Freemasonry Today - Winter 2019 - Issue 48

Issue 48 ~ Winter 2019 £3.50

Freemasonry Today With open alms Freemasons’ Hall gives a warm welcome at Open House London On the wings of love Tackling dementia with hen power Scout’s honour How the Freemasons funded a Scout super lodge

Issue 48 ~ Winter 2019

Bond of brothers

The university student keeping Freemasonry in the family

Welcome

From the Grand Secretary & Grand Scribe E

A

t the September Quarterly Communications, the Pro Grand Master’s address spoke of the importance of teamwork in governing and managing Freemasonry. UGLE has traditionally been a federal amalgamation of ‘city states’, each ruled by a Provincial or District Grand Master, whose patents were granted by the Most Worshipful Grand Master. It was not uncommon, in decades past, for those chosen few to be given their patent and told to ‘get on with it’, but with very little instruction or guidance as to what the ‘it’ either was or entailed.

We like to think that we are more enlightened now, and take some time and effort to explain what we think a Provincial or District Ruler might want to consider, and what the Rulers and Board/ Committee of General Purposes think their priorities should be when taking up their important office.

It will not surprise you to learn that membership and communications are very high up on that list, and as UGLE evolves to meet the challenges of our very different world, so this old system must evolve to ensure consistency of message and image across our organisation as a whole.

We have also come to realise that the ‘Bright Ideas Club’ at the centre may not have all of the answers, and initiatives rolled out with little or no consultation with our membership or their leaders are unlikely to be successful in the longer term, if at all.

Lord Northampton, as Pro Grand Master, set up a system of Regional Communication Groups which divided the Provinces into nine geographical clusters, and which provided a means for Provincial Rulers in

each group to meet regularly and exchange ideas on matters of import. Under Sir David Wootton, these assumed a greater sense of purpose, with the representation of each integrated into the Improvement Delivery Group, with its remit to deliver the 2020 strategy conceived five years ago. Now, under Geoffrey Dearing, they form the backbone of our ability to consult with the Provinces and to set the agenda and direction of the organisation with strong representation on both the Membership Working Party and the Communications Working Party of the Board.

Both groups have a wide remit to shape the direction the organisation will take, and their influence will be wide ranging.

They are no paper tigers, and are considering questions which will affect each and every one of us as Freemasonry evolves into a more transparent, accountable and respected organisation within the public consciousness.

The representatives on these various committees can, of course, accomplish nothing without the hard work and dedication of the teams that support them – making it vital that those team members have the ability, enthusiasm and professional capabilities and knowledge to deliver what is needed. Professional expertise is by no means short in an organisation such as ours, and Provincial leaders are well used to tapping into the potential of their membership to fulfil important roles within the Province.

What perhaps is changing is the willingness to recognise that many individuals are much busier in their family and work lives than perhaps their predecessors were. As such, those who are

‘If we want leaders who are truly exceptional and able to carry the organisation forward, we must be willing to accommodate the many other things that will call on their time’ FMT Winter 2019

less senior within Freemasonry and less experienced are finding themselves working on major Provincial portfolios while balancing very busy lives.

We should not shy away from using the talent that we have within our ranks.

Neither should we shy away from altering the way ‘things have always been done’ to allow those individuals to flourish and to serve. It is inconceivable that the Provincial Grand Masters and Grand Superintendents of the future will be able to dedicate the time and effort to Freemasonry that perhaps some of their predecessors have managed, without detriment to their family or personal connections. Their teams around them become of paramount importance if the organisation as a whole is to grow and develop. Similarly, if we want leaders who are truly exceptional and able to carry the organisation forward, we must be willing to accommodate the many other things that will call on their time – not least their greater involvement in the running of the ‘Centre’.

We will do our bit here at UGLE to listen to those ideas coming out of the Provinces, and to ensure that others can benefit from them; to ensure that ‘best practice’ is shared, such as the membership initiatives in Bristol and the communications strategies of Buckinghamshire and Cheshire.

We will also continue to listen to you, our members, paying heed to what you think is important, and what our priorities should be for the years ahead.

Dr David Staples Grand Secretary and Grand Scribe E

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Contents 44 On the side: Mark Masonry

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All about the Order of the Mark Master Masons

Grand Lodge

The official journal of the United Grand Lodge of England Issue 48 ~ Winter 2019

48 In Quarterly Communication News from Pro Grand Master

Editor-in-Chief DKS

Editor Donna Hardie Editorial Panel Michelle Worvell, Dr Ric Berman, Dr James Campbell, Guy Roberts, Shaun Butler, Dean Simmons, Barry Hughes, Julian Perry (Culture editor) Published by Sunday for the United Grand Lodge of England, Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ Editorial Manager Shaun Butler editor@freemasonrytoday.com Freemasonry Today, Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ

The crucial and rewarding role

Dr David Staples welcomes you to the winter issue

O ut and about 7

A look at this year’s Open House London at Freemasons’ Hall

20 The power of hens

The unique project helping people with dementia in care settings

in Chicago was an architectural marvel of the time

Culture 59 Reviews, cartoons and crosswords

In the community 65 Touching lives

Showcasing some of the work of the

Masonic Charitable Foundation, and

Inside the work on the ceiling in the Grand Temple at Freemasons’ Hall

meeting those who make it happen

Fraternal world

29 Scouting synergy

69 Home and abroad

A Freemason with a passion for rock Bedfordshire Freemasons raise £500,000 for new Scout lodge This London Freemason came up through the Universities Scheme

A daily advancement

UGLE lodges around the world

72 Letters and social media 82 Thēsauros

Unusual views from masonic history

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38 Grand Master milestone

FreemasonryToday UnitedGrandLodgeofEngland SupremeGrandChapter

The Masonic Temple building

26 60 seconds with...

@freemasonry2day @ugle_grandlodge @grandchapter

54 A place in history

24 Restoring a masterpiece

32 The interview: Amandeep Bansel

editor@freemasonrytoday.com

and a golf tournament in Cyprus

News and views from the Provinces

Stories

Museum exhibitions, Festivals

From the Grand Secretary

Circulation fmt@freemasonrytoday.com 020 7395 9392

© United Grand Lodge of England 2019.

The opinions herein are those of the authors or persons interviewed only and do not reflect the views of the United Grand Lodge of England or Sunday.

of the Scrutineers for the Porch

52 What’s on 3

16 Trails and tours

Printed by Walstead Roche COVER PHOTO: SEBASTIAN BÖTTCHER. PHOTOGRAPHY: ANNA GORDON, DAN PRINCE

50 Grand Lodge gatekeepers

Advertising contact Mark Toland mark@square7media.co.uk 020 3283 4056 Square7 Media Ltd, 3 More London Riverside, London SE1 2RE

Masonic enquiries editor@freemasonrytoday.com 020 7831 9811 www.ugle.org.uk

Peter Lowndes

The 2nd Earl of Ripon was the first Grand Master to travel to the US

40 Uncovering family secrets

Learning about the Museum of Freemasonry’s Family History Search

42 An extraordinary life @unitedgrandlodgeofengland @freemasonrytoday

Freemason Brent Allcock pieces together his grandfather’s story

FMT Winter 2019

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Out & About

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A roundup of what’s happening in the world of Freemasonry

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UGLE

Inside Freemasonry Providing unique insight into what it means to be a Freemason, the United Grand Lodge of England has unveiled a new film that goes behind the scenes at a lodge meeting and includes interviews with Freemasons.

Featuring stunning new footage of Freemasons’ Hall in London, the film also shines a light on Freemasonry’s unique

history and symbolism – including the famous handshake.

UGLE Chief Executive and Grand Secretary Dr David Staples said: ‘We wanted to create a film which not only explains our history, but showcases modern Freemasonry and reflects our status as one of the oldest social and charitable organisations in the world. I’m often asked what it’s like to be a Freemason, and I hope this video will go some way to answering that question and provide insight into who we are, what we do, our history and our relevance in today’s society.’

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The roots of modern Freemasonry lie with the medieval stonemasons that built our castles and cathedrals, yet the Craft is as relevant today as it was hundreds of years ago.

In 2017, UGLE celebrated its Tercentenary – 300 years since the formation of the premier Grand Lodge – with a spectacular event at the Royal Albert Hall.

The new film will form part of the redesigned public tours of Freemasons’ Hall and the Museum of Freemasonry, and is expected to be seen by the more than 40,000 visitors to the building each year.

What it’s like to be a Freemason: View the film at www.ugle.org.uk/ about-freemasonry/video-library

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Out & About

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SOUTH WALES

Lifesavers South Wales Freemasons have donated £55,000 for a new Brecon Beacons mountain rescue vehicle.

The Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team (CBMRT) is a volunteer organisation that provides an essential lifesaving rescue service, responding to 999 emergencies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in any weather. It covers a vast area of southern Wales, including the central section of the Brecon Beacons, the South Wales Valleys and the cities of Cardiff and Newport. The CBMRT solely relies on donations from members of the public to carry out its operations.

South Wales Freemasons came to the rescue after a fire at CBMRT headquarters caused severe damage and destroyed equipment and rescue vehicles. Through

the Masonic Benevolent Fund, which provides grants to assist organisations outside of Freemasonry, a state-of-the-art rescue vehicle, the £55,000 Isuzu D-Max Utah – converted by Pickup Systems Burnley – was presented to CBMRT. The Isuzu is a first-response emergency vehicle with the call sign Mobile 1. It has search operations capability, can traverse floodwaters and is readily identifiable – with mountain rescue colours and blue lights to support urgent responses.

Penny Brockman, CBMRT team leader, said: ‘On behalf of CBMRT I would like to say a huge thank you to the Freemasons of South Wales for their extremely generous donation. Mobile 1 will be an invaluable asset and will be used in rescues across south, mid and west Wales, and undoubtedly will contribute to saving many lives in the area.’

The vehicle has already been used to respond to two missing person call-outs, and in two rescues.

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Leaving footprints

PHOTOGRAPHY: ROGER GALE

First responders: MBF Chairman Andrew Gretton, left, with CBMRT representatives and Freemasons (l to r) David Swain, Gareth Jones and William Jenkins

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MASONIC CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

Sweet charity

Making a difference: MCF COO Les Hutchinson and Acting Head of Charity Grants Caroline McHale

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This October, more than 100 Freemasons attended the Metropolitan and Provincial Grand Charity Stewards’ Conference, organised by the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF).

The Province of Nottinghamshire hosted the two-day event, which welcomed delegates from across the Provinces and Metropolitan Grand Lodge, and which offered those

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SOMERSET

Somerset Assistant Provincial Grand Master Ben Batley had been looking for something to commemorate Freemasons’ charitable giving around the Province when he found inspiration at London’s Freemasons’ Hall.

Ben saw a plaque recently unveiled

by UGLE Grand Master HRH The Duke of Kent to commemorate the opening of the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF)’s refurbished offices. He realised that a similar plaque would make a perfect ‘masonic footprint’.

Following consultation with the plaque’s designers and the MCF, the first plaque was created and installed in Somerset at Hestercombe House & Gardens to mark a donation of £16,500 to enable disadvantaged and vulnerable participants to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme.

‘We are delighted with the result,’ Ben said. ‘Whenever we make a charitable donation, our “masonic footprint” will be left with the charity.’

attending opportunities to expand their fundraising skill sets and exchange ideas.

Delegates heard from a number of speakers, ranging from MCF staff and trustees to representatives from UGLE. As well as fundraising advice and tips on how to communicate effectively, delegates also heard about important developments to the MCF’s grant-making programmes and innovations to the Relief Chest Scheme.

Are you a lodge Charity Steward? Request your free Charity Steward’s Guide from the MCF at www.mcf.org.uk/publications

Out & About

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SUFFOLK

A new chapter 5

BRISTOL

Royal tour in Bristol The Grand Master HRH The Duke of Kent made a royal visit to Bristol, during which he visited the city’s Freemasons’ Hall.

Accompanied by Peaches Golding OBE, lordlieutenant for the city and county of Bristol; Charles Wyld, the high sheriff of Bristol; and Councillor Jos Clark, the lord mayor of Bristol, the Duke of Kent was given a detailed tour of Freemasons’ Hall by Provincial Grand Master Jonathan Davis and Deputy Provincial Grand Master Richard Lewis.

He then received a short presentation on the history of the Province of Bristol and met members involved in projects such as working with local charities in the community before departing for his next appointment at Bristol Cathedral.

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STAFFORDSHIRE

Mobile messaging Staffordshire Provincial Grand Master John Lockley has endorsed and launched a unique advertising campaign to support the work the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) does to help communities throughout England and Wales.

It comes in the form of a large advert placed on the side of an articulated trailer owned by local Freemason Danny Poole. Danny runs a specialist chilled food distribution and transport

During 2018, Laconic Lodge, No. 9771, Suffolk, decided to sponsor a Holy Royal Arch chapter. A total of 28 founders signed the petition and, after due deliberation by Supreme Grand Chapter, the newly named Sparta Chapter was granted a warrant on 5 April 2019.

On 2 August, 140 Royal Arch Freemasons gathered at Ashlar House in Bury St Edmunds to witness the consecration of Sparta Chapter, with seven Grand Superintendents, eight Deputy Grand Superintendents and numerous heads of Orders attending.

The consecrating team comprised Anthony Henderson (Provincial Grand Master, Most Excellent Grand Superintendent of Bedfordshire) as First Principal, James Sharpley (MEGS of Hertfordshire) as Second

business based in Stoke-on-Trent and came up with the idea with the help of his wife, Jackie.

Danny approached Andrew Tomblin, the MCF’s Staffordshire representative, and generously offered a trailer to be decorated in full MCF branding and colours and carrying the masonic message of ‘charity for all’ across the country and into Europe.

John said: ‘Many thanks to Danny and Jackie for their great idea and for allowing the use of this magnificent vehicle to help Staffordshire Freemasons promote the Masonic Charitable Foundation, nationally and internationally.’

Charity for all: (l to r) Staffordshire Provincial Charity Steward John Skellern; Neil Fantarrow, editor of Staffordshire’s masonic magazine; local Freemason Danny Poole; Andrew Tomblin of the MCF; and Staffordshire PGM John Lockley

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Unity in Suffolk: Freemasons (l to r) James Sharpley, Ian Yeldham, Anthony Henderson, David Boswell, Bill Dastur, Stephen Allen and John Keeble

Principal, John Keeble (MEGS of Buckinghamshire) as Third Principal and Stephen Allen (PGM/MEGS of Norfolk) as Scribe N. They installed David Boswell (MEGS of Suffolk) as Founding Z, Ian Yeldham (PGM of Suffolk) as Founding H and Bill Dastur (PGM/MEGS of Cambridgeshire) as J. The day proved to be a prime example of the unity between the Craft and Royal Arch in the Province of Suffolk, as well as the friendliness shown by the leaders of several Provinces and their willingness to help fellow leaders in Suffolk in the consecration of Sparta Chapter.

Museum of Freemasonry librarian Martin Cherry (third left) with (l to r) Michael Gooderson, Stephen Allen, Adrian Harper, Charles Hall and Mick King

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NORFOLK

Speaking volumes As part of the 2017 Tercentenary celebrations, Norfolk Freemasons decided to create a definitive written record of all their lodges.

