October 2019
Number 221
The Cross Keys
The Monthly Newsletter of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No.242
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From the Editor It’s actually 25 years and 3 months since the Cross Keys started way back in June 1994 so I missed the birthday! The motivation behind the newsletter which has changed to more of a magazine was to put ‘freemasonry into freemasons.’ This has not changed and I hope that brethren have enjoyed bits and pieces over the years. Some articles have caused a great deal of discussion (I’m being polite) but I would defend each one as saying the discussion has been necessary and hiding heads in the sand does not help the Craft one little bit. Therefore, it’s better to have this out in the open.
In this issue: 3
Future of the Royal Arch
4
Installation Hints
6
Santa Fe Theatricals
7
Inigo Jones Manuscript
8
Gleanings
11 Lodge in Dunkeld
12 Mississauga Lodge No. 524 14 GLoS The Maul 15 Special Stamp Sheet 16 Lodge in Madeira 18 St. Mungo Artefacts
Cover—past editions of the Cross Keys
20 Grand Lodge Talk 21 Hindustan Times
The Cross Keys is a free magazine distributed across the many countries in order to spread the good (and sometimes not so good) qualities of the Craft. All views are of individual brothers and not any organised body. Editor: Bro. N. Grant Macleod PM of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No. 242 PM of The Anchor Lodge of Research No.1814 Past Provincial Grand Secretary of the Province of Renfrewshire East. Proof Reader: Bro. Allan Stobo PM of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No. 242 Treasurer 242
All Scottish Constitution.
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October Meetings Thursday 10th MM Degree By OBs Thursday 24th AGM 7.30pm start
M
The Future of the Royal Arch
any companions are concerned about the future of the Royal Arch due to diminishing numbers with many chapters struggling for all office bearers and being able to confer degrees in full. Not every Province is able to fill their offices either and often the commission is completed with companions not too interested or not too capable. Is this true? Of course, there must be some Provinces which are strong but many are not and the lack of leadership is a real worry. The new First Grand Principal will have some ideas without a doubt, but they will need to be drastic. The Royal Arch and the Excellent Masters degrees are vital to all master masons and really add to the whole story. Sadly too many brethren takes these degrees to move onto other orders and are quite open about it. Is there a solution? The most obvious one is reduce the number of chapters—with small numbers of companions, it makes no sense having chapters struggling to fill offices and confer degrees. Any brother exalted with only 10-15 companions does not give a good impression and is unlikely to stay involved. Therefore, restructure Provincial Grand Chapter to ensure it functions as a daughter
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chapter conferring degrees with larger numbers in a dignified manner. One or two chapters in Glasgow, one or two in Edinburgh, one in Renfrewshire, one in Ayrshire etc. Of course, the complaints will be deafening for selfish reasons and I don’t saying that but it will be the truth. How many candidates join a chapter over a year? Probably not a lot as my own chapter is lucky to get one and is unlikely to be unique in this respect. Perhaps a return to the old format of only allowed past masters? Maybe include brethren who fr one reason or another deserve to be invited as well. This would ensure the respect the degrees deserve and not just a stepping stone. The 4 degrees EA, FC, MM and Arch are a progression: EA is a framework of civilised behaviour, FC is an encouragement to personal education and the MM prepares us for the grave and is quite philosophical. The Arch looks beyond the Veil, review the Journey of Life and reminds us that our future is dependent upon Grace. As it stands, Royal Arch Masonry could be defunct within the next 10 years once the current crop of aged companions who keep it going have passed. It’s in our hands . . . Penned under Şehzade Mustafa, a very worried companion.
Installation Hints for the New Masters As we begin a new session, the likelihood is that we will have a number of new Masters taking over the Chairs of their respective Lodges with others moving up in office or perhaps taking office for the first time. It’s a new chapter in the lives of those concerned and, of course for the Lodge itself. It can be a scary time for a new Master in the chair of his Mother Lodge, anxious not to offend anyone, anxious to do the right thing, fearful of making a mistake but of course the person who never made a mistake, never made anything. Frankly, the Craft suffers from too many who are content just to preside over their fortnightly or monthly meeting. However, at this point in the history of the Craft, what we really require is Masters with vision, brethren who are not content to settle for the same old, same old status quo for that certainly will hasten the demise of our Lodges and our Craft. So I would challenge those who are seeking high office to give careful consideration as to how to strengthen their respective Lodges and to make plans for improvement.
