal.Louis Joslin was born 29 weeks prematurely in 2001, and he was the first child to receive a TLC bear after Ian Simpson met his grandfather while giving a presentation about the appeal. ‘Afterwards, one of the masons approached me and told me the story of his grandson, who was in an incubator and weighed less than two pounds,’ recalls Ian. ‘His chances of survival weren’t good. I was standing in the bar holding a prototype teddy bear, and I handed it over. I couldn’t just stand there holding the bear while I was being told about this poor baby.’

SHOwIng CARe And geneROSITY

Thanks to the care he received, Louis survived. His father Steve is now a Freemason and he still remembers how thankful he was to receive the bear. ‘It helped to know that other people have an appreciation of the fact that you’re going through a tough time,’ he says. ‘You take things for granted so often, but not care and generosity.’

Steve also can’t believe how successful the project has become. ‘It’s quite stunning when you know that it’s come from such humble origins,

from a few people having a chat one day and thinking it might be a good idea.’

While TLC isn’t intended to promote Freemasonry in the community, one of its side effects is that it makes people aware of the good work that the Freemasons continue to do. ‘Everybody has their own theories,’ says Sarah Lewis, ‘but I’ve found the Freemasons so warm and welcoming, and TLC shows how generous they are.’

Ian Simpson is also aware that generosity from individual Freemasons has secured the appeal’s success. ‘Whenever I talk about TLC, I tell them about the thanks we receive, the million teddy bears, but more than that I tell them that they did it,’ he says. ‘Without their raising over a million pounds we would never have gotten where we are today.’

Looking towards the future, Steve, who has helped with the appeal since becoming a Freemason, thinks things can only get better. ‘It’ll still be there just so long as Freemasons are willing to put a tiny bit of effort in. If we can spread a little bit of happiness then that’s what it’s all about.’

For more information or to donate to the TLC appeal please visit www.tlcappeal.org.uk

A nurse at St James’s University Hospital in Leeds with a young patient

‘WITHOUT THE MASONS RAISING A MILLION POUNdS WE WOULd NEvER HAvE GOTTEN WHERE WE ARE TOdAy’ IAN SIMPSON, TLC CHAIRMAN

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youth support

The calm of a crisp January morning on the banks of the Thames is shattered by the hollering of eight sixty-somethings from a rowing boat looking for assistance.

Luckily, there’s an oar on hand to drag them back to shore. A twist of the Thames away from Hampton Court Palace, Molesey Boat Club welcomes rowing veterans onto the water. It’s also home to the next generation of British rowers. Joshua Tonnar is a 21-year-old who is pursuing his Olympic dream with the help of funding from the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys’ (RMTGB) TalentAid scheme.

At six foot six inches, Joshua was originally a rugby fanatic. However, his Freemason grandfather Len Howard spotted the potential for his height after his wife Charlotte read about the Sporting Giants campaign. In 2007, Steve Redgrave spearheaded this initiative to find those who fitted the tall, athletic physical requirements for rowing.

‘I went to a meeting at Stonemarket and Ray Collings, the fundraising manager at the RMTGB,

The river gianTWith the support of a grant from the Freemasons, Joshua Tonnar is rowing his way into Olympic contention as he subjects himself to a gruelling regime on the Thames, finds Miranda Thompson


youth support

youth support

was there,’ remembers Len. ‘I asked him whether they still supported Freemasons’ grandsons and I put Josh’s name forward. The money has been invaluable.’

Joshua has just completed a ferocious fifteen-minute testing session and is about to devour a gigantic plate of beans on toast – his exercise regime means he’s got to consume six thousand calories a day. He recalls how he got started: ‘I was talent tested in a national search for potential Olympian talent. According to the scores, you were categorised into the sports you were suited to.’ Joshua was a natural, smashing three records on his first day and his first ever ergometer test on a rowing machine saw him finish just eight seconds behind a record set by Matthew Pinsent.

funding potential olympians

In 2008, Joshua was taken on by the Sporting Giants scheme, which quickly propelled him into the GB Rowing Team Start Programme. His coach, Team GB Start’s Neasa Folan, explains her role: ‘We identify, recruit and develop potential Olympians. We try to develop them as athletes, so we look at their physical capacities and technical rowing skills.’

With the rowing season running from September to June/July, the months are packed with assessments and trials testing, before invitations to join a squad are issued. This year, the focus is on making the Under 23 World Championships squad. ‘2016 would be his Olympics,’ says Neasa. ‘I think he’s got reasonable prospects – he’s certainly got a lot of the physical characteristics and potential.’

Studying sports sciences at St Mary’s in Twickenham, Joshua relishes the opportunity he has been given. ‘I want to win gold at 2016 and the two after that,’ he says. ‘I’m here for 7am. We train until 9.30 or 10am at the first session, have breakfast and then we’re back at 11. In the afternoon I go to university, but I’m back here in the evening.’

The amount of work Joshua has to do makes the funding from the RMTGB even more crucial, as Neasa says, ‘The athletes might be part of the Team GB rowing programme but they’re not funded.’

‘Everything about rowing is expensive. I can’t live off my student loan and sponsorship, I need constant funding and that’s where the Freemasons are helping me. Without the RMTGB’s support, I probably wouldn’t be able to train full time. I’m very grateful,’ says Joshua, hoisting his boat onto colossal shoulders before making his way to the banks of the Thames.

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Identified as a potential Olympian by Sporting Giants, Joshua Tonnar is pursuing his dream of becoming a rowing champion with the support of the RMTGB’s TalentAid scheme

‘EvERyThInG ABOuT ROwInG IS ExpEnSIvE. I nEEd cOnSTAnT fundInG And ThAT’S whERE ThE fREEMASOnS ARE hElpInG ME’JOShuA TOnnAR


youth support

talking talentaid

Founded in the eighteenth century, the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys (RMTGB), supports children and young people who have been affected by poverty, and aims to help improve their potential in life. TalentAid is just one of the schemes run by the charity and aims to ensure that those with exceptional talent pursue their dreams of becoming a professional in their field by providing grants to cover some of the costs associated with the talent. All TalentAid beneficiaries are required to have a masonic connection via their father, grandfather or guardian and all applications are subject to a financial test. Since TalentAid’s launch in 2001, over two hundred and fifty exceptionally gifted young people have been supported by the RMTGB at a cost of around £3 million. Other TalentAid successes include rising stars in British swimming, kayaking and women’s football. Chief Executive Les Hutchinson explains, ‘These are the people with the highest level of talent, and quite often this talent represents their main opportunity to make a success of their lives. It’s vital they have support for it.’ Les is positive regarding the scheme’s support for Joshua. ‘It was obvious from the outset that he was participating in a very competitive training programme as well as being a holder of several records for his age. His desire to succeed and make a success in his chosen field was quite clear – and his potential ability to compete in the Olympics is very exciting. It really doesn’t come much more high profile than that.’

