Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
3.50
HEALTH OF A NATION
Supporting cutting-edge research at the Royal College of Surgeons p42
WELCOME
not change the word in the context that it was said, but what I meant was that I nd Freemasonry enjoyable and rewarding. Another example of describing Freemasonry comes from one of the pieces from our ritual that ends with being happy and communicating that. Happy is another word that can mean many things but I know as Freemasons we can embrace it. I hope you will nd something to make you feel happy among the features that make up this issue. Worcester Cathedrals rst female stonemason apprentice reveals how masonic support is helping her. As the Royal Arch marks its two-hundredth anniversary in 2013, we look at how members and the chapters are helping the Royal College of Surgeons. And as smaller charities struggle in this economic climate, we shine a light on how Freemasons are helping swimming pools stay open, challenging discrimination and supporting air ambulances. ese are all stories that show Freemasonry at its best.
Nigel Brown Grand Secretary
freemasonrytoday.com
CONTENTS
The Board of Grand Lodge Publications Ray Reed, Robin Furber, Graham Rudd Publishing Director Nigel Brown Editorial Panel Karen Haigh, John Hamill, Susan Henderson, John Jackson, Siobhan McCarthy Editor Luke Turton Consultant Editor Michael Baigent Published by August Media Ltd for The United Grand Lodge of England, Freemasons Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ Editorial Freemasonry Today, Freemasons Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ editor@ugle.org.uk Advertising contact Freemasonry Today, Madison Bell Ltd, 20 Orange Street, London WC2 7EF Will Hurrell Tel: 020 7389 0848 Email: will.hurrell@ madisonbell.com Jerry Hall Tel: 07792 909 275 Email: jerry.hall@ madisonbell.com Circulation 0844 879 4961 fmt@ugle.org.uk Masonic enquiries editor@ugle.org.uk www.ugle.org.uk 020 7831 9811 Printed by Artisan Press Grand Lodge Publications Ltd 2013. 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.
18
32
26
48
62
42
GRAND SECRETARY
Nigel Brown welcomes you to the spring issue
3 6 18
42
LOFTY AMBITIONS
Tabby Kinder nds out how Freemason support has helped pave the way for Worcester Cathedrals rst female stonemason
ON LOCATION
Ellie Fazan goes behind the scenes at Freemasons Hall to see how the venue balances its lm career with the responsibilities of the Craft
48
SENIOR INSIGHTS
Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes explains why Freemasonry must remember its history while embracing the future
25
COMMUNITY CHEST
56
A look at how donations from Freemasons across the UK are helping local charities continue their work
62
A HELPING HAND
Luke Turton meets Les Hutchinson to nd out about his work at the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys
A few years ago the Allied Arts Lodge was on the verge of folding. Tim Arnold explains how his brethren survived and how theyre planning for the future
PEFC/16-33-444
31
CHARITIES UPDATE
How Freemasons are helping out around the UK
67 73
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)
AN EXCLUSIVE TOUR
Philip Davies investigates the hidden interiors of some of Londons most interesting buildings
LETTERS 39
Your opinions on the world of Freemasonry
75 82
5
Cover image: Greg Funnell This page: Jude Edgington, Greg Funnell, Derek Kendall, The Advertising Archive, BBC Photo Library
REACHING OUT
Caitlin Davies looks into how a special new lodge is keeping older Freemasons involved in the Craft
REFLECTION
John Hamill reects on freedom and tolerance
freemasonrytoday.com
honouring tradition
18
HONOURING TRADITION
freemasonrytoday.com
19
HONOURING TRADITION
IVE GOT THE CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ONLY PERSONALLY FULFILLING BUT ALSO MAKES MY FAMILY PROUD. ITS A CAREER CLOSE TO MY HEART
The risk paid off when, in August last year, Emily beat forty-five other applicants to win the apprenticeship at Worcester Cathedral. The head of my course recommended I went for it, but I didnt think Id hear back. It was nerve-wracking. When I found out I had been shortlisted, I was over the moon. For Darren, Emily stood out as a strong candidate: We had a tremendous amount of interest in the apprenticeship, but Emily came out on top as she showed the passion and enthusiasm in stonemasonry as a career that I was looking for.
PRESERVING HISTORY
erched on a dusty block of stone, Emily is fresh-faced and buoyed from the mornings assessment with her tutor from City of Bath College. Its just a few degrees above freezing in the drafty workshop that leans against the south-east side of Worcester Cathedral, but Emily doesnt seem to mind. Clasping a chisel in her gloved hand, she absent-mindedly smudges dust on her fleece with the other. I didnt know whether to dress up or not for the photos, she says, so I just wore my normal work stuff. Chatting to a colleague, a man about twenty years her senior, Emily is charming and sincere. Her youthful presence and the jovial atmosphere of the workshop contrast with the dignified serenity of the cathedral. Its my dream job, she enthuses later, now in the warmth of the on-site office. Her face flushes with the pride she has in her newfound career; its her passion for the trade that won her the position as Worcester Cathedrals first female stonemason apprentice.
Although Emilys grandfather died when she was just twelve, she credits him as the main influence in her career path. He was a mechanical engineer and an illustrator, so his trade was very hands-on and creative but also industrious. Its clear I get a lot of my passion for stonemasonry from him, she says. Coincidentally, Emilys grandfather was also a Freemason at a chapter in Devon. For Emily, the fact that Freemasons are providing the funding for her apprenticeship proves she is on the right track: Ive got the chance to do something that is not only personally fulfilling but also makes my family proud. I only have memories of my granddad from when I was a child, but my work brings me very close to him as I feel like its something that he would have liked me to do. Its a career thats very close to my heart. Restoring a cathedral as grand in size and splendour as Worcester is an endless task. By the time youve gone half way round, the bit behind you has started falling apart again, says Darren. The work being carried out is particularly impressive because the conservation team at Worcester Cathedral does not use power tools at any stage of the restoration process. Even for the stonemason industry, Emily says, this is rare: Its sometimes frustrating, but very fulfilling creating something that matters using your hands.
20
HONOURING TRADITION
Emily with the cathedrals master mason, Darren Steele, under whose tutorage she is learning the craft of stonemasonry
freemasonrytoday.com
21
HONOURING TRADITION
YOU BENEFIT FROM HAVING A HANDS-ON APPROACH AS YOU RESPECT THE STONE MORE. YOU WANT TO MAKE IT PERFECT
Using traditional techniques means that achieving something as straightforward as a flat surface becomes an art form in itself for Emily and her team. In order to actually work something by hand and make something that is technically perfect, you have to have respect for the building, she says. Theres an argument that you can get the same job done twice as fast by using power tools, but I think its important to keep traditional hand skills alive. In a building like this you benefit from having a hands-on approach as you respect the stone more. You want to make it perfect.