Freemasonry is not about turning Lodges into “degree factories”. It should be about enlightenment. The Craft continues to lose new members with around 75% of new members disappearing within 5 years of initiation. Can we blame them? Too often we stick to the habit of simply conferring degrees as quickly as possible on new candidates without providing any decent explanation or instruction in what they have just experienced. • • •
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So I would appeal to those in high office to consider carefully what can be done to enrich the experience for new and existing members. Do we do enough to make new members feel included as part of the Lodge and if not, what can be done to achieve this objective? How many of us ensure that a new member is given sufficient instruction and explanation regarding the degree he has just experienced and how many times does this simply consist of ensuring that the candidates can repeat, parrot fashion, the basic questions asked of him prior to his next degree? How many times is a candidate encouraged to visit other Lodges to witness and experience his previous degree or does the desperation of our “degree factories” mean that there is no opportunity for this to be done? If a candidate is not been given the encouragement which he should receive from his proposer and seconder, what is the back-up plan? Will someone else take on this responsibility – will the Master ensure that this is done? Does the Master announce his intended visits in advance in open Lodge so that the other members of the Lodge can support him or does he simply visit and then report where he has been? What value do we put on ensuring that applicants for initiation are worthy of being accepted as members or is our desperation to “feed the degree factory” such that we just accept anyone as a candidate? Are we making the most of modern technology to keep our Lodges at the forefront of the minds of brethren and visitors (how many Lodges have an out of date or “static” website)? How many Masters reach the chair of their Mother Lodge without having any understanding of the work undertaken by their secretary and treasurer – how many are familiar with the Rules and Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Scotland or even their own Lodge bye-laws? If the senior office-bearers of a Lodge can truthfully answer that they are actively working to improve the position of their respective Lodges then that is to be com-
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Installation Hints for the New Masters (ctd) mended but if not, please take time to give the matter full consideration. Speak to those who might provide guidance and advice – develop, dare I say it – a business plan. Just about every organisation now has a mission statement and develops a plan for its future – it doesn’t depend on luck and good fortune. How can you achieve any objective if you don’t have a plan of how to get there in the first place? The tenure of a Master in the chair is a short one, one or two years and the time flies by quicker than you can imagine. Far better to be able to look back at what has been achieved than to look back with regret at what might have been achieved. It’s possible that mistakes might be made – learn from them and move on. A new session awaits and hopefully it will bring with it, new ideas, innovations and initiatives. Leaders never use the word “failure”, they look upon setbacks as “learning experiences”! You’ll likely have those who will criticise you but as someone once said, “If you have no critics, you’ll likely have no success”!
Anniversary To Lodge Rising Sun No.54 in Tatarstan, Kazan, Russia who celebrated their 3rd anniversary. The ceremony was conducted by the Grand Master of Russia, Bro. Andrei Bogdanov and was followed by a celebration dinner below. We wish the brethren every success for the future.