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worldwide connections

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On the wall of the Mauritius Turf Club, the oldest turf club in the southern hemisphere, there is a portrait of a man in his prime. He sits framed

between winged caryatids. His attire has a faded grandeur, while his expression is subdued, almost quizzical. Around his neck is a blue ribbon from which hangs a masonic jewel. The man is Sir Robert Townsend Farquhar, who in December 1810 became the first British governor of Mauritius after its capitulation by the French.

Born in 1776, Farquhar attended Westminster School, where in 1789 he became a King’s Scholar. Just before his seventeenth birthday, he left formal education and set sail for India, where he took up a position as a writer with the East India Company. It was the beginning of a career that saw him progress rapidly through the company until 1804 when he was installed as Lieutenant Governor of Prince of Wales Island (Penang). In 1810, Farquhar was declared Governor of Mauritius and, apart from one further home leave, spent more than a decade dealing with the problems of an island where French colonial ways continued much as before the British takeover.

members abroad

Farquhar’s career has proved relatively easy to research but his masonic trail was harder to piece together, not least because it did not begin in India, where lodges were already in existence. Nor did Farquhar join at any other point in the Far East. Instead, he waited until his first home leave, when his brother, Thomas Harvie, an active member of the Lodge of Friendship, No. 3 (now No. 6) proposed his nomination on 11 December 1806. This ancient lodge, constituted in 1721, held its meetings at The Thatched House Tavern, St James’s Street, London, a mere stride from his brother’s No. 16 residence.

Farquhar’s initiation took place on 12 February 1807 and although he rarely attended masonic meetings over the next two years, records show that he went through his second and third degree ceremonies on the same day, 9 February 1809, prior to his return to India. Lodge minutes for May of that year state: ‘Robert Townsend Farquhar having

When England took control of Mauritius in 1810, first British governor and Freemason Sir Robert Townsend Farquhar brought unity to the island, writes Mary Allan

the first entente cordiale

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worldwide connections

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sailed to India was ordered that he be considered an Honorary Member during his absence.’

Members of the lodge included HRH the Duke of Sussex, politicians, bankers and high-ranking military men, several of them noted as ‘abroad’. The lodge’s status is further emphasised by a donation of fifty guineas in 1812 towards a ‘jewel’ for Lord Moira to mark his service as Acting Grand Master.

Was the jewel among Lord Moira’s luggage when he visited Mauritius on his way to take up his new position as Governor-General of India in 1813? Did he wear it on 19 August when he, together with Farquhar and the island’s Freemasons, paraded through the capital, Port Louis, to lay the foundation stone of St Louis Cathedral?

a lodge in his honour

Farquhar had fully embraced the concept of Mauritian fraternity from the moment he stepped ashore on 4 December 1810. By 1816 the first British lodge had been founded, Faith and Loyalty, No. 676, and Farquhar was recognised as Provincial Grand Master.

There is no record of Farquhar attending his lodge when he returned on home leave between 1818 and 1820, but following his resignation from governorship in 1823 he signed the Tyler’s Book of the Lodge of Friendship, No. 3 on 11 December. This was his last appearance at the lodge and his subscription to the United Grand Lodge of England ceased in 1824. In the lodge notes on officers holding high rank, Sir Robert Townsend Farquhar of Bruton Street, London, is listed as Provincial Grand Master of Mauritius. His rank as ProvGM, patented 1811, is confirmed in the Masonic Year Book. This patent was awarded during Lord Moira’s term as Acting Grand Master on behalf of the Prince Regent.

In the 19th century the appointment of a Provincial Grand Master did not presuppose the existence of a lodge or lodges in the county or territory for which he was appointed. There are instances that show that an appointment of a Provincial Grand Master was occasionally simply ‘an honour conferred’ and nothing more. The issue of a Patent of Appointment was almost certainly all that was necessary for Farquhar to be established in the office.

In 2010, to mark the bicentenary of the British takeover of Mauritius and to honour the first British Governor and Provincial Grand Master, the then first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mauritius, Lindsay Descombes, consecrated a new lodge, Sir Robert Farquhar Research Lodge, No 16. In his inaugural speech, he saluted Farquhar for bringing unity to Mauritius: ‘History tells us that [Farquhar] did a remarkable job to bring entente cordiale, peace and understanding between the French settlers and the English rulers.’

sir robert townsend Farquhar is the subject of a book, The Man and the Island by michael and mary allan, which was published to coincide with the bicentenary of the british takeover of the island

farquhar had fully eMbraced the concePt of Mauritian fraternity froM the MoMent he stePPed ashore in deceMber 1810

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Previous page: portrait of farquhar which hangs in the Mauritius turf club. above: british forces occupy Mauritius in 1810


future of freemasonry

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It’s an acknowledged fact that Freemasonry is facing a challenge in recruiting young masons in the UK. But what is the Craft doing to address the issue? Adrian Foster goes in search of answers

For some, the term ‘young Freemason’ is an oxymoron on a par with ‘clear as mud’ or ‘honest broker’. However, a quick search on the internet for ‘young Freemasons’ reveals

dedicated Facebook and Twitter sites that point to a new generation who are looking to discover the fraternity and relevance of the Craft.

The Connaught Club’s website proclaims that it has been founded to give young Freemasons in London a means to meet and socialise with like-minded people of similar ages who might otherwise be dispersed over London’s many lodges and large geographic area. Chris Hirst, chairman of the club, explains how it was established: ‘The vast majority of young Freemasons I meet tell me that they are the youngest member of their lodge by twenty, thirty, even forty or more years and, that although they enjoy the company and friendship of the other members, they sometimes feel left on the periphery. This in turn can lead to disillusionment with the Craft and this is exactly what the activities of the Connaught Club are meant to counteract.’