LOFTY AMBITIONS
In 2010, Darren and his counterparts founded the Cathedral Workshop Fellowship, a partnership of eight Anglican cathedrals Worcester, Gloucester, Lincoln, Canterbury, York Minster, Winchester, Salisbury and Durham created to develop the professional training of new and experienced stonemasons. This unique community, of which Prince Charles is patron, has developed a qualification championing traditional hand crafts, as well as an exchange programme to allow apprentices to move between the countrys cathedrals to try working on different types of stone. Darren has arranged for Emily to spend a fortnight at Salisbury Cathedral in the spring to hone her carving, a skill in which she has shown promise. For the past twenty years, the Provincial Grand Lodge of Worcestershire has aimed to ensure that Worcester Cathedral always has an apprentice stonemason in training. Its a worthy ambition but also costly 25,000 over five years. Provincial Grand Master of Worcestershire Richard Goddard says: I think its very important that we support our heritage and also our roots. We have had a close relationship with the cathedral for more than one hundred and fifty years and its something we should continue to support. Emilys first major contribution to the restoration of the cathedral is a large restorative phase on the library parapet wall. She took a sixteenth-century weather-worn coping stone and reworked and replaced it. Emilys still coming to terms with the sheer scale of work her job entails, but the rewards of contributing to a piece of history make it more than worthwhile. I thrive on the pressure of working with the knowledge that whatever I add could be there for another thousand years.
Emily in the cathedral with Richard Goddard, Provincial Grand Master of Worcestershire (left), and her mentor Darren Steele
MASONIC LEGACY
Freemasonry in Worcestershire has a long connection with the cathedral, and the masons contributed greatly to the restoration in Victorian times. e west end of the north aisle of the cathedral is the home of a oor slab monument commemorating Bishop Ernest Harold Pearce, a Freemason and the founding Master of St Werstan Lodge, No. 4004, in 1919. He was appointed Grand Chaplain to the United Grand Lodge of England in 1914. e last window in the north wall before the north transept, dating back to 1862, shows three stained-glass gures. e gures represent Fides, Spes and Caritas, which translate as faith, hope and charity the three principles that are supported by Freemasonry. e lower panels of the window also contain masonic symbols.
22
SENIOR INSIGHTS
STRENGTH TO STRENGTH
Reecting on the need to recruit new members, Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes explains why Freemasonry should remember its history while keeping an eye rmly on the future
Second Degree ceremony being performed. I can almost hear you all thinking that they would have spent hours rehearsing. Not so, as they didnt know that I was coming. e reason for mentioning this is that in the reply for the visitors, the brother speaking referred to the Craft as an altruistic society. Altruism is one of those words that I have often heard used and possibly even used myself without having been completely sure of its meaning. e dictionary denition is regard for others as a principle of actionandits rather a good description for a lot of what Freemasonry is about. If we can instil this ethos into our candidates, we wont go far wrong. Of course, it is not all that we are about, but it is not a bad starting point as it should naturally lead to a practice of brotherly love, relief and truth, which in itself leads on to our charitable giving. During the past year, the Festivals for our charities in our Provinces have raised a total of nearly 10m, of which Leicestershire and Rutland raised 1.7m for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution; Warwickshire raised 3.16m for the Masonic Samaritan Fund; Cambridgeshire raised 1.285m for the Grand Charity; and Devonshire raised 3.836m for the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys. I hope that our membership, as a whole, is far more familiar with the activities of our charities than might have been the case twenty or so years ago. e charities promotion of their activities is excellent and the Freemasonry Cares campaign has enlightened many people at home and abroad about what support is available. While three of our charities are masonic in their giving, the Grand Charity has a wide brief for giving to non-masonic bodies, provided that they are also charities. Not everyone appreciates this aspect, or how much money is involved, and we should be quick to point it out. We should be proud of our history, but it is of paramount importance that we look forward and ensure that we go from strength to strength in the future, in both numbers and our usefulness to the society in which we live.
aving nished the two yearly regional conferences with Provincial Grand Masters, I can report that one consistent theme was a determination to see our numbers on the increase by 2017. Indeed, in one or two cases this has already started, which means that perhaps we are getting some things right. I have frequently said that we must not be looking for new candidates simply for the sake of increasing numbers, but if we can start this increase with the right candidates there should be a knock-on eect. Enthusing new members is of paramount importance and we heard in the last issue from Edward Lord and Julian Soper about the work of the Universities Scheme. I have asked the Universities Scheme Committee to think about how we can best implement some of the principles that were mentioned across the whole Craft. Recruiting and retaining young candidates is our most important task and I am condent that those who have made the Universities Scheme successful can help us with this important challenge. However, this is not just down to them and we must all pull our weight in this respect.
ALTRUISTIC SOCIETY
At the end of last year, I visited my great grandfathers mother lodge in Hertfordshire and a splendid occasion it was, with a nearly faultless
freemasonrytoday.com
25
FIRST PERSON
18
FIRST PERSON
A LIFE IN TRUST
HOW DID YOU FIRST HEAR ABOUT THE RMTGB?
In the 1980s the face of masonic charitable support for children underwent a major change. Previously there had been two childrens charities a girls charity and a boys charity and they had come together to form the trust as we now know it. Having identied a need for additional skills within the new organisation, a letter was sent to every masonic Province asking: Do any of your members have a son or daughter who is educated to A-level standard, capable of completing a degree and interested in a career in accountancy or management? My father was an active Freemason in Cheshire and North Wales and heard about the vacancies. I applied and joined the trust as a management trainee in January 1988.
Photography: Greg Funnell
As the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys celebrates its two hundred and twentyfth year, Chief Executive Les Hutchinson explains how the charity has evolved
27
FIRST PERSON
WE ARE CURRENTLY HELPING AROUND TWO THOUSAND CHILDREN. LAST YEAR WE RECEIVED THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF NEW APPLICATIONS SINCE THE TRUST WAS FORMED
28
FIRST PERSON
Chevalier Bartholomew Ruspini leads a procession of orphaned girls into Grand Lodge
Les Hutchinson would like families to ask for help before they reach breaking point
29
MASONS ON PARADE
At almost eight-hundred years old, the Lord Mayors Show is a part of Londons history. In 2012, Freemasons joined the parade in full regalia
he inauguration of the Lord Mayor of the City of London and the associated public parade, known as the Lord Mayors Show, is a keenly anticipated annual event. In 2012, the six hundred and eighty-fth Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Roger Giord, took oce on 9 November in the Silent Ceremony, before leaving the City of London the following morning to travel to the Royal Courts of Justice to swear loyalty to the Crown. Its a procession that dates back to 1215 when King John made the Mayor of London one of Englands rst elected oces. Every year the newly elected mayor would have to present himself at court and swear loyalty, travelling up-river to the small town of Westminster to give his oath. e Lord Mayor has made that journey almost every year since, despite plague, re and wars, in order to pledge loyalty to thirty-four kings and queens of England. Freemasons have been part of the procession in the Lord Mayors Show for a number of years, but last year, for the rst time since 1937, the brethren marched in full regalia with their own banners as well as a group banner. Each sponsoring lodge had its name and number on its banner together with an area of need supported by masonic charities in London. With a positive reception from the crowd and reasonablygood weather for November, this was a day to remember for those marching and viewing.