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Santa Fe Theatricals There is a magical moment when audience members enter the world of the play. For centuries, a willing suspension of disbelief allowed countless spectators to journey far beyond their own regions. In the early twentieth century, degree productions provided numerous opportunities for Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Freemasons to explore distant lands. During a time when many individuals stayed within the confines of their own state, the fraternal stage transported generations of men to exotic locales. Exoticism in elaborate productions especially appealed to those living in areas where visual spectacle and staged entertainment were limited.… It was the inclusion of staged spectacle that propelled a once fledgling organization to the forefront of American fraternalism…. Scottish Rite degree productions fascinated members when portions of their degree work moved from the lodge room floor to the elevated stage. Before degree productions, most Scottish Rite activities were performed within the confines of a lodge room…. Masonic officers were placed in the symbolic East, South, and West of a lodge room, while members sat in the North and South. Many fraternal meetings took place in multipurpose rooms, often decorated with fabric wall hangings that merely suggested a location. Larger Masonic buildings contained multiple rooms permanently prepared with specific themes. Members could move from one room to another during degrees to suggest a shift in locale. Prior to the advent of Scottish Rite theaters, degrees were either communicated or conferred to
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a candidate…. The use of characters and dialogue in conferrals was an early predecessor to degree productions, placing greater emphasis on the lodge room decor, paraphernalia, and character placement. A third type of presentational format emerged when degrees became conferred in full form. By the late nineteenth century, the theatrical staging of degrees would involve Subordinate Bodies purchasing proper paraphernalia, or working paraphernalia, for the exemplification of the work. This staging included raised platforms, painted fiats or drops, lighting effects, and costumed participants. … Murals, small dioramas, and scenic tableaux were all incorporated in these early stages, establishing settings that didn’t always function as active performance spaces. Scenic spectacle associated with nineteenth-century panoramas and cycloramas was quickly incorporated into a variety of fraternal stage spaces. The commercial theater and the Fraternity had a shared material culture; each used popularized environments that depicted geographical regions, historic figures, and significant events. Scenic tableaux were intended to educate lodge members on certain subjects. Scottish Rite stages adopted atmospheric effects and illusions to further depict the legendary occurrences as presented in Masonic degrees. The candidate, an exemplar for his Scottish Rite class, eventually entered the production as a costumed character. During this experimental period with degree productions, Masonic organizations al-
Santa Fe Theatricals (ctd) tered existing lodge rooms for this new form of degree work. Eventually, new facilities were designed and built to accommodate degree productions, departing from the previous practice of using shared spaces. Many Scottish Rite Valleys built new facilities with performance venues to accommodate theatrically staged degree work…. Never intended to be factual depictions of historic events, Scottish Rite degree work incorporated popular legend into the instruction, offering twenty-nine avenues for the philosophical exploration and staging of degrees from the fourth through the thirty-second…. The Santa Fe Scottish Rite stage (New Mexico) provides an excellent example of Scottish Rite scenery. How would this be accepted in lodges with the MM degree? From the March/April 2019 Scottish Rite Journal.
The
Santa Fe Scottish Rite Temple: Freemasonry, Architecture, and Theatre, edited by Wendy Waszut-Barrett and Jo Whaley (Santa Fe: Museum of New Mexico Press, 2018). $45 + $15 S&H (signed copies and artist’s prints available). For more information, contact General Secretary, Santa Fe Scottish Rite, secretary@nmscottishrite.org
PGL of Renfrewshire East Dates
Monday 14th October - PG Committee in Lodge St. John Busby No 458 at 7pm.
Friday 25th October - PGL Tri-Annual Meeting in Lodge Nitshill No 1478 at 7.30pm.
Congratulations to Bro. Ronnie Fraser as DPGM, Brian Shields as SPGM and Billy McMahon as PGSec.
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The Inigo Jones Manuscript Pages 1 and 2 of the manuscript about the Craft is dated about 1725 although the tile page is 1607 are shown below. It is named after the London architect Inigo Jones. It is structured like any Book of Charges of the previous century, with a presentation of the Liberal Sciences, a History of the Craft, and a long list of obligations. Despite its age, it will be instantly recognizable to any freemason today.