The overriding brief specified that the histories included must have been produced by and for the lodges themselves. The three-volume history provides a comprehensive overview of Freemasonry in Norfolk and includes material to 31 December 2018.

Ahead of the Grand Lodge Quarterly Communication in September, Provincial Grand Master for Norfolk Stephen Allen, together with members of the Norfolk Provincial Executive and two members of Norfolk Blues, presented a copy of the Compiled History of Norfolk Lodges to Martin Cherry, librarian at the Museum of Freemasonry.

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Out & About

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CHESHIRE

Streets ahead

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DERBYSHIRE

Set and match Derbyshire Freemasons are supporting a promising local wheelchair tennis player with a training grant of £160 a month.

Joshua Johns, 13, who has right-sided hemiplegia with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, has already represented England at the National School Games twice in the three years he has been playing.

He won a number of UK National Series singles and doubles titles in 2019, and has been selected to be part of the LTA’s Junior Future Potential 2 programme. He dreams of one day representing his country in the Paralympics and competing in the Grand Slams. But personal training, coaching, travel and hotel costs can total £8,000 a year, which is expected to increase as Joshua progresses.

Derbyshire Freemasons became aware of Joshua, and the Derbyshire Provincial Grand Charity was pleased to offer him a training grant of £160 per month to help him achieve his ambitions.

The grant will continue until at least May 2020.

Joshua said: ‘To be the best I can be I must first work the hardest I can every day. But to keep pushing forward, I need access to the best possible coaching and professional input. Without the generosity and continued support of the Derbyshire Freemasons this would not be possible. I will never take the support they give me for granted and will repay them the best I can with hard work and determination to be the best I can be.’

Cheshire Freemasons took to the streets of Chester in full regalia in July to celebrate 150 years of Royal Arch Freemasonry in Cheshire.

Grand Superintendent Stephen Blank led the street procession from the town hall through to Chester’s famous cathedral, where more than 800 people sat together to recognise and celebrate the Province of Cheshire’s Royal Arch sesquicentenary.

Guests included Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire David Briggs, Lord Mayor of Chester Mark Williams (himself a member of Cheshire Craft and Royal Arch) and, from Supreme Grand Chapter, Grand Principal Russell Race, Deputy Provincial Grand Master David Dyson and Deputy Grand Superintendent for the Royal Arch in Cheshire J Robert Bramley.

At the end of the service, a small contingent visited the Chapel of St Erasmus in the cathedral to unveil

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a plaque detailing the work funded by Cheshire Freemasons to support the £35,000 restoration of the famous mosaics originally produced by railway man Thomas Brassey.

Following the service, photos were taken of the brand-new minibus provided by Cheshire Freemasons to local Scouts.

Guests could also meet the rider of the newly funded Blood Bike and view his motorcycle, proudly branded with the square and compasses.

In total, companions of the Province have committed in excess of £150,000 to support projects for the communities of Cheshire and beyond.

DEVONSHIRE

Triumph over tragedy More than 70 Devonshire Freemasons and their families gathered in Davie Hall Masonic Lodge in Plymouth to hear the remarkable story of Mark Ormrod, a Royal Marine who suffered horrific injuries while on active service in Afghanistan in 2007.

The evening was hosted by John Kingdom and presented on behalf of the Royal Marines Charity and the Devonshire 2023 Festival. Mark gave a graphic account of losing three

About last issue

In the Autumn 2019 issue of FMT, we featured The 3 Pillars Feeding the Homeless, a charity that distributes food, clothing, tents, sleeping bags and toiletries to those in need in Peterborough, St Neots and Huntingdon.

Those in search of more information about 3 Pillars can contact Ged Dempsey, Province of Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire, at gtdempsey@hotmail.com, 077 4810 0100 or via the Facebook page 3 Pillars Feeding the Homeless.

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150 years: (l to r) Freemasons J Robert Bramley, Russell Race and Stephen Blank, Lord-Lieutenant David Briggs, Lord Mayor Mark Williams and Freemason David Dyson

FMT Winter 2019

limbs in an explosion and the months of aftercare and rehabilitation it took to get back to full health. What shone through was his determination to get better and set new goals, with the achievements he has made testament to his courage. Mark also signed copies of his book, Man Down, which details his personal story.

The £1,075 raised will be split evenly between the Royal Marines Charity and the Devonshire 2023 Festival.

Out & About

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If you’ve not yet registered to use Solomon or haven’t visited recently, please use the link below

solomon.ugle.org.uk

Please use the link below to take our current survey and share your ideas and needs

https://bit.ly/2Ys4G4X

@SolomonUGLE

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UGLE

Year Two of Solomon While integrity, respect, friendship and a charitable disposition are key values for Freemasonry, strengthening its appeal and developing your enjoyment, engagement, understanding and curiosity are also vital.

UGLE’s Learning & Development Programme seeks to stimulate your interest and meet your needs, and Solomon (our digital platform) provides a growing range of written, audio and visual material for personal and collective use.

In Year Two, we will develop

are helpful signposts as to what is needed and where we can improve.

In January, some 30 professionally recorded audio files will be available, and a further 30 soon thereafter.

The team is also working to produce animated videos and adding images to enhance existing papers.

We recognise that Solomon is also used by those curious about membership, so a new area with this focus is being developed for launch in the new year. This area will also link to the UGLE website.

Within a lodge or chapter, Learning & Development needs to complement the Members’ Pathway and Mentoring. Discussions are taking place to harmonise resources and the support for these three golden threads. Recent

presentations at the New and Young Masons and the Universities Scheme autumn conferences were well received and provided additional valuable feedback. We will continue to seek out such opportunities.

In 2020, to stimulate increased learning activity and support Provinces and Districts in their leadership and investment in learning, we will develop our social media presence. Do look out for our January Twitter campaign and follow @SolomonUGLE. We live in exciting and dynamic times. Much is still under consideration and development. The Solomon team remains committed to playing its full part in securing the future of Freemasonry and ensuring that it thrives.

Solomon further, tailoring it to the needs of Craft and Royal Arch members. Feedback from our rolling survey and individual comments

CORNWALL

Big plans: The Solomon team is working to develop its social media presence, among other initiatives

Age no object A £78,000 grant from Cornwall Freemasons to the Royal Voluntary Service will help to relieve loneliness in local older people.

The grant will fund a programme to provide more than 200 people with access to schemes such as Community Companions – a voluntary organisation that offers older individuals at-home support and help to get out and about.

Loneliness and social isolation can affect everyone, but older people are particularly vulnerable after the loss of friends and family, or due to reduced mobility.

Lisa Knight, community development and operations manager for the Royal Voluntary Service, said: ‘We’re very grateful to Cornwall Freemasons for their generous grant, which will help us build on our existing work supporting older people in Cornwall, organise monthly social activities and recruit volunteers to provide companionship and practical support to older people in their homes.’

Companionship and support: Stephen Pearn (centre), Provincial Grand Master for Cornwall, meets with individuals from the Royal Voluntary Service

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EAST LANCASHIRE

Access all areas East Lancashire Freemasons have come to the rescue of a local Littleborough family whose son suffers from a lifethreatening genetic condition.

The Rochdale District team presented a £2,295 grant to Chris and Jeni Wardley to help them secure a new home that’s better suited to their son River and his siblings, Ocean and Roxi-Blue.

River suffers from a rare gene mutation that causes seizures, and intellectual, attention and language deficits. He also has sleep apnoea, hypermobility syndrome, sensory processing disorder, autism, ADHD and epilepsy.

‘When we heard about River, we wanted to do something positive,’

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A new home: Rochdale Freemasons Doug Smith (left) and John Taylor (right) with the Wardley family

said Rochdale District Chairman Doug Smith.

As a result, Freemasons secured a substantial grant from the East Lancashire Masonic Charity, enabling the family to move River’s specialist equipment and assist with prohibitive upfront rent costs.

The family can now move to a new home in Milnrow.

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Out & About

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LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND

True blues In 2018, the Leicestershire & Rutland Light Blue Club successfully bid to host the 2019 New and Young Masons Conference.

The Light Blue Club’s winning theme of ‘building bonds’ was the foundation for months of hard work, culminating in a conference at Freemasons’ Hall in Leicester on 28 September 2019.

The New and Young Masons Club (NYMC) was created to bring together all Light Blue and young masons clubs from around the country to share ideas and best practices and to ensure their continued success. Representatives from 31 of these clubs descended on Freemasons’ Hall, Leicester, to enjoy an action-packed and informative day, with friends, acquaintances, new members and a great lineup of speakers.

After welcoming their guests, Light Blue Club members hosted a tour of the magnificent London Road building. This was followed by a talk by Leicester Freemason Richard Barnett in the Holmes Lodge Room, and a viewing of the museum.

Leicestershire & Rutland Light Blue Club Chairman Bob Reay opened the conference with a welcoming speech and then introduced Provincial Grand Master David Hagger, who introduced the day’s

Future vision: UGLE Grand Secretary Dr David Staples delivered the keynote speech at the 2019 New and Young Masons Conference

‘You are the future of Freemasonry, and today has demonstrated what a bright future we have’ Leicestershire & Rutland Provincial Grand Master David Hagger

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guest speakers. Deputy Provincial Grand Master and Light Blue Club President Peter Kinder spoke on the origins of the Light Blue Club and offered his thoughts and aims for the day.

Samuel Harris of the Light Blue Club then introduced the next two sets of speakers. First to the stage was Christine Chapman, Grand Master of the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons, who provided insights into the history and background of women’s Freemasonry in England.

She was followed by Elaine Malone, Deputy Grand Secretary of the Order of Women Freemasons, who was accompanied by Mia Cameron-Dungey.

Their presentation gave the audience a better understanding of the Order’s origins, as well as information about their future plans.

The first breakout session, ‘The Foundation

Stone’, inspired an energetic and enthusiastic discussion around what it takes for new and young Freemasons clubs to be successful.

After lunch, the team from Solomon gave a valuable insight into the Learning & Development Programme. The breakout sessions ‘Raising a Superstructure’ and ‘Building Bonds’ saw attendees sharing ideas and developing a mission statement.

David Hagger then presented his vision for the future of Freemasonry. NYMC’s Mitchell Merrick-Thirlway rounded off a captivating day by announcing who had won the chance to host the conference in 2022: the Fleet House Light Blues Club from the Province of Hertfordshire.

‘I would like to thank all of the organisers and members of our Light Blue Club for what has been an excellent day,’ David said. ‘I would also like to thank all of our guests and speakers for their valuable time and also to all of the members from up and down the country for their energy and enthusiasm. You are the future of Freemasonry, and today has demonstrated what a bright future we have.’

Stories

16 Taking the grand tour

20 HenPower grows wings

Visitors from far and wide explore Freemasons’ Hall at Open House London

Programme brings hens to care homes to improve the lives of people with dementia

24 A cut above Behind the restoration of the exquisite ceiling in the Grand Temple at Freemasons’ Hall

26 60 seconds with...

Stacy Harman, Freemason and bass player in the London rock band Playmaker

PHOTOGRAPHY: ANNA GORDON

People, places, history and more 29 ‘Don’t call it a hut’

32 A family affair

Bedfordshire Freemasons raise £500,000 for Scout accommodation

Amandeep Bansel knew at the age of 15 that he wanted to join the Craft

Stories GOING PUBLIC

The grand tour This year’s Open House London event saw almost 9,000 visitors welcomed into the splendid Art Deco surroundings of Freemasons’ Hall. Peter Watts looks back at the two tours-and-trails-packed days

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ver the weekend of 21 and 22 September, Freemasons’ Hall opened its doors for Open House London, which allows the public to nose around hundreds of buildings across the capital. Having previously only opened on the Saturday of Open House weekend, this was the first time that Freemasons’ Hall was also open on the Sunday, and a range of special attractions was lined up to complement the self-guided tour, including special guided architectural tours that took people through the second-floor lodge rooms, a café and rooms with children’s activities. Visitors were also invited to watch a short film about Freemasonry and talk to Freemasons about the Craft.

Events Manager Katherine Nisbet said she had been hoping to attract 6,000 visitors across both days, which would have been a significant increase on the 1,800 who attended in 2018. In the end, almost 9,000 people came through the doors of Freemasons’ Hall, making it one of the Borough of Camden’s top Open House attractions.

‘It was amazing to welcome so many members of

the public to Freemasons’ Hall,’ she said. ‘We had really lovely feedback from our volunteers and from the public. People commented that they learned a lot about Freemasonry and now better understand who the Freemasons are, what they do and how

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they are still extremely relevant in today’s society.

We also had comments from people who learned that the core values of Freemasonry – integrity, friendship, respect and charity – are the same as those that they live by.’

Nisbet is already thinking of ways to improve the offering for 2020’s Open House weekend. ‘We don’t want to do the same thing every year; it’s about making it a bit different each time so people come back,’ she said.

Self-discovery

A special self-guided tour brochure was produced to assist visitors during their visit to Freemasons’ Hall, which began at the ceremonial entrance, where a collection was taken for victims of Hurricane Dorian. In the process, visitors could learn about many of the other charitable causes supported by the Freemasons.

The tour then headed up to the shrine and vestibules, where visitors could learn about the

origins of the building and inspect the roll of honour naming the more than 3,500 Freemasons who died in service during the First World War. The brochure related the history of the building from the start of construction in 1927 and highlighted some of the Art Deco features that make it such a splendid location. It also contained information about symbolism in Freemasonry and singled out examples for visitors to study.

In the vestibules, visitors could learn about the money Freemasons had raised to purchase two large ladders for the London Fire Brigade, which will help in the event of a tower block fire, as well as about the important work of the Masonic Charitable Foundation.

The self-guided tour then moved into the Grand Temple, where 30 volunteers in regalia, who came from as far away as Derbyshire, were present to talk about the building and Freemasonry in general.

‘The volunteers loved it and are very keen to support the event next year,’ said Nisbet. ‘We are very fortunate to have such a great group of volunteers who are passionate about Freemasonry and want to share their passion and knowledge with the public. All the volunteers commented that they enjoyed the interaction with the public and that the public were willing to listen.’

‘People commented that they learned a lot about Freemasonry and now better understand who the Freemasons are’

Stories GOING PUBLIC Warm welcome: Jonathan Stanton opens the doors to Freemasons’ Hall for Open House London

PHOTOGRAPHY: ANNA GORDON

Grand guides: Freemasons shared information about Freemasonry and the building with visitors

Top attraction: Naftali Ayieko welcomes one of almost 9,000 visitors during the Open House weekend

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Stories GOING PUBLIC

‘The volunteers commented that they enjoyed the interaction with the public and that the public were willing to listen’ Visitors were also invited to sit on the throne and take a picture to be posted on social media. The tour then moved through the Museum of Freemasonry’s North Gallery, the Library & Archives and then the South Gallery – before ending at the Grand Officers’ Robing Room, where a café was installed.

In a neighbouring room they could watch a newly commissioned film, Discover Freemasonry.

Little learners

A corresponding children’s trail along the selfguided tour route encouraged younger visitors to look out for animals, symbols and other items in windows, doors, ceilings and floors throughout the

building. It also contained some unusual ‘fun facts’ about Freemasonry and the building.

In an activities room, children could make an apron, or construct a unicorn, throne or dragon from bricks. They could also have their photograph taken alongside famous Freemasons Winston

Churchill and George Washington using a fun ‘facein-the-hole’ board.