freemasonrytoday.com
31
HERITAGE
London Hidden Interiors author Philip Davies gives an exclusive tour around some of the capitals best conserved and least known interiors including Freemasons Hall
FROM 1940 TO 1946 THE TUNNELS WERE USED TO STORE VALUABLES FROM THE BRITISH MUSEUM
32
Aldwych Station, designed by Leslie Green, was originally called Strand (top); the eerie, abandoned tunnels (bottom)
HERITAGE
NO EXPENSE WAS SPARED ON THE SUMPTUOUS INTERIOR, WITH BRONZE, MOSAIC AND STAINED GLASS IMBUED WITH MASONIC SYMBOLISM
FREEMASONS HALL
The sumptuous interiors of Freemasons Hall, which is faced in Portland stone (top and middle); the Grand Temple (bottom)
freemasonrytoday.com
33
HERITAGE
VICTORIA HOUSE
Some of the worst poverty in London was previously to be found yards from the site of Freemasons Hall. The shocking mortality rates of Victorian Britain prompted the less fortunate to form burial clubs, so they could afford a decent funeral for their loved ones as an alternative to the paupers grave. The early societies were unregulated. Many collapsed from mismanagement or fraud, but a number of reputable societies emerged, one of which was the Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society. Formed as a burial society in 1843, its business was based on penny policies collected door-to-door. Like several other societies, Liverpool Victoria grew into a huge financial institution, the sheer opulence of its building rivalling those of the great banks. Victoria House, the headquarters of Liverpool Victoria, involved the clearance of an entire street block of Georgian houses on the east side of Bloomsbury Square, making way for the huge Grecian-style, Beaux Arts palace. Designed by Charles W Long and erected over thirteen years between 1921 and 1934, it exuded the twin values of dignity and security, as expected of the headquarters of the great financial institutions. Beneath the heroic marble entrance hall is a large basement ballroom, fitted out in Art Deco style with chrome, silver leaf and mauve-coloured lighting a sharp contrast to the chaste Greek classicism of the upper floors. A suite of mahoganypanelled Grecian-style boardrooms are found on the third floor, some of which have eighteenthcentury marble chimney pieces salvaged from the houses that once stood on the site. Shortlisted in 1998 as a potential new City Hall for the Mayor of London, it was refurbished by Will Alsop, retaining the historic interiors.
The Grecian-style exterior and marble entrance hall of Victoria House (top and middle); the Art Deco-style ballroom (bottom)
IT EXUDED THE TWIN VALUES OF DIGNITY AND SECURITY, AS EXPECTED OF THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE GREAT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
35
freemasonrytoday.com
HERITAGE
SUTCLIFFES LEGACY IS A COLLECTION OF MORE THAN EIGHTEEN THOUSAND ITEMS A FASCINATING JUXTAPOSITION OF OLD AND NEW OBJECTS
36
The museum is full of ophthalmic curios, from celebrities spectacles to early night-vision goggles (top); the Georgian facade (bottom)
HERITAGE
THE SUPERB SHOPFRONT AND INTERIOR IS A BEAUTIFULLY PRESERVED EXAMPLE OF A HIGHCLASS VICTORIAN WEST END SHOP
The shop is stocked with an array of canes, sticks and umbrellas (top); the beautifully preserved Victorian exterior (bottom)
freemasonrytoday.com
37
LODGE PROFILE
As the Universities Scheme recruits younger members, Caitlin Davies reports on how older Freemasons are staying involved in the Craft
hree years ago, Steward Philip Hadlow heard some interesting news. Plans were afoot for a new lodge in Bedfordshire, one that would be geared towards keeping elderly Freemasons involved in the Craft. The Provincial Grand Master, Michael Sawyer, and the provincial team realised we were not doing enough for our more elderly brethren, he explains. Many have mobility problems, which means its difficult getting to meetings. We were looking after them when they were ill, supporting their family, but there was a need for something more proactive. In recent years Freemasonry has been keen to recruit younger members, but that doesnt mean elders should be forgotten. And so Bedfordshires youngest lodge, the Michael Sawyer Lodge of Reunion, No. 9848, was born. Philip became involved because he thought it a fantastic idea. The lodge began in 2009 and meets twice a year on a Saturday lunchtime, as some people are not keen to eat late or to go out at night at all. Philip doesnt know of any similar scheme, and theres been interest in the project from other Provinces. While some members were already being picked up and taken to meetings by younger members, the lodge wanted to do more. So people were identified, sent invitations and offered travel arrangements in some cases for a fifty-mile round trip.
freemasonrytoday.com
39
LODGE PROFILE
WHEN THEY COME OUT WITH A SMILE ON THEIR FACE AND SAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH, IVE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME, THATS WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT Philip Hadlow
The lodge doesnt do masonic work meetings open with a welcome, then a lecture and the Festive Board. One of the annual meetings is held in Luton, the other in another Bedfordshire centre. John Cathrine, Provincial Information Officer, is a founder member of the Michael Sawyer Lodge and last years Worshipful Master. Its such a great idea. Its something that was missing from our Province. People get to the stage where they cant drive to meetings and they drift away from masonry.
40
Photography: Anna Bryukhanova/Getty Images. Image used for illustration purposes only
A MATTER OF PATIENTS
As the Royal Arch marks its two-hundredth anniversary in 2013, Sophie Radice looks at how members and the chapters have been supporting the Royal College of Surgeons in groundbreaking medical research
Photography: Greg Funnell
42
freemasonrytoday.com
43
SCHEMES SUCH AS THE SURGICAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP ARE INVALUABLE FOR SURGEONS William Dawes
and bleed. The younger and smaller the baby, the higher the risk. Our research will look at ways of making the cells that survive the bleed perform better so that the damage will be minimised.
t the Blizard Institute of Cell and Molecular Science in London, William Dawes is trying to find out how to lessen the damage done to premature newborn babies who have suffered a stroke. Part of the surgical research fellowships scheme run by the Royal College of Surgeons, Dawes is just one of the medical pioneers in the UK whose work has been funded by Freemasons. From investigating how to prevent acute kidney injury during major heart surgery through to exploring how to decrease mortality rates following traumatic brain injury, the fellowships scheme will be benefitting from financial support given by the Royal Arch Masons 2013 Bicentenary Appeal. The fundraising exercise aims to provide a permanent reminder of the Supreme Grand Chapters full emergence two hundred years ago by its future relationship with the Royal College of Surgeons. Schemes such as the surgical research fellowship are invaluable for surgeons, says Dawes, who is also being supported by Sparks, the childrens medical charity. The research we have been funded for will look at ways of lessening the damage done to the brains of premature newborns who have bleeding into the ventricles of the brain. Our focus is a collection of tiny, fragile blood vessels in the germinal matrix, which is the area of brain adjacent to the wall of the ventricles. These blood vessels are vulnerable to fluctuations in blood flow, which can cause them to rupture
William Dawes is working on vital medical research at the Blizard Institute in London, thanks to funding from the Royal Arch Masons
freemasonrytoday.com
45
Like William Dawes, Nishith Patel and Angelos Kolias have made presentations to chapters throughout the UK to discuss their vital research work
BODIES OF WORK
NISHITH PATEL
RESEARCH TITLE: ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY FOLLOWING HEART SURGERY LOCATION: BRISTOL HEART INSTITUTE, BRISTOL ROYAL INFIRMARY
I first heard about the fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons and I jumped at the chance to apply. It is very competitive, with a four-part application process, because so many surgeons want the chance to kick-start vital research in their surgical area. We are looking at the way two different methods can prevent acute kidney injury during major heart surgery. The first method is a drug trial and the second is to put the blood through an automated washer during surgery to prevent organ injury. We looked at the blood used in blood transfusions and found that some of it had gone off because it had been stored too long. Putting blood through an automated washer to remove toxins could be very useful for all those who need blood transfusions and so that has become part of our research too. I was surprised that the Freemasons funded these fellowships because I knew very little about them. I have since given presentations to small groups of Freemasons and found that they not only asked very detailed and intelligent questions but that they also seem to really appreciate and understand our work when we explain it to them. I have found the Freemasons to be very decent and down-to-earth people who are open to hearing complex medical explanations, which is very refreshing. I so appreciate the opportunity they have given me.