Chris explains that the club was formed to address a gap identified by the Metropolitan Grand Lodge over the lack of a focus for young brethren. ‘It was felt that although our fraternity transcends

differences in men, including age, there is still a particular affinity between brethren of a young age. Our non-masonic events are social occasions offering young Freemasons the chance to meet with each other. At open receptions at Freemasons’ Hall, we congregate in and around the Grand Temple. Non-masons are welcome at these events and they have proved to be useful for introducing potential members to the Craft and for showing wives, girlfriends and partners a little about Freemasonry.’

social freemasonry

With membership open to any Freemason under thirty-five, the club has an annual picnic on Lincoln’s Inn Fields for friends and family too. It also meets more informally on the first Friday of every month at a pub local to the Freemasons’ Hall for after-work drinks. ‘We do not have recruitment of new Freemasons as a principal objective of the club, but this has occurred quite often as a result of our activities,’ concludes Chris.

Jayson Brinkler, of The Campbell Lodge, No. 1415, offers an insight into what his lodge is doing to connect with young people: ‘Our meetings, which take place at Cole Court,

the new age

Young Freemasons of the Connaught Club get together for relaxed after-work drinks every month in London

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Twickenham, are renowned within the Province for their social events, encouraging brethren to invite non-masons along to join in the fun. These events raise money for charity as well as encouraging our non-masonic friends to ask us questions about Freemasonry in a relaxed and friendly environment. The sort of events include an annual barbecue, golf, clay pigeon shooting, a ladies’ festival – and we recently hosted a discussion meeting about English Freemasonry where twenty-two non-masonic guests attended, nineteen of them ladies. If other lodges followed our example, the Craft would certainly become a lot more vibrant,’ suggests Jayson.

In 2010, Jayson helped to establish The Kent Club – named after Grand Master the Duke of Kent – and became its secretary. Like the Connaught Club, The Kent Club is a social hub that enables young Freemasons between the ages of thirty-five and forty-nine to mix and socialise with brethren of their own age. This initiative, which is supported by Metropolitan Grand Lodge, has a committee that includes an events secretary who organises social events such as masonic talks, an annual dinner and monthly informal drinks. With partners and non-masonic friends encouraged to attend, The Kent Club has gained a membership of around ninety

‘not enough is being done to reverse a trend whiCh, iF not addressed, wiLL resuLt in manY more Lodges CLosing’JaYson brinkLer

in its first year, clearly showing that it is meeting a need among the younger fraternity.

‘English Freemasonry is doing what it can, but it is the responsibility of individual lodges to find new and inventive ways to attract younger people into the Craft,’ says Jayson. ‘Not enough is being done to reverse a trend which, if not addressed, will result in many more lodges closing and members leaving the Craft. All too often we see lodges holding their standard four meetings a year – and that’s all. Social activities are vital in Freemasonry because they not only provide a means of introducing potential new members to a lodge, but they also prevent young, and new, brethren losing interest between meetings. So it is as much about retention as it is about recruitment.’

adapt to survive

Keith Mitchell runs new masons’ receptions at Freemasons’ Hall and is forthright in his views. ‘Many of us probably believe that Freemasonry is largely populated by men aged sixty to ninety, with a few lively centenarians. However, there are now more than fifty lodges specifically for undergraduates, postgraduates, senior members of a university and their alumni, ranging in age from eighteen upwards,’ he says, pointing to the growing level of interest in Freemasonry shown by enquiries through the UGLE, Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Provincial websites.

‘Should we worry if the average age of a London Freemason is sixty? I believe we should,’ says Keith. ‘We can shrug and ignore our ageing membership, or we can look critically at Freemasonry and ask what we can do to appeal to a broader swathe of society while maintaining our traditions. I believe it’s time to jettison timidity in masonry. London masons have a float in the Lord Mayor’s Parade and wear their regalia. Many Provinces organise open days and there are frequent social events which are open to non-masons across the country.’

Keith accepts that his views might not be popular: ‘I can already hear some senior brethren groaning loudly, but I do think we need to reflect on what changes would help us to maintain a healthy flow of new members and which lodges would be best placed to make those changes. With 1,400 lodges in London alone, there is flexibility for experimentation and trial. I encourage masonic brethren to reflect on the inevitability of decline if we do not adapt, innovate and move with the changing times.’

more informal socialising builds bonds between young Freemasons

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organ music

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organ music

Look at any masonic music books in use today and you’ll find that the music you sing in your lodge would be familiar to your grandfather and those before him.

Many lodges have a reluctant organist who has been persuaded to play a little and is unlikely to introduce fresh ideas while the senior grandees keep reminding everyone ‘that’s not how we used to do it’. So we sing music that is well known and well proven – we all enjoy singing familiar tunes.

Outside Freemasonry, the organ has been constrained in its development by cost. No church council or town hall likes spending money on organs when other priorities seem more worthy. It is the same within Freemasonry. If a masonic hall committee has to choose between a stairlift and a new organ, mandatory legislation and similar pressures push the organ aside.

So why do we continue to have music in masonic ceremonies? Most people agree music enhances the occasion and a private lodge meeting without music can be a bit dull. Our annual assemblies of Grand Lodge and of Provincial Grand Lodge and in all masonic orders need to be occasions of great dignity and splendour, and to give pleasure to those present.

PullInG out all the stoPs

While organ music has become part of the rich fabric of masonic meetings around the country, Naunton Liles wonders whether lodges should seek to preserve these historic but expensive instruments

Usually a venue is chosen with an organ suitable for playing processional music, fanfares for the high spots and background music to maintain a suitable atmosphere. For our big showcase events in London, the Grand Temples at Freemasons’ Hall and Mark Masons Hall are best. The history and costs of the instruments found in these buildings demonstrate two very different approaches to organ music.

In 1933, organ builder Henry Willis & Sons was commissioned to construct an instrument fitting for the new art deco building in Covent Garden. It was agreed the instrument would be heard but not seen, so it was placed behind grills. This concentrates the sound at one end and when accompanying 1,500 people, it can be a bit deafening for those occupying the tiered seats in the east of the temple. Another feature was to conceal the console so the organist was not higher than the Grand Master. There is many a non-conformist chapel where the organ occupies a prominent place and a flamboyant organist can outshine the preacher. Not so in Freemasonry.

The downside at the Grand Temple in Freemasons’ Hall is that the organist has no line of sight. Forty years later, CCTV was installed, with one camera and one screen. The organists could then see the

organ music

assembled brethren, but not much of the west door where processions enter, so you will always see a second organist alongside advising the player what is going on. The 1970s equipment has been replaced by a flatscreen colour monitor, but still there is only one camera. By contrast, cathedrals have a split-screen system whereby the organist can see four views as the ceremony unfolds – but this costs money.

