Issue 49 ~ Spring 2020
Joining the scrum of the new Welsh Rugby Clubs Lodge
In a league of their own
Freemasonry Today Cutting edge Making medical leaps and bounds with the Royal College of Surgeons
Issue 49 ~ Spring 2020
Creature comforts The Freemasons’ Teddies for Loving Care initiative is raising smiles in A&E
The Interview How UGLE’s Director of Masonic Services makes the organisation tick
Welcome
From the Grand Secretary & Grand Scribe E
A
few years ago, when I wrote my first Welcome column, I spoke of the three key tasks I was charged with as the newly appointed CEO for UGLE. The first was to bring together the operational and masonic sides of UGLE headquarters, the second was to modernise the way in which we administered the organisation and the third was to change the public perception of Freemasonry. The first and second were achievable using well-worn change management and people management tools. The third, however, requires something significant from you, and is far more difficult to realise. I meet many people who ask me about the ‘Enough is Enough’ campaign – a line in the sand that declared the way we talk to the public about ourselves was about to change. Since that campaign we have reshaped the UGLE Communications team, polled and ‘focus grouped’ our way to realising precisely what the public think of us, and looked carefully at how we should portray ourselves. It shouldn’t surprise you to learn that we need to start talking openly and proudly about who we are and what we do – what is our purpose? We don’t need to reinvent ourselves or pretend to be something we’re not, for we have a fabulous story to tell and more than 300 years of heritage and history to be proud of. We now have the resourcing, the will and the understanding to stop apologising for all those things which we are supposed to ‘be up to’ and start portraying the positive image we deserve. We don’t need to spoil the experience for prospective members by going into detail about our ceremonies; neither should we repeat the mistakes of other institutions by thinking that ‘modernising’ our language will solve all our problems. But is there anything wrong with explaining that the First Degree teaches us that all are created equal; the Second, that there is merit in
improving ourselves; and the Third, that we have but one life to use wisely? Who could argue with such fundamental truths? Here’s where you come in. We are an organisation with 48 ‘branch offices’. Each and every one of them must start to work with each other, and with us, to portray a coherent message to the public. We need to give you the tools to tell your stories in the best and most consistent way possible. National campaigns will be much more effective if we understand the power in acting together with the same goal and purpose. This will be a first for UGLE, which has always jealously guarded the federated structure we have operated for centuries. But communications is a funny beast, and one or two dissenting voices will be seized upon and become the national story. We are tentatively dipping our toes into interesting – and dangerous – times, and we do not expect it to be all plain sailing. To help steer our path, we have the Communications and Marketing Working Party of the Board, chaired by RWB Ian Chandler, the Provincial Grand Master for Surrey, which consists of Provincial Grand Masters from each of the nine Regional Communications Groups. At an operational level, each Province has Provincial Communications Officers reporting to the PGMs but tied directly to the Communications Department here at UGLE. They act as a link between the centre and Provincial Communications structures and help us to ensure we are all pulling in the same direction. In this way, we hope the strategy is set by our most senior members, with hundreds of years of masonic experience between them, advised appropriately by subject matter experts, and implemented in a professional, coordinated and timely way nationally. For the first time in our history, we will be producing an Annual Report – but this will not be a bland corporate glossy. It will be a
‘We don’t need to reinvent ourselves or pretend to be something we’re not, for we have a fabulous story to tell and more than 300 years of heritage and history to be proud of’ FMT Spring 2020
document with two main objectives: to show you, our members, what UGLE does with your membership fees and how we are administered and run, and what we hope to achieve in the future. It will also act as a reference document for the press and public, expanding on our core leaflets, website and messaging to show the breadth of what our members do: over 18 million hours of unpaid charitable, civic and voluntary activities a year. At National Living Wage, that would equate to over £167 million worth of activity – all in addition to our annual charitable spend of some £50 million! More than half of Freemasons are actively encouraged to participate by our lodges or other lodge members and, despite being clearly predisposed to charitable giving, 58 per cent of our members have increased their charitable activities since becoming Freemasons. We have always been charitable, but for too long we have hidden our light, and we won’t do so any longer. So hold on to your hats, because in the next 18 months you’re going to hear a lot about Freemasonry. Look out for our Annual Report, to be published around the April Investitures, and get involved in the national campaigns we will be running to position us where we once were, firmly in the public gaze. We are an organisation which is proud of the integrity of its members, the friendships and connections they will make, the good they do for the communities from which they are drawn and the fun we have along the journey. Dr David Staples Grand Secretary and Grand Scribe E
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Contents 40 Lucky finds
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42 Was Isaac Newton a Freemason?
The official journal of the United Grand Lodge of England Issue 49 ~ Spring 2020
Exploring the natural philosopher’s links to the Craft
Editor-in-Chief DKS
44 On the side: Royal Ark Mariners The degree based on the story of Noah and the ark
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 Advertising contact Mark Toland mark@square7media.co.uk 020 3283 4056 Square7 Media Ltd, 3 More London Riverside, London SE1 2RE
COVER PHOTO: GARETH IWAN JONES. PHOTOGRAPHY: GARETH IWAN JONES, SARAH REDMAN
Circulation fmt@freemasonrytoday.com 020 7395 9392 Masonic enquiries editor@freemasonrytoday.com 020 7831 9811 www.ugle.org.uk Printed by Walstead Roche © United Grand Lodge of England 2020. 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.
Grand Lodge 48 In Quarterly Communication 3
From the Grand Secretary
Dr David Staples welcomes you to the spring issue
O ut and about 7
News and views from the Provinces
16 In the scrum
The Teddies for Loving Care initiative has given 2.5 million soft toys for children in distress in A&E wards
23 Civic celebration
Metropolitan Grand Lodge is represented at the Lord Mayor’s Show in London
From a new museum exhibition to a Grand Temple organ concert
54 An iconic jewel
The history of the Hall Stone jewel tells the story of Freemasons’ Hall
Culture 59 Reviews, cartoons and crosswords
In the community 65 Building better lives
Showcasing how the Masonic Charitable Foundation supports Freemasons, their family members, and local and national charities
24 Historical discovery
Rare antique tracing boards found in Bank of England Lodge’s vaults
26 Medical breakthroughs
The Freemasons Fund for Surgical Research supports groundbreaking work by surgeons
28 Speaking up
Freemason James Innes on talking openly about depression
@freemasonry2day @ugle_grandlodge @grandchapter
32 The Interview: John Tully
FreemasonryToday UnitedGrandLodgeofEngland SupremeGrandChapter
A daily advancement
As Director of Masonic Services, John helps UGLE run like clockwork
Progress on the web-based system designed to make lodge life easier
52 What’s on
A look at Wales’s first rugby lodge and its support of grassroots rugby
20 Comforting children
Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes on making the most of masonic halls
51 Project Hermes
Stories
editor@freemasonrytoday.com
Favourite treasures at the Museum of Freemasonry
Fraternal world 69 Home and abroad
UGLE lodges around the world
72 Letters and social media 82 Thēsauros
Unusual views from masonic history
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38 Clerk and Craft @unitedgrandlodgeofengland @freemasonrytoday @freemasonshall
William Cowper was an 18th-century Freemason with a strong sense of duty
FMT Spring 2020
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Out & About
8 11 9
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A roundup of what’s happening in the world of Freemasonry
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7 3 2
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MCF
Australia rising from the ashes
with up to a billion animals believed killed. The death toll among koalas alone has led to calls for the animals to be placed on the endangered species list. David Innes, Chief Executive of the Masonic Charitable Foundation, said: ‘These terrible fires are an ongoing disaster for thousands of Australians. I’m very pleased that English and Welsh Freemasons are working together with Freemasons in Australia to raise funds to help the victims of the blazes, many of whom have lost everything.’
PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES
The Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) has given AUD150,000 to support victims of the Australian bush fires. The grant will see AUD50,000 given to Freemasons Disaster Relief Funds in each of the three Australian states most affected by the blaze: New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
The catastrophic fires have resulted in more than 30 deaths as of the end of January, including a number of firefighters, and more than 2,000 homes have been destroyed since the fires began. Across New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, thousands of people are living in evacuation centres, having been forced to flee the blaze. An estimated 25 million acres of land have been burned – an area almost as large as Ireland – and there has been an enormous impact on the environment,
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Out & About
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EAST KENT
Services for the young ones
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Vulnerable young people will receive much-needed mentoring and support thanks to a grant of nearly £90,000 from East Kent Freemasons to the Young Lives Foundation (YLF). The grant will help to develop activities in Swale and Gravesham, where YLF will deliver a programme of sports, arts, music, drama and occasional field trips to residential centres offering skillbased activities such as water sports, climbing and camping. There was a 60 per cent increase in referrals to YLF last year following cuts in funding by local authorities, and more than 700 youth centres have been closed since 2010. YLF intends to respond by opening a youth hub in each of the 13 districts in Kent, providing a safe space for people to meet, make the right friendships, learn new hobbies and interests, and build valuable relationships with skilled volunteer mentors. YLF currently works with 1,500 individuals in the Kent
SUSSEX
care system and aims to make the services available to more than 1,700 young people in care who are placed in Kent from other local authorities. It also works with 8,000 young people on the edge of care. There are more than 70,000 young people in the care system nationally, according to the YLF. The results of the YLF projects are very encouraging, with 81 per cent of individuals in the programmes reporting an increase in self-confidence, which is crucial for young people seeking to change their behaviour. YLF CEO Stephen Gray said: ‘I’m very grateful to East Kent Freemasons for their generous grant, which adds to substantial support we’ve already received from individual lodges. We’re also grateful to the many Freemasons who volunteer their free time to help us. Thanks to them we’ll be able to offer many more very vulnerable young people the advice and support they need to turn their lives around.’
He’s behind you! A packed house at the Hilton Brighton Metropole hotel on 29 December saw Peter Pan brilliantly delivered by an all-star cast of Sussex Freemasons. Staged and supported with the help of David Hill and his E3 production company, the pantomime raised £13,100 towards the refurbishment of the Province’s headquarters in Brighton. John Hornblow, Assistant Provincial Grand Master of Sussex and Chair of the Provincial Fundraising Committee, which organised, promoted and took part in the event, said: ‘I would like to thank everyone involved for all their hard work, enthusiasm and sustained efforts in making this amazing event happen. I would also like to thank Dave Hill and his team for all the support and encouragement they have given in helping Sussex Freemasonry deliver this show.’
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Safe space: The Young Lives Foundation works with young people in Kent via activity programmes and youth centres
FMT Spring 2020
Out & About
Access to education: (l to r) Academy Director of Development Steve Morton, Devonshire Grand Charity Steward Dr Reuben Ayres, academy students and Devonshire Press Secretary Clive Eden
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CAMBRIDGESHIRE
Better through therapy
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DEVONSHIRE
New academy for deaf students Devonshire Freemasons have raised more than £33,000 to support the Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education as it prepares to relocate to a new, modernised facility with a multi-sensory space. Ian Kingsbury, Provincial Grand Master of Devonshire, learned about the academy’s plans from Steve Morton, director of development. The Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education has been located in Exeter for more than 190 years, but the current facility is no longer fit for the needs of the deaf students. Funds are therefore being raised for a new academy that will provide students – many of whom have additional needs due to multi-
in Exmouth, bringing the total donated to £33,380. ‘Young people all need us to be there to help them grow for the future, none more so than those with a lack of hearing, who are denied the normal things that we take so much for granted in the world we live in,’ said Dr Reuben Ayres, Provincial Grand Charity Steward for Devonshire. Morton said: ‘We are extremely grateful for the ongoing support from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Devonshire and now the Masonic Charitable Foundation. Without the support of generous organisations like these we wouldn’t be able to change the lives of some of the most vulnerable deaf young people in the UK.
sensory disabilities, autism, epilepsy and physical disabilities – with everything they require. Ian initially approached the Devonshire Freemasons Benevolent Fund Committee, which responded with a cheque for £5,000. The Masonic
‘Our work helps young people, who have often been isolated in the past, to access education and opportunities for development which ultimately will enable them to have more independent lives. The immersive room is there to help those facing the greatest
Charitable Foundation then agreed funding of £28,380 to equip a multi-sensory immersive space within the new centre
challenges to benefit from our work, and Ian, Reuben and their fellow Freemasons have played a large part in making that a reality.’
FMT Spring 2020
Hundreds of children with mental or emotional health issues will receive the therapy they need thanks to a £15,000 grant to the Blue Smile charity from Cambridgeshire Freemasons. The charity works with children between three and 13 years old who may experience difficulties such as anxiety, self-harm or obsessivecompulsive behaviour. Children are given a weekly session, based on arts and play, with an expert therapist and receive support for as long as needed. During term time, Blue Smile helps around 200 children every week. Blue Smile aims to intervene when a child has emerging mental health difficulties, particularly those who have suffered trauma such as abuse, bereavement or domestic violence. Through this, it hopes to prevent problems worsening and to protect each child’s ability to stay in school and participate fully in school life. Half of all lifetime mental health problems emerge by the age of 14, so by supporting children who are experiencing difficulties, the charity believes that it can give them the best possible chance of recovery. Jess Manley, charity director of Blue Smile, said: ‘We’re very grateful to Cambridgeshire Freemasons for their generous grant, which will help us to offer support to hundreds of children every week during term time. Often people don’t realise the scale of this issue, with, on average, three children in every class being affected by mental health difficulties.’
Early intervention: Cambridgeshire Freemasons present a grant to Blue Smile
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Out & About
7 Family care: Deputy PGM of Berkshire Peter Sands and Jane Westley of Sebastian’s Action Trust
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BERKSHIRE
Support for families Families of seriously ill children and young people will receive support thanks to a £63,000 grant from Berkshire Freemasons. Sebastian’s Action Trust provides family support and bereavement care tailored towards improving mental and physical health for children and their families. The charity offers responsive, accessible support for families who are facing either the imminent death or eventual loss of a child. This includes talking and counselling sessions together with one-toone and group sessions to accommodate the family’s needs. There are currently 49,000 children with lifelimiting or life-threatening conditions in the UK, and Sebastian’s Action Trust offers emotional, practical and social support to around 500 families in Berkshire, Surrey, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Jane Gates OBE, Sebastian’s Action Trust’s CEO, said: ‘We’re very grateful to Berkshire Freemasons for their generous grant. There can be no more critical time in the life of a family than the diagnosis of a life-threatening or life-limiting condition in one of its members and their subsequent death – and how much worse when it is a child. We may not be able to add days to lives, but with the help of Berkshire Freemasons, we will be able to add life to days.’