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Gleanings—First Grand Master In June, 1717, one Anthony Sayer was elected first Grand Master of England at a meeting held in the Goose and Gridiron Tavern in St. Paul's Churchyard. It was a simple occasion, attended by few, representing four “drooping” Lodges and the event caused very little attention. It has been the common assumption among Masonic writers that when Freemasonry was organized in 1717 by the formation of the first Grand Lodge of England it was the Continuation or perpetuation of a number of organizations now welded into one, that its first Grand Master, Anthony Sayer, was a man of importance, as, undoubtedly, his successors were men of position in the world of their day. A great mystery has always surrounded this first Grand Master; but the veil has, in a large measure been lifted by the conclusions arrived at by Alfred F. Calvert, who has devoted no less than 30 years continuous research and an enormous expenditure of money to this one point alone. Mr. Calvert has come to the conclusion, warranted by facts, that Sayer and his associates were men of humble rank in life and that the evidence of Dr. James Anderson must be rejected since he has been proved to be unreliable and even to have tampered with the minutes of the Grand Lodge. The whole of the evidence will, in due course, be published, but it will be of interest to Masonic students if it is now reviewed briefly, for, as Calvert says, no history of Freemasonry can be written unless it starts on correct lines. Mr. Calvert points out that it would give him greater satisfaction if he could accept the theory that Sayer and his associates were all that it is claimed they were, but one cannot close one's eyes to facts. One of Sayer's own wardens was a Cross Keys October 2019
carpenter, whose whereabouts have been traced. The Grand Lodge records contain proof of the humble origin of most of those men, but Anderson made the best of their conditions for the sake of the offices to which they were appointed. They had no conception that such a society or order would be created from their gatherings, as soon as men of ability and position took the matter in hand, some of them must have been amazed at reading, if they could read the extraordinary history invented by Anderson and published by him in 1738, in which he varied many of the absurd claims put forward by him in his Constitutions of 1723. As concrete examples Mr. Calvert instances Thomas Morris, who was Grand Warden in 1718, 1719 and 1721, who obtained five guineas from Grand Lodge in relief in 1730,and who was a stonecutter. Another petitioner for benevolence in the same year, who obtained relief to the extent of fourteen pounds sterling, was Joshua Timson, Grand Warden in 1722 and 1723, who was a blacksmith, while Jacob Lamball, the carpenter appointed Grand Warden by Sayer in 1717, received a grant of 10 guineas from Grand Lodge in 1756. As a matter of fact, the first appeal for the bounty of Grand Lodge of which there is any record was made by Sayer himself, who first petitioned Grand Lodge in 1724, only seven years after he had served as Grand Master. In 1730 he presented a second petition, when he was granted fifteen pounds on account of his misfortune and great poverty. Mr. Calvert then goes on to show how Sayer was appointed tyler to Old King's Arms Lodge, No.28, at some date prior to 1733, a position which he held until 1742, so that he was tyler of that lodge for at least nine and probably 11 years. He had two grants amounting to two and a half
Gleanings (ctd) guineas from that lodge, in addition to the remuneration of a shilling a night for delivering letters and attending lodge, and a Christmas box of five shillings in addition to certain “tips”. Sayer also acted as tyler of other lodges, notably the Lodge of Friendship, now No.6, so that it is clear that he became a professional tyler. The minutes of the lodge show that he lost the work as tyler of the Lodge of Friendship because he was acting for another lodge which met on the same night and sent substitutes to Friendship who were not acceptable to the members. Having proved conclusively that the first Grand Master, Anthony Sayer, was a man of modest standing and of only ordinary attainments, Mr. Calvert finds that the connecting link between him and the first noble Grand Master, John, Duke of Montagu, in 1721, were the second and third Grand Masters, George Payne and Dr. J.T. Desaguliers. The first named was a son of a merchant in Chester, whose brother, the Rev. Thomas Payne, had two daughters who married, the one the Karl of Northampton and the other Lord Francis Seymour, who became dean of Bath and Wells. The father, Samuel Payne, was evidently a man of limited means, for Thomas Payne entered Christ Church, Oxford, as a "pauperum". A youth who entered Oxford on this footing paid reduced fees on the understanding that he was to act as waiter or "fag" to the more wealthy students. George Payne rose by his industry to be the secretary of the tax of office, in which position he was brought into close contact with many wealthy members of society, and it is believed that in this way he was able to influence the Duke of Montagu and the Duke of Richmond, particularly, toward Freemasonry. Dr. Desaguliers, who was also a graduate of Oxford and a clergyman of the Church of England, was one of the early and leading members of the Royal Society, of which more anon, to
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which both Montagu and Richmond belonged and in which they took as did Desaguliers, a very prominent part. The complete story, when told, will prove of great Interest and throw much light on the early history of Freemasonry in England.