In 1933, organ builders were much exercised by the demands of the cinema, theatre and town hall clients. The thinking of the time was that you could produce a huge sound with fewer pipes by doubling up their use in an ingenious manner. The proposal for Freemasons’ Hall included this kind of scheme and the organ has a lot of sound in a compact space.

digital alternative

We live in a time when many people think any object worthy of its period – Willis’s design is an excellent example of mid-1930s workmanship – should not be altered or improved. Indeed, grant funds usually insist this is so. But few would disagree that a change that enabled the pipework to speak out more clearly, and enabled some additional resources, would be sensible if we are to serve the next generations well.

The Grand Temple is quite different at Mark Masons Hall. A long auditorium that seats four hundred, it has a relatively low ceiling, lots of carpet and a propensity to attract men in heavy suits. The acoustic is dead by comparison with any church. As a Grade II-listed building of great beauty, we are not permitted to alter the appearance by installing a pipe organ. An electronic organ was in use for around twenty-five years and in February this year it was replaced by the very latest digital organ.

Good digital technology has now been with us for a decade or more and a market has emerged far removed from the disco and home organ. It is said you can blindfold the experts in the back of a church, play them a pipe organ and a new digital organ, and they’d be hard-pressed to pick the imposter.

The process of acquiring a new organ for Mark Masons Hall was lengthy. Many orders, Provinces, lodges and individual brethren gave generously to raise the necessary funds. Three leading makers then submitted proposals for a digital organ and the contract was awarded to Wyvern, which builds its organs in the UK using mainly British components.

Digital organs now use a sampling technique. For this they record each individual note from the

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pipework of an organ of merit. During installation and commissioning much time was spent at night, when the surroundings were quiet, to voice each stop. It is this that makes the organ so much better than a standard one. Care was also taken to position the speakers to best effect.

Not every masonic temple can afford a custom-built organ and the story so far has described those used for important Grand Lodge ceremonies. Back at home, you may find a more modest instrument, but even these can be entirely suitable for our purposes. So, should we preserve and repair the old pipe organ or buy an electronic one? My guess is there are but a dozen pipe organs in masonic premises that are worth the cost of rebuilding, especially now that such good results can be achieved with digital equipment.

Within Freemasonry there is a shortage of funds, so it is prudent to go for the best sound per pound, and there is a compelling argument in favour of digital instruments for masonic purposes.

independent advice is available at no cost from naunton liles at [email protected]

blow by blow: History oF tHe PiPes The origins of the organ can be traced back to the third century BC, when an octave of pipes was first strung together and attached to some fireside bellows. However, it took until the twelfth century AD to refine the organ into something workable that would become the ‘must-have’ accessory for every monastery. By the seventeenth century complex instruments were in use that would be broadly familiar to us today. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, a religious revival and increased wealth led to the building of new churches. At the same time, Freemasonry expanded rapidly and organs were installed in every temple that was built.

By the end of the century there were many lodges and plenty of organists. Many people had a piano at home and a generation of Freemasons was born who were not bashful about singing. Small pipe organs appeared everywhere and survived because of their relative simplicity, and several masonic temples continue to use them a hundred years later.

‘a chanGe that enaBled the PIPework to sPeak out More clearly would Be sensIBle If we are to serVe the next GeneratIons well’

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Specialist lodges offer the opportunity for members to combine their personal interests while learning about the principles of Freemasonry, as Terry Draycott shows in his history of the Royal Life Saving Lodge

At first glance you might be forgiven for thinking that ‘Quemcunque Miserum Videris Hominem Scias’ is a quote from a Roman Emperor’s tomb.

However, you would be wrong. It is actually the motto of the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS), which was formed in 1891 by, among others, William Henry and Archibald Sinclair, and translates to: ‘Whomsoever you see in distress, see in him a fellow Man.’

Originally called the Swimmer’s Life Saving Society, the aims of the society were to try to reduce the significant numbers of fatalities caused by drowning, through teaching self-preservation and rescue skills. The title was subsequently changed to The Life Saving Society with members delivering lectures and demonstrations on life-saving techniques around not only the United Kingdom, but also the world. It is rumoured that William

Henry visited almost every swimming pool in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Sweden and several other countries, lecturing, teaching and promoting the work of the society. As a result, several life-saving organisations were formed within these countries.

In 1904, King Edward VI granted royal patronage and the Royal Life Saving Society was born. The society continued to flourish both within the UK and globally, and today there are RLSS clubs throughout the country. Its network of volunteers deliver instruction on water safety, life support and rescue. The society is a registered charity and a member of the RLSS Commonwealth as well as the International Life Saving Federation.

You may be asking, where is all this leading? Well, back in 1908, a group of RLSS members, finding themselves to also be masons, conceived the idea of forming their own lodge, which would

POOLING INTERESTSMembers of

the Royal Life Saving Society

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be affiliated to the RLSS. Plans were made and a petition submitted to the Grand Master, and on 9 November 1908 a warrant was granted to the Royal Life Saving Lodge. The lodge was consecrated on 19 February 1909 at the Frascati restaurant on Oxford Street in London. The Grand Secretary, Sir Edward Letchworth, conducted the consecration, acting as Worshipful Master, assisted by Charles F Quicke, Senior Warden; James Stephen, Junior Warden; Rev H W Turner, Chaplain; Charles W Cole, Director of Ceremonies; and W J Songhurst, Inner Guard.

All these worthy brothers were elected honorary members of the lodge after the ceremony. The First Worshipful Master was Herbert Grimwade with Lord Desborough the first Immediate Past Master. All of the founders were active members of the RLSS, and included within the annual subscription was annual membership of the RLSS. William Henry became the first initiate into the lodge in April 1909 and rose to become Worshipful Master in 1917.

two societies, oNe BoNd

The connection between the lodge and the society remained strong for many years. When the society moved into premises in Devonshire Street, London, it immediately became Desborough House, with rehearsals and meetings regularly held there. Indeed, chairs for the Worshipful Master, Senior Warden and Junior Warden were still in use up to the move to the society’s present headquarters in Broom. The Master’s Collar is adorned with several enamelled pictures of early life-saving scenes and the loose chain box is wrought in the form of a lifebelt.