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METROPOLITAN
Getting back on the right path London Freemasons have donated £5,000 to the JBVC Foundation, which helps to rebuild the lives of young people beyond gang culture. Victoria Cross hero and Freemason Lance Sergeant Johnson Beharry is the founder of the charity. After receiving the cheque from Assistant Metropolitan Grand Master Andrew Manasseh, Johnson said: ‘I believe that young people involved in gang culture deserve a fresh start, no matter who they are or the journey they’ve been on. I am truly grateful to my fellow London Freemasons for their generosity in supporting my work.’ Johnson’s mission is to help young people turn their backs on gangs. His work in dealing with gang culture began with a special moment in his own life, when he found himself at a crossroads at age 19. He decided to join the British Army at 21, and in 2004 he was stationed in Iraq. Johnson came under attack while serving with the 1st Battalion, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment. His colleagues were severely injured, and despite being exposed to enemy fire, he drove them all to safety.
Shortly after that incident, he was caught in another attack in Iraq that resulted in severe head injuries to him and his crew, but again was able to drive to safety. While still recovering from brain surgery, Johnson was awarded the Victoria Cross. It was during his road to recovery that Johnson became committed to helping youngsters in disadvantaged communities, and he became a London Freemason, joining London’s Queensman Lodge, No. 2694. This is the London lodge of the Queen’s Regiment, which was an infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1966 through the amalgamation of the four regiments of the Home Counties Division. In turn, the regiment became part of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment in a further merger in 1992. In concluding his thanks, Johnson added: ‘My work with the JBVC Foundation and London Freemasons helps me to encapsulate my ambition, confidence and passion for showing young people there is an alternative and positive future beyond life in a gang.’ New starts: AMGM Andrew Manasseh, left, with Johnson Beharry and his family
FMT Spring 2020
Out & About
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Building on success: New Provincial Grand Master Peter Kinder, centre, with DPGM Brian Carruthers, DGM Jonathan Spence and others at his Installation
YORKSHIRE, WEST RIDING
Festive toy story A toy appeal by Leeds Freemasons brought festive cheer to several local children’s charities. More than 300 gifts were shared among four groups: Leeds Children’s Hospital, Martin House Hospice Care for Children and Young People, Leeds Children’s Charity and Leeds Jewish Welfare Board. The Castle Grove Masonic Lodges Festive Toy appeal was launched in November 2018 with the aim of bringing various lodges together to provide something tangible to young people in the local community. Initially, the toys and gifts were to be donated to Leeds Children’s Hospital. However, the response proved so overwhelming that a large number of gifts were also donated to Barnardo’s. In 2019, the number of charity recipients was increased to four, including Leeds Jewish Welfare Board, which will receive Hanukkah gifts for 28 children under its care. Leeds Freemason and toy appeal coordinator Graham Shiers said: ‘Once again, I’ve been absolutely staggered by the response of lodge members to the toy appeal.’
Overwhelming: (l to r) Castle Grove Masonic Hall Chairman Richard Bentley and Graham Shiers
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LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND
New decade, new leadership Leicestershire & Rutland has had a change of leadership for the first time in 10 years. Freemasons’ Hall in Leicester was close to capacity as UGLE Deputy Grand Master Jonathan Spence and his team presided over the Installation of Peter Kinder as Provincial Grand Master. Peter – a Freemason for the last 46 years – succeeds David Hagger as the organisation’s 13th head since the combination of the counties of Leicestershire and Rutland in 1856. Peter was born and raised in Leicester. Freemasonry runs in his family, and influenced by his father, brother, godfather and many friends, he joined in 1973.
When asked about his goals as Provincial Grand Master, Peter said: ‘Freemasonry is more relevant in today’s society than ever before. The constant challenges that face us in our working and social lives can be enriched by the work we do as Freemasons. ‘My major objective during my tenure as Provincial Grand Master is to build on the successes of the past, encourage larger attendances at lodges and further develop the Pathway project that will hopefully lead us to recruit and retain many high-calibre members. And to ensure that our members take great enjoyment out of what we do and to bring Freemasonry to the forefront of the local communities that we serve.’
HEREFORDSHIRE
Heralding the new in Hereford Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes and the Grand Lodge team have installed Michael Holland as Provincial Grand Master of Herefordshire. Deputy Provincial Grand Master Graham King was also installed during the ceremony at the Three Counties Hotel in Hereford. The recent vacancy was caused by the death earlier in 2019 of Rev David Bowen, who had held the office of Provincial Grand Master since 2013. The Province is
to fund a memorial to David in the Booth Chapel of Hereford Cathedral, which is to be refurbished to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the canonisation of St Thomas Cantilupe. Following his Installation, Michael said: ‘It is a privilege to lead the masonic Province of Herefordshire, and I am grateful for the support and kindness I have received from our members and also those in neighbouring Provinces and beyond.’
FMT Spring 2020
Newly installed: Provincial Grand Master Michael Holland, sixth left, with Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes, fifth left, and others at the ceremony
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Out & About
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CHESHIRE
Full agenda at conference in Chester November saw the 2019 Universities Scheme Conference take place in Chester, with almost 180 delegates and speakers attending. With presentations from Universities Scheme Chairman Julian Soper, the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) Communications and Marketing team, representatives of the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons and the Order of Women Freemasons, among others, delegates were treated to a wealth of information, innovation and inspiration to help the scheme flourish in the future. The day, hosted at Cheshire View in Chester, began with a welcome from Stephen Blank, the Provincial Grand
Master of Cheshire, who urged those who came to enjoy the event and to leave with their masonic experience enhanced. Universities Scheme President Sir David Wootton similarly welcomed the delegates to the conference, particularly thanking those who had travelled long distances to be there. Finally, Julian welcomed the delegates and gave a quick overview of the day’s agenda. Presentations throughout the day centred around the newly released How To Do... guides, which focus on topics including social media, retention of members and finance. All are aimed at supporting members with various aspects of being a part of the Universities Scheme.
Wealth of information: Universities Scheme delegates gather for the 2019 conference, above, and the Communications team from UGLE, right, presents at one of the breakout sessions
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FMT Spring 2020
Following a busy morning, delegates were treated to a buffet lunch, which provided another chance for them to network with lodges and committee members from across the Universities Scheme. The afternoon included a presentation from the New and Young Masons Clubs, a breakout session about Solomon and learning and development at UGLE, and a discussion on social engagement. Concluding the event was an engaging Q&A session, with a number of pertinent queries raised. In closing, Sir David thanked the delegates for coming and the team from the Province of Cheshire for hosting and supporting the event throughout the day.
Stories
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Shoulder to shoulder
People, places, history and more
PHOTOGRAPHY: SARAH REDMAN
Join the scrum for a look inside Wales’s first rugby lodge
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Civic spectacle Metropolitan Grand Lodge escorts a fire engine at the Lord Mayor’s Show
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Opening up the vault The discovery of Dr Robert Crucefix’s tracing boards
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Support for surgeons How the Freemasons Fund for Surgical Research aids innovative work
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There’s no need to hide Freemason James Innes on opening up about depression
Have a cuddle Why A&E patients and staff love the Teddies for Loving Care programme
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The Interview: John Tully UGLE’s Director of Masonic Services helps the organisation run smoothly
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Stories ON THE BALL
Boosted by the support of the Welsh national team, a group of rugby-playing Freemasons have formed the first rugby lodge in South Wales. Peter Watts joins the scrum
Doing it for the kicks
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Stories ON THE BALL
PHOTOGRAPHY: GARETH IWAN JONES
A
fter standing shoulder to shoulder for many years in the scrum for Barry Rugby Football Club, Paul Haley (hooker), Phillip Nethercott (second row/prop) and Clive Thomas (back row) are teaming up once more. This time, the three rugby-playing Freemasons are combining their two loves – rugby and Freemasonry – in the form of Wales’s first rugby lodge, Welsh Rugby Clubs Lodge, No. 9986. It’s the brainchild of Paul, who came up with the idea after talking to some of his fellow Freemasons at a lodge meeting. ‘We started knocking the idea around,’ he says. ‘I wrote to the Provincial Grand Master, and he said if we could get 40 sponsoring founders he’d agree to it. I managed to do that in about three days. It’s crazy that we didn’t have one already, as rugby is deep in the culture of Wales, especially here in South Wales.’ ‘Welsh Rugby Clubs Lodge is an exciting development for South Wales and takes its place as the 161st lodge in our Province,’ says Gareth Jones, the Provincial Grand Master for South Wales. ‘Freemasonry in partnership with our national game will prove hugely popular, and I am heartened to see that there will be ongoing support for grassroots mini rugby. I have no doubt that the impressive charitable contributions that have already been made will continue at pace. The advent of a new lodge is always a very special moment, and I look forward with great interest and enthusiasm to see what the founders and new members achieve together as a team during the coming years.’ Rugby is everywhere in this part of Wales. Even the new lodge’s base, Penarth Masonic Hall, is located on the site of the rugby ground where Penarth hosted Barbarians in much-anticipated Good Friday fixtures between 1890 and 1914. In recognition of this history, the lodge was consecrated at Cardiff Masonic Hall on 30 November 2019, the day Barbarians played Wales in Cardiff. In attendance were 170 Freemasons, including representatives from rugby lodges in England. It was a sign of the camaraderie that the new lodge hopes to bolster and draw upon in the years ahead.
A bond that can bring people together
A first for Wales: (l to r, opposite page) Clive Thomas, Paul Haley and Phillip Nethercott combined their love of rugby and Freemasonry to form the new lodge
The new lodge came together quickly. After making initial soundings around Christmas 2018, a meeting was held in February 2019 to see who was, in Paul’s words, ‘in it for the long haul’. A central team came together, many of whom were former rugby players, including several of Paul’s old Barry teammates. ‘Some have played at a really high level, and others are “raggedy bum rovers thirds,”’ he says. ‘We decided that all of our charitable work will support grassroots rugby. We had a dinner with Graham Price, who played for the famous Wales national team in the ’70s, and that inspired more people to get involved.’ Paul thinks rugby and Freemasonry share some commonalities. ‘Both are very much about the team working together to achieve results,’ he says. ‘There’s a sporting attitude to rugby. It’s about beating your opponent on the pitch but being friendly once the game is over. That camaraderie with the players around you – even the ones on the opposing side – is something that connects with Freemasonry. ‘There’s real cross-pollination between the two, and we want to encourage children to play rugby,
‘We think Freemasonry fits with that idea of bringing people up in a respectful, friendly team environment’ FMT Spring 2020
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Stories ON THE BALL where there is greater respect for other players and the referee than other sports. We think Freemasonry fits with that idea of bringing people up in a respectful, friendly team environment. Hopefully one day they will grow up to be Freemasons.’ The rugby theme has already attracted attention. At a fundraising dinner where Phil Steele, a former Newport player and TV presenter, gave a talk, there were more non-Freemasons than Freemasons in attendance. To capitalise on this interest, social events will be open to everybody. ‘Rugby is a bond that can bring people together,’ Paul says. There have also already been new recruits as a result of the lodge. In February, three new Freemasons were due to be initiated, with two more in March. ‘The idea of it being the rugby lodge has been the trigger to get them involved,’ says Clive, Senior Warden for the new lodge. ‘It has revitalised existing Freemasons and encouraged new Freemasons to join.’ Both initiations will take place the evening before Wales play international fixtures, and all lodge meetings are scheduled to precede Six Nations fixtures and autumn internationals. On each occasion, the Festive Board will be themed to match Wales’s opponents, with national flags on display. It’s hoped that opposing fans who are Freemasons will attend the ceremony before the game.
Rugby touches in every detail
The rugby theme extends to details such as the rugby ball-shaped gavels made for the lodge by Michael Buck, a Freemason and carpenter. There are also rugby caps for lodge members, a rugby ball signed by the founders, and plans for a tie featuring the lodge logo – a cartoon red dragon carrying a rugby ball and wearing an apron with the club motto: ‘Passing It Forward’. The unorthodox logo demonstrates the sense of fun within the lodge, but even this has a serious intent. The lodge’s charitable undertakings will raise funds for grassroots rugby, and some of the teams that have received donations have requested permission to use the lodge logo on their shirts. Fundraising activities are boosted by the support of the Welsh Rugby Union, the organisation that oversees Welsh rugby, which has given raffle prizes. And Wales’s Rugby World Cup team even recorded a message of congratulations for the lodge’s consecration ceremony. ‘Paul had a white screen for the Festive Board, and I began to canvass Welsh rugby players to give us a message. I eventually got a clip from the Welsh squad wishing us all the best,’ says Phillip. ‘I started working on them before the World Cup and kept sending emails until somebody eventually replied. I told them that we were raising money for Welsh rugby and that the more people enjoyed the day the more we could raise for grassroots rugby. The Welsh
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Stories ON THE BALL
‘There’s a sporting attitude to rugby. It’s about beating your opponent on the pitch but being friendly once the game is over, and that camaraderie with the players around you – even the ones on the opposing side – is something that connects with Freemasonry’
‘Passing It Forward’: South Wales Provincial Grand Master Gareth Jones (top photo, opposite) consecrated the new lodge, whose charitable work will support grassroots rugby
Rugby Union seem keen because we are genuinely trying to support grassroots rugby.’ During planning sessions, Paul took note of what the various existing English rugby lodges were doing, hoping to amalgamate some of their best ideas. There are a dozen such lodges, including William Webb Ellis Lodge, No. 9740, in Warwickshire; Rugby Bastion Lodge, No. 9896, in Hampshire & Isle Of Wight; Spirit of Rugby Lodge, No. 9910, in Durham; Spirit of Rugby Lodge, No. 9922, in East Kent; Lodge of XV, No. 9944, in Essex; Ruck and Maul Lodge, No. 9974, in Oxfordshire; Rugby Football Lodge, No. 9811, in Yorkshire, West Riding; and Adrian Davies Lodge of Rugby Union, No. 9884, in Gloucestershire. Representatives from these lodges attended the consecration of Welsh Rugby Clubs Lodge, and the Welsh lodge will attend the consecration of Union of Rugby Lodge, No. 9989, in Leicestershire & Rutland in April.