By Brother Alexander Craighead who was a keen Masonic scholar, writing the anecdotes “Gleanings” which were published continuously for 25 years in Lodge notices. He also published two booklets, ‘Freemasonry in Scotland” and “Veiled in Allegory”. Bro. Craighead was introduced to Masonry in St. George Lodge No.190 in Aberdeen. A charter member of Thistle Lodge No. 900, Yonkers, New York. He served as Master in 1917, Historian from 1918 - 1929, Secretary from 1922 to his death in September 28, 1949 and appointed Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of New York in 1937. Thistle Lodge has a connection to 242. What is that connection? Have a look in the lodge history book available from the secretary, but here’s a clue: photo below is a 242 brother who was master of Thistle Lodge.
If minutes are read then this is the minute you want! 1815—a candidate from Bowfield near Howwood was admitted and paid his fee. Do we need any more information……..?
United Lodge of Dunkeld No.14
This Lodge Banner (above right) was presented by His Grace, George Murray 6th Duke of Atholl to St John's Lodge, Caledonian, Dunkeld No. 14 after he was installed as Master of the Lodge in 1841. The banner was refurbished and unveiled by His Grace, Bruce George Murray 12th Duke of Atholl on May 28th 2016, in the presence of the Master of the Lodge, Shaun McKillop, the Substitute Provincial Grand Master James A McDonald along with Past Masters and Brethren of the United Lodge of Dunkeld No. 14.
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In the beginning and for the first seven years, Mississauga (Ontario) Masonic Corporation personnel consisted of the entire Mississauga Lodge membership. Indeed the acquisition of our Temple building was made possible by personal loans from several ardent pioneer members of Mississauga Lodge. Its name is thereby seen to be quite appropriate. As Grand Lodge of our jurisdiction does not sanction Masonic lodges holding property, the Corporation was, for that reason created. The function and responsibility of the corporation is that of maintaining the building, including upkeep, insurance, heating, taxes, janitor service and last but not least – rent collection. Memorandum of agreement of the MISSISSAUGA MASONIC CORPORATION was made and entered
into on March 19th 1917; signed by Charles Elliot, William S. Gibson, Walter G. Price, Edward Burns, Edwin S. Munroe, Johnson J. Foy, and John A. Smith; signatures witnessed by John E. Hall, all members of Mississauga Lodge. So they were Charter Members who also held an organisation meeting May 7th 1917, at the residence of Charles Elliott, at which time the ‘Signers of the Agreement’ were elected the first Board of Directors of which Charles Elliott was made Chairman and W.G. Price, Secretary. “The Letters Patent” were read clause by clause and made the “Charter of The Corporation”, on motion of Ed. Burns, seconded by J. J. Foy. A Corporate Seal was agreed upon and adopted – “to have the words MISSISSAUGA MASONIC CORPORATION within two concentric circles and THE INDIAN HEAD OF The Mississauga Lodge in the centre thereof”. In Early in 1914, meetings of the above mentioned masons were called and held in the homes of two brethren. These meetings proved fruitful, for, at the last of them, on April 16, 1914 a Dispensation to start a Lodge was applied for, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Committee to nominate the officers, $600 borrowed to launch the Lodge, and a previously appointed committee to procure furniture reported that they could obtain Lodge furnishings once used by Ashlar Lodge and now in storage, for $500.00. My thanks to Bro. Willie Fleming PM 1042 HM 242 for providing the lapel badge to kick start the article.
1894
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2019
Lodge Rooms more Attractive (April 1874) This article appeared in a New Jersey newspaper with the following points: Be comfortable and cheerful, and have as much home character about it Furniture and regalia must be neat Intercourse between members must be kind and fraternal at all times The work must be illustrated fully ad accurately Degrees conferred with all possible care without levity or rudeness The exercises of the evening must be varied and during the winter have brief essays and addresses. This latter point was explained as younger members giving their views (not PMs) as “talent is not confined to age.”