Angelos Kolias, pictured above, is looking into whether the blockage of large veins inside the head contributes to brain swelling after head injuries
ANGELOS KOLIAS
RESEARCH TITLE: TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY: THE ROLE OF VEINS LOCATION: ADDENBROOKES HOSPITAL AND UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
I heard about the fellowship from my supervisor, Peter Hutchinson, who was himself supported by a Freemasons fellowship during his PhD. Peter is now a reader and honorary consultant in neurosurgery at the University of Cambridge and Addenbrookes Hospital. Head injuries still claim the highest toll in terms of lost lives and disability for those under the age of forty. The aim of my research project is to examine whether blockage of the large veins inside the head is contributing to the brain swelling after head injuries. Research in patients suffering from another condition that leads to high pressure inside the head has shown that quite a few of these patients have blockage of the veins. A novel way of dealing with this problem is the insertion of a stent, which is an artificial tube, inside the blocked vein. As a result of this, the pressure inside the head is reduced and the patient gets better. This treatment was developed in Cambridge about ten years ago. Essentially, my research project aims to find out whether a similar mechanism applies to patients with severe head injuries. So far we have some promising results showing that about one-third of those who have a severe head injury and skull fracture develop blockage of the veins. Without the help of the Freemasons, we would not have been able to undertake this kind of research we are very grateful for all their help and support.
WITHOUT THE HELP OF THE FREEMASONS, WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO UNDERTAKE THIS KIND OF RESEARCH Angelos Kolias
46
48
HALL OF FAME
From e Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy to Spooks, the stunning corridors, Grand Temple and distinctive exteriors of Freemasons Hall have played a crucial supporting role on screen. Ellie Fazan goes behind the scenes
freemasonrytoday.com
49
n 2009 a member of the public, concerned by the presence of American soldiers loitering on the steps of Freemasons Hall, phoned the police in panic. Had the relationship between the UK and US broken down? Were the soldiers about to declare the Hall a forward operations base? We were lming with Matt Damon for Green Zone, remembers Karen Haigh, Head of Events, who has overseen the lm career of Freemasons Hall thus far. While things can get surreal, her rst priority is to ensure lming does not obstruct the Halls primary function. So while Matt Damon was saving the world downstairs, meetings were going on upstairs as usual. Karen has been working with Jenny Cooper from Film London to promote Freemasons Hall as a location. Funded by the Mayor of London and e National Lottery through the British Film Institute, and supported by the Arts Council England and Creative Skillset, Film London operates as the citys lm agency. It works to promote London as a major international production centre, attracting investment from Hollywood and beyond. e agency looks after the capitals most iconic backdrops, including e Savoy hotel and Kings Cross St Pancras station, but the Hall has also become a star, playing MI5s base, gentlemens clubs and even Buckingham Palace. Its versatile nature and exible, friendly management, as well as the unique and lavish interior and central London location, have made it a rm favourite over the past ten years, says Cooper. In 2012 Film London launched a tiered membership scheme, of which Freemasons Hall is a Gold Member, but the relationship goes back much further. Cooper explains: Around seven years ago we got organisations, including the United Grand Lodge of England, to agree to work with Film London in promoting the city as a lm-friendly destination. e response has been tremendous with a notable rise in lming in London, where seventy-ve per cent of the UK industry is now based, making it the third busiest production city behind New York and LA. So expect sightings of US soldiers and alien landings to become more common on Great Queen Street.
TAKE FIVE
ese days youre almost as likely to see Robert Downey Jr in Freemasons Hall as another Freemason. Karen Haigh picks her top ve lms and TV shows at the Hall over the past ten years
1. GREEN ZONE (2010)
The high-octane war thriller starring Matt Damon used the Hall as a bombed-out palace in Baghdad. For this role the building had a bit of a make-under, with debris everywhere and blown-out wires hanging from walls. It was a great example of how even when a huge Hollywood production is here, our first priority is that the Hall can function for its members, says Karen. So while Matt Damon was running around saving the world downstairs, there was a big provincial meeting going on upstairs.
ITS UNIQUE AND LAVISH INTERIOR AND CENTRAL LONDON LOCATION HAVE MADE FREEMASONS HALL A FIRM FAVOURITE Jenny Cooper
freemasonrytoday.com
51
JOHNNY ENGLISH WAS SUCH A FUN FILM. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I THOUGHT, THIS COULD REALLY WORK Karen Haigh
Matthew Macfadyen, Miranda Raison and Peter Firth on Great Queen Street Robert Downey Jr on set as Holmes
2. SPOOKS (2002-2011)
Freemasons Hall played MI5 headquarters Thames House in this clever and compelling spy drama, focusing on the undercover work of a team of super spies. It was amazing to have a starring role in such a groundbreaking TV show. It showcased the Hall in such a fabulous way, recalls Karen. The only downside of being so involved in the production of the show, she says, was that the traditional end-of-series cliffhanger never had quite the same impact for her.
Photography: BBC Photo Library, Silver Pictures/The Kobal Collection, Movie Store Collection, Capital Pictures
52
LODGE SUPPORT
n 2012, donations to charity in the UK fell by twenty per cent, with 1.7bn less being given by British people between 2011 and 2012. A report by the Charities Aid Foundation and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations suggests that small and medium sized charities are suering most as voluntary donations rather than National Lottery or state fundingtend to make up a larger proportion of their total income. e report, which surveyed 3,000 people, says that charities in Britain now face a deeply worrying nancial situation. e Freemasons recognise the importance of supporting smaller charities. ese charities may be small, but their projects and services can provide lifelines for people meeting very specic needs that full priorities often overlooked by the public sector and larger charities. Since 1981 e Freemasons Grand Charity has donated more than 50 million to national charities, with grants going towards funding medical research, helping vulnerable people and supporting youth opportunities. It now sets aside 100,000 every year for small donations of between 500 and 5,000 to under-funded causes around the country, which often prove vital to their continued operation. e charitys allocation for providing minor grants to small charities doubled from 50,000 to 100,000 in 2010 following a marked increase in the number of applications the charity was receiving from smaller organisations. It was clear that the increase in applications was a result of the economic climate,
Freemasonry Today spoke to four charities that have received invaluable financial support from Freemasons in 2012.
