Welcome
FROM THE GRAND S EC R E TA RY & GRAND SCRIBE E Recently, brethren and companions, I have felt a great appreciation for our refreshingly cool stone corridors here at Freemasons’ Hall. They have been a welcome respite from the late summer sun, and indeed from the bustling crowds who have flocked back to the city centre. Our beautiful, historic building has felt even more alive because we have started, once again, to accept greater numbers of members and visitors. The Museum of Freemasonry, as well as the newly refurbished, award-winning shop, have been drawing in crowds more eager than ever to do something in the real world rather than via a pixelated facsimile. We have also welcomed back members for lodge and chapter meetings. One might think that we are well on the way to a pre-pandemic normality, but I am keen to remind you of all we have learned, and all we have done, during the past year and a half as we achieve the longed-for reopening. I find myself thinking about the nature of spaces; how we inhabit them and how our relationship with space has changed. The pandemic began, and continues, with warnings to keep our distance from one another. Suddenly, the need for space made intimacy a commodity, and the familiarity of greeting our loved ones with a hug was lost to us all. Space is a concept that is strangely linked to our sense of self. We talk
‘Much like you, we have been looking for ways to innovate and make our space as welcoming and exciting as possible, as we anticipate a return to a full calendar of masonic events’
about looking for ‘our place in the world’, and when it all gets too much we need ‘space to think’. So, naturally, 18 months of having our space dictated to us by rules of social distancing has been somewhat disconcerting for us all. Many spaces have been reimagined during this time. That bedroom upstairs that had been dormant for far too long was reinvented as an office, a school, and, perhaps, a masonic hall? Gardens and green spaces became a haven for relaxation and exercise when nowhere else was open to us. What this has shown is that we can control our small space in the world and adapt it in order to help us face whatever challenges lie ahead. I have been exceptionally impressed by the way brethren and companions have adapted and continued to support one another throughout the pandemic. With online meetings, those who may have lost their connection to lodge and/or chapter have had the opportunity to reconnect with old friends. Strangely, the space within our lodges, though virtual, feels bigger than ever. Here at Freemasons’ Hall, we have not been idle either. Much like you all, we have been looking for ways to innovate and make our space as welcoming and exciting as possible, as we anticipate a return to a full calendar of masonic events. As I write this, we are putting the finishing touches to our new café and bar space, which will soon be open for you all to enjoy. An excellent array of food and drink will be served against the stunning backdrop of 1930s décor, full of original furniture and bespoke detailing in fitting with our Grade II* listed status. We aim for Freemasons’ Hall to be a destination of choice for all. The space will be filled with music courtesy of our FMT Autumn 2021
soon-to-resume concert evenings. We aim to rekindle the wonder in our current members and tempt new faces in with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere – and perhaps show them a little of what Freemasonry is all about. Therefore brethren, I urge you to plug your ears to the sirens’ calls that seek to lull you into thinking that going back to the way things used to be is good enough. We must spring out of this pandemic, not plod. We have shown ourselves to be capable of transforming the world around us to meet the greatest challenge in a generation. Now we have a unique opportunity to ensure that our lodges and chapters are the spaces their members want them to be. I would urge you to continue your endeavours to make them welcoming spaces for all members, new and old, and, more than that, a place where you have fun. The Rulers, Board and I are working hard to support you as we move into this exciting new chapter in Freemasonry’s long and varied history. Dr David Staples Grand Secretary & Grand Scribe E
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