‘We hadn’t done anything with children before, but they can often get bored when dragged around these sorts of things, so we wanted to engage with them,’ Nisbet said.

Architectural splendour

Want to visit?

Freemasons’ Hall is open to the public Monday to Saturday. Book a guided tour at www. museumfreemasonry. org.uk/tours

The 75-minute guided architectural tours led by Blue Badge Guides proved to be popular, especially on Sunday, when visitors were able to get inside several of the second-floor lodge rooms. Next year, Nisbet plans to increase the number of tours and perhaps make them free but ticketed, so visitors can sign up in advance.

‘The guided tours were so popular that I ended up taking two tours on Sunday afternoon,’ Nisbet said.

‘Visitors thoroughly enjoyed the exclusive glimpse into the lodge rooms, and it was brilliant to have a captive audience.’

An architectural marvel: Children and adults enjoyed tours and activities in the Grade II* listed Freemasons’ Hall

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Stories ANIMAL MAGIC

With help from the Masonic Charitable Foundation, HenPower is fighting loneliness and supporting people with dementia in care homes using flocks of feathered friends. Steven Short finds out how the project grew wings

PHOTOGRAPHY: DAN PRINCE

Birds in the hand 20

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Stories ANIMAL MAGIC

‘H

ens are lively; they form social groups, have a pecking order and have very distinct personalities,’ says Jos

Forester-Melville. ‘In some ways their lives mirror our own human lives.’

Jos should know. She’s been keeping chickens of her own for years. And for the past seven years she’s been using the birds to help improve the lives of people with dementia in care homes as HenPower programme manager at Equal Arts, a charity that provides creative opportunities for older people.

The HenPower project – which works to establish flocks of chickens for residents at care homes to look after and interact with – was recently awarded a £72,000 grant by Durham Freemasons via the Masonic Charitable Trust.

Transformative powers

‘The initiative was sparked by an older man called Billy, who had dementia and lived in a home,’ Jos says. ‘Billy would rattle the doors to get out and bang on the windows, repeating female names.’

Eventually, care home staff realised that Billy was talking about the hens he used to keep and was trying to get out to feed them or collect their eggs.

‘We bought Billy six hens of his own, and when he opened the box and lifted out the hens, his shoulders visibly dropped. The tension was gone.

He was instantly at ease and in control because his needs had been met.’

And so the idea for HenPower was born. The chickens at Billy’s care home proved such a hit that, with initial funding from the National Lottery, the idea was rolled out to another eight care settings in the north-east. Soon word got around about the transformative powers of hens and creativity, and requests for flocks started coming from around the country and overseas ­– ‘even Australia’, Jos says.

Whereas therapy animals might visit a care setting for an hour or two each week, the hens become

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Stories ANIMAL MAGIC

‘HenPower moves away from the passive care you often see in care settings, supporting people to explore their creativity and form new relationships’

full-time residents and are kept in a henhouse and run on the grounds. Residents who opt in to the programme look after them with the support of staff, relatives and volunteers, and begin to build relationships with the birds and with each other.

‘It’s about giving people roles and responsibilities so they have a routine, and so they feel useful and like they have a purpose,’ says Jos. ‘Looking after a flock makes people know they’re needed – someone is needed to let the hens out in the morning, someone else is needed to feed them, to check up on them during the day. When people leave work or a partner dies, they often lose this routine, this sense of purpose.’

Encouraging creativity

According to figures released by Alzheimer’s Research UK, some 530,000 people had received a dementia diagnosis as of August 2018, with the number expected to rise to more than a million by 2025. There is growing understanding that creativity remains intact even if other cognitive functions decline in people living with the condition, and that having a creative outlet can support communication and improve wellbeing.

To that end, the chickens also provide inspiration for the creative projects that Equal Arts has developed over the course of its 35year history. A HenPower session might include writing, storytelling, photography or drama.

‘Participants might write a song about a chicken, or do a drawing based on feathers or the shape of their feet. Other things also might come out of a session, like something related to nature or local history,’ Jos notes.

When a care home signs up to HenPower, it is also paired with a local primary school. ‘Again, the idea is about building relationships,’ Jos says.

‘Traditionally, a school might come in and sing at the residents of a home, which is lovely, but

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Stories ANIMAL MAGIC there’s not really a sense of growing or developing a relationship, so our schoolchildren come each week and work on the creative activities with the older people.’

Sometimes schools will have their own flock of

hens that the care home residents will visit, teaching the children how to look after them, and they might take the flock in during school holidays.

HenPower is continuing to spread its wings thanks to the grant from Durham Freemasons via the Masonic Charitable Trust, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends from across England and Wales. The grant, £72,000 disbursed over three years, will help support new projects in County Durham, Teesside and London, as well as provide a host of volunteering opportunities.

‘HenPower gives people a role and responsibility.

It moves away from the passive care you often see in care settings, supporting people to explore their creativity and form new relationships with schools, volunteers and groups in their community,’ says Equal Arts Co-director Douglas Hunter.

‘I’m very pleased we’ve been able to help HenPower with their outstanding work bringing together older people, school pupils and community volunteers,’ says Michael Shaw, Deputy Grand Superintendent for the Province of Durham.

‘This is a really exciting and effective way of helping older people who are at risk of loneliness and isolation as well as those living with dementia.’

Tracy Wilson, activity coordinator at Mandale House Care Home in Stockton-on-Tees, has seen the benefits of HenPower firsthand. ‘You’d never think that having a few hens in a care home could make such a difference, but from the very day they came the impact has been massive,’ she says.

‘Some of our residents are not very verbal, but when you bring the hens in, their faces light up. One resident has very advanced dementia and didn’t speak or participate in anything. The day the hens arrived we took one to him to see if he would be interested, and he just instinctively stretched his arms out and took it and cradled her to his chest, petting and talking to her. It was beautiful to see.’

For more information on HenPower, visit www.equalarts.org.uk/our-work/henpower or follow them on Twitter: @HenPowerProject and Facebook: @henpowerproject

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Stories CELESTIAL CEILING

An exquisitely ornate ceiling mosaic presides over the rituals in the Grand Temple at Freemasons’ Hall.

Steven Short learns

A cut above

about the renovation project to restore the Art Deco masterpiece

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F

reemasons’ Hall, the headquarters of UGLE, occupies two acres in London’s Great Queen Street. The steel-framed, Portland stone-clad Grade II* listed building, erected between 1927 and 1933, was designed by architects HV Ashley and F Winton Newman and is considered to be one of the finest Art Deco buildings in the UK. Designed as an irregular pentagon – dictated by the awkward shape of its site – the building has the Grand Temple at its heart. Reached via three vestibules, each more lavish than its predecessor, the Grand Temple contains an ornate pipe organ, gilt thrones and hefty bronze doors, each measuring 12 by 4 feet and weighing 1.25 tonnes.

Presiding over all of this is a brightly coloured ceiling depicting a classical representation of the celestial sky. The ceiling, and the unique, 15-foothigh mosaic that surrounds it, are about to undergo a complete renovation.

‘A few years ago, we noticed that the ceiling and mosaic were deteriorating – a combination of cracks and loose tiling,’ says Mark Kennedy, Director of Maintenance at Freemasons’ Hall. Initially, Kennedy

Stories CELESTIAL CEILING

feared that the building was suffering from Regent Street disease, which affects steel-framed buildings: water gets behind the façade, causing the metal to rust, which in turn pushes the façade away from the frame. This would have been disastrous, necessitating a complete rebuild; however, it is now thought that the problems are caused by moisture that has destabilised the adhesive in the mosaic.

Beauty in design

The ceiling panel and mosaic feature symbols and figures from Freemasonry. At each of the ceiling panel’s corners are the arms of UGLE. The eastern part of the mosaic, which took almost two years to complete, depicts the Ark of the Covenant and Jacob’s ladder, flanked by King Solomon and King Hiram. To the north are St George and the dragon, along with the arms of the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, who was Grand Master when the hall was built. At the west are Euclid and Pythagoras, with three squares representing the 47th problem, while to the south is the sun god Helios on his chariot, the All-Seeing Eye and a five-pointed star.

The mosaic also features at each corner figures

representing the four cardinal values – prudence, temperance, fortitude and justice.

‘The beauty of the design is that the architects thought of everything,’ notes Kennedy. ‘Above the Grand Temple there are “rigging points” in the mosaic – you wouldn’t notice them unless you were specifically looking. There are about seven small holes on each side into which we will be able to insert a scaffold pole and attach it to the structure.’

Kennedy’s team has abseiled to the ceiling to track changes in the cracking and loosening of tiles.

Cameras have been inserted into deeper fissures, and thermal imaging has been used to establish the extent of the damage. ‘The team in charge of repairs will work from a hanging scaffold,’ he says, meaning that the Grand Temple will not have to be closed off while repairs take place in early 2020.

‘We are going to wrap the scaffold, either by projecting something onto it or having a picture of the actual mosaic printed onto it.’ The work to fix the cracks and repair the mosaic is expected to take four to five months, but as Kennedy wisely points out, ‘You never know what you’re looking at until you get up there and start.’

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Impressive intricacy: The Grand Temple ceiling at Freemasons’ Hall depicts the celestial sky, with the surrounding mosaic featuring symbols and figures from Freemasonry

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Stories 60 SECONDS WITH...

Bass playing and brotherhood Meet Freemason Stacy Harman, a musician in London rock band Playmaker

S

tacy Harman is a Freemason with a passion for rock music, playing bass in the indie rock band Playmaker, and for motorcycles.

Initiated into Honor Oak Lodge, No. 1986, East Kent, in 2008, Stacy has been through the chair four times in three Orders. ‘So you could say I have passion for Freemasonry, too!’

After pursuing a career in motocross and retiring due to injury, Stacy found himself helping out a friend’s band. When the bass player suddenly left, he stepped in, playing his first gig only four weeks later.

‘Three albums, four tours in China and lots of festivals later, we’re still playing festivals and gigs all around London. And still loving every second of it.

‘I’m fortunate to have friends from all aspects of life: the band, racing and now Freemasonry.’

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A historical Freemason you find fascinating or inspiring My great uncle, Ray Horn, is Past Assistant Grand Master of Spain. I still love going to lodge with him and always try to make him proud.

A book you enjoy The Wolf of Wall Street.

Favourite masonic degree Mark and Royal Ark Mariner.

A film you’d watch again (and again) Pulp Fiction – it’s Tarantino at his best.

Favourite hobby (apart from Freemasonry) Arsenal football.

Favourite sandwich Bacon, melted cheese, jalapeños and pickle – always on white.

Childhood hero Steve McQueen – an amazing motorcycle rider and ‘The King of Cool’.

A place you’d like to go that you have never been India – I love curries!

What’s the most memorable part of your initiation into Freemasonry?

I was taught to be cautious.

I will never forget the guiding hand on my shoulder, which always seems to be there in Freemasonry.

Best piece of advice you’ve ever received ‘Daddy, everything will be all right.’ My six-year-old daughter, Dusty, told me that once. And everything always does seem to turn out all right – no matter how tough things seem.

Stories WOODEN HEART

Scouts’ own

Wing walking and galas

were just some of the ways

Bedfordshire Freemasons raised £500,000 for a new Scout super lodge. Peter Watts visits the site to find out about Freemasonry’s and the Scouts’ shared values

PHOTOGRAPHY: DAVID LEVENSON, BEDFORDSHIRE FREEMASONS

J‘

ust don’t call it a Scout hut,’ grins Martin Wilson, Charity Steward for the Provincial Grand Lodge of Bedfordshire, as we trudge through ancient woodland towards the new £500,000 accommodation block that Bedfordshire Freemasons have funded for the county’s Scouts.

At first glimpse of the building, it’s apparent why some Bedfordshire Freemasons might bristle at the word ‘hut’. The handsome accommodation is more like a huge log ranch. Made from 100-yearold Finnish spruce, the building has underfloor heating, showers and a modern kitchen, is fully wheelchair-accessible and has bunks for 48 children and their helpers. The accommodation looks amazing and will transform the campsite in which it’s located: the Leslie Sell Activity Centre in Bromham, which offers activities such as archery and climbing to around 600 Scouts, Cubs, Beavers and Guides each weekend.

The Scouts are delighted with their new facility, which is due to open in the spring. ‘I think that it has never been more important to invest our time and support in our young people,’ says Tim Kidd,

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Stories WOODEN HEART the Scouts’ UK chief commissioner. ‘Scouts are passionate about helping young people to achieve the very best that they can and to learn skills that will stay with them for life. The support from the Bedfordshire Freemasons will help Bedfordshire Scouts enormously – huge numbers of young people will use the lodge to facilitate their learning about teamwork, leadership, practical skills, the natural world around them and, above all else, how to make this world a better place.’

For Bedfordshire Provincial Grand Master Anthony Henderson, this emphasis on selfimprovement encapsulates the synergy between Scouting and Freemasonry that inspired the Bedfordshire Freemasons to take on such a vast fundraising commitment in the first place. Its origins lie in the 300th anniversary celebrations of 2017. Anthony was determined to do something for the Tercentenary that would last, and he wanted it to be focused around young people.

‘We support many local charities – our brethren are so generous with what they give – but when I looked around there was nothing in our Province that you could see and say, “the Freemasons did that,”’ he says. ‘I wanted to do something that left a mark. I began to think about what we could support and settled on Scouting. It’s very inclusive and there are so many parallels to Freemasonry, with kids from different backgrounds getting the chance to mix and learn life skills. That was the starting point.’

‘People want to help’

Bedfordshire Freemasons went to the local Scouts to ask how they could help. The Scouts came back with a number of suggestions for projects around the county but admitted that their dream would be a completely new accommodation block for their campsite at Bromham. After visiting

Scouting synergy: David Heard of Bedfordshire Scouts (centre, bottom right image) accompanies a group of Scouts at the Leslie Sell Activity Centre, while (above) Bedfordshire Freemason Dean O’Connell, left, and Lee Johnstone of Premier Log Homes oversee the continued work on the new accommodation

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Stories WOODEN HEART

Work in progress: Provincial Grand Master Anthony Henderson (centre, top image, below) on site with Bedfordshire Freemasons and Scouts, and a rendering of the finished accommodation

and seeing the old accommodation – an ageing, dank, ill-equipped secondhand building that had been used as housing for dockworkers before being donated to the Scouts decades before – the Freemasons agreed that there was a clear need for a new building.

Anthony next approached fellow Bedfordshire Freemason Michael Hillson, who runs a building company. Michael offered his professional advice and then agreed to manage the project, eventually deciding to build the block from timber as it would last longer, look better and be more in keeping with the woodland surroundings.

‘We have budget restraints, but we aren’t cutting any corners,’ says Michael. ‘The suppliers have been so helpful, and there’s been a lot of local spirit. You mention the Scouts and people want to help.’

‘I wanted to do something that left a mark.

Scouting is very inclusive, and there are so many parallels to Freemasonry’

With Michael taking care of the construction, the Freemasons were able to concentrate on raising the money. A significant starting point came from a large legacy bequeathed by Gwyn Jones, a Freemason from Dunstable, and the main room in the block will be named in his honour. But as costs mounted from the initial estimate of £300,000, more was required.