56
with smaller charities nding themselves worse o, says Laura Chapman, Chief Executive of the Grand Charity, pleased by the decision to increase the grant budget. It meant we could reach out to more smaller charities, making a bigger impact during what has clearly been a dicult year. Helping small and community-focused causes is not just the domain of the Grand Charity. Local Provinces and lodges donated a huge amount to charity in 2012, around 5 million of which was reported by local newspapers. Freemasons are community-minded and this is demonstrated by the local lodges that frequently donate to smaller charities, says Laura. Neil Potter, Provincial Information Ocer at the Provincial Grand Lodge of Nottinghamshire, believes that contributing to small causes is not only hugely benecial to the community, but is also a way for Freemasons to show what they stand for. Charitable giving is a great opportunity to break down the barriers that seem to have been put up over the years regarding the public and masonic relationship, and to let everyone know exactly what we do, says Neil. Our main concern is helping people who are less fortunate than us and it all comes from the members pockets. We make voluntary contributions, hold fundraising events and enjoy doing it.
LODGE SUPPORT
freemasonrytoday.co.uk
57
LODGE SUPPORT
THE GRANT WE RECEIVED FROM THE FREEMASONS IS BEING USED IN THE REHABILITATION THROUGH SPORTS TRAINING PROGRAMMES Edwin Thomas
THE BRITISH EX-SERVICES WHEELCHAIR SPORTS ASSOCIATION
FUNDED BY THE GRAND CHARITY
e British Ex-Services Wheelchair Sports Association (BEWSA) enables injured ex-service personnel to take part in sports, building friendship and camaraderie. BEWSA describes itself as not an organisation for the disabled, but of the disabled. e Grand Charity has long supported charities that provide help and assistance to ex-members of the Armed Services, says the Grand Charitys Laura Chapman. It is a popular cause within Freemasonry. rough our minor grant funding we aim to support small charities that full needs not easily accessible elsewhere, just like BEWSA. In May last year, the Grand Charity donated 1,500 to the charity, enabling nationwide support to continue for active disabled veterans. e grant we received from the Freemasons is being used in the rehabilitation through sports training programmes, says Edwin omas, BEWSA chairman. One weekend a month, the charity books the sport facilities at the Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering RAF centre in Cosford, West Midlands, and ex-service wheelchair users are invited to join in wheelchair sporting events. If they are comfortable in their chosen sport and wish to take training to the next level, then BEWSA is there to provide the encouragement, the training and the sports equipment required to participate, says omas.
JUSTDIFFERENT
JustDierent is a perfect example of a small organisation carrying out big work, says Laura. Toby Hewson, who has cerebral palsy, founded the charity to change social attitudes towards disability. It runs workshops in schools that are delivered by disabled young adults employed by the charity. Todays young people are tomorrows employers, policymakers and educators. JustDierent believes that changing attitudes in the young is the best way to achieve long-term social change, says Laura. Harassment, bullying and discrimination are all sadly part of our society, says Karen McLachlan, fundraiser at JustDierent. e workshops give young people the capacity to challenge discrimination. Our work encourages and educates young people to be understanding and tolerant. JustDierent has received acclaim for its techniques and schoolchildren engage with the workshop presenters with open-minded enthusiasm. Katie, a Year Six pupil, told the workshop presenter: At rst I felt sorry for you, but by the end of the workshop I felt more condent to talk to people like you. It changed my attitude towards disabled people. A grant of 5,000 made to the charity in May has helped the workshop reach 1,388 children. To teach young people that disabled people can achieve, participate and lead is the ultimate goal of JustDierent and this is something the Grand Charity is very happy to support, says Laura.
freemasonrytoday.co.uk
59
LODGE SUPPORT
Durham Freemasons have provided regular funding for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) over the years. While GNAAS has become a leading healthcare charity, its funding relies entirely on voluntary donations. We receive no lottery or government funding, but were proud to say that when we receive donations, one hundred per cent goes towards providing the life-saving service, says Mandy Drake, deputy director of public liaison at the charity. Michael Graham, Provincial Information Ocer at Durham, believes support for the charity comes from a personal feeling within the Province: With many lodges in rural areas, a lot of our members have rsthand experience of, or have witnessed, the amazing job that air ambulances do, he says. Our members are always very keen to support GNAAS. Michael estimates that the Durham Province has donated more than 25,000 to GNAAS. We purchased two rapid response vehicles at around 12,000 each, and the Mark Degree bought another, so there are three units that are totally funded by the Freemasons, he says proudly. Funding air ambulance charities is a very popular cause with Freemasons, demonstrated by the Grand Charitys air ambulance grant programme, which is strongly supported throughout the Provinces.
Around twenty per cent of the charities supported by the Nottinghamshire Province in 2012 had lost council funding. is was true of e Lenton Centre, a swimming pool and community leisure facility that Nottingham City Council decided to close down due to budget cuts, despite strong local opposition. Following a campaign, e Lenton Community Association took over the centre, with funding from private donors and charitable organisations. e centre is run as a social enterprise and last year received 20,000 from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Nottinghamshire to fund a multi-use childrens area. Its a charity that we consider is doing a lot to help local people, says Neil Potter, Provincial Information Ocer in the Province. With local authorities having such restraints on their budgets, they nd it increasingly dicult to support local charities, so our involvement in the community is becoming more important each month. Nicci Robinson, project manager of the children and young peoples team based at the centre, says the donation will help create a games area that can be used for sports such as football and cricket. Its a substantial chunk of what we need. e money has helped get a long-held dream o the ground. It has kept us going through a very dicult time, while also aiding development and keeping our other activities for young people going.
WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAVING RESTRAINTS ON THEIR BUDGETS, OUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY IS MORE IMPORTANT Neil Potter
60
RECRUITMENT
The commanding image of Field Marshal Earl Kitchener, used on recruitment posters in the Great War
52
RECRUITMENT
After some lean years, the Allied Arts Lodge is now regrouping with a diverse membership. Tim Arnold explains how his lodge has survived by embracing the fundamental tenets of Freemasonry
YOU!
freemasonrytoday.co.uk 63
OUR LODGENEEDS
tarted just after the Second World War by theatre technicians, the Allied Arts Lodge, No. 6269, is the lodge that refused to die. A decade ago, the group was at risk of folding. Like many London lodges, its membership had been declining for a variety of reasons deaths and resignations, for example and the regular Lodge of Instruction had fallen into disuse, not least because of the logistical difficulties in getting members from all over London and the Home Counties to attend every week. Many people would have bowed to the apparent reality of the situation, but a hard core of members, including Treasurer Chris Fogarty and his life-long friend Secretary Paul Ostwind, refused to give up. They believed that attracting more guests was part of the answer. Most of the ceremonies were arranged on a scratch basis, so were not as polished as they might have liked. The committee therefore invited some hard-core ritualists from other lodges to become honorary members. One of them was John Stonely, who in turn offered to take younger members under his wing at the Lodge of Instruction he organised for the Logic Ritual Association. Festive Boards were held at Trattoria Verdi, a walk away from Great Queen Street, where Dining Secretary Richard Limebear managed to negotiate a bulk-buy deal of 30 per head a considerable discount.