FMT Spring 2020
The English lodges already play occasional fixtures against each other, and this is something else Paul and his team have an eye on. ‘The main thing we will do after the initiation ceremonies is create a Welsh Freemasons rugby team,’ Paul says. ‘I told the guys from Leicester: “You can play your inter-Province cup, but we are not a Province, we are a nation.” That will be fun, and that has legs. ‘Who knows where we could be in five or 10 years? We could have games at Cardiff Arms Park in front of a few thousand people. When you go back 20 or 30 years, the Army versus Navy and Oxford versus Cambridge matches only got a few thousand, but now they are filling Twickenham. If you manage it right, it can become much bigger.’ It sounds very much as if Barry’s old scrum heroes could be ready to fold up their aprons, wash out their mouthguards and get back on to the pitch.
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Stories GRIN AND BEAR IT
Thanks to an initiative by Freemasons, more than 2.5 million toy bears have been given to children admitted to A&E departments in the UK. Steven Short finds out more about Teddies for Loving Care
Bear necessities
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hen a child has an accident or gets so ill that a trip to A&E is needed, the last thing on any parent’s mind is packing a bag of things their son or daughter might need at the hospital. They just want to get there – fast. Fortunately, when they do arrive at hospital, a cuddly teddy bear may be there waiting for them. Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) is an initiative championed by Freemasons across England and Wales that provides everyone’s favourite soft toys to A&E wards to be given to children in distress. ‘Many youngsters will be upset about being in hospital, and the bears help calm children down,’ says Helen Bainbridge, TLC Project Officer at the
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Stories GRIN AND BEAR IT ‘Many youngsters will be upset about being in hospital, and the bears help calm children down’ A name change later – ‘Trauma in an A&E ward probably isn’t a very useful word’, Neil says – TLC was born, launching in March 2001 across seven Essex hospitals, with Ian as chairman. ‘In the first year we gave away 25,000 teddies. By now we’ve probably given away 400,000.’ Hearing about what was happening in Essex, other Provinces started running their own TLC programmes. Today 47 Provinces across England and Wales have one. Neil shares a tale of one – or rather two – TLC bear recipients: ‘Two young brothers came in. One had broken his arm. His brother came with him uninjured but totally distraught. They’d been playing ball in the garden and the uninjured brother threw the ball for his brother to catch. Masonic Charitable Foundation, which supports the programme. ‘The bears can also be used to show children what is about to happen to them. If a child needs a bandage or a cast, for example, a doctor or nurse can say, “OK, we’re just going to give teddy a plaster, or bandage up his arm,” and demonstrate the procedure. Then when he or she does it to the child, it’s much less stressful. Or they can “give teddy an injection” so that when a child has one, they’ve already seen it done and know what to expect, and can hold on to something soft and comforting.’ Children can also use the bears to let doctors and nurses know how they are feeling and where they are experiencing pain or discomfort. They may be too upset to communicate with words but can point to teddy’s arm or tummy, for example. Provinces run their own TLC programmes and together have gifted an incredible 2.5 million bears to A&E departments. Some Provinces also donate bears to local Air Ambulance services.
PHOTOGRAPHY: SARAH REDMAN
How it all began
The idea for the bears began in 2000. The wife of Essex Freemason Ian Simpson had an allergic reaction and was rushed to A&E for life-saving treatment. The couple reflected on how grateful they were for the care received at the hospital and wanted to do something to show their appreciation. ‘Someone suggested sending £50, which is our standard donation,’ recalls Essex Assistant Provincial Grand Master Neil Beverley. ‘But £50
Part of the toolkit: Staff at the Llandudno General Hospital Minor Injury Unit, including Sian Griffiths, above, use the TLC bears to demonstrate procedures and comfort patients
in A&E buys a few sticking plasters and not much else, and we wanted to do more. At the time I was sponsoring something called Trauma Teddies, giving bears to Essex Fire and Rescue services. That gave me the idea that we could donate some teddies.’
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Stories GRIN AND BEAR IT
Meet Bo, recipient of a TLC bear
The brother had fallen over and broken his arm. Of course, the uninjured brother thought it was all his fault. In that case both brothers got teddies.’ And it’s not just young hospital visitors who get the cuddly comforters. Colin Grey of the Province of South Wales remembers the first time he visited Morriston Hospital in Swansea to see the bears and their work for himself. ‘A nurse came up to me and said, “Oh I’m very sorry, but one of the dementia patients has taken a bear!” It turns out that the woman, who was normally a bit agitated, had been calm and happy all day, so the nurse was happy too.’
A tool to comfort and distract
Many healthcare professionals now consider the bears an essential part of their work toolkit. ‘The TLC bears are a massive comfort to the children who attend A&E, whether they’re in pain, scared or distressed,’ says Dawn Taylor, play specialist at the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust. ‘They are part of our team; we find they are a great tool to comfort and distract the child, often then allowing us to do our jobs easier. Many a bear has gone home with a plaster cast on – with the child who has one on too.’ The TLC programme also benefits Freemasons. ‘The bears can help change people’s perception of Freemasonry,’ says Duncan Maw, who coordinates the TLC programme in the Province of Durham. ‘For many parents TLC is their first encounter with us. Rather than being the guys with the funny handshakes, we’re the guys who gave little Johnny his favourite bear when he had to go to hospital.’ Durham Province has so far donated 98,000 bears and encourages recipients to upload photos of themselves with their bears to a Facebook page. ‘We’ve got loads of letters from parents about how their kids just wouldn’t go back for follow-up appointments – to have a cast removed or for further treatment – without their TLC teddy,’ Neil says. ‘They associate it with feeling secure and not so frightened.’
What’s your name and how old are you? Bo Bennet. I’m nine. When did you receive a TLC bear? The first time I was given a bear was when I was
‘The TLC bears are part of our
in A&E with a broken foot. I was only four years
team; we find they are a great
old. The second time
tool to comfort and distract
I cracked my head open
was when I was six and
the child, often then allowing
when I fell backwards on
us to do our jobs easier’
How did you feel when
the lock of a door. you arrived at A&E? When I went to hospital with my cracked head, I felt a bit confused and startled. My head hurt and I was very tired as it was my bedtime. What happened there? A nurse took me into a room and sat me down. She went to the cupboard and pulled out a bear. I felt relieved and happy that I
To find out more or to donate, contact your local TLC representative through your Province or visit www.teddiesforlovingcare.org.uk
had something to cuddle with while she glued my head back together. Cuddly toys: From top, Bryan George (left) and David Gibbison of the North Wales TLC programme meet with staff from Llandudno General Hospital; Duncan Maw (back row, second left) coordinates the TLC programme in the Province of Durham; Connan-James McEvoy receives a bear at Llandudno General Hospital’s Minor Injury Unit
How did the bear make you feel? Cuddling the teddy made me less scared. I think I got a bear because cracking your head open when you were only a child like me was quite scary. Without the bear to hold tight I wouldn’t have managed to stay smiling. I concentrated on the bear, not what the nurse was doing to my head.
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Stories LORD MAYOR’S SHOW
Parades and pageantry This year Freemasons celebrated 11 years
and ambled alongside the float as part of the Teddies for Loving Care initiative, which has given more than two million cuddly bears to children in A&E units across the country. (To read more about the programme, see p20.)
of participation in the Lord Mayor’s Show. John Parry, Metropolitan Grand Inspector, recounts the highlights of the day
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he world’s oldest, longest and most splendid civic procession, the annual Lord Mayor’s Show is a stunning and remarkable pageant that draws thousands of spectators, 7,000 participants – including 200 horses – and around 150 floats. Amid the carriages, military bands and spectacular costumes, 60 Freemasons from Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter gathered with representatives from several charities to welcome Alderman William Russell as the 692nd Lord Mayor of London. Freemasons were celebrating 11 years of participation in the show, and it was a delightful day of festivities and fun, heartily invigorated and supported by the Great British public. Metropolitan Grand Lodge’s float was composed of a fire engine with a turntable ladder carrying a giant banner highlighting our £2.5 million donation to the London Fire Brigade (LFB). Flanking the bright red and yellow truck were delegates from
several charities supported by London Freemasons, including Dementia Club UK, Lifelites, The League of Remembrance, Music in Hospitals & Care, VocalEyes, Share Community, Pursuing Independent Paths and Suited & Booted. Freemason Ben Sargent-Cain was dressed in a giant teddy bear costume
Spreading the word about Freemasonry
At Mansion House, in front of the new Lord Mayor and other dignitaries, LFB Group Commander Robert Davies and I were interviewed by BBC presenter Radzi Chinyanganya. This provided a great opportunity to apprise a worldwide TV audience about the millions of pounds that Freemasons donate annually to charity. Freemasons processed the three-mile parade route, receiving delighted cheers and high-fives from the 400,000 or more well-wishers on the pavements. They seemed visibly amazed that we’d donated a massive £2.5 million to the LFB, and we received rapturous applause from the representatives of St Bart’s Hospital in particular, who thanked London Freemasons for their continued support. London Freemasons and the City of London have long been connected: former Lord Mayors Sir David Wooton and Sir Andrew Parmley are Freemasons. Also joining us on the day were
representatives of Empress Lodge, No. 2581, which holds Sir George Rowland Blades, past Lord Mayor, on its roll of Worshipful Masters. We were honoured to again play our part in 800 years of pageantry and spectacle, processing through the City of London and showing the world that ‘we are proud to be here’.
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Stories ABOVE BOARD
Tracing history Bank of England Lodge gives the Supreme Council a set of Georgian tracing boards originally presented by Dr Robert Crucefix
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his year marks the 175th anniversary of the Supreme Council for England and Wales, and the commemorations began in suitable fashion when Bank of England Lodge, No. 263, gave three Georgian tracing boards to the Supreme Council on a long-term loan. The tracing boards were originally presented to Bank of England Lodge in 1832 by Dr Robert Crucefix, who would later found the Supreme Council. ‘We’re delighted to have them here,’ said Alan Englefield, the Supreme Council’s Sovereign Grand Commander. ‘Dr Crucefix has a very special association with us. It’s wonderful to have that link and to be entrusted to look after them. It’s a great privilege, and they are lovely objects.’ The tracing boards came to light when Chris Starnes from Bank of England Lodge was searching the lodge’s list of artefacts for objects of interest to illustrate a lecture. He came across a reference to the three tracing boards, which Crucefix had presented to the lodge on the night he went into the chair. Crucefix also presented the lodge with a cushion, which can no longer be located. Crucefix was an active Freemason who joined numerous lodges following his initiation in 1829. He was a firm supporter of masonic charities and founded an asylum for aged Freemasons – which eventually became the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution – as well as The Freemasons’ Quarterly Review, which he edited for a number of years. Crucefix promoted Orders including the Knights Templar, Rose Croix, Ne Plus Ultra and Mark, and founded the Supreme Council with Dr George Oliver and Henry Udall in 1845.
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Special artefacts, special occasions The small, portable and exquisitely executed tracing boards predate Crucefix’s foundation of Supreme Council, but Bank of England Lodge thought that 10 Duke Street would make a natural home for the objects. ‘Nobody had seen them or even knew they existed for years,’ Chris said. ‘I thought that instead of leaving them to languish in a tin box in our archive at Great Queen Street, we’d bring them here. We thought that if Dr Crucefix was alive it’s what he would have wanted. They are
very nice objects – we were never going to use them, but the Supreme Council said they would use them on special occasions.’ On the back of all three tracing boards is a short statement explaining their provenance. The boards are in good condition but may require some minor cleaning and restoration. ‘It is great to have them back for the 175th anniversary of Supreme Council,’ said the Supreme Council’s head of collections, known as the Keeper of the Treasures. ‘The idea is they will get some use here, as they have been sitting unused in the vaults for many years. ‘There are certain lodges that meet here that can use them – indeed, they have just had their first outing in many years at a recent meeting of Royal Alfred Lodge, No. 780 – but the Supreme Council’s intention is that they are only brought out on special occasions.’
New home: Supreme Council Sovereign Grand Commander Alan Englefield (left) and Chris Starnes of Bank of England Lodge
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Stories RADICAL RESEARCH For Derek Alderson, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, funding research is essential to advancing patient care
On the cutting edge Thanks to the Freemasons Fund for Surgical Research, the Royal College of Surgeons is able to support some of the most groundbreaking medical research in the UK. Steven Short discovers the exceptional work being done
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Stories RADICAL RESEARCH
I
PHOTOGRAPHY: TIM WHITE
t was a very good year. Not only did England win the World Cup in 1966, it was the start of the United Grand Lodge of England’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The Grand Master at that time, the Earl of Scarbrough, launched a charitable appeal ahead of the 1967 event, proposing that every Freemason give £1 towards ‘the betterment of human health and happiness’. This initiative evolved into a charitable fund to support research by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS), covering salary and research costs for young surgeons in training. By 2013, however, it had become apparent that – because of the increased cost of research and the exponential growth in surgical research activity – a different plan was needed. Royal Arch Freemasons stepped in, raising £2.5 million in their bicentenary appeal, generously providing a new source of funding and creating the Freemasons Fund for Surgical Research, which now supports four surgeons each year.
stage to help researchers develop initial results and data. ‘Projects are what we call “bench to bedside”. It’s not just science in the lab, it’s intrinsically linked to the patient experience.’ In his role, Willoughby nurtures relationships with donors and ensures they are aware of the projects that are being funded. ‘I help them understand what their donation is paying for and how their generous gifts are helping patients.’