The new target was £500,000, and the Freemasons had just two years to raise the sum. As well as balls and galas, the challenge was met in some creative ways, including one Freemason who raised £10,000 with a sponsored wing walk.

Construction got underway in the summer of 2019. Anthony laid the first log – inscribed with a message about the two institutions’ shared values – in August at a ceremony attended by 200 Scouts and Freemasons. That’s a theme picked up by Bob Calver, the treasurer of Bedfordshire Scouts, who admits he knew little about Freemasonry until they began cooperating on the project. ‘There’s a lot of crossover with that idea of making good men better,’ he says. ‘We talk a lot in Scouts about instilling skills for life – not just practical skills like tying a knot but actually how to make a positive contribution to society, and that’s the big link between the two.’

Long-term benefits

As he looks around the expansive new building, Bob explains that it is the most significant investment to happen on the site since the land was first given to the Scouts by the centre’s namesake, Leslie Sell himself, also a Freemason.

It will also have a tangible impact by making the campsite more attractive to Scout groups from all over the Midlands. That will increase income and in turn lead to further investment, improving the range and quality of the activities made available for visiting groups.

Bedfordshire Freemasons have negotiated use of the accommodation block four times a year for their own events and gatherings; Anthony is also planning the spring opening ceremony, which he hopes will be attended by senior figures in Freemasonry and the Scouts. To mark the involvement of Freemasonry, there will be a permanent granite stone by the front door of the building, underneath which Freemasons are burying a time capsule filled with information about the local lodges.

As he climbs a ladder to perform an impromptu ‘topping out’ ceremony, Anthony looks down with satisfaction. ‘It’s great to think we are leaving something that will make a real difference,’ he says. ‘We are very proud of our contribution and of this building. Just look at it. It’s a bit more than a Scout hut, isn’t it?’

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The Interview AMANDEEP BANSEL

A family affair

A love of history and strong family connections to Freemasonry inspired Amandeep Bansel’s interest in the Craft at just 15 years old. Now, through the Universities Scheme, he’s a fully initiated Freemason himself

What were your childhood ambitions?

I always wanted to study history, to become an expert in a field… reading about the remarkable achievements of fascinating men and women.

Were there Freemasons in your family? Yes, my grandfather’s cousin, my father’s uncle and my two uncles were all Freemasons, I also have an aunt who is a Freemason. After reading about the Craft, knowing that such great people who I loved were a part of it made me want to join. It’s very special for me to have my uncle attend meetings.

Tell us your early memories of Freemasonry?

My first encounter with Freemasonry was through learning about medieval history and the forming of architectural structures. As medieval Europe became more prosperous and gave rise to skilled artisans, guilds started as a precursor to Freemasonry. Being an eccentric lad, I was fascinated by these groups, with their intriguing traditions and customs.

When did you think, ‘I’d like to know more, to get involved’? I knew I wanted to join the Craft at 15. It was also evident in learning about Freemasonry that all Orders are heavily involved in philanthropy and local projects.

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When I started university, I happened to make friends with Simon Moore, a great gent who spoke to me about the Universities Scheme. The prospect of meeting new people was something I truly relished.

Could you tell us about your studies?

I’m going into my third year at Royal Holloway, a part of the University of London, where I’m reading for a bachelor’s degree in history. I think one life just isn’t enough for me, which is why I enjoy history with such passion – humans are a fascinating species. I stayed true to my dream as a young lad, and university has been the most exciting, exhilarating and lifechanging experience.

How did you get involved in the Universities Scheme? After speaking to Simon, he gave the people at the scheme my email, and they emailed me about an open day, where we would get to ask questions and view a temple room at Freemasons’ Hall. The rest is history!

The scheme invites young university students to enquire about Freemasonry. Questions are formally answered by a member from a Universities Scheme lodge, and those interested are shown a temple room – often for the first time. If they wish to proceed, their application is sent to a lodge on the scheme that might wish to admit them, and an interview and relationship with that lodge begins.

How does Freemasonry fit in with your personal values? Freemasonry allows for fellowship of individuals with the same ideals, notably brotherly love, truth and relief. This

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Amandeep Bansel was born in 1999 and raised in Woodford Green in London by two hard-working parents - a gas engineer and a teacher. The eldest of two children, he studied history, philosophy and ethics, and English literature at West Hatch secondary school before reading for a bachelor’s degree in history at Royal Holloway, the University of London. Initiated into Freemasonry in late April 2018, he is a Fellowcraft of Caribbean Lodge, No. 4826.

PHOTOGRAPHY: SEBASTIAN BÖTTCHER

Where were you born, and what was growing up like? I grew up in London. My parents were really caring, and I had a special relationship with my late dear grandmother.

School was certainly a life-changing experience, being a minority and standing apart because I wear a turban. It has made me who I am today.

Slug goes here

‘The meetings allow me to step away from the busy realities of work and other commitments. And from the mundane’

The Interview AMANDEEP BANSEL

‘I really believe that bringing young Freemasons together is important for the future and preservation of Freemasonry’

speaks to me personally, as I felt the time in my life had come when I wanted to choose what path I would aspire to in life and how I could give back.

How does it logistically fit in with your studies?

Engaging in Freemasonry works incredibly well with the balance of studies and exams. I often find my meetings occur after a busy period, and coming home from university allows me to not just spend time with my family, but to attend those meetings, too. It’s a wonderful experience. The meetings allow me to step away from the busy realities of work and other commitments. And from the mundane. For me the ritual creates a space for reflection, insight and contemplation, along with getting to catch up and have some drinks with the guys I love.

How do you benefit from the scheme and from Freemasonry more generally? I’ve benefited from Freemasonry through interactions with the members of my lodge. Their care and fellowship has been an incredibly enriching experience, as well as an avenue for learning and development.

How do you think it benefits others?

Freemasonry has something to offer all ages, from philanthropic work to learning and perfecting ritual.

Older members may find the company particularly special, while a newer Freemason is able to engage in a new society with unique customs and fellowship different to everyday society.

‘For me, the ritual creates a space for reflection, insight and contemplation’

How has Freemasonry affected your life?

It’s been an exciting journey. I’ve made close friendships that I will take with me for the rest of my life, and I’m grateful to belong to an institution with such a proud and distinguished history.

Freemasonry has showed how many things I have in common with people I otherwise wouldn’t be around – from ex-soldiers to people who work in construction, to people of different ages.

Freemasonry is a great leveller. I would certainly encourage anyone to engage in Freemasonry as a way to meet different people, find new hobbies and grow as a person.

Have you met other young Freemasons on the scheme? Yes. I’ve had some fantastic times on my journey with other young Freemasons. Special mention here to the Connaught Club, the club for London Freemasons under 35. We have drinks on the first Friday of the month. I really believe that bringing young Freemasons together is important for the future and preservation of Freemasonry and its traditions. Our club recently completed a sponsored hike up Mount Snowdon, showing our drive and determination.

How do you hope your life as a Freemason will evolve? I hope to travel more and meet people from all walks of life. I haven’t travelled much. I think it would allow me to learn more about myself and open up some new and unique experiences.

Are there other Freemasons at your college?

Yes, by chance I met a former alumnus of Royal Holloway – Shaun Butler – and my first-year history

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tutor turned out to be a Freemason from Surrey.

I hope I can run into more. I also hope Royal Holloway has its own lodge and chapter one day; our campus was recently voted the most beautiful!

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A Daily Advancement

38 QC Writes The story of the Earl of Ripon, the first Grand Master to travel to the US

40 Museum of Freemasonry The Family History Search service brings the past to life

PHOTOGRAPHY: KENJI KUDO

Extending knowledge of Freemasonry 42 Brothers past

44 On the side

Trace the fascinating history of Anglo-Indian Freemason Wilfred Frank Snelleksz

Mark Master Masons: an enthralling, entertaining and meaningful Order

A Daily Advancement QC WRITES

Politician & peacemaker

Huddersfield. Unusually, this was at his own request. Freemasonry was considered relatively egalitarian and liberal, themes that had resonance and appeal. He became Master of the lodge in 1855, and the following year the Earl of Mexborough, the Provincial Grand Master, appointed him Provincial Senior Grand Warden. Ripon succeeded Mexborough as PGM on his death in 1861 and the same year was appointed Deputy Grand Master by the Earl of Zetland. In 1870, on Zetland’s retirement, Ripon succeeded as Grand Master.

The 2nd Earl of Ripon is credited with securing the famous Treaty of Washington and was the first Grand Master to travel

Making history

to the United States. Dr Ric Berman reveals his story

G

eorge Frederick Samuel Robinson (18271909) was born at 10 Downing Street during his father’s short tenure as prime minister.

He was brought up and educated by tutors at the family’s Lincolnshire estate, and from 1833, when his father succeeded as Earl of Ripon, was known by the courtesy title of Viscount Goderich. He later succeeded as Earl of Ripon and, on his uncle’s death, assumed the title Earl de Grey and Ripon.

Robinson had a deeply held idealism allied to a

fervent Christian faith. He associated with Christian socialists, supported the cooperative movement and the extension of trade unionism, and promoted the benefit of universal education. Despite, or perhaps because of his upbringing, he was viewed as a radical and, by some, as ‘a very dangerous young man’.

As Viscount Goderich, Robinson was elected to represent Hull in 1852. He lost the seat on petition but was elected for Huddersfield (1853-57) and then for the West Riding of Yorkshire, which he held until he took his seat in the House of Lords in 1859 as Earl de Grey and Ripon. He joined Lord Palmerston’s ministry the same year as Undersecretary of State for War, and in 1863 was promoted to Secretary of State for War and sworn to the Privy Council.

Deeply held beliefs: The 2nd Earl of Ripon became a Freemason in 1853, as the values of the Craft resonated with his own

A multifaceted life

Five years later, following Benjamin Disraeli’s electoral defeat, Ripon returned to government and over the next five years was an integral part of William Gladstone’s Liberal administration.

Ripon had become a Freemason in 1853, initiated into Lodge of Truth, No. 763 (now No. 521), in

‘Freemasonry’s role in Ripon’s achievement is rarely discussed, but it is significant that he was the first Grand Master to travel to the US’ 38

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Washington to negotiate a settlement, managed to steer the discussions to reach an agreement that the claim be put to binding international arbitration. It was a landmark settlement and cemented what became an enduring alliance between the United States and the United Kingdom. An international arbitration tribunal was established in Geneva, and $15.5 million was awarded in settlement. The Treaty of Washington was ratified in 1871, and Ripon received a marquessate in recognition of his success, taking the title Marquess of Ripon.

The role of Freemasonry in Ripon’s achievement in America is rarely discussed, but it is significant that he was the first Grand Master to travel to the United States. His visit was celebrated with a meeting of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia in the presence of representatives of each of the state Grand Lodges. It would be wrong to press an unproved connection, but it is interesting to note that the President of the United States at the time was Ulysses S Grant, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a fraternal organisation.

And several members of his administration were committed Freemasons. They include Schuyler Colfax, the Vice President, and Columbus Delano, Secretary of the Interior.

In 1874, following his conversion to Catholicism and at the instruction of Pope Pius IX, Ripon resigned from his position as Grand Master and from Freemasonry. He also resigned from the government; however, in 1880 he was offered and accepted the position of Viceroy of India. In 1892 he was appointed Colonial Secretary and in 1905 became Leader of the House of Lords. He was succeeded as Grand Master by Albert Edward, Prince of Wales.

IMAGE: MARY EVANS PICTURE LIBRARY

As Lord President of the Privy Council, Ripon was tasked with negotiating a settlement agreement with the United States over the Alabama claims.

These were valid demands for damages arising from attacks on American merchant ships by Confederate vessels built in British shipyards in contravention of British neutrality. Ripon, who travelled to

A Daily Advancement MUSEUM OF FREEMASONRY

Bringing the past to life Looking to search for a Freemason in your family tree? Museum of Freemasonry Marketing and Communications Manager Barry PHOTOGRAPHY: FAMILY TREE

Hughes tells us how you can uncover stories otherwise forgotten

O

ne of the popular services the Museum

of Freemasonry provides is our Family History Search. By presenting our audience with the opportunity to search the archives for a family member who joined a lodge in the past, we are able to connect them with a very personal story. That story may be unique to each family, but it is also one of many threads that form Freemasonry’s rich tapestry.

A wonderful thing about Freemasonry is its geographical and chronological reach. It has the potential to form links across borders and centuries in equal measure. On any given day, I can walk through the museum’s library and hear visitors excitedly discuss a father, grandfather or brother as they use a computer to search for a name in the ancestry records. It isn’t just about matching a name to a lodge for those visitors, it’s also about rediscovering meaningful memories. These experiences validate the service we provide, and since introducing our online payment system on the new website, there has been an enthusiastic uptake.

Unlocking family histories

The museum doesn’t just provide an online service; our expert team members also take part in public events, such as Family Tree Live at Alexandra Palace in April and RootsTech at ExCel London in October.

Organised by Family Tree magazine, Family Tree Live saw thousands of enthusiasts congregate at fair stalls to find out how they could access records to uncover the stories that often get forgotten. Our team members spoke to hundreds of people keen to know about their relatives, and some brought items such as jewels and suitcases to gather more information. We look forward to taking part in the next Family Tree Live in 2020.

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Our dedicated archives team has also put on special workshops in the museum to help the curious and genealogists alike get a better understanding of Freemasonry as a subject for study. Whether it is learning a bit more about the contents of that funny little suitcase that was left behind, or deciphering lodge names and numbers, our archivists have helped many people unlock their family secrets.

Assistant Archivist Louise Pichel is enthusiastic about helping the general public gain access to their family history. She describes a recent event in June: ‘One of the attendees brought a photograph of their ancestor wearing regalia. We were able to identify him as a member of the Royal Arch and suggested resources at the museum that could be used to gather more information. A few days later, she wrote in with more details and we were able to complete a Family History Search for her, bringing out the story behind the photograph.’

To keep up to date with the events we have planned, subscribe to our quarterly e-newsletter.

Or check our website at your convenience to see for yourself how easy it is to use our Family History Search online form. There’s a discount for members of UGLE. As we always say, you might discover more than you think possible.

Museum of Freemasonry Freemasons’ Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ Open Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm

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Accessing history: Museum of Freemasonry team members spoke to hundreds of people at Family Tree Live

www.museumfreemasonry.org.uk Twitter: @museumfreemason Instagram: @museumfreemasonry Facebook: @museumfreemasonry Shop: www.letchworthshop.co.uk

A Daily Advancement BROTHERS PAST

Across continents When Brent Allcock traced his grandfather’s roots from childhood through to Freemasonry, he unearthed a fascinating story of brotherhood that spanned continents, wars and friendships Words: Peter Watts

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hen he was growing up in New Zealand in the 1970s, Brent Allcock didn’t know much about his maternal grandfather other than that he looked different, and that once a month he’d put on a suit and disappear to lodge, not reappearing until long after midnight, an unusual occurrence in the sleepy town of Dunedin. Wilfred Frank Snelleksz, who Brent called ‘Poppy’, died in 1977, but it was not until 2010 that Brent started piecing together the extraordinary story of his life. It began with a trip to Kalimpong, a city in north-east India.