RECRUITMENT
ITS NOT BEEN EASY. BUT IN A FEW YEARS TIME, WE WILL HAVE A STRONG GROUP OF INITIATES READY TO PROGRESS
The lodges Festive Boards held anonymous charity collections, rather than a public raffle, so visitors would not feel pressured into spending more than they could afford in the evening. An Allied Arts Charities Association was also set up to encourage members to make regular donations, boosted through Gift Aid to ensure the lodge continued to look after deserving causes. Through masonic networking, the lodge gradually started to grow. It was explained to joining members that London masonry could be an enjoyable adjunct to provincial work, in a similar way to chapter being an extension of Craft a way to increase ones horizons, experiences and social network. I was invited to become Senior Warden and I gave a talk, shamelessly stolen from Clifford Drake, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Buckinghamshire, about how to use recruitment to turn around failing lodges. Space does not allow me to go into all the points, but the key message is: draw up a list of decent people who are in your circle of friends, family and workmates, and talk to them about the benefits that you get from the Craft. If they are not interested, then you have at least explained to them Freemasonrys core values of friendship, decency and charity. If they are interested, then perhaps a couple of years on you will have a waiting list of new members. Currently, Allied Arts Lodge is doing double ceremonies and emergency meetings, not least thanks to a particularly enthusiastic initiate, Paul Hogan, who has willingly recruited his friends and family to join. We are also starting to attract members from the City of London, reflecting the regions different communities. Allied Arts now boasts Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, Jews, blacks and whites, and our youngest member is in his early twenties. Its not been easy. But in a few years time, we will have a strong group of initiates, ready to progress through the Masters chair. We are organising Lodges of Instruction closer to where people live, meeting on Sunday mornings when the M25 traffic is more manageable and it is possible to get space in otherwise busy masonic centres. In the meantime, we could still do with a handful of members in our middle-batting order. So, if you want to sample London masonry, get in touch at alliedarts@arnoldstrategy.com.
Photography: Stringer/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Peter Sellers was a member of Chelsea, one of the lodges in which Allied Arts history is grounded
64
CHARITIES UPDATE
A YEAR TO REMEMBER
Masonic relief The Freemasons Grand Charity received over two thousand applications for financial assistance and approved support of more than 5million. The charity noted a continued increase in applications from younger members facing redundancy and business difficulties due to the economic crisis.
With the help of Freemasons around the country, the Grand Charity provides an invaluable service to those in need.
For many people 2012 will be a year to remember, from visions of bunting and the Queens Jubilee to the sporting excellence of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Yet many people struggled due to financial problems, illness or other difficult circumstances. The Grand Charity exists to help these people in need Freemasons, their families or the wider community and 2012 was no exception.
Through supporting Dogs for the Disabled, the Grand Charity is helping people like Josh Walker, pictured here with Miri
Support for the wider community The charity provided 2.5 million in funding for non-masonic charitable causes. This included continued support for research into age-related deafness; support for ex-Armed Service personnel with grants for Help for Heroes and Combat Stress; and support for projects that tackle youth unemployment, which grew to 20.5 per cent in 2012. Air Ambulances 2012 saw the Grand Charity celebrate more than 1million in grants to the Air Ambulances and equivalent services since 2007. These grants provide funding for what is considered to be the countrys busiest voluntary emergency service. In 2012, each Provincial and Metropolitan Grand Lodge presented a share of 192,000 to its local service. Hospice services In 2012, 600,000 was distributed amongst two hundred and thirty-nine hospice services, bringing the total given since 1984 to 9.9million.
We hope it is clear how valuable the work of The Freemasons Grand Charity is. The impact achieved through its funding might be difficult to measure, but it is immense. It is only thanks to the support of the Freemasons and their families that the charity is able to make such a contribution to peoples lives.
The Jubilee Sailing Trust received 25,000 to fund a bursary scheme to enable severely disabled people to participate in voyages aboard their two tall ships
The grants listed right are only a small selection of charitable causes that have been assisted by Freemasons through the Grand Charity in 2012; a full list is available to view at www.grandcharity.org. Enclosed within this issue of Freemasonry Today you will find the Grand Charitys Annual Review 2012 we hope you enjoy reading it.
freemasonrytoday.com
67
CHARITIES UPDATE
60 Great Queen Street London WC2B 5AZ Tel: 020 7404 1550 Fax: 020 7404 1544 info@msfund.org.uk www.msfund.org.uk
With depression affecting one in five older people, the Masonic Samaritan Fund has launched a new service: the MSF Counselling Careline a free, confidential helpline operated by trained counsellors who will listen and offer professional guidance.
Most of us manage our physical health far better than our emotional well-being, leaving unresolved issues that may cause real harm. Concerns can start as a simple worry but can grow into a panic where life events feel like a never-ending staircase of new challenges. It often helps to talk to loved ones, but there may be times when your family and friends dont have the expertise to help.
Men are less likely to seek support for mental health problems than women
of a natural emotion, so they may feel you are being overly dramatic by suggesting a support service. Try to encourage them to call the free MSF Counselling Careline; its counsellors are skilled at helping someone see the benet of support. Reassure them that counselling starts with an informal discussion and there is no obligation to undergo further treatment. When they are ready, give them the privacy to speak condentially with a professional.
68
CHARITIES UPDATE
60 Great Queen Street London WC2B 5AZ Tel: 020 7596 2400 Fax: 020 7404 0724 enquiries@rmbi.org.uk www.rmbi.org.uk
Prince George Duke of Kent Court care home has benefitted from improvements
freemasonrytoday.com
69
CHARITIES UPDATE
60 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ Tel: 020 7405 2644 Fax: 020 7831 4094 info@rmtgb.org www.rmtgb.org
All of the young people supported by the RMTGB have experienced tragedy and hardship. Rosanna is just one of them and tells her story here.
History is my true love. It completely captivates me and it would be hard to imagine not being an historian. My dream of studying history at university was threatened, however, when my father a Freemason in the Province of Essex had a brain haemorrhage and became unable to work. Immediately my life changed. Would I be able to aord to go to university? Or live away from home? Who would support my mother and brother while I was away? As it turned out, I would have the most amazing support from a silent yet ever-present source. is support has encouraged me to be the best I can be. It has proved to me that no challenge is impossible and no dream is unachievable. What is this brilliant support? And where can it be found? Well, its you, dear reader. My family were lucky enough to be visited by Guy Charrison, a wonderful Case Almoner for the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys. He proved to be an invaluable lifeline for me, arranging support and nancial help when I needed it most. e grant I received meant that I could go to university and pay for the essentials that I needed, such as books and other materials. At the time of my graduation one of my proudest achievements I still felt academically unnished and I wanted
SUPPORT FROM THE RMTGB HAS PROVED TO ME THAT NO CHALLENGE IS IMPOSSIBLE AND NO DREAM IS UNACHIEVABLE
to be with my family, the additional cost of my travel to and from university. is year I achieved my nal mark: a distinction. I recently met up with Guy and it was lovely to catch-up and for him to see how I had grown since our last meeting. I would like to thank everyone who made all this possible. I have achieved goals beyond my wildest dreams that would not have been realised without the support from Guy, the RMTGB and the generosity of Freemasonry.