Until a few years ago, a toast was taken by the Worshipful Master to all holders of RLSS awards. However, the connection with the RLSS has been reinforced recently, with several members becoming joining members and no doubt the toast will soon be reintroduced. Some of you might remember being taught rescue skills and might have gone on to take the society’s flagship award, The Bronze Medallion, or indeed may still be members of the RLSS but never knew of its own lodge.

I have been a member of the RLSS for over forty years and a Freemason for seventeen but only discovered the existence of the lodge thanks to the wonders of modern technology – the internet, and more specifically, eBay. Back in 1992, while surfing (the dry type), I saw a founder’s jewel for sale for the Royal Life Saving Lodge, No. 3339. I investigated and subsequently made contact with the secretary – and the rest, as they say, is history.

I believe that the principles of Freemasonry are compatible with the aims of a great number of other organisations. The creation of a specialist lodge means we can discuss Freemasonry and share common interests and values. The union of two worthy causes helps to keep the memory of William Henry alive and encourages the next generation of Freemasons.

For more information on the Rlss lodge, please contact [email protected]

IN 1908 a GROUP Of RLSS MEMbERS, fINdING ThEMSELvES TO aLSO bE MaSONS, cONcEIvEd ThE IdEa Of fORMING ThEIR OwN LOdGE, whIch wOULd bE affILIaTEd TO ThE ROyaL LIfE SavING SOcIETy

volunteers at the Royal Life Saving Society work to teach water safety, life support and rescue skills

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CHARITIES UPDATE The freemasons’ grand chariTy

60 great Queen streetLondon Wc2B 5aZTel: 020 7395 9261fax: 020 7395 9295

[email protected]

www.the-grand-charity.org

educaTion hope for haiTi’s chiLdren

I n January 2010 an earthquake struck Haiti, killing more than 230,000 people and causing much of the island’s infrastructure to crumble. Immediate

emergency grants were made by The Freemasons’ Grand Charity to the British Red Cross and Plan International for their relief efforts.

In addition, and in response to requests from members of the Craft, the council of the Grand Charity opened a dedicated Relief Chest and £93,000 was raised thanks to the generosity of Freemasons and their families. A decision was made to use the money to rebuild a community school in Léogâne, which was at the epicentre of the earthquake, in partnership with aid organisation Save the Children. The construction of six new primary school classrooms and an Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) centre is now complete.

bUIlDIng foR THE fUTURE

New water and sanitation facilities have also been built, contributing to the health and well-being of both children and teachers. In contrast to the past, classes in the new buildings have not been interrupted due to bad weather conditions as the new structures can withstand Haiti’s heavy rains. Before the earthquake, Haiti’s education system was poorly resourced, with primary school teachers on average completing only one year of secondary education. Part of the donation has been used to train six teachers, and the community school director has also received training in leadership and supervision, to aid the effective running of the school.

Hermalie, 14, attended the school before the project started and hopes to become a nurse when she is older: ‘I feel safer in the new buildings. I now understand the lessons better and the teachers give me more explanations and encourage me to ask questions.’

New materials have also been supplied, with 500 textbooks, tables and chairs, as well as teaching kits ensuring that teachers have the equipment they need to run high-quality and inclusive primary education classes. Schoolchildren have also been provided with school kits, including notebooks, pencils, a school bag, raincoat and crayons.

The council of the Grand Charity would like to thank all those who have donated, and the local community in Léogâne has also expressed its deepest gratitude to Freemasons for their generous support.

youngsters at the community school

conditions following the earthquake

mIllIon PoUnD booSTintroduced in 2005, the relief chest gift aid envelope scheme has steadily grown in popularity. Last year, more than £1 million was raised (including gift aid tax). The scheme is an excellent mechanism to raise funds in a tax-efficient manner: it enhances the value of the donations brethren give at traditional lodge alms collections by using gift aid envelopes, which enable the charity to reclaim tax on their donations – 25p for every £1. provinces, lodges and chapters throughout the country have benefitted from having these additional funds at their disposal.

for more information on how gift Aid envelopes can enhance your fundraising efforts, please telephone the Relief Chest office on 020 7395 9246 or visit www.grandcharity.org/reliefchest

Freemasons’ donations rebuild local school and help children overcome trauma of 2010’s devastating earthquake

The freemasons’ grand Charity 2011 Annual

Report is included with this issue. We hope you

find it of interest.

CHARITIES UPDATEmasonic samariTan fund



[email protected]

www.msfund.org.ukI n February 2007, Ray Abercromby-Little had a stroke. A year later he began suffering from regular debilitating seizures, increasing his

needs dramatically. His wife Pat explains: ‘In 2009 I was close to breaking point myself when our lodge almoner, Len Goodyer, helped us approach the Masonic Samaritan Fund. Up until that time I was looking after Ray without any outside support.’

With the help of the Masonic Samaritan Fund, it is no longer a struggle Pat has to face alone. ‘I know several carers who have been looking after their partners for many years without a break. They are often bound by a cycle of resentment and guilt, which prevents them from seeking help,’ she says.

The application to the Fund was granted and Ray experienced his first stay in a comfortable respite care home before the end of 2009. Pat continues: ‘Although very anxious and reluctant to go there at first, he soon realised what a pleasant experience it could be and

has returned on several occasions. The staff now know him well and he has always been offered the same now-familiar room and enjoys the attention of the carers and the company of the other residents.’

With six weeks of respite available annually, the support of the Masonic Samaritan Fund gives Pat and Ray an essential boost to their morale. ‘I normally try to arrange a holiday away from home. It’s a chance to recharge and get back in touch with who you really are!’

Pat admits that accepting what happened to Ray has been a huge struggle for the couple. ‘However, just having the peace of mind in knowing that Ray is being well looked after and that I can have the freedom to choose to do something that I actually want to do, has helped enormously. It’s an invaluable lifeline.’

More than six million people in the UK are carers – around one in eight adults. If you, or someone you know, is caring for a loved one and would value a period of respite, please get in touch with the Fund.

supporT and accepTanceOne of the most difficult emotions to come to terms with after a life-changing event such as a partner suffering a stroke is the resentment one experiences after the shock wears off and the carer realises that their life has changed beyond recognition

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CHARITIES UPDATE royaL masonic TrusT for girLs and Boys

60 great Queen street,London Wc2B 5aZTel: 020 7405 2644fax: 020 7831 4094

[email protected]

www.rmtgb.org

I n 2011, an additional 347 children and young people were awarded grants by the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys (RMTGB),

bringing the total number being supported to almost 2,000, at an annual cost of approximately £9 million.