This is where Wilfred, known

as Bill, had arrived in 1906 – presumed to be around six years old – having been rescued from the streets by Dr Harold Mann.

Dr Mann, a specialist in tea cultivation, believed that any child could prosper if given the opportunity. Somehow he came upon Bill and his siblings and sent them to Mrs Hutchins’ School for Boys in Pune and then Dr Graham’s Homes in Kalimpong.

Dr Graham’s Homes had been founded by Reverend Dr John Anderson Graham, a Scottish missionary, as an orphanage for the unwanted children of AngloIndian relationships.

It is assumed that Bill’s parents – Charles Snelleksz and Winifred Hunt (who may herself have been Anglo-Indian) – died, leaving Bill and his siblings to care for themselves until Dr Mann and Dr Graham intervened. Both men remained in contact with Bill throughout their lives, visiting him in New Zealand.

Brent Allcock’s ‘Poppy’ had an extraordinary life, but spoke of none of it to his family

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While it is unknown whether Mann or Graham were Freemasons, it is plausible given that they abided by Freemasonry’s principles of charity, benevolence and equality. ‘My grandfather was given a chance through the principles that Freemasonry teaches, and without them and those principles, I wouldn’t exist,’ says Brent. In 1916, Bill served in the Anglo-Indian Army in Mesopotamia; his brother Edward died at the Somme. In 1921, Graham and Mann sent Bill to a new life in New Zealand.

It was here Bill met his wife and made his home.

Bill joined Lodge Celtic,

No. 477, in 1930, serving as Master in 1936 and 1965, and as Deputy District Grand Master for NZ South. For Brent, his grandfather’s decision to become a Freemason may have been driven by a desire to fit in as well as an appreciation of the concepts of Freemasonry. Bill returned to military action in the Second World War. He lost a leg in an accident and subsequently received letters from the king, governor general and prime minister of New Zealand.

Brent feels that his grandfather’s experiences are examples of a true masonic life – people being equal, whatever their background. ‘Lord Jellicoe, Admiral of the Fleet, was present at my grandfather’s initiation.

After his initiation, he went to salute, but Lord Jellicoe stopped him, saying, “Here you are my equal and my brother.”’

Brent was so impressed by his grandfather’s quiet dedication that he became a Freemason himself. He is now a member of Lodge St. Andrew, No. 1437, in Singapore. He says, ‘I thought so highly of my grandfather and respect him so much that I thought if Freemasonry was good enough for him, it was good enough for me.’

A Daily Advancement ON THE SIDE

Meeting the Mark

This year marks the 250th

anniversary of the first recorded working of the Mark Degrees.

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n the first day of September 1769, a meeting of the Royal Secretary of Mark Masons’ Hall, Arch Chapter of Friendship, No. 3 (now No. 257), was explores this compelling Order held at the George Tavern, Portsmouth. Here the ubiquitous Thomas Dunckerley conferred the degrees of Mark Man and Mark Master on several brethren and companions. The link between the Craft, the Royal Arch and the Mark Degree was established. Fast forward to 1856: the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales, the Colonies and Possessions of the British Crown, as it was then known, was formally constituted.

Since then, the Order has flourished, comprising 42 Provinces, 26 Districts, two Inspectorates and a host of unattached lodges.

The original two degrees, Mark Man and Mark Master, have been melded together so that the former now serves more as an introduction to the latter, together forming the ceremony of advancement, the degree of Mark Master Mason.

Dan Heath, Assistant Grand

Set in stone

Chronologically, the degree falls between the Second and Third Degrees of the Craft, taking place during the building of King Solomon’s Temple. It has its origin in the fact that an operative stonemason would be required to put a distinguishing mark on each stone he produced, so the craftsmanship could be easily identified.

To this day, every candidate who is advanced in the Mark Degree is required to select his mark, which is then recorded by the lodge’s Registrar of Marks and subsequently entered on a brother’s

record at Mark Masons’ Hall. This mark can then be used when signing the attendance register at a Mark meeting and in correspondence with other Mark Masons. In the ritual of advancement, the presentation of a candidate’s mark to another officer of the lodge in order to receive his wages forms an important part of the ceremony.

Ritual with flair

The officers of a Mark Master Masons lodge mirror those of a Craft lodge, with the addition of the aforementioned Registrar of Marks and three other important additions: a Master Overseer, a Senior Overseer and a Junior Overseer. These offices create an opportunity for theatrical flair when delivering the ritual: the candidate proffers the stone he has cut in the quarries for inspection, attesting for its fitness and suitability for the building of King Solomon’s Temple. The stone (the keystone) is rejected and heaved over among the rubbish; the Overseers and Worshipful Master fail to realise its significance. The ceremony culminates in the retrieval of the keystone as an essential requirement for the completion of the sacred arch of the Temple. The keystone is, therefore, the emblem of the Order.

Mark Masonry is held in great affection by members, and a well-performed ceremony is enthralling, entertaining and, though meaningful, gives room for some levity during proceedings.

Brethren enjoy visiting other lodges within their locality and further afield.

The Mark Token, with which a candidate is presented during the ceremony, is also a means of identification among brethren of the Order, and many special-edition tokens have been produced as collectable souvenirs.

‘Every candidate who is advanced in the Mark Degree is required to select his mark, which is then recorded by the lodge’s Registrar of Marks’ 44

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A Daily Advancement ON THE SIDE Mark Masonry: Clockwise, from far left, The Grand Master, HRH Prince Michael of Kent, GCVO; the apron of Past Grand Master HRH The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII; Pro Grand Master Raymond John Smith; the Mark Master Masons coat of arms; The Mark Benevolent Fund coat of arms; the Mark Master Masons grant of arms

Factfile

The Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and its Districts and Lodges Overseas With its own terminology, structures and practices, each Order is different from the next. Here, we break down the origins, requirements and organisation of Mark Masonry

Our Grand Masters The Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and its Districts and Lodges Overseas is governed by The Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother HRH Prince Michael of Kent, GCVO. He has held this office since 1982 and is the fourth royal Grand Master of the Order, a list that includes HRH The Prince of Wales, who was Grand Master from 1886 until being crowned King Edward VII in 1901.

As is customary when a royal is at the helm of a masonic Order, Prince Michael has a Pro Grand Master to oversee the day-to-day administration of the Order and to represent him at many ceremonial engagements. This responsibility lies with Most Worshipful Brother Raymond John Smith.

The fourth regular step The Book of Constitutions still contains the 1813 declaration that ‘…. pure Antient masonry consists of three degrees and no more, viz. those of the Entered Apprentice, the Fellow Craft, and the Master Mason including the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch’. But it is actually during the Mark Degree that a candidate takes his fourth regular step in Freemasonry. This solemn part of the ceremony reminds candidates that by being advanced into the Mark they are taking an important step into the Progressive Orders of Freemasonry.

Who can join?

Any Craft Master Mason from a Craft Constitution recognised by UGLE can apply to become a member of a Mark lodge in the English Constitution.

A core of benevolence The Mark Benevolent Fund was created in 1868 on

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the suggestion of the Reverend George Raymond Portal, then Grand Master. He felt that, for charity to be effective, it had to be disbursed swiftly and without the bureaucracy of other masonic charities.

His motto, ‘Bis dat qui cito dat’ – ‘he gives twice who gives promptly’ – became, and still is, the guiding principal of The Mark Benevolent Fund.

The coat of arms The coat of arms features a shield bearing a section of an arch, with a keystone engraved with an equilateral triangle. It is supported by a craftsman holding a keystone and a warden holding an axe.

The Order’s motto, ‘Lapis reprobatus caput anguli’, translates as ‘the stone which was rejected has become the headstone of the corner’.

A long history Before conferring the Mark Degrees 250 years ago, Thomas Dunckerley must have received the degrees.

It is said that a form of Mark Degree was in existence in Scotland as early as 1599. Little has been written about the history of the Mark, though the inception of the Grand Lodge is regarded as being a result of the political and social unrest brought about by the Crimean War and, had it not been for an 11th-hour change of heart by the Rulers of the Craft, the Mark Degree may well have been included in that 1813 declaration regarding Pure Antient Masonry.

Marking Well, a collection of essays on the Mark Degree, edited by Andrew Prescott, was published to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons.

Visit www.markmasonshall.org for more information about the Order.

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Grand Lodge

48 In Quarterly Communication Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes on collective responsibility and standing together

50 Scrutineers for the Porch Meet the Freemasons who have a key role at important meetings of the Craft

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

News from Great Queen Street 52 What’s on?

54 Temples past

Upcoming events – from Festivals to golf tournaments – in the world of Freemasonry

A look at the history of the architecturally striking Masonic Temple in Chicago

Grand Lodge IN QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION

We all stand together discusses solidarity, teamwork and 50 years in the Craft

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the same direction and support each other. Reverting to the team theme, there will, inevitably, be some decisions made with which not all in the team agree, but, again, there should be collective responsibility, and support should be given. If this is not the case, we run the risk of being ‘picked off’ by ill wishers both externally and, dare I say, internally as well. Of course, we won’t all agree on everything, but mutual support and respect goes a long way to finding the right answers, even if there has to be tinkering along the way.

I really do believe that during the last 10 years we have made giant strides in the right direction, but I do stress again that this was enormously helped by the building blocks that had started to be put in place earlier. We have a long way to go, but I can’t remember a time when I have seen so much enthusiasm around the world. I am primarily, but by no means solely, referring to UGLE members because they are the ones that I meet most. I hope that visitors from other Constitutions would concur with what I have said.

rethren, I have been a Freemason for nearly 50 years, and there have been so many changes during that time that one might think it has been all change. However, that is not the case, and the principles emphasised at that time are still very much at the centre of what we all do and strive to pass on today.

What has changed, and I hope very much for the better, is our ability to discuss our membership and what we do with non-members, as well as a greatly improved internal communications system.

Since my first involvement at Grand Lodge, there have been four Pro Grand Masters: Lords Cornwallis, Farnham and Northampton and myself. Those three predecessors were acutely aware of the need for change, as, indeed, were their senior advisers. They, with the tremendous and very much continuing support of the Grand Master, started and continued the process. Where I have been lucky is that so An exciting time in Freemasonry much of it seems to have come to fruition on my watch.

Wherever I go in the world I find our brethren openly It would be very easy for me to claim credit for this. talking to non-Freemasons about their membership.

However, I hope that those of you who know me well There is no embarrassment and no secrecy involved. I enough appreciate that it is not my style, and, much more even had a most convivial conversation with the passport importantly, it would be totally untrue. control officer in Kingston, Jamaica. I didn’t manage to Very little gets done in sign him up, but he showed the world in general – and great interest in our visit to In Freemasonry, we should look at the certainly not in Freemasonry the Jamaica Cancer Charity.

– unless it is overseen by a whole membership as one team. We Brethren, we should all strong team. I have been consider ourselves lucky must all pull in the same direction and fortunate in having had to be members of excellent support from support each other our Order at this exceptional people throughout exciting time, but my period of office. It is, perhaps, now a rather hackneyed I make no apology for repeating that the expression, but Mark McCormack’s saying that there is current positive situation is very largely no ‘I’ in team still rings true. Everything works better down to teamwork in every aspect of what when there is collective responsibility and everyone is we do, most certainly not forgetting the singing from the same hymn sheet. incredible teams who raise money for and manage our charities.

Mutual support and respect Please don’t forget, brethren, that In Freemasonry, we should look at the whole membership when anything has gone well, none as one team. Provinces and Districts are teams in their of us should say, ‘I have done such own right, as are individual lodges, and I would go further and such’. We should say, ‘We have and say that the executives at the head of all these bodies done such and such’. I feel certain should consider themselves teams. We must all pull in that I have just made a rod for my own back and, no doubt, I shall fall into my own trap perhaps even later today, and I can think of a few people sitting not far from me who will delight in picking me up on it.

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PHOTOGRAPHY: LAURIE FLETCHER

Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes

Grand Lodge IN QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION

A call to action

First, they don’t know anything about it. If this were to be the main reason, I would be very depressed, which I am not.

However, I am sure that there will be some who fall into this category – and that is a real condemnation of those who The Pro First Grand Principal on why more appoint the Royal Arch representatives in lodges. They must members aren’t joining the Royal Arch clearly be failing in their duties. Where there are no Royal Arch representatives, then senior brethren and particularly ompanions, for a long time we have been trying to mentors as well as proposers and seconders must step up. come up with good reasons why all brethren should Second, they have heard about it, but have been put off by join the Royal Arch. I think between us we have had some aspect. Frequently I have heard people talking about some success, and the percentage of brethren who are how difficult the ritual is to learn. Surely our brethren should members has increased almost everywhere over the last be able to make up their own minds about that and not have few years. Today I want to turn the question round and ask: seeds of doubt sown in their minds without having tried it. Let ‘Why don’t all our brethren join the Royal Arch?’ It seems to them find out for themselves, and if they are reluctant to join me that there are five main reasons, but I am sure others the ladder, they can watch from the side until they feel ready. will come up with many more.

The exaltation ceremony is one of the best to sit and watch.

Personally, I don’t consider it any more difficult than any other ritual, and the main long section delivered by the Principal Sojourner is a good story which I have always found sticks in I am all for our Craft brethren joining the mind reasonably well. Also, whatever other legitimate Order that companions, the Principal Sojourner has two assistants. they want, but I strongly believe the Why should they not live up Royal Arch should come first to their names and assist in the ceremony. The work splits naturally and gives the Assistant Sojourners good reason to attend. With the fairly recent changes to the ritual, the First Principal’s task has been considerably eased by sharing much of it with the other Principals.

Third, cost. This is clearly relevant, and it is imperative that any candidates are fully briefed on this just as they should have been when joining the Craft. In part, this can be considered in the same way as my fourth reason: time. Again, extremely relevant. Many chapters only meet three times a year, but that is still an added burden for working people to manage. Do our lodges, perhaps, meet too often? Many meet 10-plus times a year – along with Lodges of Instruction and rehearsals, this is an enormous time burden on the young working brother. I know I shall be unpopular with many, but if lodges that meet that often considered reducing the number of their meetings, it could possibly invigorate their chapters by saving the brethren both time and money.

Fifth, they have joined other Orders already and have reached the limit of the involvement in Freemasonry that they want. If this is the case, we have again failed in our duties as Craft Freemasons. There can be no logical masonic reason for a Craft Freemason to join any other Order before joining the Royal Arch, unless they don’t know about the Royal Arch, or the reasons for joining have been poorly explained.

I must add that I am all for our Craft brethren joining whatever other legitimate Order that they want, but I strongly believe the Royal Arch should come first.

Companions, the Royal Arch is a wonderful Order, as everyone knows. I am extremely proud of being the Pro First Grand Principal and look forward to the day when we can boast that more than 50% of Craft Freemasons have joined the Order and we can then move upwards from there.

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Grand Lodge SCRUTINEERS FOR THE PORCH

The role of the Scrutineers for the Porch is to ensure that all Masters and Past Masters are qualified to attend the Porch of the Grand Lodge. But it’s a much more convivial affair than it might sound

Who goes there?

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ost Freemasons at some time or another get the privilege of acting as an officer of their lodge, and it is of course a great honour. Having the rare opportunity to take Provincial office is an even greater pleasure. Rarer still is the opportunity to act in an official capacity to help UGLE and Supreme Grand Chapter (SGC) – this distinction is achieved by those who become Scrutineers for the Porch.