Masonic Seating in the Philippines The Masons of Puru in Legazpi built an obelisk to mark the Grand Lodge of the Philippines Annual Communication in April 2015. The seats are on boulevard along the seafront leading to the obelisk. Very impressive indeed.
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When is a Maul not a Maul? Another distinct Scottish Masonic tradition. We have previously discussed Lodges in Scotland prior to the existence of any Grand Lodge. We showed the earliest Lodge record which belonged to Lodge Aitcheson’s Haven and which was dated 9 January 1599. These preGrand Lodge, Lodges were of all variants: 1)
Stonemasons’ Lodges (that is the members were all stonemasons)
2)
Mixed type A (that is the membership was partly stonemasons and partly speculative Masons but the majority were stonemasons)
3)
Mixed type B (that is the membership was partly stonemasons and partly speculative Masons but the minority were stonemasons)
4)
Lodges who’s membership was made up of entirely speculative Masons.
The problems this caused when some speculative Masons decided to form the Grand Lodge of Scotland in 1736 have been previously discussed but here we wish to consider one of the myriad consequences that demonstrate the connection between the pre-1717 Lodge’s and those of today. In most Lodges in Scotland the Master and Wardens use a Maul. This was one of the main working tool of a stonemason. We know that stonemasons simply took their working tools from their daytime labour building site to Lodge meetings in the evening. In short, the working tools were used for practical as well as speculative purposes. We know this because Lodges have donated Mauls (and other working tools) as used by working stonemasons. Today such items are decorative rather than practical. No doubt this was because as speculative Masons came to dominate Lodges they did not wish to used large, heavy, mauls (and aprons etc) as used by stonemasons and so adopted the shape of the maul but made it smaller, lighter and more decorative. The small hammers used by judges in some courts of law (although not in Scotland) are known as gavels and are ceremonially used to keep order. In Scottish Lodges the Maul serves the same purpose. However, some Lodges have now adopted a small hammer, or gavel, instead of the Maul quite often because they are unaware of the stonemasons’ traditions or because someone has donated gavels to the Lodge and it would be rude not to use them! One wonders if the appearance of ‘travelling gavels’ has reinforced the idea that it is the gavel that is important? Just to confuse the issue further when the Master passed the Maul to another person (usually at the annual visitation) we have heard them say – ‘I hereby present to you the Lodge gavel…’ but of course it is actually a Maul! Another excellent article from Bro. Bob Cooper, Curator Grand Lodge of Scotland posted at: https://www.grandlodgescotland.com/2019/09/26/8716/
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Special Masonic Stamps
The Masonic Philatelic Club produced these stamps—for more information email Bro. John Chapman : chapdjman@gmail.com or masonicphilatelicclub@yahoo.co.uk
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Britannic Lodge of Madeira No.134 (GLRP) The History of Freemasonry in Madeira can be traced back to the mid 1700’s. Freemasonry in Madeira became very popular assisted by a significant British Military/Royal Navy influence in the era of “Travelling Warrants”. Throughout the 19th Century there followed the erection of a number of Lodges under the then Grande Oriente Lusitano of Portugal as then recognised by UGLE and also by many other Regular Constitutions. Freemasonry continued to grow in popularity in Madeira throughout the 19th Century coinciding with the increasing and significant British presence in the main Industries of the Island of Madeira wine, embroidery and wickerwork. The first Britannic Lodge No: 282 was formed in 1908. This Lodge was Consecrated by the Grande Oriente Lusitano of Portugal, then in amity with the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) and other Constitutions. When in 1913, UGLE withdrew recognition of the Grande Oriente, the Brethren of the Britannic Lodge No: 282 closed that Lodge and applied to UGLE for a Warrant. On the 29th of December 1913 the UGLE “Britannic Lodge No: 3683” was Consecrated in Funchal. The UGLE Britannic Lodge No: 3683 grew steadily and as Funchal had become the World Training Centre for the laying of undersea communication cables, there was a ready and constant supply of Candidates who lived to Madeira to support this rapidly evolving wonder technology of the day. Then! Disaster! Masonic Darkness! In 1935, Freemasonry in Portugal was proscribed by a Totalitarian Regime and the Lodge removed to London to continue rather than to close where the Lodge name was changed to the “Britannic Lodge of Madeira No: 3683”