William and his stepsister Phoebe are two children who now benefit from ongoing grants from the RMTGB. They began receiving support after William’s Freemason father (Phoebe’s stepfather) died at the tragically young age of 46. William was then just two years old and Phoebe was eight. The family’s financial situation became extremely difficult, but fortunately their mother was able to successfully apply to the RMTGB for support.

Regular maintenance allowances for both William and Phoebe are now being provided, as well as grants towards school uniforms and other clothing. In spite of their tragic loss, both children are now progressing well and the RMTGB is committed to providing them with support for as long as it is needed.

CombATTIng CHIlD PovERTy

Many recent reports show that child poverty is continuing to increase. A recent study by the End Child Poverty campaign claims that up to 50 per cent of children in some parts of the UK are affected. The support the RMTGB provides, however, means that children such as William and Phoebe are given a better chance to succeed in life.

Despite record numbers of applications, many Freemasons and their families continue to struggle on alone through times of financial hardship. The RMTGB is therefore continuing to work hard to ensure that all Freemasons and their families understand the support available to children, stepchildren and grandchildren in their time of need.

To improve awareness about the support available, the RMTGB has recently launched its new website – www.rmtgb.org – which shows how the charity can assist children and young people. There are dedicated areas for charity stewards, almoners, donors and fundraisers, together with information about the financial support available and the application process. The new website has also been designed to

William and phoebe – help from the rmTgB

supporT for as Long as iT is needed With many families continuing to feel the effects of the economic downturn, the RMTGB has received an increasing number of applications for support

appeal to the general public and information about the RMTGB’s support for non-masonic children features prominently, including the Stepping Stones scheme, which has awarded £175,000 to other children’s charities during the past 12 months.

To maximise its online presence, the RMTGB has also joined Twitter (@rmtgb) and Facebook, as well as establishing an e-news service to allow subscribers to receive regular updates about the work of the charity.

Please visit www.rmtgb.org to view the new website

The new website will appeal to the public

CHARITIES UPDATE


reBuiLding and rememBering

P hase 1 of the rebuild at the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution (RMBI) care home James Terry Court, Croydon, has been officially

opened. The event was attended by more than 40 representatives from the Province of Surrey, the Association of Friends and the RMBI.

RMBI President Willie Shackell opened the event and spoke about the history of the RMBI, which started in East Croydon with its first home, named ‘Asylum for Worthy, Aged and Decayed Freemasons’ in 1850. Shackell went on to explain why the rebuild of the home was necessary, as it needed to adapt to the changing needs of older people.

Thanks were given to Dennis Vine, who oversaw the development of the home in his role as Co-opted Trustee. Julian Birch, Regional Property Operations Manager, who sadly passed away in October, was remembered for all his efforts in the rebuild. The Association of Friends and the Province of Surrey, Metropolitan Grand Lodge, and the Province of Hampshire & Isle of Wight were also thanked for their support. The event saw the official opening of the lounge and library by Eric Stuart-Bamford.

royaL masonic BeneVoLenT insTiTuTion


[email protected]

www.rmbi.org.uk

rmBi president Willie shackell (left) with eric stuart-Bamford, pgm of the province of surrey

new dementia unit at rmBi care home Barford court, hove

dr cliff Jones (left) celebrates 60 years in freemasonry with deputy provincial grand master Jeffrey gillyon

DEmEnTIA SUPPoRT In HovEa new dementia support unit has opened at rmBi care home Barford court, hove. The unit can accommodate 10 people and provides a therapeutic environment for people with dementia.

Barford court staff have received dementia training so that they are able to provide support to the residents to live a meaningful and active life while staying at the home. The family-sized unit of 10 enables each person to be cared for as an individual. This warm and supportive approach works in tandem with rmBi’s care strategy of providing person-centred care.

for more information, contact home manager Susan Hale on 01273 777736 or email [email protected]

TRUE gEnTlEmAn mARkS 60 mAsoniC yeARs dr cliff Jones, resident at rmBi care home connaught court in york, has celebrated 60 years in freemasonry. his home held a sherry morning to celebrate the event, which was attended by deputy provincial grand master of yorkshire, north and east ridings, Jeffrey gillyon, and members of humber Lodge, no 57.

Jeffrey presented Cliff with a certificate and jewel to commemorate his masonic career. cliff started his career in freemasonry in 1951, aged 22, after being inspired by the headmaster of his school. he became Third provincial grand principal in the royal arch and was a founding member of mitre chapter in york.

The deputy provincial grand master concluded, ‘cliff is a true gentleman.’


library and museum

The Library and Museum of Freemasonry is exploring the history of public masonic activities. There are few towns in England and Wales without a masonic hall and

civic foundation-stone layings and processions frequently had a masonic component, with buildings as diverse as the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon and Truro Cathedral enjoying masonic ceremonies at their beginnings. More recently, hundreds of Freemasons in regalia inaugurated the rebuilt Masonic Hall at Beamish Open Air Museum and Freemasons regularly feature in the Lord Mayor’s Show in the City of London.

Another example of the active role masons played in public life can be found in the building of the first bridge across the Wear river in Sunderland, which was an important factor in the area’s economic development. The foundation stone was laid by local Freemason and MP, Rowland Burdon, in 1793 and the stone itself records that the event was attended by Freemasons, magistrates and ‘principal gentlemen of the County of Durham’. Although the bridge only took 10 days to put up, the formal opening did not take place until three years later in a masonic ceremony attended by the Duke of Gloucester.

FREEMASOnS in PuBLiC LiFEA new exhibition looks at how changes in society and its attitudes have affected the ways in which Freemasons have felt able to be part of the wider public life of the country

library and museum of Freemasonry Freemasons’ Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZTel: 020 7395 9257

libmus@freemasonry. london.museum

www.freemasonry. london.museumShop: www.letchworthshop.co.uk

73

Public procession of Freemasons

at Redruth in Cornwall, 1906

letters

77

Letters to the editor

Write to: the editor, Freemasonry today, Freemasons’ Hall, Great Queen street, london WC2B 5AZ email: [email protected] Letters emailed to the editor should not be sent as attachments. Please include a home address and telephone number. An s.A.e should accompany any photographs to be returned. the opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Grand Lodge of England.

riGHt to reply

Sir,In a letter published in a previous edition

of Freemasonry Today, it was suggested that charitable donations should be limited only to alms collections to ensure that poor members do not ‘fear the festivals’.