A much-needed leg-up
Coomer also aids Freemasons in understanding where their money is being spent and the good it is doing by visiting lodges and giving presentations about the fund. ‘About 20 years ago I got a call from a Freemason in York, who asked me, “What are you doing with our money?” So I said we’d visit and tell him. ‘We visited 98 lodges around the country [in two years] with research fellows who talked about their work. We made sure their presentations were easy to understand. The recipients Paving the way for vital work talked about themselves, the awful disease they were looking ‘The research beast is always hungry,’ says Professor Derek at and the progress they were making, in plain speak that Alderson, president of the RCS. ‘We fund around 30 research everyone could understand.’ fellowships each year – from around 120 applicants. We look Coomer continues to visit lodges, not just in the UK but at our lists and identify those appropriate for a Freemasons overseas, and Willoughby encourages Freemasons to fellowship, from which we shortlist seven or eight, and fund four.’ request a presentation as an informal yet informative way A rigorous selection process sees applicants give a presentation of understanding how their support advances surgical care. on their proposed research project, and applications are assessed ‘It’s amazing how many people will stand up during a by three experts in the relevant field. presentation and tell you their story and how they’ve benefited Among the research Freemasons have funded is that of from medical research,’ Coomer says. ‘I did a presentation in Michelle Griffin, who is working Durham a few years ago with one of to develop stem cells to grow in our professors and at the end of the ‘Our knowledge base is biocompatible implants for facial evening, a Freemason stood up and expanding faster and faster. reconstruction. ‘It’s obviously going said, “That man saved my life!”’ to take a few years until it reaches our Following their Freemasonry-funded We’re reaping the fruits of bedsides and the NHS,’ Alderson says, fellowships, young surgeons go on to research that’s been done ‘but it’s very exciting to think that seek funding from larger organisations. you will one day be able to renew and Alderson explains: ‘We give one year, over the past 20 years, and repair something rather than using an but 80 per cent of our research fellows it’s just going to accelerate’ artificial implant.’ An early recipient do three years of research. We give of Freemason funding was Peter them a leg up so they get their pilot data Hutchinson in 1996. Hutchinson worked with people with brain and with that apply to the Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK injuries, investigating how brain chemistry contributes to injury. or Medical Research Council to carry on. He is now the director of the RCS’s clinical research programme ‘Our transfer-through rate of success is about 90 per cent. If and a professor of neurosurgery in Cambridge. you’re a Royal College of Surgeons Freemasons fellow, you go ‘We work with people long term,’ says Martyn Coomer, head from being just someone hoping for funding to having a 90 per of research at the RCS. ‘They are with us throughout their cent chance of getting more funding because of the fellowship.’ professional career, sometimes 30 years or more.’ Alderson also highlights how surgical research is advancing Another surgeon who has received funding is Caroline Moore. human knowledge: ‘Our knowledge base is expanding faster and Moore, who is the UK’s first-ever female professor of urology, faster as it gets bigger and bigger. It’s a great time to be in surgery specialises in prostate cancer and has recently been in the news with so many exciting developments like tissue engineering, due to her role in developing new treatments and screening robotics and so on… We’re reaping the fruits of research that’s guidelines for the condition. ‘These people are the jewels in been done over the past 20 years, and it’s just going to accelerate.’ the college’s crown,’ Alderson says. Scott Willoughby, major gift fundraiser at the RCS, describes the research funded by the Freemasons Fund for Surgical Research To organise a visit to your lodge to learn about the RCS’s work, email as ‘seed corn projects’, with funding providing support at an early fundraising@rcseng.ac.uk or call 0207 869 6082
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Stories OPENING UP
Bitten by the black dog When WB James Innes SLGR opened up about his struggle with depression, he experienced an outpouring of brotherly support from his fellow Freemasons. He shares his story
‘R
eally, James? You? You’re the last person I can imagine suffering from depression! You’re always so fun, so lively, so positive about everything. I just don’t understand how you could be depressive.’ I’ve heard words to this effect quite a few times in my life. I don’t really mind. I suppose I should take it as a compliment. I normally just smile, but inside I’m saying to myself: ‘No, you don’t understand, do you?’ And why should they? If you don’t suffer from depression yourself or know someone who does, why would you understand? But the chances are that you almost definitely do know someone who suffers from depression. The catch is that not everyone talks about it. I have never hidden my depression; I’ve never had a problem with disclosing it or discussing it. But I’ve never shouted it from the rooftops either – this article is definitely a first for me.
Overcoming stigma
As the current Master of Charterhouse Deo Dante Dedi Lodge, No. 2885, I was fortunate this year to be able to choose a charity to receive a donation from the lodge. I chose the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust, a charity I can best describe by quoting a line from its website: ‘Our vision is of a world where people understand and talk openly about depression.’ When it came to that agenda item during our lodge meeting, I said a few words:
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Depression is nothing to be ashamed of. However, while we have come a long way since I was first diagnosed 25 years ago, there is still considerable stigma. So many people choose to keep it to themselves to avoid any possible negative reaction. They just don’t want to take the risk – and I really can’t blame them. Robin Williams said: ‘All it takes is a beautiful fake smile to hide an injured soul, and they will never notice how broken you really are.’ Indeed, it is all too easy to hide it – and yet this is so counterproductive. It’s a cliché, but a problem shared can really be a problem halved. Recent studies have shown how sociability can be immensely helpful for people experiencing depression. (I knew I was a Freemason for a reason!)
Speak up; it’s worth it
‘Many, if not indeed most, of you know that I suffer from depression. Always have done – and, doubtless, always will. Depression is an illness which… well, it can be very unpleasant sometimes. Sometimes unbearable. And it drives some people to take their own lives.’ I was subsequently stunned as to how many people later came up to me to comment about this relatively small part of the meeting. The most touching example: ‘James, I just wanted to thank you for what you said. You don’t know this, obviously, but I too suffer from depression. I think you must be only the fourth person in the world I have told.’ This ‘confession’ alone was reason enough for me to want to write about this important subject. Another member – a really rather senior Freemason – wrote to me afterwards to say, ‘I am so very sorry that you have been bitten by “the black dog”. I have bitter memories and experience of it and have come out the other side none the worse, seemingly, although it felt overwhelming at the time.’
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I don’t want to limit this piece to only talking about depression. Mental health problems are often invisible to others, but they are very real to those who are suffering from them. My own mental health problems are something I battle with on a daily basis – and those who find me ‘so fun, so lively, so positive’ don’t realise that this is quite simply my primary coping mechanism. Every day it’s an effort to get out of bed and face the world. It’s only by (sometimes literally) slapping myself round the face in the morning and forcing myself to conjure up some positive energy out of nowhere that I am at all able to function. I encourage others to speak up and share their issues of mental health with their friends and fellow Freemasons. I can understand your apprehension, but I assure you that it’s worth it. It wasn’t easy for me to stand up in lodge and speak from the heart about it – but every reaction I had was a positive one. I don’t think myself lucky to suffer from depression, but I do think myself lucky to be so well supported by so many good people. For more information about the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust, visit www.cwmt.org.uk. To read about how the Masonic Charitable Foundation is helping people who need support, see page 65.
The Interview JOHN TULLY
At your masonic service Growing up with parents who looked after a local masonic hall and with 40 years as a Freemason under his belt, John Tully is more than prepared for his role as UGLE’s Director of Masonic Services
PHOTOGRAPHY: SEBASTIAN BÖTTCHER
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hen John Tully was six, the colliery in his Northumberland home town closed down. His dad lost his job, and with it went their home, which was owned by the mining company. Fortunately, his mother was able to find a job working as the cook and caretaker at the local masonic hall. The job came with a house that was attached to the hall, and the Tully family moved in. John’s father became a Freemason and started to run the bar at the hall. Growing up in such proximity to Freemasonry meant it was surely no huge surprise that John himself became a Freemason a few weeks short of his 21st birthday. ‘I got to know the hall very well – and the people who used it,’ he says. ‘I’d investigate every nook and cranny, exploring all the rooms I shouldn’t go in. I became a Freemason in 1980, so my 40th anniversary is coming up soon.’ Forty years on, John is an active Freemason. He has been Master at his Northumberland mother lodge, at his lodge in Essex where he now lives and at a lodge that needed support in Central London. He is about to take the chair at Letchworth Lodge, No. 3505. ‘Letchworth meets at Freemasons’ Hall. It was founded as a lodge for the Grand Secretary’s staff and has now been broadened out to include staff from all the London masonic HQs: Freemasons’ Hall, Mark Masons’ Hall and 10 Duke Street,’ he explains. As that would suggest, John works at Great Queen Street, having held the role of Director of Masonic Services since it was created a little over a year ago. He started working in UGLE’s Secretariat
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Department in 2015, having previously spent 30 years as a constable in the Metropolitan Police and working for the Metropolitan Police Federation, eventually as chairman. ‘The Police Federation is the police equivalent of their union, a staff association for their welfare, and I was responsible for 30,000 officers,’ he says. ‘I was dealing directly with the commissioner and home secretary and other very senior figures – it was more politics than police work.’
Behind the scenes
That experience has served him well in his role of Director of Masonic Services, a position with a range of responsibilities that see him interacting with senior Freemasons. ‘Anything administrative that we need to do to make the organisation tick comes through our department,’ he says. That means managing a number of important annual meetings and ceremonies, including the annual investiture ceremonies for Craft and Royal Arch, the convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter and UGLE’s Quarterly Communication. The department is in charge of maintaining and updating bylaws, warrants and charters, patents of appointment, Hall Stone jewels, and banners and badges. It publishes a range of books including the Masonic Year Book, Directory of Lodges and Chapters, and Book of Constitutions, as well as papers of business. It administers Provincial and District executive registrations and, sadly, finalises the process for the erasure of those lodges that have closed. Finally, it organises a number of training and development schemes for Provincial Secretaries and other officers. ‘The key requirement is attention to detail, accuracy and confidentiality,’ John says. ‘Because of the nature of our responsibilities, we deal with the most senior people in the organisation on a
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The Interview JOHN TULLY daily basis. Meaning that minor mistakes can have major consequences. The entire department hold themselves to a very high standard, knowing that their work is viewed across the organisation.’
Driving modernisation
Whenever a new Provincial or District Grand Master is invested, the department is responsible for making the necessary arrangements to ensure the whole event runs smoothly. In the first half of 2020, there are investitures taking place in Jersey, Northern India, Buckinghamshire, North Island, New Zealand, and Hampshire & Isle of Wight, and three in Districts in Africa later in the year. ‘They manage themselves as an entity, but when it comes to the Installation of a new Provincial or District Grand Master we organise the ceremonial aspects and send a team along: a Ruler, the Grand Secretary, the Grand Director of Ceremonies and one of his Deputies,’ John says. ‘On the day, they do all the ceremonial work for the Installation.’ There is a considerable amount of tradition and ceremony in the work done by the department, such as organising and proofreading the handwritten patents of appointment, warrants and charters on vellum. ‘We are the second biggest user of vellum after the House of Commons,’ John notes. But at the same time, the department is at the centre of the continuing modernisation efforts necessary to ensure the effectiveness and success of any
‘We’re bringing the admin process into the 21st century. A lot of the things we do have been around for 300 years – they are still worth doing, but we can do them in different ways’ organisation, even one that has more than 300 years of history under its belt. The main area in which this will affect Freemasons outside Great Queen Street is the rollout of Project Hermes, which will modernise how UGLE interacts with its members. ‘We’re bringing the admin process into the 21st century,’ John says. ‘A lot of the things we do have been around for 300 years – they are still worth doing, but we can do them in different ways. So we are looking to bring the organisation up to date without ignoring the important traditions that are the soul of Freemasonry.’ John has found that working directly for UGLE has enriched his experience as a Freemason. ‘My work as Director bears no resemblance to what I do as a Freemason, but it’s given me greater insight into how the organisation has developed and how it operates,’ he says. ‘I’m quite a traditionalist – I like pomp and circumstance – so I enjoy being involved in Grand Lodge and the processions and ceremonies. I love planning and attending the big ceremonies and then hearing about satisfied customers. ‘There’s such a wide spectrum of experience, and it broadens your outlook on how people experience Freemasonry. Even after 40 years I am learning more every day.’
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A Daily Advancement
IMAGE: MUSEUM OF FREEMASONRY
Extending knowledge of Freemasonry
38 QC Writes Meet 18th-century Freemason and Clerk of the Parliaments William Cowper
40 Museum of Freemasonry Museum staff reveal their favourite items from the archives
42 Brothers past Isaac Newton and the early philosophical Freemasons mixed in the same circles
44 On the side The instructive, enigmatic and colourful degree of Royal Ark Mariner
A Daily Advancement QC WRITES
Of clerk and Craft Loyal to the core, William Cowper was a valued magistrate, dedicated clerk of the Dr Ric Berman tells his story
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illiam Cowper (d. 1740), Secretary to Grand Lodge from 1723–27 and Deputy Grand Master in 1726–27, was not only one of the most influential magistrates on the Westminster bench, he was also clerk of the parliaments, effectively the head of administration for the House of Lords and House of Commons. Born in Hertfordshire in the 17th century, Cowper was the eldest surviving son of Spencer Cowper, chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, attorney general to the Prince of Wales, and MP for Truro. He was also a nephew of Lord Cowper, who served as Lord Chancellor under Queen Anne and again under George I. Cowper’s family connections smoothed his path to appointment as clerk of the parliaments in 1716, and Cowper remained clerk until his death, when the position passed to his younger brother, Ashley. Although the clerk’s office commanded only a modest annual salary of £40, it offered opportunities to earn additional income from ‘parliamentary services’. In 1717, for example, Cowper collected £279 for ‘delivering to the Chancery and Rolls Chapel several Acts of Parliament’, and similar sums for private members’ bills. He also received gratuities from those to whom he allocated parliamentary jobs and sinecures. Alongside his role in Parliament, Cowper held senior positions within London’s magistracy, a role given only to those the administration believed dependable. He was elected chair of the City of Westminster bench in 1723, a post he held until December 1727, and chair of the Middlesex bench in 1729 and again in 1730. A probable reward was his appointment a few months later as patentee to the Commission of Bankrupts, a position described in the London Evening Post as ‘very valuable’. He was re-elected chair of the Middlesex bench in 1733.
Steadfast loyalty to the cause
Cowper’s allegiance to the House of Hanover and the Whig government was formidable, and his Charge to the Grand Jury of Middlesex, delivered on 9 January 1723, is the epitome of loyalty: It ought always to be a Matter of particular Distinction... that Justices would be vigilant to detect and produce to Punishment all those who... attempt the Subversion of the Great basis upon which stands all that is or can be dear to England and Protestants... It is... for our Religion, our Liberty and our Property.