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A Royal Connection? There is evidence to indicate that “HMS London” a County Class Heavy Cruiser was dispatched from Gibraltar to Madeira at “at possible haste” to collect a delegation of Senior Freemasons who were on an Official Visit to Funchal in 1935. The search continues to establish if the traditional history can be proved to confirm that a very senior member of the Royal Family was rescued at the same time. For a period of over 70 years, Freemasonry did not exist on the Island. The erection of the Grand Lodge Legal of Portugal/GLRP in 1991 offered the first rays of hope! Masonic Light Restored! In 2009, Regular Freemasonry returned to Funchal, Madeira with the Consecration of “Joao Gonçalves Zarco Lodge No: 71” under the Grand Lodge Legal of Portugal/GLRP which is recognised by UGLE and many other Regular Constitutions. A second Lodge in Funchal, “Ayres de Ornellas Frazao No: 123”, was Consecrated in 2017 with both these Lodges working a Continental style Ritual in Portuguese. And now the third Lodge: Britannic Lodge of Madeira No: 134 - (Grand Lodge Legal of Portugal/GLRP) - Consecrated in Funchal on Saturday, 17th March 2018. The spiritual successor of the former UGLE Lodge: Britannic Lodge of Madeira No: 3683 that had been Consecrated as a UGLE Lodge in Funchal in December, 1913 – Removed to London in 1935 – Lodge Closed and Warrant Returned in 2006. The new Lodge is aimed at Expatriates living in Madeira and also for locals. There are also a number of Overseas Members throughout Europe and especially in the UK.
Britannic Lodge of Madeira No.134 (ctd) The Lodge welcomes visitors from Regular Constitutions†. The Lodge works in English using Emulation Ritual 2019 Meetings: Monday, 7th of October and Saturday 7th December 2019 Special Extra Meeting! Visit of the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Regular/ Legal Grand Lodge of Portugal – Saturday, 5th October 2019 2020 – First Saturdays of February, April, October (Installation) and December Location: Masonic Temple, Rua do Seminario, 11, Third Floor, Funchal (Shared with the other two Lodges) Festive Board for Regular Meetings – Local restaurants The Ladies and Family are fully involved in social activities and dine with the Brethren after the meetings. Festive Boards as we know them are not customary in Portuguese Lodges † Visiting Lodges under the Grand Lodge Legal of Portugal/GLRP. It is strongly recommended that Brethren who wish to visit should be initially and formally pre-cleared by the Grand Lodge Legal of Portugal/GLRP at Lisbon before attempting to visit a Lodge in the Constitution. There are established and long-standing Masonic protocols to be observed for Brethren wishing to visit a Lodge in a Constitution other than their own. For UGLE members, a request to visit should be sent to their Provincial Grand Secretary who will liaise with the Grand Chancellor’s Department at UGLE in London. Clearance will then be sought with the Grand Lodge Legal of Portugal/GLRP in Lisbon. Members of other Regular Constitutions will have a similar contact process to be observed between their own Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge Legal of Portugal/GLRP. If however the Visitor is known personally to a member of the Lodge and the Lodge Secretary is advised in advance of a proposed visit, the production of the correct Masonic Documentation will normally suffice to allow attendance. The correct Masonic Documentation normally consists of the Brother’s Grand Lodge Certificate (if issued), together with a Clearance Certificate or Dues Card signed by the Secretary of their own Lodge. “A willingness at all times to undergo examination when properly called upon” In addition to the validation of the correct Masonic Documentation presented, Visitors may also be asked to prove themselves before being allowed into the Meeting.
https://britannicmadeira.org/ Thanks to Bro. David Pratt
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St. Mungo No.27 A number of edition back, there was an article about Lodge St. Mungo No.27 in Glasgow. Here are some artefacts from the lodge which appear in the Michigan Museum. The handpainted certificate from 1796 is for Bro. John Ross and uses the old number of 28 (see bottom image). Looking at the folds, a guess as to why the certificate ended up in Michigan would be that Bro. Ross was a soldier serving in the US and he carried this as proof.