At each and every Quarterly Communication (QC) of Grand Lodge, SGC meeting and, indeed, annual investiture, a team of Scrutineers for the Porch is assembled under the supervision of two Senior Scrutineers. Members who are not Grand Officers are directed to the vestibule (the Porch) outside the front entrance of the Grand Temple. The main role of the Scrutineers is to ensure that these members or companions are qualified to attend, as laid out in Rules 9-13 of the Book of Constitutions.

A kind greeting

The role of a Scrutineer is an actual requirement of the Book of Constitutions. According to Rule 48: ‘Not less than fourteen days before each Quarterly Communication, the Grand Secretary shall nominate a sufficient number of Masters or Past Masters who shall attend within the Porch of the Grand Lodge for the purpose of ascertaining whether brethren seeking admission to the Grand Lodge are qualified to attend.’

Two long parallel tables greet those attending, upon which the registers that contain the installation returns of all UGLE lodges and chapters are placed. Those wishing to enter the Grand Temple first state the number of their lodge or chapter. Once that page has been located,

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their name is requested and the Scrutineer will ensure that the individual standing before him is recorded as either the Worshipful Master, one of the lodge’s Wardens or a Past Master of that lodge.

Being satisfied that he is, the Scrutineer will then ensure that he is attired with the correct regalia, breast jewels and tie and will then invite the brother to sign in and collect the ‘business paper of the day’, and hand him a token certifying that he has been correctly ‘scrutinised’ and is able to enter the Grand Temple.

There is now also a leaflet titled A Guide to Quarterly Communication that is available to those attending for the first time or who wish to take it back to his lodge for their information.

This process is far from being as dry as it sounds, and the interaction of the Scrutineers, who hail from many different Provinces, with the attending members is always conducted in a friendly and convivial way. Indeed, members and companions from all over England and Wales attend together with many from overseas Districts, and being in the Grand Temple with men swapping stories with a variety of broad accents is a wonderful experience.

The Scrutineers attend the QCs themselves and in fact play an important role at the conclusion of each meeting. When the Grand Director of Ceremonies calls the assembled members to order as he conducts an impressive ‘procession out’ of the Rulers, Senior Grand Officers and Provincial Grand Masters, the Scrutineers, who are strategically seated at the end of rows, take post at the exit to ensure that no members are able to depart ahead of the Grand Director of Ceremonies. The Scrutineers then hold a firm line at the double doors until the vestibule is completely clear of the procession. Once this has occurred, the line disperses, and the world once again goes about its happy business.

The role of a Scrutineer is not only a rewarding one; it is acknowledged as a crucial one. The overall

Grand Lodge SCRUTINEERS FOR THE PORCH

‘The interaction of the Scrutineers with the attending members is always conducted in a friendly and convivial manner’

A key role: Scrutineers for the Porch ensure that Freemasons and companions are qualified to attend QCs, SGC and annual investitures

responsibility for Scrutineers lies with the Grand Secretary and is administered through the Masonic Services Department. The members nominated are the registered Scrutineers for the Porch and their names are recorded in the Annual Masonic Yearbook of UGLE. Applications from interested members would be most welcome. There is an informal interview process with the senior administrator for Masonic Services and the two Senior Scrutineers, who will explain all that is required.

If you are interested and can commit the time, then please contact Mick Forsdick, senior administrator, Masonic Services Department, at mforsdick@ugle.org.uk.

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Grand Lodge EVENTS DIARY

Teeing off in 2020

What’s on in the world of Freemasonry

The District Grand Lodge of Cyprus is pleased to invite golfers to the second annual Peter Lowndes Open Challenge.

IMAGE: MUSEUM OF FREEMASONRY

Let us know what’s happening in your area. Please send full details and images to editor@freemasonrytoday.com

Ahead of his time As a doctor, Freemason, poet and actor, William Perfect (c.17341809) packed a lot into his years.

Thankfully for us, he kept a record of his colourful life.

On display for the first time ever at the Museum of Freemasonry, Perfect’s manuscript, a collection of journals and letters, offers a unique insight into the world of an 18th-century Renaissance man.

Perfect specialised in midwifery and the serious study of mental illness. At the time, these areas were underserved, and he was brave to

pursue them. His case notes shine a light on his pioneering medical practices. He was also an enthusiastic Freemason and, ultimately, Provincial Grand Master of Kent.

Perfect’s writing reveals much about the man and his relationships in Georgian society. This exhibition is your chance to discover this world for yourself.

William Perfect: Enlightenment Mason, Medic and Man of Letters is on until 11 January 2020 at the Museum of Freemasonry at Freemasons’ Hall, 60 Great Queen St, London WC2B 5AZ. Free. For more information, visit www.museumfreemasonry.org.uk/ whats-on/william-perfect

The tournament will be held on 14 May 2020 at the Aphrodite Hills Golf Club in Cyprus, and the District has arranged optional practice rounds at discounted rates for 13 May 2020.

Some 40 participants from the UK, Australia, South Africa, France, Lebanon and, of course, Cyprus attended the first two-day Peter Lowndes Open Challenge Cup. The overall winner was visiting WB Simon McCarthy of the UK. The event raised €3,138 in aid of Paphos hospices. At a simple ceremony to mark the event, the District Grand Lodge of Cyprus donated a further €5,000 to the Masonic Charitable Foundation.

For the 2020 tournament, the organising committee is expecting to double proceeds and participation, with the target set at €8,000.

Visiting Freemasons will also have the opportunity to attend the 40th District Grand Lodge of Cyprus Annual Communication and Convocation, which will be held in Limassol on Saturday, 16 May 2020.

For participation forms and further information on the tournament and other actives that are planned during the same period, contact WB Marios Pantelides at mariospantelides@ cytanet.com.cy

Save the date Lincolnshire Freemasons launch their next Festival on 18 January at the Provincial headquarters in Grimsby, where Freemasons in the Province will be able to meet representatives of charities supported by the Masonic Charitable Foundation. Follow the hashtag #Lincs2025 on Twitter for updates.

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Winner: Peter Lowndes, centre, and Michael Hadjiconstantas, Cyprus DGM, congratulate Simon McCarthy

Grand Lodge PLACES

The tall tale of Chicago’s skyscraper temple modernist Masonic Temple defined the city’s skyline. Museum of Freemasonry Marketing and Communications Manager Barry Hughes explains the tragic demise of its architect and the building itself

Sky-high: The Masonic Temple in Chicago was designed by pioneering architectural firm Burnham and Root

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ompleted in 1892 at 302 feet tall, the Masonic Temple in Chicago, Illinois, soared high above the city’s skyline. It was a spectacle for the locals to behold. This new building was a shining example of the iconic structures that came to define American modernism and ingenuity.

The Masonic Temple’s 21 storeys included a central court surrounded by nine floors of shops and offices. The masonic rooms were near the top of the building, and for a brief moment in time, the Freemasons of Chicago held the prestigious distinction of owning one of the tallest buildings

IMAGES: MUSEUM OF FREEMASONRY

Once Chicago’s tallest structure, the distinctively

Grand Lodge PLACES

Remembering: The Masonic Temple building was immortalised in items such as a silver spoon and a clock

‘The 302-foot Masonic Temple building in Chicago, soaring high above the city’s skyline, was a spectacle for the locals to behold’ in the world. When the clock tower was removed from Chicago’s Board of Trade building in 1895, the Masonic Temple became the tallest in the city. And it couldn’t get any taller, as the same year it was built, Chicago enacted new height restrictions that weren’t amended until 1920.

Designed by legendary architects

The Masonic Temple was designed by Burnham and Root, one of Chicago’s most famous architectural firms of the 19th century. The 18-year partnership between John Wellborn Root and Daniel Hudson Burnham saw the duo design residential and commercial buildings to great success, including many of Chicago’s early landmarks, such as the Montauk building, also known as the ‘Montauk Block’. It’s been said that the Montauk building, completed in 1883, was the first to be called a ‘skyscraper’. Unfortunately, it was demolished in 1902.

Burnham and Root were at the epicentre of what would become known as the Chicago School, or ‘commercial style’ of architecture.

Both accomplished artists as well as architects, their personalities seemed to complement each other. Burnham’s efforts to keep employees happy included installing a gym in the office,

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organising fencing lessons and letting employees play handball at lunchtime. Root, a pianist and organist, used a rented piano in the office to deliver recitals.

The Masonic Temple building in Chicago, however, carries with it an inherent tale of tragedy.

In 1891, before the building was completed, Root succumbed to pneumonia and died at the age of 41. The primary representative for the Freemasons overseeing the construction of the Temple was Norman T Gassette, a Chicago real estate dealer and baseball executive who was president of the Chicago White Stockings from 1870 to 1871. In a cruel symmetry, Gassette too succumbed to pneumonia and died just before the building’s completion. Gassette had been initiated in 1864, and his obituary from April 1891 states that he ‘stood high in masonic circles’.

Spaces towards the top of the Masonic Temple also served as theatres, which in the end contributed to the building’s obsolescence; its

elevators proved inadequate for the crowds, and the building rapidly fell from favour with commercial tenants. So it was in 1939 that the Masonic Temple building was demolished to allow for the construction of the State Street subway below.

After Root’s death, Burnham went on to establish a new company, creating landmarks such as New York City’s Flatiron Building in 1902 and Union Station in Washington, DC in 1907. Where the Masonic Temple building once stood now stretches the Joffrey Tower at an eclipsing 410 feet, the permanent home of the Joffrey Ballet.

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Culture

60 Reviews Books that ponder the alchemy of Freemasonry and other curiosities

From book reviews to cryptic crosswords 62 Crosswords

IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES

Try your hand at two tricky puzzles and enter our prize draws

Culture BOOKS WANTED FOR REVIEW

FMT is now welcoming book submissions for review. We will consider all genres, and the only requirement is that the book has a connection to Freemasonry. To submit a book for review, go to the link below and complete the form. We will let you know if we need a physical copy of the book. The book must have an ISBN and be available for purchase by the general public (printed book, e-book, audiobook).

Reviews

www.freemasonrytoday.com/booksubmission

Freemasonry: Spiritual Alchemy

by Christopher Earnshaw

The Art and Science of Initiation by various authors

An interesting theory…

Rites of passage

How alchemy may have influenced early Freemasonry

Looking at initiation from different perspectives

Lovers of the early history of Freemasonry will find much of interest in this book as the author navigates his way through a detailed history of alchemy and attempts to link it directly to the formation of the first Grand Lodge in 1717.

Earnshaw believes that, like the alchemists seeking to find the philosopher’s stone and the secret to eternal life, the early Freemasons had a quest for immortality at their core.

He takes readers through a history of alchemy from pre-biblical times up to the mid-17th century, when real science began to overtake the theories of the alchemists.

At the heart of that transition was the Royal Society and Isaac Newton.

Yet we know that Newton experimented with alchemy as well as the proper science for which he is now famed.

Although there is no evidence that Newton was a Freemason, Earnshaw thinks he had strong links with the first Grand Masters and that he influenced the drafting of early rituals.

This book is a collection of 13 new essays from both well-established and newer writers and scholars on Freemasonry, esoteric studies and spirituality.

The editors, who are based in California, invite readers ‘to consider entering communion with the spiritual world to reach a higher level of consciousness’. They make no claim it is an academic volume, although each of the essays includes further references and reading.

The book is divided into two parts. The first looks at the science of initiation from a practical and historical perspective, drawing heavily on René Guénon (the founder of traditionalism and the perennialist school of thought in the early 20th century).

The second part explores ‘the art of initiation’ and discusses, among others, Aleister Crowley, astral magic and esotericism.

As the publisher’s website says, ‘Initiation remains as relevant for us today as it was for the people of antiquity.’

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Earnshaw also discusses his belief that the rituals of Freemasonry contain a form of cryptography as well as hidden signposts of which we still aren’t aware.

It is an interesting attempt to try to close the gap in our knowledge between the operative Freemasons and the emergence of the speculative ones. The decade following the formation of Grand Lodge especially intrigues him.

Much of the book, which is sanctioned by a Past Grand Master of the Lodge of Japan, is factual, well-researched and well-referenced, but the conclusions may be more controversial, and the level of detail sometimes daunting.

When Earnshaw sticks to the history, there is much we can learn from this book; however, when he allows his own rather individual views to intrude, the effect is somewhat undermined.

Review by Richard Jaffa Freemasonry: Spiritual Alchemy, Christopher Earnshaw, selfpublished, 262 pages, £18.00

FMT Winter 2019

Purporting to get to the core of what the experience of initiation is about, The Art and Science of Initiation can be complex to read and understand. Moreover, it sometimes raises more questions than it answers – although perhaps that’s something that just goes with the territory.

It is also hard to define who exactly would benefit from reading the book; though it is aimed at Freemasons, the content is far removed from ordinary Craft lodges in the United Kingdom.

Because of the spiritual and esoteric content in this collection of essays, it may be of particular interest to members of the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia.

On balance, it is worth buying – especially if you are interested in more recherché aspects of Freemasonry.

Review by Nick Mitchell The Art and Science of Initiation, various authors, published by Lewis Masonic, 285 pages, £15.00

Culture A Questioning Eye On Freemasonry

by John Belton

Still Waters: Masonic Meditations on the Book of Psalms, Volume 1 by Jonti Marks

Well worth dipping into

Food for thought

Essays that shine new light on little-known history

A collection of deep reflections inspired by the psalms

The author of this collection of essays describes himself as a ‘masonic searcherout of curiosities and mislaid history’. Written over many years, the essays shed fascinating light on a very wide range of largely overlooked but, in the author’s view, important aspects of the history of Freemasonry.

The extraordinary range of topics includes such things as

Freemasonry has many aspects and appeals to many different kinds of people. For some, organised companionship is the thing; for others, the history, pageantry and ritual are the real draw. Many enjoy it all.

One type of Freemason who has endured from the very earliest times of the Craft is the intellectual searcher for philosophical

the Irish crisis of 1804–1814, the failed assassination of Napoleon III in 1858, early Freemasonry in Turkey, and the complicated ways degrees beyond the Craft emerged and were later managed.

In particular, there is much of interest on how the Royal Arch and Knights Templar degrees grew against a background of the various Grand Lodges in England, Scotland and Ireland in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Other essays look at the history of French

Freemasonry, how to put together a good masonic library and what masonic regularity really boils down to. These are just a few; there are plenty more to get one’s teeth into in this wellillustrated book.

Many of the essays were previously buried in various learned journals or had only been given as lectures.

A Questioning Eye On Freemasonry handily brings them all together.

Belton himself is a wellknown researcher based in Britain, belonging to Quatuor Coronati research lodge.

Apart from a few typos, it’s a good, well-researched book and a fine addition for anyone who takes research into Freemasonry at all seriously.

Review by Lionel Brough A Questioning Eye On Freemasonry, John Belton, published by Lewis Masonic, 256 pages, £15.00

truth. Jonti Marks is just such a Freemason and is now a much-published author.

Still Waters, Volume 1 is – as the title implies – the first of two volumes, each containing short meditations on the psalms, intended as a daily resource for reflection.