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Grand Lodge Minute Book, 1723
In another speech delivered on 30 June 1727 to the newly crowned George II and reported verbatim in the London Gazette, Cowper stated that the duty of the magistracy was ‘to preserve our current constitution in Church and State’. The Magistrate... is trusted to uphold the Honour, the Dignity, and the Majesty of the State; to see that Order is observed; that equal Right be done according to known and approved Law... and ever to bear in Mind the high Nature, and vast importance of this Trust; and whoever assumes... such Powers upon any other Principle, is, and should be treated as, a Subverter of Peace, Order, and good Government, of the world, and an Enemy to human Society. The parallels with the 1723 Constitutions are obvious. Not only was a Freemason to be ‘a peaceable Subject to the Civil Powers… never to be concerned in Plots and Conspiracies against the Peace and Welfare of the Nation’, but also ‘a good man and true… strictly to obey the moral law... a peaceable subject… cheerfully to conform to the laws of the country in which he resided... and submit to the decisions of the supreme legislature [and] the civil magistrate.’ Cowper amassed sufficient wealth to become a philanthropist, donating £100 towards a new town hall in Hertford, close to the family’s estate at Hertingfordbury Park. However, he suffered a financial setback towards the end of his life, a reverse stemming from litigation in Chancery involving his uncle’s will. The costs were onerous. Cowper was sued for unpaid debts and forced to sell a property in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Cowper died in 1740, just over a year after his wife. As the first Secretary to Grand Lodge and thereafter as Deputy Grand Master, he was a central figure in Freemasonry’s development, helping the Craft to reach the commanding heights of 18th-century society.
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PHOTOGRAPHY: MUSEUM OF FREEMASONRY
parliaments and influential Freemason.
A Daily Advancement TREASURES
Treasure trove Team members from the Museum of Freemasonry pick their favourite treasures from the library and archives
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his February we launched a new display at the Museum of Freemasonry to showcase some of the wonderful items in our library and archives. Treasures is a rotating selection of important as well as beautiful books, documents, prints and papers. Two of the team members responsible for Treasures are Assistant Librarian Peter Aitkenhead and Assistant Archivist Louise Pichel. They share with us their personal favourites.
Peter’s favourite is the Irish Royal Arch certificate, dated 1825
What is immediately striking about this certificate is the brightness of the decoration despite the fact that it is nearly 200 years old; even the red ribbon has retained its colour. All early Irish Royal Arch certificates have their own style, and this is no exception. Many have quite distinctive designs and are crowded with emblems. When looking through the museum’s certificates to select an example for this exhibition I found this to be one of the most striking of the hand-coloured 19th-century items we have. Unlike the mass-produced certificates of today, early examples such as this were produced specially for the recipient, making them unique. What I found particularly interesting about this certificate is that it makes reference to elements of the Royal Arch ceremonies now no longer in use. The curtains at the top, for instance, are a reference to the Ceremony of the Veils, which disappeared in England after 1835. The text refers to a sequence of degrees once worked in England but now obsolete. Many elements of the Royal Arch ceremony have since changed, but I noticed that the illustrations include the square, level and plumb line, which are familiar to all Freemasons as representing the Master, Senior Warden and Junior Warden of the lodge. By appearing on this 1825 Royal Arch certificate they emphasise that the relationship between the Craft and Royal Arch was just as important then as it is today.
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‘What is immediately striking about this certificate is the brightness of the decoration despite the fact that it is nearly 200 years old; even the red ribbon has retained its colour’ Peter Aitkenhead, Assistant Librarian
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‘I’ve certainly never seen anything like these before, or since, and they are a powerful reminder of the people behind the records we store in the archives’ Louise Pichel, Assistant Archivist
IMAGES: MUSEUM OF FREEMASONRY
Louise’s selection is the minute book and bylaws book of Royal Denbigh Lodge
I love an unexpected discovery. As an archivist, it’s one of the best bits of the job. I’m responsible for sorting and cataloguing records belonging to lodges that have closed down and I’m often surprised by what arrives on my desk. One of my earliest finds was a lodge rule book, minute book and account book belonging to Royal Denbigh Lodge, dating from 1787. These are beautifully bound leather volumes and, when open, reveal even more stunning frontispieces. The fine illustrations are picked out in gold and are packed with symbolism. Royal Denbigh Lodge wasn’t around for very long – it stopped meeting after 1811 – so it’s amazing that these volumes have survived for us to enjoy. It was common for lodges to keep books like this to
track all of their activities, but it’s rare for them to be as decorative as this. I’ve certainly never seen anything like these before, or since, and they are a powerful reminder of the people behind the records we store in the archives. John Owens, the artist behind two of the frontispieces, was clearly very talented. The fact that he applied his skills in service to his lodge makes me wonder about members’ other talents. Although there are registers giving details of members, they often only tell half the story. John Owens is listed simply as an attorney – there’s no mention of his considerable artistic flair, so I’m very glad to have uncovered it in the records. The museum’s library and archives collection never ceases to surprise me. I hope Treasures inspires others to delve into our collections and find their own unexpected discovery.
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Treasures will run throughout 2020 in the library at the Museum of Freemasonry. The library is free to use and open to all if you are keen on delving deeper. Register as a reader during your first visit to discover more about Freemasonry’s history and enjoy the treasures left to us all.
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PHOTOGRAPHY: ALAMY
A Daily Advancement BROTHERS PAST
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A Daily Advancement BROTHERS PAST He has a lodge named after him, but was natural philosopher, heretical Christian and alchemist Isaac Newton a Freemason? Words: DKS, Editor-in-Chief
Science and spirituality
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ot many people liked Isaac Newton. He was touchy, with a thin skin. He also had a prodigious temper. Anyone who questioned his work needed to prepare for a long and unpleasant feud. Nor was he sociable. Scholars of the age gathered in coffee shops and debated publicly, frequently crossing the Channel to compare notes with continental intellectuals. Contrarian by nature, Newton never left England and preferred life as a loner, sitting for days at his desk, filling notebooks with his every thought. His reputation as a scholar rests on his work in mathematics and natural philosophy – the precursor of science – with a special emphasis on what would become physics. But these were only part of his extensive interests, which took him into fields that do not fit with his image as the torchbearer of scientific rationalism. Aged 24, Newton was appointed a fellow of Trinity College Cambridge, and shortly afterwards Lucasian professor of mathematics. College rules required him to be ordained into the Church of England, so he began methodically studying theology. He fervently embraced Christianity but quickly concluded he could not accept Anglican theology on the Trinity and aligned himself instead with Arianism. Seeing the disaster approaching, friendly forces secured an exemption from ordination for the holder of the Lucasian professorship, so Newton’s passionate but heretical Christianity did not derail his university career.
Compelled by the mysteries of alchemy
Newton fell in love with the Bible and became convinced the prophetic books – especially Daniel and Revelation – held embedded messages that only a chosen few could understand. As he had been born on Christmas Day, and plainly given insight that others had not, he came to see himself as one of the adepts, specially chosen by God to decipher the universe. He even called
‘His fascination with unlocking hidden truths and secrets — whether in mathematics, natural philosophy, the Bible or alchemy — led him to view all these studies as connected’
himself Ieova Sanctus Unus (the One Holy Jehovah) in his private notebooks, an anagram of his name in Latin, Isaacus Neuutonus. Away from the respectable world of the universities, alchemy was an alternative and rich tradition of knowledge, offering spiritual, magical and quasi-scientific insights to those who laboured over its arcane texts. Although some branches of alchemy were profoundly scholarly, most natural philosophers viewed it with suspicion, not least because of the many charlatans who grew rich on promises of elixirs of eternal life and compounds to transmute lead into gold. Newton found all of it compelling and was a lifelong devotee, staying up night after night over his crucibles and alembics, endeavouring to unlock the secrets of whether matter could be disassembled and reassembled with the right chemical and spiritual keys. His fascination with unlocking hidden truths and secrets – whether in mathematics, natural philosophy, the Bible or alchemy – led him to view all these studies as connected. Towards the end of his life, he became convinced that sacred architecture was also a repository of arcane wisdom, and he began studying the temples of the ancient world. His last book, The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms, contains a detailed numerological analysis of the mysteries embedded in King Solomon’s Temple, which held a special fascination for him.
In the same circles as Freemasons
Experimental philosophers were a subgroup of natural philosophers. They founded the Royal Society when Newton was a teenager, and their circle included many who were also fascinated with speculative philosophical Freemasonry. Newton was invited to join the Royal Society and eventually became its president, so knew many leading Freemasons of the generation. Whether or not Newton ever joined Freemasonry is unknown. In 1861, the founders of Cambridge University’s lodge certainly thought he did, as they named it Isaac Newton University Lodge. However, like the Lodge of Antiquity, No. 2’s claim to have had Newton’s contemporary, Sir Christopher Wren, as a member, there is no way of knowing. Both men had the appropriate interests and mixed in the right philosophical circles. But Freemasonry’s records from the period are sparse, and none that survive demonstrate either of them was ever initiated. However, that does not mean they were not Freemasons. On paper, they were exactly the kind of men who would have attended lodges of philosophical Freemasonry in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Newton was three years old when Elias Ashmole became the first person known to have been initiated into an English lodge of speculative Freemasons, at Warrington in 1646. And he was 74 when the Grand Lodge of England was formed in 1717. If he was a Freemason, it is unlikely he would have been a particularly sociable one. But for all that, he would have been one of the most fascinating, free-thinking, subversive and unconventional members of the Craft, not just of his age, but of any age.
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A Daily Advancement ON THE SIDE Grand Master, Deputy and Assistant Grand Masters (Present and Past), members of the Grand Master’s Royal Ark Council – the executive body of the degree (G.M.R.A.C.), Provincial/District Grand Masters (Present and Past) and holders of Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank (R.A.M.G.R.).
The ancient mariners
The Ark and the Mark
Dan Heath, Assistant Grand Secretary of Mark Masons’ Hall, explores the instructive, enigmatic and colourful degree of Royal Ark Mariner
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n 10 June 1884, Morton Andrew Edwards signed a receipt for £25, surrendering his authority over the government of the degree of Royal Ark Mariner to the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons. No one knows whether he thought that this extraordinary event would secure the continuity of the degree for centuries to come. The degree of Royal Ark Mariner is, as its name suggests, based on the story of Noah and the ark. In the canon of degrees conferred in mainstream Freemasonry, it has the earliest chronological foundation for a masonic ceremony. The biblical references are apparent from the outset. The Worshipful Master is referred to as Worshipful Commander and represents Noah. The Senior and Junior Wardens represent two of Noah’s sons: Japheth and Shem, respectively. The other officers mirror those of a Craft lodge, with the exception of the Secretary, who is called Scribe; the Inner Guard, called Guardian; and the Tyler, called Warder. A Royal Ark Mariner lodge is laid out in a triangular form, with the Commander in the east and both Wardens in the west, much like ancient Craft lodges, and the triangle plays an important part throughout the ceremony. Unusually, the candidate does not take his obligation on the Volume of Sacred Law as he would in most other degrees of Freemasonry. The degree includes lessons on wisdom, strength, beauty, watchfulness, discretion, brotherly love, truth and charity. These are highlighted throughout the ceremony as the story of the great flood and Noah’s efforts are
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presented in dramatic allegorical form. The Ceremony of Elevation (the initiation ceremony) is a vibrant one; the colours of the degree are those of the rainbow and adorn the aprons, collars and jewel ribbons worn by members. The inner workings of a Worshipful Commander’s Installation Ceremony afford an opportunity for all Installed Commanders present to take part, and this ritual is held in great affection by many of those who have experienced it.
A core of humility
Little distinguishes the newest members of the degree from Worshipful Brethren, Provincial Officers and Grand Officers. Their aprons remain much the same; only the rainbow-coloured rosettes change to triangles of silver, then gold, as a member progresses. A Past Commander wears a collar jewel of silver metal with an N inside an equilateral triangle, while Grand Officers wear one of gold metal. The hierarchical structure of the degree is simple, with Mark Provincial/District Grand Masters, their Deputies and their Assistants having the same powers over Royal Ark Mariner lodges within their jurisdiction as they have over Mark lodges. Provincial Officers hold the rank designated Provincial Grand Rank of the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariner (Prov.R.A.M.G.R.). When necessary, the ceremonial and administrative officers of the Mark Province will carry out the same functions at a Provincial meeting (Assembly) in the degree of Royal Ark Mariner. This is replicated in Grand Rank, with the structure being the Grand Master, Pro
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What is the connection between Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Freemasonry, and how did they come to be so inextricably linked? This same question was raised in the long negotiations between Morton Edwards, Royal Ark Mariner members and the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters (as it was then called) in the years leading up to the surrender of control. Many theories have been put forward, but no one really knows the answer. It was more than likely part of the effort of the Grand Mark Master Mason, the Rev Canon George Raymond Portal, to unify, under one Grand Lodge, some of the masonic degrees being practised outside of the Craft and Royal Arch. For the masonic researcher, the degree’s history is a wonderful labyrinth with several dead ends and false starts. There is no doubt that its origins are much older than the Victorian revival of interest and probably go back to the 18th century. One school of thought suggests it may be older than that, being a degree once practised by operative craftsmen, more likely to have been carpenters than masons, hence the great significance of the ark. There is intrigue, and even a hint of deception, as there appear to have been two separate warrants in existence when the degree was being worked in the mid1800s, thus bringing into question under what authority exactly Morton Edwards thought he had the right to hand over control of the degree. Any attempt to unravel the various accounts of the degree’s early years brings into play several names familiar to those who dabble in the history of Freemasonry: the ubiquitous Thomas Dunckerley, the aforementioned Morton Edwards and Canon Portal, Frederick Binckes (Mark Grand Secretary and prolific letter writer of the day), George Kenning (the regalia manufacturer) and Robert Wentworth Little (progenitor of the Red Cross of Constantine and the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia), to name a few.
A Daily Advancement ON THE SIDE Factfile
The Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariner With their own terminology, structures and practices, each masonic Order is different from the next. Here, we break down the origins, requirements and organisation of the Royal Ark Mariners.
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Becoming a Royal Ark Mariner
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All Royal Ark Mariner lodges are ‘moored’, or attached, to a Mark lodge and share a number (and, in many cases, the same name). To be elevated into the degree of Royal Ark Mariner you must first have been advanced into the Mark degree.
Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners and I hereby surrender to the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons all power or authority in me vested, or supposed to be vested by virtue of my position as Grand Commander of the afore said Grand Lodge of Ark Mariners – or by virtue of said Warrants.
The insignia (1)
A tale of two tracing boards (4)
The insignia bears a depiction of the ark, the symbolic haven of rest, from which the Order derives its name. The ark points out the constant support we hope to receive from the Supreme Commander of the Universe in all our difficulties. Beneath the ark is the Latin motto Ponamque Foedus Meum Tecum, which is derived from Genesis 6:18: ‘But with Thee will I establish my covenant.’
The Royal Ark Mariner tracing board contains extensive symbolism, and the explanation, which is in excess of 2,500 words, can be split into five parts. The template image of the tracing board has been reproduced so many times that in 2019 the Grand Master’s Royal Ark Council decided to commission a new ‘master’ design. Freemason Paul Swinge painstakingly researched and hand-painted the new image, clearly depicting all the intricate detail that the explanation goes on to highlight. This reworking of the design was unveiled at the December 2019 Annual Assembly and, at the time of writing, is about to be digitally photographed so it can be reproduced for use in all Royal Ark Mariner lodges.
The apron and jewel (2) 4
The apron of a Royal Ark Mariner is uncluttered, adorned with the colours of the rainbow. The jewel is a dove bearing an olive branch, suspended beneath a representation of a rainbow, hanging from a rainbow-coloured ribbon.
Surrendering control (3) The text of the receipt signed by Morton Edwards reads, in full: Received of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons the sum of twenty-five pounds for which I agree to surrender the whole of the documents, Warrants and authorities connected with the so called Grand
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Further reading The most detailed account of the transition of the administration of the degree from Morton Edwards is contained in Morton Edwards, Sculptor, and The Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariners by John Mandleberg.
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IMAGE: MUSEUM OF FREEMASONRY
Grand Lodge
48 In Quarterly Communication
51 Project Hermes
Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes on restoring lodge meeting places
The latest on the web-based system for Lodge and Provincial Secretaries
52 What’s on? Visit a new museum exhibition or settle in for a Grand Temple organ concert
54 The Hall Stone jewel The story behind this iconic jewel of remembrance
News from Great Queen Street
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Grand Lodge IN QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION
on restoring masonic halls to places worthy of admiration
Pride in place
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rethren, if you look up, you will see one of the finest mosaics in London. It took Italian craftsmen 10 years to create and, like so much of our Craft, it is laden with symbols, allegory and meaning. But look more closely, especially in the south-west, and you will see that all is not quite as it should be. Cracks have been appearing over the last few years. Tesserae have fallen, and the Grand Superintendent of Works’s brow has furrowed, but he informs me that you are not in immediate danger. After extensive research, chemical analysis, ultrasounds, X-rays, thermal studies, endoscopies, not to mention all manner of expert opinion, we are now able to confidently conclude that we have no idea why. We do know the many things that are not responsible for these cracks, and contrary to scurrilous rumour, hot air from this chair has nothing whatsoever to do with it. But pinning down the exact cause has proved elusive. Take a good look, brethren, because in a few weeks’ time, it will be shrouded in scaffolding, and for the first time in nearly a hundred years, men, and probably women, will begin work on restoring it to its former splendour.
What does your hall say about you?
We recently heard from the Grand Superintendent of Works about his role within the organisation and some of the work being done by his team to ensure that not only this building, but all of our masonic halls up and down the country, are up to scratch. A huge amount of work has been put into producing the Masonic Halls Guide, available in the members’ section of the UGLE website, to provide a ‘best practice’ guide to help lodges and Provinces improve their halls and meeting places, and how they are managed. I was recently told of a lodge in Cambridgeshire [Stone Cross Lodge, No. 6704] which has transformed its own hall from a rather dingy affair to something the whole community can be proud of. Members, under the guidance of more expert craftsmen – also members of that lodge – have spent weekends and time over consecutive summers to transform it into a venue that they can all look forward to using – and it has made a huge difference to the first impressions and attendance of new members. As we actively seek out new members to join us, we should ensure that we are examining what it is that we would expect
PHOTOGRAPHY: LAURIE FLETCHER
Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes
Grand Lodge IN QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION
‘As we actively seek out new members to join us, we should ensure that we are examining what it is that we would expect them to find – not just in the physical spaces we occupy, but in our lodges too’ them to find – not just in the physical spaces we occupy, but in our lodges too. Many of us find a great deal of fulfilment in volunteering and giving of our time for the benefit of the community at large. We will shortly be sending out a survey to estimate just how great an impact we as Freemasons have within our local communities. Our last estimate was that our members contribute more than five million hours volunteering for worthy causes. We must be unique as an organisation in that we have premises embedded in almost every community in the country. Just as we draw our members from all walks of life and all backgrounds, so our halls are found in villages and cities, in areas rich and poor. The Communications Working Party of the Board, made up of Provincial Grand Masters from each region of the country, will soon be looking at what we might do to raise our profile by putting these to better use – not only for ourselves, but also for those communities from which we are drawn.
What does your hall say about you, and the wider organisation, to a person seeing it for the first time and, indeed, to that potential new member, or that member of the public giving blood, being screened or just looking around? Many of our halls are both precious and beautiful; some, cracking a little around the edges and in need of loving care. But I’m sure, brethren, we all feel like that at times. Let us remember that we are custodians not just of the Craft and its heritage and traditions, but also those meeting places which have, for generations, inspired our members.
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Cracked: The ceiling mosaic in the Grand Temple at Freemasons’ Hall will be covered in scaffolding while experts restore the work to its former splendour
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Grand Lodge HOT TOPIC
Project Hermes: forging ahead
Stephen Blank, Provincial Grand Master for Cheshire and member of the Project Hermes Steering Group, tells us how the new system has turned a significant corner
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roject Hermes is designed to make the job of the Lodge Secretary, as well as the Chapter Scribe E, significantly easier. It will be delivered through an easy-to-use, web-based system that will allow them to access our ADelphi membership database and also guide them through the many rules outlined in the Book of Constitutions (BoC). We call this system the Hermes front end (HFE), and I think it is fair to say that the project turned a significant corner in January.
PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES
New processes and proposed changes
Throughout 2019, the project team of Tony Keating and Nigel Codron have essentially been doing research. It took many months just to capture our existing membership processes in a series of flowcharts, noting where they interacted with the BoC. Having done that, we turned our attention to designing new processes that could be computerised, so to speak, and proposing changes, where necessary, to the BoC. We have been careful to consider the real-world requirements of Lodge Secretaries, so all of these processes have been shared with groups of them from the Provinces of Bristol, Cheshire and Hampshire & Isle of Wight, as well as Metropolitan Grand Lodge
and the Districts of Eastern Archipelago and Cyprus. That is why it has taken what might seem like a long time to complete. Having done that, we have also put together some very rough sketches of the sorts of screens that a Lodge Secretary would see and how he moves from one to the other. Furthermore, we have had a discussion with a developer who might create the HFE – it was never our plan to do it in-house – to check whether we were being overambitious in our plans. I am pleased to say we have passed that test, subject to confirmation by the Board of General Purposes, which was due in February.
Prioritising user experience
We have also hosted presentations for groups of Secretaries around the south-east to show them what is being planned, and hope to do more around the country over the next few months. Detailed training will take place before the rollout of the new system, with helpful videos available online. What we are doing right now is producing diagrams of the new processes that we can share with every Province and District for their comments. Once we have everything approved by the Board and Grand Lodge, we can go out to tender for the HFE development. There is also work to be carried out on the ADelphi system by the United Grand Lodge of England team, led by Neil Tomkinson, so that it can work happily with the HFE. In my last article, I suggested we might be able to go live in June, but that is now looking more like the first quarter of 2021. I hope you will agree that it is worth taking the time to be careful so that we deliver a system that is as easy to use and as foolproof as possible.
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Grand Lodge EVENTS DIARY
Music and magnificence
Centuries of the Craft
In 2017, the United Grand Lodge of England celebrated the Tercentenary of the formation of the world’s first Grand Lodge in London. Part of the preparation for the celebration was the overhaul and enhancement of the 1933 Willis III organ in Freemasons’ Hall on Great Queen Street and a plan to host a series of free public organ concerts. If you haven’t seen the amazing Grand Temple or heard this magnificent instrument, you can do both by applying for free tickets to a recital by international concert organist D’Arcy Trinkwon, set for 6.15pm on 10 June 2020.
Giving fascinating insight into the origins of Freemasonry, a new permanent exhibition called Three Centuries of English Freemasonry at the Museum of Freemasonry features some of the Craft’s most important items from across the centuries. Follow the story of organised Freemasonry from 1717, when four London lodges met at The Goose and Gridiron tavern to form the first Grand Lodge. The three centuries that followed brought many big and small changes that saw Freemasonry grow to become the universal organisation it is today.
Tickets are available at bit.ly/FMH-ConcertJune-2020 Visit bit.ly/FMHConcerts for more concert dates and times.
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Let us know what’s happening in your area. Please send full details and images to editor@freemasonrytoday.com
The exhibition includes early and important items, such as Anderson’s Constitutions, which laid out the rules for being a Freemason in 1723, and the Articles of Union, a signed document uniting the Antients and Moderns Grand Lodges in 1813. It is also packed with items including paintings, pocket watches
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and the unique briefcases Freemasons use to carry their personal regalia to and from meetings. Free museum tours for this exhibition are open to the public and available every day. The tour includes a viewing of the United Grand Lodge of England’s new film about what it means to be a Freemason.
IMAGES: MUSEUM OF FREEMASONRY
What’s on in the world of Freemasonry
Grand Lodge MUSEUM OF FREEMASONRY
Carved in stone
The second Freemasons’ Hall, completed in 1869, had largely been paid for through contributions from Freemasons, so the committee thought a similar approach would be suitable. The target of a million pounds was a realistic and necessary goal given the ambition and work involved.
The story of the Hall Stone jewel goes to the heart of the history and foundations of Freemasons’ Hall
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his year marks a centenary of sorts. It was in January 1920 that a committee led by Sir Alfred Robbins, President of the Board of General Purposes, first officially announced the Masonic Million Memorial Fund. It was through this appeal that the Hall Stone jewel came into being and a new crest entered the vernacular of Freemasonry. The Masonic Million Memorial Fund was an appeal lasting from 1920 until 1938 to cover the costs of building and decorating what was then called the Masonic Peace Memorial Building. You will know it today as Freemasons’ Hall, the headquarters of the United Grand Lodge of England, and the third Freemasons’ Hall to be located on Great Queen Street in London. The fund came about after the Grand Master, Arthur, Duke of Connaught, requested that a memorial be commissioned to honour Freemasons who had fallen during World War I. It would also be a new home for English Freemasonry, which was in need of a larger premises. A committee was formed, and plans were put into action.
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A challenge to create a new jewel
Letters were sent out to all lodges, Provinces and Districts. A competition was held to design a new building, but there was also a competition to design a new commemorative jewel that would be issued to those who contributed to the fund. It was won by Cyril Saunders Spackman, who, along with the 75 guineas prize money, essentially won the task of designing the crest for the new building. His idea was a perfect cross representing sacrifice, in front of which stood an angel of peace holding a model temple, all surrounded by a garland. On each side were the dates of remembrance, 1914 and 1918. There were four Hall Stone jewels produced based on Spackman’s design, each corresponding to a particular level of contribution. A silver was for at least 10 guineas received, and a gold for 100 guineas or more. Lodges that contributed an average of 10 guineas per Freemason had their names recorded in the new building as Hall Stone Lodges. A fourth jewel, the largest and with coloured enamel, was awarded to Provinces or Districts whose donations averaged 500 guineas per lodge. Only three of these were ever awarded: to the Province of Buckinghamshire and the Districts of Burma and Japan. The Buckingham jewel is still worn today, while the other two have been lost to time.
Grand Lodge MUSEUM OF FREEMASONRY
At a later stage, a fifth jewel was introduced, known as the Special Collector’s jewel. This had another design altogether, though it included an angel of peace and a model temple. It was for Freemasons who raised a list of contributions of at least 250 guineas. By the end of the appeal, 53,224 individual jewels had been issued and 1,321 lodges had qualified as Hall Stone Lodges. Each one was recorded on the walls of the first vestibule containing the Masonic Roll of Honour.