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Past Editions 25 years has been a long time but to be honest it has flown past and being able to do the CK has been an journey in itself. I would like to thank Bro. Brian Kerr PM 242 (OJ!!) now in the US for his huge input and initially making it online—I was still printing off every month costing a printer cartridge every month! I would like to thank all the contributors over the years; too many to mention but please keep them coming. With a changing world, social media, magazines, etc it’s certainly won’t last another 25 years, but might evolve into something else. Perhaps in the traditional way of masonic journals of the past, it will just cease. Time will tell.
Grand Master Mason’s Visits 5th
PGL of Glasgow Dinner
12th
Lodge St John 497 – 150th Anniversary – Catrine
16th
Supreme Council Dinner, Edinburgh
17-20th Lodge Wellington 1385 Antwerp / Lodge Allegiance 1465 Brussels and Grand Lodge of Belgium Communication 26th
Lodge Charleston of Aboyne 281 – 200th Anniversary – Aboyne
31st
Grand Lodge Communication
Cross Keys October 2019
Cross Keys October 2019
A page in the diary of Silurian Lodge in South Wales has the name of Frederick William Steven, the architect of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) building, who was initiated into Freemasonry in 1875. The District Grand Lodge of Bombay, the city’s masonic centre, organised a heritage walk on Sunday show Mumbaiites the connection between Freemasonry and Mumbai’s heritage structures. Freemasonry began in the late 16th and early 17th centuries in England and Scotland and entered India in the early 18th century. It is considered to be the world’s largest closed-door fraternity of stonemasons. “There are many heritage structures in south Mumbai that have connections with Freemasonry. For example, the initiation for first lodge to admit Indians into Freemasonry took place at the Town Hall. However, not much is known about this history and its connection to Mumbai,” R Ventakesh of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage. According to Venkatraman P, the deputy district grandmaster, District Grand Lodge of Bombay, as the north-east corner of a house or any building is auspicious in vaastu, similarly, according to the tenets of Freemasonry, the foundation stone is laid in the north-east direction. “The pattern has been found at TCS headquarters in town and even at Freemasons’ Hall [in Fort],” said Venkatraman. Speaking about the contributions of Freemasons, Ventakesh added that even as the trend during the time Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters were built was to follow Victorian gothic architecture, this building have been built in Indo-Saracenic architectural form. “What we see is that freemasons have expanded their horizon beyond politics and religion, among other aspects, to follow their principles of being fair and square. You can see this in the way they have meticulously handled their tasks, just like how Pherozeshah Mehta has been instrumental in making BMC what it is today,” said Ventakesh. Speaking about other Freemasons who have contributed towards betterment of the country, Venkatraman mentioned former Viceroy Lord Ripon, after whom Ripon Club at Fort is named. “During his period, Lord Ripon introduced a bill whereby Indian judges could judge Europeans, a distinct impossibility until then,” said Venkatraman. “Freemasons believe that it is important to be upright and be within limits, and that is evident in the harmony experienced in early days of Bombay, where there was no greed. Now, morals have declined in public life.” FIRST PUBLISHED: JUN 10, 2019 17:26 IST A very interesting and positive article from the Mumbai newspaper yet most UK papers report the Craft in a poor light if possible—perhaps says more about the quality of journalism…..
Cross Keys October 2019
Sneak Preview Nearly there!! The new toilets in the Social Club will hopefully be completed very soon. I’m sure every brother will be impressed not only with the newness, but the brightness.
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Cross Keys October 2019