Marks is a Past Master of Old Bromsgrovian Lodge and a Provincial Grand Steward in Worcestershire. He began his career in Freemasonry, though, in Nairobi and was initiated into Lodge Harmony there in 1990.

To write a masonic meditation on the exquisite poetry of the psalms might be thought presumptuous, perhaps even in rather poor taste, but Marks deals with this head-on in his introduction.

He writes that the book is not in any way meant to be an explanation of the psalms, nor is it intended to imply that there is anything to specifically connect them to Freemasonry. Rather, his daily masonic meditations are inspired by the psalms.

He has selected 83 of the 150 psalms, each accompanied by a short meditation.

I don’t imagine that this book will appeal to everyone, but if you are intellectually inquisitive, it would be £7.99 very well spent.

Review by Cestrian Still Waters: Masonic Meditations on the Book of Psalms, Volume 1, Jonti Marks, self-published, 172 pages, £7.99

Last issue’s crossword answers

MASONIC LIGHT

Concise crossword answers ACROSS 7. Newton 8. Chorus 9. Hall 10. Harddisk 11. Templar 13. Proxy 15. Hiram 17. Ukelele 20. Yarmulke 21. Kegs 22. Warden 23. Finite DOWN 1. Hecate 2. Etal 3. Anthrax 4. Accra 5. Folderol 6. Sussex 12. Psalmody 14. Okeeffe 16. Isaiah 18. Lights 19. Pliny 21. Kent Cryptic crossword answers ACROSS 1. Cutandcomeagain 9. Teredo 10. Erotetic 11.

Stubbies 14. Aldrin 17. Stirthepossum 20. Modusoperandi 24. Ampere 26. Classics 29. Inqilabs 30. Tycoon 31. Ententecordiale DOWN 2. Uberty 3. Acerb 4. Dhoti 5. Obeys 6. Exocarp 7. Gleed 8. Nicknames 12. Bails 13.

Estop 15. Ras 16. Bombasine 18. Enrol 19. Ornis 21. Dop 22.

Operant 23. Schorl 25. Elide 26. Cosec 27. Aster 28. Shchi The winner of our concise crossword: Mrs C Fletcher, Lincolnshire.

The winner of our cryptic crossword: Paul Wolff, Didcot.

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Culture

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ACROSS 1 Ancient Jewish mystical interpretation of the Bible (7) 5 Shrub or small tree with compound leaves, with reddish hairy fruits in conical clusters (5) 8 Painter of Guernica (7) 9 Person in charge of a meeting (5) 10 Declare invalid (5) 11 Groom’s assistant (4,3) 12 Money received (6) 14 Ark’s resting place? (6) 17 Feverish (7) 19 Place for storage of large quantities (5) 22 Explosive yellow liquid made by nitrating glycerol (5) 23 Mercury’s winged sandals (7) 24 World-bearing Titan (5) 25 A disbeliever in a deity or deities (7)

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See page 61 for last issue’s crossword answers and winners

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Cryptic crossword by Loxias ACROSS 1 US fertilizer contains potassium for ecclesiastical foot wash (6) 4 Native nurse having to storm inside for emblem of immortality (8) 9 Will their lives include no wealth at all? (5) 10 Capital fellow’s jammy doughnuts (9) 11 Fall back for German beer (4) 12 Revolutionary pet lamb (4) 13 Island surrounded by rather watered appearance (5) 15 Discovered patriotic composer in light source (7) 16 Norse God shunning limelight, we hear (4) 19 Sterling substance (4) 20 Volunteers repeated phrases for menus (7) 23 Part of that puggery was found back in the ancient Indian Empire (5) 24 Vengeful Japanese ghost causes cries of disappointment and joy from the East....... (4) 25 ........does she move a bit in these native socks? (4) 27 Is open prison such an organism? (9) 28 Lowest caste to be found in strange duars (5) 29 Expenses include old tax – they go beyond the acceptable (8)

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Think you’re smart enough?

Please send your completed Concise and/or Cryptic crossword puzzles to the Crossword Editor, Communications Department, Freemasons’ Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ, with your contact details, including name and address. Closing date for entries is 18 January 2020. Open only to members of UGLE. Only one entry per person.

Correct entries will be placed into a Concise Crossword prize draw and a Cryptic Crossword prize draw. Winners will be announced in the Spring edition of FMT and will receive a free publication from Letchworth’s, the shop at Freemasons’ Hall.

For full terms and conditions, go to: www.ugle.org.uk/crossword-competition

FMT Winter 2019

In the Community MCF

Touching lives Every year, the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) supports around 5,000 Freemasons and their family members with grants and support services totalling £15 million. The MCF also provides grants to roughly 500 local and national charities each year, with funds totalling an additional £5.5 million.

Making an impact As another year draws to a close, now is the perfect time to look back and reflect upon what Freemasons and the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) have achieved

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he MCF is driven by a shared vision of everyone having access to the opportunities and support they need to live healthy and fulfilling lives, with the freedom and independence to participate actively in society.

This vision drives the support provided to thousands of Freemasons and their families with financial, health, education or care-related needs, and hundreds of local and national charities that are tackling important social issues.

Last year the MCF awarded more than 6,000 grants at a cost of £18 million. The way in which this lifechanging support is delivered is just as important as the scale. During its third year of operation, the MCF has focused on building on its achievements thus far – responding to the growing and changing needs of the Freemasonry community, and improving the service offered to individuals and families, as well as donors and volunteers.

Hitting targets

The charity set itself a number of challenges for 2019, and these have been successfully completed.

A significant target was to establish and launch new values to guide all areas of the MCF’s work and empower staff, volunteers and donors to deliver a service worthy of Freemasonry and the wider community.

These values – to be responsive to need, to make a difference and to strive for excellence – are now firmly embedded.

Other major achievements include the refinement of grant and support programmes in response to the changing needs of society, and the development of new strategic partnerships with leading organisations such as Age UK and Hospice UK to help deliver support, funded by Freemasons, in the most effective way possible.

For a more detailed look at the difference made by the MCF, including the support provided in your local area, visit impact.mcf.org.uk/2019

Reflecting and improving

You can learn more about the MCF’s work and major successes during 2018/19 in its latest impact report. As well as providing an overview of the charity’s achievements, the newspaper-themed report also offers an insight into goals for the coming year and future strategy.

The impact report has been produced in two formats: a printed report and an interactive website that offers more in-depth information, statistics, videos and stories from real people whose lives have been changed by funding from the MCF.

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PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF RICHMONDSHIRE TODAY

In the Community MCF

Weathering the storm Emergency grants provide support to victims of natural disasters at home and around the world

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ince 1981, Freemasons have awarded more than £3.4 million to support people affected by natural disasters. These emergency grants, such as recent support for survivors of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas and flooding in Bangladesh, are awarded in response to catastrophic events on the other side of the globe – as well as much closer to home.

Over the years, Freemasons have awarded grants of more than £650,000 to provide emergency support to communities across England and Wales. As well as weather-related situations, these grants have been awarded following other types of disasters, such as the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak of 2001.

Yorkshire floods

While this summer was one of the UK’s hottest on record, it was surprisingly also one of the wettest, and many areas were hit hard by flash flooding.

In July, the Yorkshire Dales received a month’s worth of rain in just four hours, causing widespread

damage to roads, bridges, homes and businesses.

Freemasons responded with donations totalling £25,000 to the Two Ridings Community Foundation.

Local Freemasons from Yorkshire, West Riding and Yorkshire, North & East Ridings rallied around

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their communities with grants totalling £10,000, which were boosted with a further £15,000 from the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF).

These donations are helping local people get back on their feet by replacing essential items and assisting with repairs. This support is especially needed by those who were not able to afford insurance and for those who have properties for which insurance companies have refused to provide cover. Grants are also supporting local businesses by replacing tools, equipment or loss of earnings.

Two Ridings Community Foundation Chief Executive Jan Garrill said: ‘We’re hugely grateful to Yorkshire Freemasons for their generous grant, which will allow us to help the hundreds of local people who have suffered serious losses, many of whom are especially vulnerable. It can take years to fully recover from a major flood, and getting immediate help can make a massive difference.’

In recent years, the effects of climate change in the UK have become increasingly hard to ignore. It is inevitable that communities across England and Wales will continue to fall victim to severe weather, and that households and businesses will suffer.

Freemasonry is committed to supporting those who are affected – helping them to weather the storm and get back on their feet.

Cleaning up: Dales Bike Centre was among the Yorkshire businesses affected by flooding

MCF emergency grants in 2019 (to date) Cyclone Idai, South East Africa

£50,000

Cyclone Fani, India and Bangladesh

£16,250

Flooding, Lincolnshire £25,000 Flooding, Yorkshire £15,000 Flooding, Bangladesh £20,000 Hurricane Dorian, Bahamas £40,000 Total £166,250

FMT Winter 2019

In the Community MCF

Working 9 to 5 E

Meet the Freemasons who work within the MCF, using their unique knowledge and experience to shape the work of the charity

very day, around 80 people get out of bed and make their way to the offices of the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) at Freemasons’ Hall, where they work together to build better lives for Freemasons, their families and the wider community. Among the MCF’s workforce are a number of Freemasons who, during office hours, swap their collars for lanyards and lodge rooms for meeting rooms.

When the MCF was created three years ago, it was vital that the new charity supported the areas within which Freemasons had the greatest need, and the causes about which they cared most passionately. Les Hutchinson, a Freemason who has worked within masonic charity since 1988, played a crucial role in the formation of the MCF and helped to ensure these two considerations were at the forefront of every decision.

‘Having been involved with masonic charity and Freemasonry for more than 30 years, I have seen masonic charity evolve,’ says Les, now MCF’s Chief Operating Officer. ‘Over that time, being a Freemason and meeting so many members across the country has given me a strong understanding of what’s important to them and the causes they’d like us to support.’

Three years on, Freemasons remain the driving force behind the MCF. In the offices, you will find a Freemason in almost every department, as well as on the committees that oversee them.

From processing donations in the Relief Chest Scheme to overseeing the MCF’s charitable giving, Freemasons at the MCF use their knowledge, skills and experience to support their colleagues and shape the life-changing work of the charity.

The MCF Visiting Volunteer programme is run on a day-to-day basis by two Freemason members of staff: Provincial Engagement Manager Mike Martin and Volunteer Officer Paresh Pandya. Visiting Volunteers work across England and Wales to help families apply for support from the MCF and make the process more efficient, allowing lodge Almoners to focus on providing pastoral care. By pairing their knowledge of the MCF’s application process with an ingrained understanding of Freemasonry, Mike and Paresh have helped to prepare more than 450 Visiting Volunteers for their roles. Their hard work is paying off – a recent survey found that 99 per cent of MCF beneficiaries felt the process of applying

Mike

Paul

for support was a positive experience. ‘Being a Freemason helps me a lot,’ Mike says. ‘I already have a common bond with the guys I’m training, and it helps me build rapport very quickly.’

Supporting donors and fundraisers

Within the MCF’s fundraising team, too, Freemasons play a vital role. It goes without saying that the MCF wouldn’t exist without the generosity of Freemasons and their families, and therefore it is crucial that the MCF understands the motivations and needs of fundraisers and donors. Thankfully, the Freemasons working within the Relief Chest Scheme and fundraising teams can offer useful insights and help to tailor the support offered accordingly.

Paul Crockett, Assistant Provincial Grand Master in Surrey and the MCF’s fundraising manager, recently found himself in the unusual position of helping to

FMT Winter 2019

Top: Masonic Support Programme Provincial Engagement Manager Mike Martin. Below: MCF Fundraising Manager Paul Crockett, Assistant Provincial Grand Master in Surrey

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In the Community MCF

Vital roles The Freemasons currently working in the MCF are: Les Hutchinson Chief Operating Officer Suhail Alam Relief Chest Scheme Director Stewart Topley Donations Administrator, Relief Chest Scheme Julian Elcock Administration Assistant, Relief Chest Scheme

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Mike Martin Provincial Engagement Manager, Masonic Support Programme Paresh Pandya Volunteer Officer, Masonic Support Programme Paul Crockett Fundraising Manager, Fundraising Guy Roberts Press Officer, Communications

organise his own Province’s Festival finale while also supporting other Provinces in their fundraising appeals, which together make up over 40 per cent of the MCF’s income. ‘Whether the aim is to raise £100, £1,000 or £1 million, fundraising is no easy task,’

Paul says. ‘I became a Freemason 25 years ago and I think it has been really helpful for me in my role supporting Provinces in Festival.’

Central to Freemasonry’s Festivals and charitable giving across the Provinces is the Relief Chest Scheme. Last year, the Relief Chest Scheme helped Freemasons to give almost £12 million to their chosen charitable causes. The team is led by Relief Chest Scheme Director Suhail Alam, an Oxfordshire Freemason, and administered by a busy and dedicated team that includes Freemasons Stewart Topley and Julian Elcock. ‘I know first-hand just how important it is to Freemasons that their charitable donations are handled, processed and disbursed with care,’ says Stewart. ‘We work hard to ensure the service provided to our donors is one we’d want to receive ourselves.’ With this in mind, it is perhaps unsurprising that 97 per cent of Relief Chest holders would recommend the Scheme to other lodges.

The MCF is incredibly lucky to have dedicated and passionate staff members from all walks of life who promote and champion the values of Freemasonry. Many are women and men from outside of the community who may have only encountered Freemasonry for the first time when they started working for the MCF. Whatever their age, gender or background, each staff member brings vital and valuable experience and a unique perspective to the charity, but it is the Freemasons of the MCF who ensure the voices of members from across the Provinces can be found in every aspect of work, helping to encourage opportunity,

Julian

From top: MCF Press Officer Guy Roberts, Relief Chest Scheme Administration Assistant Julian Elcock, Chief Operating Officer Les Hutchinson and Relief Chest Scheme Donations Administrator Stewart Topley

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Stewart

promote independence and improve wellbeing for Freemasons, their families and wider society.