Rosanna is now training to be a history teacher at the Institute of Education and is on a path to a happy and fulfilled future. Sadly, her father died on 7 October 2012, aged fifty-seven
70
n 1886, the historian John Lane published his Masonic Records a listing of the dates, numbers and locations of all lodges established by the English Grand Lodges, from the foundation of the very first in 1717. Lane drew his information not only from the Grand Lodges own records but from all quarters of the world. The book was later revised to include information up to 1894. Working with the Humanities Research Institute at the University of Sheffield, Lanes original printed book was transferred into an electronic format and the Library and Museum has been adding information about lodges formed after 1894. The entry for each lodge formed since then, including lodges subsequently erased, features the warrant date, number and meeting places. Soon, the Library and Museum will start to update the entries for lodges formed before 1894. Now is your chance to help with this project as the Director of the Library and Museum, Diane Clements, explains: We have used all the resources we can find here at Freemasons Hall in London, including the Grand Lodges own records and yearbooks. If every lodge could check its own records and let us know of any discrepancies that would be really helpful.
For lodges formed before 1894, a list (with dates) of where they have since met would help us complete this valuable research tool more quickly. You can contact us on libmus@freemasonry.london.museum. The web address for Lanes Masonic Records is www.hrionline.ac.uk/lane
Library and Museum of Freemasonry Freemasons Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ. Tel: 020 7395 9257 Email: libmus@freemasonry.london.museum www.freemasonry.london.museum Shop: www.letchworthshop.co.uk
freemasonrytoday.com
73
Write to: The Editor, Freemasonry Today, Freemasons Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ Email: editor@ugle.org.uk
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.
Sir, John Hamills Reection and your article on dementia care were both impressive and thought provoking, but I believe there
freemasonrytoday.com
75
Sir, Although currently unable to be a frequent attender to my own Elthorne and Middlesex Lodge, I too was surprised that we were not mentioned in the newspaper report, although naturally bow to the fact that Jerry Fray wrote his own obituary. However, there may be some small interest in my writing that once, at the Festive Board following a lodge meeting, I was able to discuss elements of his photo reconnaissance participation in the Dambusters raid with him. I recall Jerry advising that he ew over the dams on several occasions prior to the raid, including the day before and again the day after. Upon returning to his home base, the lm from his cameras would be quickly processed and (after his PR Spitre was refuelled) he then ew copies directly onwards to the then RAF Spitalgate at Grantham. He would then deliver them personally to the Dams
Project team with the great advantage that he was able to describe exactly what he had seen only the briefest of time before. Jerry mentioned that he had been able to keep copies of the photographs and it is with great anticipation that I look forward to seeing these, should a book of his life come to fruition. If interested to know why this was of particular interest to me, then I shall add that not only did I y at RAF Spitalgate as an RAF Air Cadets gliding instructor, but I also served as a Territorial Army ocer for many years at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks (formerly RAF Spitalgate), Grantham so have always been pleased to think that I had, in one sense, shared the airspace with men of such sterling qualities as Jerry Fray.
Edward G Waite-Roberts, Elthorne and Middlesex Lodge, No. 2094, London
is one area where lodge almoners can provide real benet, especially for our elder brethren and widows. It never ceased to amaze me in my years as a lodge almoner how many of those with real needs were unaware of the benets from the state to that they were entitled, which could make a real dierence to their well-being. Because of my background in nancial advice, I have been able to help a number of lodge members and widows who have care needs. Attendance Allowance is worth 51.85 per week if help is required during the day, and 77.45 per week if help is required day and night. is money makes a tremendous dierence and is not means tested nor taxable. Additionally, it may entitle some to increases in other benets such as Pension Credit. Lodge almoners are in a unique position to be able to help our older brethren and helping obtain this benet can be one of the most important tasks an almoner ever performs. To assist I have produced a short paper (contact alanbooth1948@ btinternet.com). It would surprise me if all lodges did not have some members who could be assisted in this way.
Alan Booth, Earl of Chester Lodge, No. 1565, Lymm, Cheshire
VALUING CARE
Sir, Having read the letter in your twentieth edition from Graham Whittle, a resident in one of our Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution (RMBI) homes, I felt I had to give him all my support. My wife and I have been volunteers at the RMBI home in Leicester for the last eighteen months my wife running the weekly craft class, while I drive the buses for shopping and hospital visits and occasionally act as quiz master. We enjoy our weekly visits to share our lives with the many residents of the home, who often have great tales to tell. I have had the pleasure of talking at length with brethren who lived through World War II, sharing the memories of a pilot
I URGE BRETHREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO SUPPORT HOMES IN THEIR AREA AND BE ASSURED THEY WILL FIND THE EXPERIENCE HAPPY AND REWARDING Michael A Robinson
ocer in Bomber Command who survived thirty-nine operations over Germany and a Navy man who was present on HMS Jamaica, which red the torpedoes that sunk the Scharnhorst. I urge brethren and their families to support the homes in their area and be assured they will nd the experience both happy and rewarding.
Michael A Robinson, Wiclif Lodge, No. 3078, Lutterworth, Leicestershire and Rutland
Ben Gait, Universities Lodge, Cardiff, No. 5461, Cardiff, South Wales
Being part of the Universities Scheme has undoubtedly helped attract young men to our lodge, but this by no means tells the whole story. e traditional approach of member-get-member is strongly encouraged and utilised. It has been remarked by our visitors over the years that our lodge has a very special atmosphere and feeling. Indeed, the presence of young men in the lodge allows our numerous and distinguished past masters to impart their knowledge and experience. ey teach, and our lodge is the richer for it Lodges of Instruction really are an education in masonic knowledge. Candidates, young or old, who approach and join our lodge form part of a close circle of friends. Our newer brethren are encouraged to progress at their own pace, and to attend our social events whenever possible. Whether it be open lodge or the Festive Board, age really isnt an issue. We have Freemasons who are knowledgeable and those with much to learn. We move forward as one, and are reminded of our lodge motto, which is translated from the original Latin: e one light brings us together in comradeship. We have embraced the web and social media and look forward to our eightieth anniversary in 2014, as well as Grand Lodges three-hundredth anniversary celebrations in 2017. We are fortunate, and the future promises to be bright.
It occurred to me that any lodge has interesting tales to tell after more than a hundred years, but doing so will depend, as in this instance, on good records having been kept. Meeting minutes only go so far and many contain just the bare facts; they can be of greater future value if expanded to include anecdotes about the more interesting brethren of the day, details of anything special in ceremonies, what was the meal, and its cost, and anything else future generations may nd of interest and worth knowing. e Secretarys minutes apart, there is a need for a lodge member to act as archivist or historian to ensure that relevant facts and photographs are properly collated and safely stored for posterity. How many lodges do this, I wonder? We have a wonderful, interesting present that deserves to be captured for the enlightenment and enjoyment of our future brethren.