In memoriam: Clockwise, from far left, the stained-glass Memorial Window at Freemasons’ Hall; the Masonic Peace Memorial foundation stone ceremony at Royal Albert Hall; an invitation to the ceremony; the Hall Stone jewels; and the Hall Stone Lodges inscribed in the Temple Vestibules
IMAGES: MUSEUM OF FREEMASONRY
The Memorial Shrine of remembrance
Of course, the Hall Stone is undeniably linked to the Walter Gilbert-designed Memorial Shrine and the Roll of Honour. During the Great War, each Freemason who fell was recorded in Grand Lodge’s records and part of the fund was set aside to construct what we know as the Memorial Shrine. The Hall Stone crest takes pride of place at the centre of the stained-glass Memorial Window above the Roll of Honour casket. The theme of the window is peace gained through sacrifice. This version of Spackman’s design bears one exception to the jewels: the model temple has been replaced with the façade of the Freemasons’ Hall tower. The Masonic Peace Memorial Building was completed in 1933 and the final report of the Masonic Million Memorial Fund lists the total Museum of Freemasonry Freemasons’ Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ Open Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm
www.museumfreemasonry.org.uk Twitter: @museumfreemason Instagram: @museumfreemasonry Facebook: @museumfreemasonry Shop: www.letchworthshop.co.uk
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contributions at around £1.4 million in 1938. That’s equivalent to about £54 million now. To mark this centenary of the announcement of the Masonic Million Memorial Fund, we have shared the story of the Hall Stone and the fund on our website. Illustrated with items from our collections, we hope these stories help the general public gain an insight to Freemasonry from a Freemason’s point of view. Discover more online at www.museumfreemasonry.org.uk/stories
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IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES
Culture
From book reviews to cryptic crosswords
60 Reviews Books on the history of the Craft in Jamaica and collected lectures
62 Crosswords Try your hand at our two puzzles and enter our prize draws
Culture BOOKS WANTED FOR REVIEW
FMT welcomes 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
Royal Arch Masonry in the Province of Somerset from 1765 by John Bennett
Masonic Jamaica and the Cayman Islands by Jackie Ranston
Truly comprehensive
A cracking read
A lavishly produced and readable Provincial history
A fascinating and well-written story
If the title of this book was permissible as a subject on Mastermind, there is no doubt that John Bennett, the author and also the Grand Superintendent of Somerset, would win hands down. He has clearly poured himself into the task of compiling this history, the first complete one of its kind. It is full of biographical sketches, short histories of the chapters within his Province, a general history of the whole Province and its leaders over the last 250 years, lists of principal officers and chapters and much else – all accompanied by many dozens of photographs. Bennett is obviously one of life’s enthusiasts. He has been the Grand Superintendent in Somerset since 2008, and it is clear that he is a most energetic man. In the book he often refers to himself as ‘the Grand Superintendent, in and over, the Province of Somerset’, with the ‘in and over’ ponderously allotted its own sub-clause by the commas. This implies a sort of masonic pomposity that is difficult to
Although I’m not a particular fan of detailed masonic regional histories, I did find this one gripping. Using the spread of Freemasonry in Jamaica as a backbone, the author paints a very readable and fascinating picture of the history of the islands following the English capture of Jamaica from the Spanish in 1655. Freemasonry itself starts from when Captain William Douglas landed at Port Royal in 1738. Within a year the mother lodge of Kingston was set up and just three years later the first Provincial Grand Master had been appointed. Freemasonry’s long history of tolerance and charity shows up well here. One example is that of John, second Duke of Montagu and Grand Master from 1721 to 1723, who spent a great deal of time in ventures in the Caribbean. In between attempts at colonising various islands, Montagu funded the education of Francis Williams, a free-born black man, whom he sent to be educated in England and later enrolled at Gray’s Inn. In later life, Williams attended
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reconcile with the beaming, jolly man who is in so many of the photos. His appearances in the text he has written and in the photos he’s chosen to include are almost alarmingly frequent, but... why not? As someone once observed: ‘If you’ve got it, flaunt it.’ John Bennett certainly seems to have ‘it’ in abundance. Certainly, there are a few howlers and oddities in the accompanying text, but this book does not pretend to be academic history: it is a labour of love. The effort he has put into compiling this readable, worthy and very interesting book is astonishing. When it comes to Royal Arch Masonry in Somerset, John Bennett is a man for whom, it seems, nothing is too much trouble. Review by Cestrian Royal Arch Masonry in the Province of Somerset from 1765, John Bennett, published by Spiderwize, 326 pages, £35.00
FMT Spring 2020
meetings of the Royal Society, many members of whom were Freemasons. The book is also full of character-driven adventure, with Spanish, French and English ships turning up and engaging in skirmishes, Freemason botanists taking a close interest in each other’s work (one of them was Sir Joseph Banks (1743–1820), the creator of Kew Gardens), and lodges being warranted not just from England, but Scotland and Ireland too, to give just a very few examples. It’s also noteworthy that after the full abolition of slavery in 1838, lodges were open to all Jamaican men whatever their race. Full of excellent illustrations, this is the first volume of a projected series of two. It takes the history nearly up until 1890. I’m looking forward to the second volume. Review by Julian Perry Masonic Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, Jackie Ranston, published by Freemasons Association of Jamaica, 285 pages, £35.00. Available from Lewis Masonic
Culture I Greet You Well by Mike Lawrence
Finding The Mark – The Collected Grand Stewards’ Lectures edited by Richard L Gan and Professor Aubrey Newman
Just the ticket
A welcome addition
A good collection of very useful lodge lectures
Authoritative lectures from eminent Mark scholars
Although at first glance it may seem just a collection of 12 lectures, I Greet You Well is in fact much more than just a compilation. Author Mike Lawrence cleverly stitches each lecture together to form an excellent and intellectually satisfying read. Although each can stand on its own, if they are read as a whole, the various subjects benefit. Starting with the historical beginnings of Freemasonry, the author then delves further back in time, shedding light on how some of our traditions originated. He also debunks spurious myths and legends that long have dogged Freemasonry. Lawrence deftly relates his lectures to our present ceremonies and clarifies the various allegories and symbols we use. The overall effect is to provide a better understanding of Freemasonry’s beginnings,
its rituals and how it has evolved to become what it is today. The author has clearly spent a great deal of time and effort on research. Rather than being inflexibly authoritative or rigidly dogmatic, he carefully provides room for readers to make their own final judgements. Generously illustrated, I Greet You Well is fact-heavy, yet it makes for a light and straightforward read. Packed with interesting information, it is also well presented. Whether for just reading at home or for using at lodge meetings if there are no candidates, Lawrence’s book is definitely worth buying – however much or little you may know about the evolution of Freemasonry. Review by Michael Duque I Greet You Well, Mike Lawrence, published by Lewis Masonic, 223 pages, £14.99
This rather interesting book brings together all of the Mark Grand Stewards’ lectures since they started in 2002. Delivered each year at the Mark Grand Stewards’ Lodge, they are the equivalent of the Craft Prestonian and Royal Arch Batham lectures. In just the same way, they are delivered by speakers with good academic credentials. There is a variety of subjects – treated rigorously and in depth – covered, ranging from early Mark ceremonies, the history of the Mark Grand Stewards’ Lodge, spirituality in the ceremonies and the teachings of the Mark, to name just a few. I found the evidence of Mark Masonry hundreds of years before the foundation of Grand Mark Lodge in 1856 fascinating. Others might prefer the biographical content, for example. There is more or less something for everyone.
Although each of the lectures stands on its own, read as a whole they provide an impressive overall view of the origins, development, management and ethos of Mark Masonry in England. Overall – as one would expect with such official addresses – there is a slight bias towards the activities of the higher echelons of the Order and the history and
development of the way it is run from headquarters. If you are drawn to administrative history, there is plenty of fascinating material. Anyone who is a Mark Mason will no doubt find this wellillustrated book a welcome addition to their library. Review by Reginald Church Finding The Mark – The Collected Grand Stewards’ Lectures, edited by Richard L Gan and Aubrey Newman, published by Lewis Masonic, 400 pages, £25.00
Last issue’s crossword answers
MASONIC LIGHT
Concise crossword answers ACROSS 1. Kabbala 5. Sumac 8. Picasso 9. Chair 10. Annul 11. Best man 12. Income 14. Ararat 17. Febrile 19. Depot 22. Nitro 23. Talaria 24. Atlas 25. Atheist DOWN 1. Kippa 2. Bacon 3. Absalom 4. Amoeba 5. Sects 6. Myanmar 7. Coronet 12. Infanta 13. Cubital 15. Rudolph 16. Bertha 18. Idols 20. Parsi 21. Toast Cryptic crossword answers ACROSS 1. Nipter 4. Amaranth 9. Illth 10. Berliners 11. Slip 12. Cade 13. Moire 15. Learned 16. Loki 19. Quid 20. Tariffs 23. Gupta 24. Oiwa 25. Tabi 27. Acellular 28. Sudra 29. Excesses 30. Fringe DOWN 1. Nainsell 2. Pulvinar 3. Echt 5. Martello tower 6. Rainmakers 7. Noesis 8. Hosier 10. Bearded collie 14. Incunables 17. Off and on 18. Estivate 21. Agnate 22. Apneic 26. Msgr
BEST IN SHOW! BEST IN SHOW!
The winner of our concise crossword: Wynne Evans, Shropshire The winner of our cryptic crossword: Geoffrey Silverman, Hertfordshire
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Culture
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ACROSS 7 Uniform worn by a servant, an official or a member of a City Company (6) 8 Spring or flinch back in fear, horror or disgust (6) 9 Conductor’s baton (4) 10 Fluent or persuasive (8) 11 Open-source operating system for smartphones and tablet computers (7) 13 Collective noun for herons (5) 15 Pleasing or valued person (5) 16 Secrete milk (7) 18 Selfless concern for others (8) 19 Lacking taste or style (4) 21 Respect and admiration (6) 22 Two-bladed cutting instrument (6)
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Cryptic crossword by Pythian ACROSS 6 Rank outsider has no resistance in depression (7) 7 Partly see idol on tv – a fleeting vision (7) 9 Milton’s scorched when judge leaves to change (5) 10 Master replaced by Lord Provost in eulogy gets cross (9) 11 Filth to behold in short masonic instrument (7) 13 Lacking strength, I see, leaves much as at that time (2,4) 15 Sees through elaborate thin disguises (13) 19 Idiotic exclamation by novice angler? (6) 20 Masonic boss admits doctor and he moves along grumbling heavily (7) 23 Turn up a bear from the east in exultant spirits (4-1-4) 24 Part of a chicken breast can become rancid (5) 26 Plenty make short entreaty to travellers (7) 27 After lyric song have horizontal kip (3-4)
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DOWN 1 Text speak for an annoying person (4) 2 Having a kind, gentle or sentimental nature (13) 3 Raised body temperature (7) 4 Giant hunter who became a constellation on death (5) 5 People one knows slightly (13) 6 Witching hour (8) 12 Not necessary (8) 14 Practitioner of manumancy (7) 17 Large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat (5) 20 Burning sensation (4)
DOWN 1 Endless influence is the most important thing (4) 2 Drop in where whisky is shortly to be found (6) 3 Detailed plan of work for obscene copy (9) 4 Harem slaves love surrealist’s knocking shops initially (8) 5 Bob’s attachment rings apparently to kill Venus! (6,4) 6 Santa has drug in contract (6) 7 In Italy, there’s a hundred surrounded by green (4) 8 Presiding deities have miners in a tangle (6) 12 Fine tuned with carbon – corrupted but untainted (10) 14 In witty conversation, Brussels will not allow fenland city to leave! (9) 16 Attestor worried willing person (8) 17 Weirdly capote covers shoe, not back (6) 18 Particle for fashion (6) 21 Something astonishing to damage short sail (6) 22 A goy in Jerusalem can somehow embrace Hindhu philosophy (4) 25 A very long time emanating from 26 (4)
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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 April 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 Summer 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 Spring 2020
In the Community MCF
Building better 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
Don’t man up; open up The MCF is encouraging men to break the silence and seek support
‘M
an up, it’ll be fine!’ is a phrase that most of us will have heard many times. Although often motivated by good intentions, being told to ‘man up’ can blur our understanding of what it means to be a man. Traditionally, society has perceived masculinity in terms of strength, stoicism and control. Although these are not negative characteristics, research from the Mental Health Foundation shows these expectations can have a negative impact on mental and physical health, and prevent men from opening up and asking for help. In reality, being a man means being human, and being human means that, at some point in your life, you may need the support of others. Whether it’s through emotional, physical or practical support, the MCF is ready and waiting to help anyone who is facing hardship – and will never tell you to ‘man up’. Meet Sean, Martin and Alan. Their decisions to open up led to life-changing support.
Sean
‘Before my injury I was really into fitness and adventure. You’d usually find me up a mountain, hiking or rock climbing. One day when I was out climbing, I slipped and tore my shoulder – it was agonising. ‘After that I was in constant pain. I struggled to dress myself or get out of the house, so I couldn’t work. I went to hospital and they told me the waiting time for an operation would be nine months. ‘I was really hesitant to ask the MCF for help and I was scared of being rejected. But within a month of getting in touch, I was
in hospital having my operation. It felt like a massive weight had been lifted, and my mental health slowly started to improve.’
Martin
‘Ten years ago, my partner Gavin became mentally unwell and I became his full-time carer. I’ve been going through treatment for colon cancer, and this, combined with the stress of my caring responsibilities, means I haven’t been able to work. ‘I couldn’t afford to cover my rent or bills and I was served notice of eviction – I didn’t know what to do. I don’t think anyone really wants to ask for help unless they’re desperate. But it got to a point where I had to do something, so I gave the MCF a call. ‘Their support gave me breathing room to focus on my own health as well as Gavin’s. I’m just so pleased I called. I realised that it doesn’t matter what your situation is, if they can help you and you’re eligible, they will.’
Sean
Martin
Alan
‘When I was in the Middle East, there was an incident involving an aircraft that I had to investigate, and it was from this that I developed post-traumatic stress disorder. ‘After I was medically discharged I went to my GP, but the support I needed wasn’t available on the NHS. I don’t think anybody really likes to go cap-in-hand asking for anything, but when you get as low as I did, you have to do something. ‘Thanks to the MCF, I’ve now been having the treatment I need with an incredible therapist. It’s not a quick process, but I really do feel now that we are starting to make progress and I’m finding daily life much easier.’
FMT Spring 2020
Alan
Could the MCF help you? Call 0800 035 60 90 or email help@mcf.org.uk
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In the Community MCF Committed support: MCF President Richard Hone accepts an Alzheimer’s Research UK award
Over two decades, Freemasonry has donated more than £1 million to fund groundbreaking medical research at the UK’s leading dementia research charity. Claire Bromley, science communications officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK, explains how the Masonic Charitable Foundation has been key in supporting its important work
MCF and Alzheimer’s Research UK celebrate 25-year partnership
W
e are delighted to be celebrating an incredible 25 years of partnership with the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF). As some of our most committed supporters, Freemasons have helped us grow into Europe’s leading dementia research charity. Dementia affects 50 million people across the world and is the leading cause of death in the UK. Freemasons’ support has helped us to fundamentally increase our understanding of the physical diseases that cause dementia. These diseases involve different changes in the brain, but all damage the way nerve cells in the brain communicate with one another, attacking the very core of who we are. Each new discovery has helped us uncover the steps that drive nerve cell death, from the build-up of toxic proteins to increased inflammation and reduced blood flow. This vital insight paves the way for new diagnostic tests, preventative measures and treatments.
Pioneering early detection
Damage to the brain can start up to two decades before symptoms show. While reversing damage to the brain is a huge ask, getting in early and preventing dementia is a real possibility. This requires
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sensitive diagnostic tests that can pick up the early warning signs. Advances in brain scans and spinal fluid tests are already improving detection of dementia today, but we urgently need more simple, cost-effective and precise detection techniques. In 2010, the MCF supported Professor Sir Simon Lovestone in his pioneering search for a biological fingerprint of Alzheimer’s in the blood. Finding effective markers of the disease is essential, as we’ll be three times more likely to bring about a life-changing dementia treatment if we do. The team identified ten biomarkers in the blood that give key insights about brain changes in Alzheimer’s, the most common cause of dementia. Scientists around the globe continue to work together on these emerging blood test technologies, and researchers in this area are optimistic that we are just a few years away from a breakthrough that could see diagnostic blood tests being used routinely.