Read the stories of the Freemasons of the MCF at www.mcf.org.uk/freemasons-mcf

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FMT Winter 2019

Fraternal World UGLE SlugPROVINCES goes here

Fraternal World The UGLE globe at a glance

Provinces M   etropolitan Grand Lodge 1 London 1,252 lodges Provincial Grand Lodges 2 Bedfordshire 55 lodges 3 Berkshire 98 lodges 4 Bristol 37 lodges 5 Buckinghamshire 116 lodges 6 Cambridgeshire 30 lodges 7 Cheshire 173 lodges 8 Cornwall 80 lodges 9 Cumberland & Westmorland 77 lodges 10 Derbyshire 75 lodges 11 Devonshire 131 lodges 12 Dorset 49 lodges 13 Durham 178 lodges 14 Essex 307 lodges 15 Gloucestershire 82 lodges 16 Guernsey & Alderney 11 lodges 17 Hampshire & Isle Of Wight 255 lodges 18 Herefordshire 15 lodges 19 Hertfordshire 188 lodges 20 Isle of Man 19 lodges 21 Jersey 11 lodges 22 East Kent 181 lodges 23 West Kent 178 lodges 24 East Lancashire 198 lodges

25 West Lancashire 342 lodges 26 Leicestershire & Rutland 76 lodges 27 Lincolnshire 74 lodges 28 Middlesex 195 lodges 29 Monmouthshire 29 lodges 30 Norfolk 76 lodges 31 Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire 93 lodges 32 Northumberland 138 lodges 33 Nottinghamshire 86 lodges 34 Oxfordshire 55 lodges 35 Shropshire 34 lodges 36 Somerset 89 lodges 37 Staffordshire 96 lodges 38 Suffolk 68 lodges 39 Surrey 253 lodges 40 Sussex 161 lodges 41 North Wales 106 lodges 42 South Wales 160 lodges 43 West Wales 27 lodges 44 Warwickshire 156 lodges 45 Wiltshire 44 lodges 46 Worcestershire 116 lodges 47 Yorkshire, North & East Ridings 98 lodges 48 Yorkshire, West Riding 198 lodges

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Fraternal World UGLE DISTRICTS AND GROUPS

Across the globe 1 Canada

2 Caribbean

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4 South America Bermuda

5 Europe

P ortugal The Group of Lodges in Portugal 4 lodges Gibraltar District Grand Lodge of Gibraltar 9 lodges Valleta The Group of Lodges in Malta 2 lodges Limassol District Grand Lodge of Cyprus 17 lodges Zakynthos Star of the East Lodge, No. 880

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Kingston/George Town District Grand Lodge of Jamaica & the Cayman Islands 24 lodges Willemstad Igualdad Lodge, No. 653 Port of Spain District Grand Lodge of Trinidad & Tobago 8 lodges Bridgetown District Grand Lodge of Barbados & The Eastern Caribbean 21 lodges Georgetown District Grand Lodge of Guyana 15 lodges

N assau District Grand Lodge of Bahamas & Turks 12 lodges Hamilton District Grand Lodge of Bermuda 5 lodges Jamestown St Helena Lodge, No. 488

6 West Africa

7 East Africa

F reetown/Banjul District Grand Lodge of Sierra Leone & The Gambia 21 lodges Accra District Grand Lodge of Ghana 58 lodges Lagos District Grand Lodge of Nigeria 42 lodges

São Paulo/Rio de Janeiro District Grand Lodge of South America, Northern Division 17 lodges Buenos Aires/Santiago/Montevideo District Grand Lodge of South America, Southern Division 11 lodges

8 Southern Africa

N airobi District Grand Lodge of East Africa 48 lodges

FMT Winter 2019

Johannesburg District Grand Lodge of South Africa, North 101 lodges Kimberley District Grand Lodge of South Africa, Central Division 8 lodges Windhoek District Grand Lodge of Namibia 4 lodges Cape Town District Grand Lodge of South Africa, Western Division 30 lodges Ndola District Grand Lodge of Zambia 11 lodges Harare/Lilongwe District Grand Lodge of Zimbabwe & Malawi 12 lodges Durban District Grand Lodge of Kwazulu-Natal 26 lodges Bloemfontein District Grand Lodge of Orange Free State 7 lodges Port Elizabeth District Grand Lodge of South Africa, Eastern Division 28 lodges

IMAGES: FREEVECTORMAPS.COM

M ontreal/Halifax The Group of Lodges in Montreal & Halifax 3 lodges

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M umbai District Grand Lodge of Bombay 23 lodges New Delhi District Grand Lodge of Northern India 5 lodges Kolkata District Grand Lodge of Bengal 23 lodges Chennai District Grand Lodge of Madras 18 lodges Colombo District Grand Lodge of Sri Lanka 10 lodges

K uala Lumpur/Singapore District Grand Lodge of Eastern Archipelago 40 lodges Hong Kong/Kobe District Grand Lodge of Hong Kong & the Far East 20 lodges Vanuatu/Fiji The Group of Lodges in the South West Pacific 3 lodges Rabaul Rabaul Lodge, No. 4468

Albany Plantagenet Lodge, No. 1454 Melbourne Combermere Lodge, No. 752 Tully Geraldton Lodge, No. 3544 Gladstone Port Curtis Lodge, No. 2235

C hristchurch District Grand Lodge of South Island, New Zealand 13 lodges Auckland District Grand Lodge of North Island, New Zealand 24 lodges

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Fraternal World LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters to the Editor Write to: The Editor, FMT, Freemasons’ Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ Email: editor@freemasonrytoday.com

Forging the future Sir, David Campbell’s letter in the Autumn 2019 issue of FMT comments that the Members’ Pathway does not address how we attract people into Freemasonry in the 21st century, and goes on to say that what is needed is coordinated action at the level of UGLE and the Provinces. He also comments that current Provincial initiatives are being done piecemeal.

It is worth explaining what the Members’ Pathway is and what it is not.

It is a toolkit for lodges to enable them to follow a process to attract, introduce and retain members. It starts with the lodge reviewing and updating its activities to ensure it is ‘fit for the future’, and offers lodges guidance as to how they can find and initiate new members and help

them to grow in their understanding, enjoyment and commitment. The key point is that the Members’ Pathway is for use by lodges.

However, the Members’ Pathway can only be one part of a new approach to membership development. Another part is to build positive public awareness of Freemasonry and, to use the Grand Secretary’s term, to normalise it in the public’s perception. Yet another is to provide our members with a reliable and credible source of learning about Freemasonry. Our Communications & Marketing Department is addressing the first and the Solomon scheme is addressing the latter. Add to that the development of the new Hermes system, which will improve our administrative process, and I think we are indeed moving forward in a managed and coordinated way to bring UGLE, its Provinces and its lodges into the 21st century.

Tony Harvey, Pioneer Lodge, No. 9065, Alfreton, Derbyshire

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True Blue Sir, Being new to Freemasonry, and to the West Kent Light Blues Club, I was keen to start building my connections by meeting and engaging with fellow Freemasons.

The New and Young Masons Clubs Conference 2019 held in Leicestershire & Rutland’s Freemasons’ Hall not only gave me an ideal opportunity to meet fellow Freemasons from different Provinces, but also from across the country. The conference also gave me, and my two accompanying club brethren, the opportunity to ‘fact find’ and learn about other Light Blue clubs.

The day started with a ‘meet and greet’ coffee session to engage with other Light Blue brethren and start making those all-important connections. The theme of the conference was #buildingbonds. A guided tour of the building, lodge rooms and museum was also available.

The conference consisted of presentations on ‘Women in Freemasonry’ by the Grand Master of the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons and the Solomon e-learning portal as well as a keynote speech by Dr David Staples. In between these presentations, breakout sessions were

Freemasonry FMT Winter 2019 Today

held, where attendees were put into smaller groups to discuss some key questions, including the current state of Light Blue Clubs; needed improvements; and how Light Blue Clubs can work better with their Provincial lodges and their wider communities.

To summarise, I found the conference a wonderful forum to gain insight into how English Freemasonry, especially Light Blue social Freemasonry, is adopted across the country; how other clubs are structured, promoted and received within the Provinces; and what works well and what doesn’t. A key benefit of the conference was getting to meet brethren from the four corners of the country, unified by our love of Freemasonry.

Robin Rudkin, Radiant Star Lodge, No. 8967, Dartford, West Kent

Shared values Sir, I visited Freemasons’ Hall on Sunday, 22 September 2019 during Open House London. I would like to thank you all for your friendliness and generosity and for sharing your wonderful building with the public. It is the most beautiful Art Deco building I have ever seen.

I knew very little about the Freemasons before my visit, other than what I had read in literature, and which seemed shrouded in mystery and secrecy. In contrast, I found you open and willing to share your aims.

To my great surprise, I discovered that your guiding principles of integrity, friendship, respect and charity are also my own goals in life. In other words, I am a Freemason in spirit, albeit without the pomp and ceremony which I do not feel I need.

I intend to return to Freemasons’ Hall sometime soon and to have a closer look at the Museum of Freemasonry.

Ursula Riniker

Fraternal World LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Open to all

PHOTOGRAPHY: ANNA GORDON

Sir, With many others, I volunteered for the incredibly well-organised Open House London weekend at Freemasons’ Hall in September 2019 and was on duty in the Grand Temple/Tower Entrance.

Two valuable lessons were learned: first, misconceptions firmly remain in the public perception, and, second, more events such as Open House are needed.

For most people, their first visit to the Grand Temple is jaw-dropping.

This weekend was no exception, and approaching such visitors and asking if they had come to buy the building was an ‘ice-breaker’, leading to relaxed conversation. Quite understandably, there were enquiries on what Freemasonry was all about. An effective response was to indicate that it shared the important principles of many associations, societies and clubs. In Freemasonry we improve ourselves to help improve the lives we touch – our challenge is to put more into Freemasonry than we take.

It was necessary to explain that in the ceremonies we pretend to be stonemasons and that through three degrees, or stages, we have different things revealed to us and that our level, as confirmed by handshake, determined how much we were paid when working on medieval cathedrals. And, emphatically, that anything undisclosed is to ensure that the ceremonies are wonderful surprises for candidates.

A valuable lesson was learned: more events such as Open House are needed,

and I very much look forward to duty when the event is held next year.

Gerald Reilly, Thomas Paycocke Lodge, No. 8200, Braintree, Essex

and feedback from guests and members is more encouraging.

Lawrence Sissling, Arun Lodge, No. 7547, Brighton, Sussex

A question of time

The generation game

Sir, I was interested to read the ‘Safeguard the Future’ letter on receiving the Autumn 2019 edition of FMT, and the comments as to how to attract new members, and why lodges are finding it difficult.

My own personal view is the problem has been brought on by the enormous change in people’s social lives. Everyone is busy these days, unlike in past years when there weren’t the activities available now, basically culminating in people being too busy to have the time to read and learn off by heart the amount needed in the lodge.

I think, although older brethren will probably disagree, that we need to look at being able to read any lengthy rituals in the lodge. I’m sure this could attract more newcomers to Freemasonry, who may have been put off when finding the amount needed to learn.

David Newman, Lodge of United Companions, No. 6895, Oldham, East Lancashire

Sir, In the latest issue of FMT there was mention of a Lodge of Instruction dinner.

Liversage Lodge, No. 5027, here in Derbyshire also has a Lodge of Instruction dinner. At our last get-together in May, the eldest brother present (me) was 88 and the youngest was our Senior Warden at 30!

Pat Swift, Liversage Lodge, No. 5027, Derby, Derbyshire

Variations on a theme Sir, How right John Higgins is when he says to ‘cut down on the toasts at the Festive Board’. We believe that the ritual must be performed with sincerity and to the best of our ability, while the Festive Board should reflect the happy side of Freemasonry.

We at Arun Lodge have taken it one step further. We have instituted on one specific night each year a ‘speciality night’. This has taken the form of an Italian night, a French night and a Cockney-themed night. The menu reflects the theme and brethren are encouraged to dress accordingly.

Since introducing these evenings, we have trebled the number of guests and each successive evening has increased in numbers. The atmosphere is wonderful,

Women’s rites Sir, I was fascinated to read in your book reviews section that the reprint of Memoir of the Lady Freemason by John Day is now available. I remember visiting Doneraile Court in Cork many years ago.

As the daughter of a Freemason I was fascinated by the story of Elizabeth Aldworth. So much so I spent one morning up at your wonderfully atmospheric library researching her life.

It just seemed such a great touch of irony that she had her own apron.

Given the time that she lived in, that would have not been such an item of interest if it were not for the fact it was an apron confirming her membership of what was then such a masculine organisation.

I feel that rather like Emily Davison, a suffragette who lost her life at the Epsom Derby and subsequently slipped into anonymity until the 2018 centenary of votes for women, that she was a personality conveniently filed away in a box marked ‘case closed’.

Perhaps this book may remind society that there were many landmarks for unconventional women where they broke into a man’s world by feminine charms.

Hers being good old-fashioned curiosity.

I look forward to purchasing a copy.

Lena Walton

The opinions expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Grand Lodge of England. All UGLE members’ letters printed are appended with the contributor’s name, his mother lodge name and number, the town where that lodge meets, and the Province; please include these details at the foot of your letter. Please enclose an SAE for any items sent by mail that you wish to have returned.

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Fraternal World SOCIAL MEDIA

e-masons

Tell us what’s on your mind @freemasonry2day @ugle_grandlodge @grandchapter

@Dean_UGLE After months of pressure I’ve finally joined the @UGLE_GrandLodge Comms crew on Twitter.

Thanks for the warm welcome! #Freemasons @WorvellMichelle @Shaun_UGLE @KatherineNisbe1

@Shaun_UGLE Just wrapped up a very successful Digital Workshop in @PGLSomerset!

Was lovely to meet Provincial Grand Master David Medlock too #Freemasons @UGLE_GrandLodge For this week’s #FreemasonFriday, we’re taking a look at the Pro Grand Master and Grand Secretary’s visit to Kenya!

The 4 day trip included a

FreemasonryToday UnitedGrandLodgeofEngland SupremeGrandChapter

visit to the Babla Diani Girls School & the M.P. Shah Hospital where the Pro Grand Master presented some new equipment #Freemasons

@UGLE_GrandLodge Wow! What a fantastic day. Thank you to everyone who came to @FreemasonsHall today for @openhouselondon. We’re open again tomorrow at 10am – see you there! #Freemasons #OHLFMH

@UGLE_GrandLodge Tomorrow for

@unitedgrandlodgeofengland @freemasonrytoday

#FreemasonsFriday, in preparation for this weekend’s Open House London, we have something very special to share with you… All will be revealed tomorrow at 1pm! #OHLFMH #Freemasons

@FreemasonsHall Do these look familiar? On Saturday, we hosted a reception for the new UK based members of @TheAcademy. Our building is regularly hired out for major films. #FMHLondon

@DglBomEC A group photo after the Dist Annual Communications.

Deputations were received from Bengal, Madras, Sri Lanka, Eastern Archipelago

and Hong Kong. Also the sister constitutions of Irish, Scottish and Indian. @LeicsFreemasons Freemasonry is one of the oldest social & charitable organisations in the world, open to those of all backgrounds. Its roots lie in the traditions of medieval stonemasons. Our aim is to enable all to be the best they can, for themselves & for society. #Freemasons #Leicestershire

@HantsMason 360 Degrees of brotherly love. The 343rd Regular Meeting of @SotonUniLodge Lodge 7022 – held yesterday evening in @HantsMasonsSC

Follow Dr David Staples, UGLE’s Chief Executive & Grand Secretary: @UGLE_DrDStaples

#Leicester where the @Lightblueclub hosted the @NYMC_UK conference followed by a @WyggestonLodge meeting. The day really delivered on the theme of #buildingbonds @UGLE_GrandLodge @_HFAF_ @OrderWomen @LeicsFreemasons

@pglbedfordshire Our PGM with some of the 12 Right Worshipful Brethren who attended our Provincial Grand Lodge meeting today.

Thank you R W Brethren for your support.

We hope U enjoyed your visit to Bedfordshire @Freemasonry2day @UGLE_GrandLodge @Masonic_Charity

@Dr_Andy_Green What a tremendous day in

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FMT can be viewed online at www.freemasonrytoday.com/magazine

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thēsauros FMT’s pick of the unusual, striking or just plain fascinating

IMAGES: MUSEUM OF FREEMASONRY

Palestine Lodge baseball team and reunion Two images from the Portraits of Members Album of Palestine Lodge, No. 357, Detroit, Michigan, USA, 1905. The lodge, which was constituted in 1881, is notable for Henry Ford being a member.

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