MASONIC HISTORY
Sir, I was invited to the one hundred and twenty-fth anniversary meeting of Onslow Lodge, No. 2234, at Guildford, Surrey, which was a most enjoyable event, enhanced by some interesting anecdotes about past notable members and signicant milestones of the lodge.
Sir, My lodge Scarsdale Lodge, No. 681, in Chestereld, Derbyshire celebrated one hundred and fty years in 2006. Since then we have embraced the web (www.scarsdalelodge.co.uk) and have posted the lodge history, written for the one hundred and fty year celebrations by a senior lodge member, Chris Crofts. In addition to his ne work, we have just added images of past masters from the present day back to 1856. Being aware that we are the future history of the lodge, we are now taking steps to record and document more, as well as tasking a senior lodge member to keep it updated. A history, however, can be a dry, factual report if it does not reect some detail of the individual characters. We are now looking to encourage the senior brethren to recall their memories and stories of past brethren so we can paint a fuller picture. We hope that brethren will
76
SURELY WE CAN ENJOY HEARTY GOOD FUN AT OUR FESTIVE BOARDS WITHOUT COMPROMISING OUR IDEALS Philip Hamer
drop by and take a look and are keen to receive feedback.
MOTORCYCLING LODGES
Sir, I was interested to read the article on motorcycling lodges in the winter 2012 edition. I had always understood that Harry Rembrandt (Rem) Fowler won the rst Isle of Man TT race in 1907 as I was distantly related to him. I was therefore surprised to see Charlie Collier credited with that distinction. After a little research, I discovered that in 1907 two races were held on the TT short course, with Harry Rem Fowler winning the twin cylinder class on a Peugeot-engined Norton at 36.22mph and Charlie Collier the single cylinder class on a Matchless at 38.22mph. ey each set the fastest lap in their respective classes, Fowler at 42.91mph and Collier at 41.81mph. e TT short course was used for only four years, and in 1911 the TT race moved to the mountain course, which is still used today. I am still in frequent contact with Rems granddaughter my cousin, who still has some of his memorabilia. Incidentally, Rem died in 1963 and is buried in the churchyard of St James the Great in Shirley, Solihull, Warwickshire.
John Hayward, Lodge of Faith and Hope, No. 4772, Edgbaston, Warwickshire
KEEPING UP STANDARDS
Sir, I read with great interest and agreement the correspondence from Herbert Ewings and Tom Carr in the winter 2012 edition and felt somehow that the two letters were intrinsically linked. e view shared by brother Ewings that Freemasonry is more than just a charitable
institution is perfectly true. ere are several fundraising organisations available to join if that is your preference, with little or no application of character building, philosophy, discipline and order or quite the camaraderie and fellowship that we all enjoy. As brother Ewings states, charity in its true context is evidently practised in Freemasonry, but neither this and certainly not mere fundraising are its sole objectives. Similarly, as brother Carr observes concerning the lowering of standards at some masonic gatherings, I too have been disappointed whilst attending lodges (fortunately in the minority) where less than gentlemanly behaviour has been exhibited by some members. Without wishing to be regarded as pompous or priggish, surely we can enjoy hearty good fun at our Festive Boards without compromising our ideals as men of honour. No, brother Carr, you are not alone in objecting to such behaviour. Surely it is possible to keep our timehonoured traditions of gentlemanly behaviour within and without the
lodge (which we are charged with in the First Degree ceremony), which provide such a pleasant oasis in our troubled world.
Philip Hamer, Lodge Semper Fidelis, No. 1254, Exeter, Devonshire
Sir, I read with interest the article No Time To Be Retiring in the winter 2012 edition. While the I concur with the sentiments expressed by Edward Lord and Julian Soper, I take issue with the suggestion that lodges should consider dispensing with the processions in and out of the temple in order to save time, as is apparently the way forward of some lodges. Indeed, most past master lodges do not process in, but in my experience mostly process out. If we go down the road of continually reducing the time spent in the temple we will lose the traditions and the history of lodges. Cutting down the time taken by ceremonial proceedings will deprive the new masons of the solemnity of the Craft.
Barry A Fennings, Merchant Navy Lodge, No. 781, London
freemasonrytoday.com
77
Photography: Alamy
REFLECTION
n January, National Holocaust Memorial Day passed almost unnoticed in the media, and where it was commented on there was no mention of Freemasonry. It still appears largely unknown outside the Craft that a signicant number of Freemasons in Europe disappeared into Nazi labour and concentration camps never to be seen again. Nor had the attacks been conned to the Nazis. Freemasons had been persecuted in Mussolinis Italy, Francos Spain and Stalinist Russia. Freemasonry under England, Ireland and Scotland has been remarkably free from persecution at home. e closest it came to being closed down by government was in the aftermath of the French Revolution, when the 1799 Unlawful Societies Act was passing through Parliament. In its original form the Act would have made masonic meetings illegal. Fortunately, the Earl of Moira, Acting Grand Master of the Premier Grand Lodge, and the Duke of Athol, Grand Master of the Antients Grand Lodge, were able to persuade the Prime Minister, William Pitt, of the moral basis of Freemasonry, its support for lawfully constituted authority and its benevolent activities. As a result, clauses were introduced into the Act specically exempting Freemasonry from its provisions, provided that each year every lodge secretary supplied a full list of the members of his lodge together with their ages, occupations and addresses. It is not dicult to see why totalitarian regimes hate Freemasonry. Our insistence that candidates believe in a supreme being; our basis in morality; our striving for high standards; our practice of tolerance and respect for others; our belief in equality and freedom of thought; and our caring for others in the community are all anathema to a dictatorship, and things we should jealously guard.
After the Second World War and a short period of freedom, an Iron Curtain descended dividing western and eastern Europe. In countries in the Eastern Bloc, Freemasonry had a brief revival but was driven underground when Communism prevailed. It says a great deal about our principles that there were individuals in Eastern Europe who had come into Freemasonry, either in the 1930s or in the brief period after the war, who were willing to put themselves into real danger to keep the spirit of Freemasonry alive in their countries.
It was because of their courage that when the Iron Curtain nally crumbled in 1989, Freemasonry was brought back into the open. eir road back has not always been easy but Freemasonry is ourishing. A simple statistic shows how much has been achieved: in 1990 England recognised nineteen regular Grand Lodges in Europe, today it recognises forty-three. ose who were present at the two hundred and seventy-fth anniversary of the Grand Lodge at Earls Court in 1992 will remember the rather diminutive, elderly gure of the Grand Master of the recently revived Grand Lodge of Hungary. He explained how from the opening of the rst lodge in Hungary in 1749, Freemasonry had been regularly persecuted but now in a democratic country, Freemasonry can continue its work. As one American masonic writer wrote: Where freedom exists Freemasonry can ourish and nurture that freedom. We, who in our long masonic history have never suered persecution, should remember with pride those who so believed in Freemasonrys importance that they, like that great character in our ritual, were willing to face death rather than betray their principles or the trust reposed in them.
82