Without the festivals the central masonic charities would not be able to continue their life-changing work. Over the last 12 months, the charities have provided support totalling more than £18m to Freemasons and their dependants, as well as granting millions of pounds to many non-masonic causes. Donations from alms collections alone are simply not enough if we are to continue our work and continue to meet our existing and future commitments.

While we recognise and appreciate that some members make very generous individual donations, the success of most festivals is based on a large number of members making regular but manageable donations over a number of years and, where eligible, using Gift Aid to increase the value of their giving even further.

At the charities, we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive and we would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to those who have given. It is only because of these donations that Freemasons can continue to rely on the charities to be there to support them in their hour of need. The Chief Executives of The Freemasons’ Grand Charity, Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys, Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution and Masonic Samaritan Fund

Sir,Further to the letter from the worshipful

brother with a stutter, may I say that joining Freemasonry gave me the confidence to put up for my local council. This is something I would never have done before as the thought of public speaking terrified me.David Hedley Todd De Grey and Ripon Lodge, No. 837Ripon, Yorkshire, West Riding

would be very proud, and being part of such an organisation would be an honour. I will say a big thank you, once again, for the kindness bestowed on my grandmother. It really does make her smile.Russell FitchMalmesbury

BretHren tHouGHts

Sir,As a new Master Mason, I had heard

a little about Grand Lodge from brethren wearing dark blue aprons. They explained how a visit to ‘The Big House’ would demonstrate what a vast, worldwide organisation Freemasonry is.

So, when the opportunity arose for Master Masons to visit Grand Lodge to attend the Quarterly Communication, I jumped at the chance.

A few weeks before the day an invitation arrived, which answered all the basic questions about what time to be where and what to wear. Travel arrangements were made and we set off for a day of discovery. I was expecting to see other men with large briefcases once we arrived at Paddington,

letter oF tHAnks

Sir,I am writing to you with a letter of thanks

with regards to my grandparents. Les Bishop, my grandfather, was a Freemason in London and also in Swindon in Wiltshire, upon moving there, until he passed away about 20 years ago. He loved the Freemasons, and the friends he made, which I believe showed in the work he did.

My grandmother Sheila Bishop is still with us, but is finding it hard to be mobile due to age-related issues. She often talks to me about the joy the Freemasons gave her and my grandfather over the years.

The main reason for this letter is to offer my thanks for the letters and donations she still receives. Even after so many years, she still gets an invitation each year to the widows’ dinner and a card at Christmas. This gift of kindness makes her happy, and in turn shows what a fantastic group of people the Freemasons are.

She has often talked of me joining, and I kick myself that I have not sooner, but I feel I will be contacting you in the near future to see if I can. I know my grandfather


letters

so it was a nice surprise to meet a Grand Officer at Thatcham station. This proved to be a bonus as the journey was simply a case of following him and rewarding him with a coffee before we went into the temple.

Once robed and escorted into the temple, the splendour of Grand Lodge hit me. The main temple is quite simply magnificent. Words can’t express how splendid it is.

The ceremony started on time with the Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes opening the proceedings and welcoming Grand Masters from 16 countries. The business was interesting, and the agenda was followed to the letter. There is increasing focus on mentoring, as it secures new candidates and helps to ensure they become lifelong members.

What was fascinating to see was the wide variety of regalia on display. Apart from the usual Provincial aprons and collars seen in lodge, each country had its own regalia. This really did impress on me the global scale of Freemasonry and that, despite each country’s differences, we are essentially the same.

I am now looking forward to taking my wife on one of the tours to show her one of the most impressive buildings in London.John De Lara Loyal Berkshire Lodge of Hope, No. 574Newbury, Berkshire

Sir,I agree with what Brother Cliff Messiter

stated in his letter to you in the Winter 2011 edition of Freemasonry Today, particularly in his quoting an extract from the Address to the Master. But, his point would be

stronger if, in defining a Freemason, the Oxford ritual was quoted, namely: ‘That he is one to whom the burdened heart may pour forth its sorrows and find consolation; to whom the distressed may pour forth his suit and find relief; whose hand...’ etc. The extra words indicate that a mason will take action and not just be passive.Sir Norman Lloyd-EdwardsProvincial Grand Master for South Wales

WidoWs sons

Sir,May I take this opportunity to thank

you for the article on the Widows Sons in the Winter 2011 edition, which made for a great read and is a positive contribution to our association.

Since the article appeared we have had a number of enquiries regarding the association. Some have mentioned that they have found it difficult to find contact information: [email protected] is the email address to enquire on.Peter YoungerWidows Sons Masonic Bikers Association Northumberland Chapter (www.wsmban.com)

Sir,I read with great interest of the Widows

Sons Masonic Bikers Association, as I am a founder member of the Square and Compasses Scooter Club, a club similar, but not (yet) as big, as the WSMBA. We started as a Facebook group in February 2011, and currently have more than forty members.

78

Around eight members met at Kelso Scooter Rally in May, and were kindly shown around Kelso Masonic Lodge. We ride Lambrettas and Vespas, and attend rallies all over the country.

Once we are more established we intend to meet at a lodge once a year in each of our Provinces. Should any readers have an interest in classic Italian scooters, or more modern ‘twist-and-gos’, they are welcome to join our ‘Square and Compasses Scooter Club’ group on Facebook. Paul HunterRosemary Lodge, No. 6421Newcastle upon Tyne Northumberland

previous issues

Sir,I was very interested in your article on

Paddy Mayne in the Winter 2011 issue of Freemasonry Today. I wonder if you had any research on Freemason Ernie Bond, who I am proud to claim as a Brother and friend. We were both members of Connaught Army and Navy Lodge, No. 748, until he passed away some years ago. He was also one of the Preceptors of the Grand Masters Lodge of Instruction and was a great ritualist.

Ernie had a similar war to Mayne, having been one of David Stirling’s original SAS team. Unfortunately, I am unable to tell you any details of his exploits as he rarely talked about his wartime experiences, which is typical of those who could tell us a great deal. Occasionally at the Festive

freemasonrytoday.co.uk 79

letters

Board he would relate minor details of some event in the desert or about the training that Stirling made them all do. I looked at the published photos but did not see him.