Understanding brain health
Freemasonry’s generosity has also helped scientists increase our understanding of what we can do to keep our brains healthy. While we can’t change the genes that we inherit, there are lifestyle changes we can make to stack the odds in our favour. The changes include staying physically
FMT Spring 2020
active, eating a healthy diet, drinking within recommended guidelines and not smoking. This knowledge could help prevent up to one in three cases of dementia before they even start.
Innovative drug discovery efforts
Through the MCF, Freemasons have helped Alzheimer’s Research UK launch pioneering drug discovery programmes that will help translate our growing understanding of these diseases into new medicines faster. Our Drug Discovery Alliance is currently running 21 groundbreaking projects to fast-track life-changing treatments for dementia, and in October, there was promising news that a drug called aducanumab could slow Alzheimer’s disease progression. More than ever before, this puts the first disease-modifying drug for Alzheimer’s on the horizon. Looking to the future, a continued partnership with the MCF will help to increase research capacity, enabling fresh ideas and accelerating discovery. Together, we can change the pace of dementia research and make breakthroughs possible, keeping people connected to their families, their worlds and themselves for longer.
In the Community MCF
RMBI Care Co. rises up the ranks Freemasons and their families have long known the RMBI Care Co. to be a
compassionate and trusted provider of residential care, nursing and dementia support, and this has now been officially recognised by the industry thanks to a recent evaluation by the Care Quality Commission
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n November, Cadogan Court in Exeter became the latest RMBI care home to achieve an overall rating of ‘good’, meaning that the RMBI now has 100 per cent compliance across all its homes – a claim that very few care home providers can make. All 18 RMBI care homes in England and Wales are now rated ‘outstanding’, ‘good’ or ‘fully compliant’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the Care Inspectorate Wales. The CQC is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England, responsible for making sure that health and social care services provide safe, effective, compassionate and highquality care. An ‘outstanding’ rating from the CQC is the industry gold standard, and last year just 4 per cent of care homes in England made the cut. The RMBI is performing well above the industry average and can boast three ‘outstanding’ homes: Connaught Court in York, Devonshire Court in Leicester and Prince Michael of Kent Court in Watford. These three homes provide residential
care and specialist dementia support, delivering a holistic approach to care that focuses on wellbeing and encourages residents to thrive in their new environment. In its assessment of Prince Michael of Kent Court, the CQC praised staff as being ‘highly motivated and passionate about providing opportunities for people to continue to live a full and rewarding life’ and commented that ‘the environment has been created using imaginative and inspirational ideas with a particular focus on people who were living with dementia, to support and enable them to live safely and with minimal restrictions.’ The RMBI lives by its values – to be kind, supportive and trusted – and is dedicated to delivering care services that make a real difference to everyday lives. Year on year, the RMBI works hard to raise its standards
Compassionate care: RMBI staff work to ensure that residents’ later years are as fulfilling as possible
and provide the best support possible to its residents. Mark LLoyd, Managing Director of RMBI Care Co., says: ‘I am delighted that Cadogan Court has been rated as “good” by CQC and enormously proud that all RMBI Care Co. homes are now 100 per cent compliant. Our organisation’s caring approach and our values are reflected throughout the regulator’s report.’ Cadogan Court’s latest achievement is just one example of the RMBI’s commitment to compassionate care; RMBI staff work tirelessly to keep people engaged, ensuring that their later years are as active and fulfilling as possible. It’s no surprise that 95 per cent of residents are happy to call the RMBI their home and that 97 per cent report that staff treat them with kindness, dignity and respect. Are you considering residential care? For more information about life in an RMBI care home and how to apply, visit www.rmbi.org.uk
In the Community MCF
Need a will? There’s a way
Vital roles
When it comes to writing or updating your will, it can be difficult to know where to start, and all too tempting to put it off for another day. If this feels familiar, you are not alone – around 60 per cent of people in the UK have not yet made a will
T
he problem with not making a will is that when you die, your estate falls under the rules of intestacy – which can create unwelcome surprises for those you leave behind.
Free will-writing service available To make the process of making a will as simple as possible, the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) now collaborates with The Goodwill Partnership to offer a free will-writing service. The process is easy – simply explain your wishes to a trained Goodwill Partnership counsellor in the comfort of your own home. You will receive a will that has been prepared and checked by a solicitor, delivered directly to your door. The free service from The Goodwill Partnership is available to anyone living in mainland England and Wales, regardless of whether they have a connection to Freemasonry. To access the free will-writing service, visit mcf.org.uk/legacy. Use the code MCF001 when contacting The Goodwill Partnership.
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Have you thought about your legacy? As well as protecting the loved ones we leave behind, writing a will also provides an opportunity to make a meaningful difference to other people’s lives, long after we are gone. While some people choose to actively fundraise or make regular donations during their lifetime, others choose to remember the MCF in their will. Last year, 10 per cent of the MCF’s income came from gifts in wills. The MCF is grateful for every legacy gift – large or small – and is proud to honour the memory of its donors through life-changing grants and services. You don’t have to leave a gift to the MCF in your will to use the free will-writing service, but any gift you do leave will be gratefully received.
Leaving a gift to the MCF For more than 40 years, David Walton was a proud and active Essex Freemason. Although by nature a serious-minded man, his sweet and gentle personality made him one of the most popular members of his lodge. Ron Steele, David’s friend and fellow member of Sigebert Lodge, No. 7572, remembers: ‘David’s seriousness made him an ideal target for some gentle ribbing from time to time, but he always took it in good humour.’ Ron explained that David spent most of his professional life as a salesman, which at face value would have been hard to believe due to his very quiet, understated disposition. In fact, David’s success as a salesman was helped by his kind and caring nature. Sadly, David died from cancer in 2018. Unbeknown to the MCF, he had left a very generous legacy donation in his will. This donation will allow the MCF to support many more individuals in need and charitable causes for some time to come, representing David’s truly lasting legacy.
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Visit mcf.org.uk/legacy to download the guide to making a will, from writing a new one to amending your existing will. It also explains how to leave a gift and the different types of legacy gifts.
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
3 Atlantic
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
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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
Fraternal World UGLE DISTRICTS AND GROUPS
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1 0 Far East
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1 2 New Zealand
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
Time for a change?
and those who have not made any effort
Sir,
brethren face pressures from busy business
I enjoyed David Newman’s letter in the
commitments, and time is a premium. I do
Winter issue of FMT. There are three ways
not, however, subscribe to the suggestion
of delivering ritual. One, learned by
made by David Newman in the FMT Winter
heart and delivered accurately and with
edition that reading long sections of ritual
understanding and feeling: perfect. Two,
should become acceptable in order to
read from a script and delivered accurately
encourage younger brethren with busy
and with understanding and feeling: perfect.
lives to become Freemasons.
at all. I also accept that in modern times,
Three, learned by rote and delivered in a
Freemasonry generally has recognised
halting monotone, prompted at intervals by
the challenge of enthusing and retaining
the Director of Ceremonies, and with neither
younger brethren. It should not be
feeling nor understanding.
overlooked that one of the key factors in
Having visited many lodges in the UK
achieving those objectives is belonging to
and around the world, I know just how
or become backbenchers only, leaving
a lodge where all the brethren work hard at
commonplace option three is. So why do
the half-dozen well-retired and ageing
delivering ritual. Visitors attending those
we regard rote learning as a sacred cow?
ritualists to go round and round testing
lodges are always keen to visit again. I have
Not only does it deter potential Freemasons
our mental faculties.
visited lodges where all the brethren have
The stress put upon by work and family
read ritual (some very badly) and I would not
contemplate side degrees or moving up ‘the
responsibilities is far more these days than
wish to belong to such a lodge or indeed visit
ladder’), it also hinders those brethren who
it used to be years ago. There is also far
it again. You can bet that observing a Master
may be highly intelligent and massively
more expected of young men in the home,
reading the opening and closing of a lodge
qualified but who struggle with the rote
to say nothing of the stress of travelling
that most of the rest will also be reading.
learning of large volumes of what is often
for hours to work. Ceremonies run much
unusual text.
more smoothly when read, avoiding the
serious about the contribution you can make
It should be recognised that if you are
embarrassment of being prompted every
in supporting your lodge, you begin learning
officiates at a service, he feels no
few words due to nerves, etc., which has
the ritual months in advance. For a potential
compunction about reading from the prayer
resulted in resignations.
Master this would be at least 12 months.
When the Archbishop of Canterbury
Those who pick up a ritual book a few days
book or the Bible. Is he wrong? Not a new
To be fair, I have never heard any Visiting
question, I know, but before brethren the
Officer or other senior Freemason comment
before a ceremony for the first time no doubt
length and breadth of the land write back
on any of our readings. I would like to see
claim they are no good at ritual. Well, nobody
in horror, I must ask them to answer this
more open books in lodges.
would be with such a blasé approach.
question: where is the good in insisting
Phil Cook, Old Lancing Lodge, No. 4660.
on rote learning?
Metropolitan
I would be pleased if someone could explain why, when brethren join the ‘ladder’ within their lodge and make
Bill Wyllie, Willington Lodge, No. 4028, Sir,
little effort in learning ritual, they are
I will always accept that there are some
then promoted the following year and
Sir,
brethren who struggle to learn ritual.
so on. You wouldn’t do that in a business
I wholeheartedly agree with the letter from
For those who make the effort but have
environment, so why do we do it? I have
David Newman in Issue 48 of FMT.
problems in delivering in open lodge,
also been shocked on the number of
they are always worthy of support from
occasions where brethren have become
of the book to be accepted as the norm,
their fellow brethren. There is, however,
Masters with little knowledge of the ritual
except for the few sentences that require
a distinct difference between those who
or Freemasonry generally. The negative
questions and answers with candidates.
have attempted to learn and have for
impact when these brethren later receive
I have seen so many Freemasons resign
various reasons problems in delivery
Provincial honours cannot be understated.
Durham
The time has come for reading ritual out
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Freemasonry FMT Spring 2020 Today
PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES
who lead busy lives (especially if they
Fraternal World LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Lodges of Instruction should be promoted more, and in the Royal Arch (Chapter), the Aldersgate Chapter of Improvement
wonderful chance for us to talk and discuss
therefore this award is accepted on behalf
things with our hierarchy.
of you all. Thank you, and bless you.’
After the meal, Andrew and I were
underpins the importance of learning ritual
summoned before RWB Ian Chandler,
and in gaining knowledge of the fraternity to
who presented us with Festival President’s
which we all subscribe.
Awards and told the brethren about all of
I speak as someone who ran two
our achievements, after which we received a
Phil Warnes, Willow Lodge, No. 6051, Surrey
Air ambulance support
businesses simultaneously that involved
standing ovation. I wanted at the time to say
Sir,
extensive travelling, while having an active
a few words, but emotions got the better of
I was made WM of Eliot Lodge, No. 1164,
rank for three years. Time spent with my
me, so I here’s what I should have said:
in St Germans, Cornwall in December
little blue book late at night in my hotel
‘Thank you all for your congratulations.
was invaluable, and missing EastEnders
This award is not just for myself, but also for
Ambulance following a bicycle accident, I
was a small price to pay. Due to my
my wife, Sandie, who has not only supported
decided to name it as my charity for the year.
commitments, I made time!
me over my four years of being a Freemason,
In particular, the money raised would go
but also joined me and many Surrey
towards the new helicopter appeal.
Initiatives are underway to address these
2018. Having been airlifted by Cornwall Air
problems, but I believe that rather than
Freemasons and their partners in doing the
waiting for instructions from Provincial
zip wire in Wales. As some of you know, the
particular need for an effective helicopter,
office, lodges have it in their remit to look at
last year has not been a good one for us, and
including as it does the Isles of Scilly. We
how they can enthuse and retain brethren.
we both struggled, but we were supported
are not a big lodge, but with a lot of support
Being part of an enthusiastic and winning
not only by Willow Lodge, No. 6051, but
from members we raised more than £2,000
team is a wonderful experience, so please no
also by the Provincial Executive and fellow
towards the charity. Our picture (below)
more of these negative excuses.
Freemasons within the Province, and for
shows myself, Richard Saw, Mike Foottit
Trevor Black, Sykes Lodge, No. 1040,
that we thank you all.
(both of whom are pilots themselves) and
Yorkshire, North & East Ridings
Sincere thanks
‘This award is also for YOU, the Freemasons of Surrey, who have all contributed in some way towards attaining
Being so spread out, Cornwall has a
John O’Neill presenting the cheque in December 2019 to some of the crew. While I’m writing, thanks for producing an
the amazing total of over £3.3 million. As Pro
always interesting read.
Sir,
Grand Master Peter Lowndes said in Grand
Chris Redgrove, Eliot Lodge, No. 1164,
As a relatively new Master Mason from
Lodge, “Masonry is not an I, it is a WE”, and
Cornwall
Surrey I was privileged to attend my first Quarterly Communications meeting at Great Queen Street on 11 September 2019. So imagine my surprise when fellow Surrey Master Mason Andrew Philpot, my RW Provincial Grand Master Ian Chandler and I were singled out and mentioned by name by Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes in open lodge. He invited us to stand to receive the applause of the assembled brethren for our fundraising to support the Surrey 2019 Festival in aid of RMBI. This, I later found out, is something that is very rarely done. After Grand Lodge, I was invited by fellow Surrey Freemasons to join them at the Union Jack Club near Waterloo, where I attended a Surrey Grand Officers’ mess. This was very well organised by WB Bruce Perry PGADC and I am sure others; my fellow Master Masons and I had an enjoyable meal seated with our Grand Officers, Provincial Officers and other distinguished brethren from around the Province. For us it was a
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.
FMT Spring 2020
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FMT Spring 2020
thēsauros
IMAGE: MUSEUM OF FREEMASONRY
FMT’s pick of the unusual, striking or just plain fascinating
William Finch certificate, 1811 A signed William Finch chart converted into Royal Arch certificate (1811). Finch is best known for publishing, in code, a system of Craft lectures in question-and-answer form in 1801.
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FMT Spring 2020