I can, though, add a little to his post-war history, in that when he retired from the Metropolitan Police he held the rank of Commander. He was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal 1972 and an OBE on retirement in 1976. He was also in charge of the police response to the Balkan Street Siege (an IRA attack in the 1970s). When the BBC show old news clips of this event Ernie can clearly be seen up front where the action was situated. He was a great guy and a very good mason. I hope this is of interest.Colin Spurr Prae Wood Lodge, No. 8919 St Albans, Hertfordshire Sir,

Having been away for a few months travelling by motorhome in Canada, I was able at last on my return to the UK to read the Spring 2011 edition of Freemasonry Today. What a difference it is to past editions – a delight to read, with so many interesting pages. My wife also picked it up and read it from cover to cover. As followers of Spooks, we were both surprised to read that Freemasons’ Hall has been used over the past decade as its MI5 headquarters. We hadn’t realised that at all. Keep up the high standards.Kevin CardyForget-Me-Not Lodge, No. 903Ludgershall, Wiltshire

‘it mAkes my HeArt GlAd to knoW tHAt suCH An HistoriC vessel Will Be AppreCiAted By AnotHer GenerAtion oF CHildren’stEvEn Grimshaw

Sir,I want say how much I enjoy reading

your magazine each month, and particularly the last edition, containing the article about HMS Trincomalee.

As a schoolboy in the early 1960s, I was among a fortunate group from Bolton Grammar School who were ‘billeted’ on the ship for two weeks during the summer holidays. The ship was called the TS Foudroyant at the time and was moored in Gosport harbour. Although afloat, most of her masts had been removed and she had little rigging. We young adventurers quickly adopted her as our home, and enjoyed the novelty of sleeping in hammocks and eating at galley tables suspended under the deck.

Our youthful exuberance was kept in check by a formidable bosun called ‘Sharky’, who would pipe us to and from our activities and terrify any boy who tarried. Apart from scrubbing decks and polishing brasses, we had daily PE and games. The highlight for me was sailing a dinghy out into the Solent past the gargantuan hull of decommissioned aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal.

It makes my heart glad that such an historic vessel will be appreciated by another generation of children, and Hartlepool is now on my list of must-see destinations!Steven Grimshaw Cuerden Lodge, No. 6018 Leyland, West Lancashire

Sir, I was extremely interested to read

the ‘Historical Millstones’ reflection by John Hamill in the Winter 2011 issue of

Freemasonry Today. This is a subject on which I have long held strong convictions.

I wholeheartedly support his thoughts. There is, in addition to John’s comments, one aspect that I have put forward many times in the past. Smaller, more local masonic meeting halls lend themselves to involving Freemasons in the communities in which they reside, which are the sources of their Entered Apprentices. The doors of small, local masonic halls should be opened to the local community to demonstrate that Freemasons are part of it and that their halls are not places to be frowned upon. Indeed, the very idea of a masonic centre militates against the concept of openness. If communities of non-masons continually see men in black suits with black cases driving or walking into large, sometimes forbidding, old buildings with large gates closing behind them, often in the dark, it becomes the breeding ground for the unfounded suspicions that have hounded our meetings for many years.

In my experience, limited as it is, it is the small, local halls which prove to have few if any financial problems, and the masonic centres that do. Masonic centres can be an excellent means of providing a home for a large number of lodges. But if the upkeep is beyond the means of the membership who use the building, then it seems very pertinent to actively consider using a small local hall, as was the case for most lodges 100 to 150 years ago. Martin DowrickFernhill Lodge, No. 7707 New Milton, Hampshire and Isle of Wight


As we begin the countdown to the tercentenary celebrations of Grand Lodge in 2017, a great deal of research is being undertaken to establish how Freemasonry

has developed and what we have contributed to society. Despite nearly one hundred and fifty years of serious masonic research, we have yet to answer the questions of why, when and where Freemasonry as we understand it originated. Even with the great amount of work going on now, I doubt if those answers will be found by 2017.

There is another question, to my mind, as important and interesting as that of our origins: why has Freemasonry survived on the scale to which it exists today? Those four London lodges that came together in 1717 cannot in their wildest imaginings have thought that three hundred years later their Grand Lodge would have in excess of 250,000 members in more than 8,000 lodges across the world.

We regard Freemasonry as being something special and different. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, however, it was only one of a myriad of fraternal and benevolent societies and associations. Many of them copied Freemasonry in their organisation and use of ceremony and regalia. For the majority, the benevolent and charitable aspects predominated and the ritual became less important. Most of them completely disappeared in the twentieth century as the developing welfare state began to offer the safety net they had provided. Freemasonry, however, flourished.

For much of the eighteenth century Freemasonry was not so different from many other organisations. The ceremonies, while they attempted to instil a basic moral code, were often seen as simply a curious means of entering what was basically a social and benevolent association. The watershed came in the aftermath of the Union of the two Grand Lodges

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REFLECTION

on 27 December 1813. A great deal of reorganisation and standardisation took place that resulted in the ceremonies, and above all the meaning behind them, becoming the basis of the institution itself.

This fundamental shift in emphasis was the first step in ensuring the survival of Freemasonry. It demonstrated an ability – sometimes deliberate and almost accidental at others – to adapt Freemasonry to its era. Changes were always made to the outward customs and never to the basic principles, tenets and landmarks of the Order. These are rightly seen as the essence of Freemasonry and are inalienable.

dEEpER REasONs

There are, however, deeper reasons as to why we are still a living organisation. Grand Lodge has always refused to define or explain the meaning of the several ceremonies. This has prevented the rise of any form of dogma. It is up to the individual to make their own journey and to find their own understanding. Hence, the membership forms a wide spectrum, from those who simply view it as a social opportunity to those who, wrongly, believe it will provide the answer to all of life’s questions!

Freemasonry has a breadth that appeals to those who are seeking friendship and moral guidance; an opportunity to be of service within the community; a quiet haven for a few hours from the troubles of the world; or just the pure, simple enjoyment in being in the company of like-minded people.

After forty years of study I remain convinced that, whatever fate may throw at Freemasonry – and provided we remain true to our principles yet adaptable to our times, and retain the breadth of our membership – the Order will survive. It will continue to give to future generations the pleasure that we and our predecessors have found in it.

the essence in changeFreemasonry has thrived for centuries because it adapts while staying true to its principles, as Director of Special Projects John Hamill explains

Freemasonry Today - Spring 2012

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