The lives of Brian

Don’t call out “Brian!” at Lodge of Stability 7374 or you could cause confusion – five members are likely to respond to the call at the Headingley, Yorkshire lodge.
    Some wags are considering renaming it Brian Lodge as five of the officers are called Brian. They are (l to r): W Bro Brian Dickson (Chaplain), Bro Brian Gowland (Senior Warden), W Bro Brian Smith (Master), Bro Brian Vasey (Junior Warden) and W Bro Brian Blackburn (ADC).

Bikers in charity ride

East Lancashire's Provincial Grand Master, Deputy District Judge Peter Walthall, whose cycling days were cut short by heart surgery 18 years ago, has got on his bike again in an arduous charity ride to help other heart sufferers.
    He joined 200 other cyclists who took to the hills in the biggest fund-raiser ever seen in the North-West for the British Heart Foundation. The event raised more than £10,000 with the PGM personally raising more than £1,000 – the largest single contribution.
    Cyclists assembled at Hollingworth Lake Visitors Centre, near Rochdale, for the “Over the Edge” ride. The PGM is a former Universities cycling champion and British Veterans champion over 25 miles. He has also held the Veterans’ 10-mile title.

Amalgamations Rule

At the September Quarterly Communications meeting of Grand Lodge, it was agreed to formalise Lodge amalgamations. The change (new Rule 102A) enables the Grand Master, “at his discretion and upon such conditions as he shall see fit grant a Certificate of Amalgamation.” A detailed report on the implications of this Rule change will be in the next issue of Freemasonry Today.

Bristol architect honoured

More than 200 local Masons and their wives attended an evening event to honour W.Bro Basil Woodward, architect of Bristol’s masonic hall (see page 40). He is shown (left) with the Grand Secretary, VW Bro Jim Daniel. The evening was organised by Camp of Baldwyn. Basil Woodward is their Grand Superintendent.

Canonbury lectures

A packed programme is planned for 4 and 5 November at the Canonbury Masonic Research Centre, London on the topic of The Social Impact of Freemasonry on the Modern Western World.
    On the first day the morning session topics are Human Rights and the Masonic Legacy; John Wilkes, Freemasonry and the Emergence of Popular Radicalism and The Unlawful Societies Act of 1799 and Freemasonry.
    The afternoon session comprises Through The Streets They Tramp And Go – Masonic Processions as a Metaphor of Social Involvement and The Tenet of Masonic Truth in the New Millennium.
    On the second day the topics are The Social Effect of French Freemasonry over Three Centuries; Freemasonry and Party Building in Late 19th Century France; The Swedish Order Exported – Masonic Contacts between German Elites in Pomerania; Freemasonry and the French Resistance, 1939-1945 and Irish Freemasonry in the 18th Century.
    The price is £65 for both days (excluding meals).

Masonic postcard

On his travels, W Bro Peter King of Ipswich has taken an interest in masonic postcards, and actually published this one, from a stained glass window in St Mary’s church, Tattingstone in Suffolk. Alongside King Solomon is a figure familiar to Royal Arch members – Zerubbabel.

The Big Event

Grand Lodge has agreed that the proposed national week of Masonic events will be held from Wednesday, 26 June to Tuesday, 2 July 2002. The idea follows on from the Grand Secretary’s request, in Grand Lodge in September last year, for a “big event” to involve the entire Craft.
    The aim is to provide co-ordinated events throughout England and Wales, showing how Freemasonry is contributing to local communities. The PR Steering Group will produce a possible programme for discussion.

Rose Croix aids children

V Ill Bro Ron Champion, Past Inspector General for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Rose Croix, presents a cheque for £15,760 for a local hospice. Receiving the cheque is Hugh Thompson and Caroline Colman of the Wessex Childrens’ Hospice at Sutton Scotney, Hampshire.
    The hospice provides accommodation and support for terminally ill children and their families within the southern counties, but receives no government support. The money was raised following an appeal launched two years ago by V Ill Bro Ron Champion when Inspector General.

Commonwealth bi-ennial festival

The Commonwealth Lodges Association held its Biennial Festival in July, hosted by the Royal Colonial Institute Lodge 3556, with 140 present from the 35 member lodges and their guests.
    The aims of the association are to promote a closer fraternity among brethren having similar interests, particularly enhancing the ties of the Commonwealth and the Craft.
    RW Bro the Rt Hon the Earl of Cadogan, as WM, opened the Lodge and a procession was formed to receive the Deputy Grand Master, RW Bro Iain Ross Bryce.
    The next CLA biennial festival will be held on Commonwealth Day, 11 March 2002,

£2m for ambulances

A £2m donation from the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons will help St John Ambulance provide a nationwide fleet of new Cruiser vehicles.
    The donation will allow Crusader Variable Purpose Vehicles designed exclusively for St John Ambulance for the 40 Mark Provinces throughout the country. Each local ambulance will carry the name of the Province.
    In July the Lord Mayor and Sheriff of York met with St John Ambulance and members of Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of North and East Yorkshire.

Correction: in the last issue in the story “The Talkington Three” we inadvertently described Burgoyne Lodge No. 902 as in Middlesex when it is a London Lodge. Our apologies – Editor.

Ted’s home visitor

"Being housebound, E Comp Ted Conolly was unable to attend the Annual Convocation of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Surrey earlier this year to receive his Certificate of Merit. So the Grand Superintendent, E Comp John Edgerley, made the presentation at his home at Raynes Park, Surrey, witnessed by his family, and a few Companions.
    The Certificate of Merit acknowledges his considerable contribution to Freemasonry in general, and to Royal Arch

Taxi promotes masonic centre

Visitors to Clerkenwell Green in London EC1 will be familiar with the imposing sight of the former Court-House, home of the London Masonic Centre for the last 20 years. Now its logo, well-known to thousands of masons, together with the square and compasses, can be seen on a London taxi.
    The Old Sessions House is fortunate to have as one of its members, W Bro Frank Barber, pictured here with his taxi. Bookings can be made via Neil Scott, catering manager, on Tel: 020 7250 1212 Fax: 020 7253 2302, e-mail: www.conference@sessionshouse.co.uk.

Charity aids helpline

The Grand Charity has aided a vital national helpline to support brain and spinal injury patients and their families, which is facing a cash crisis.
    The helpline is operated by BASIC (Brain and Spinal Injury Charity), at Hope Hospital, Eccles, Manchester.
    The helpline costs £20,000 a year to run, and has received £14,000 from the Grand Charity.

John Hale honoured

MW Bro John Hale has been invested as Pro Grand Master in the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons, succeeding Lord Swansea, who had held the position since 1986.
    A special celebration for MW Bro John Hale was held locally by the Province of Cumberland & Westmorland at the Shepherds’ Inn at Carlisle, where provincial meetings are frequently held.

Sahara aid plea

Ron Laybourne, director of the Saharawan Aid Trust, and member of Lodge de Loraine 541, is appealing for freemasons to assist this humanitarian cause. It is a registered charity which seeks to help 200,000 refugees in the Sahara. So far seven convoys of aid has gone out to the camps. The next one is due to go out in October 2001. Anyone who would like to contribute to this worthwhile charity can contact Bro Laybourne on 0191 414 4185 or e-mail at r.laybourne@cableinet.co.uk

Meningitis Trust receives £10,000

The Stroud-based National Meningitis Trust has received a donation of £10,000 from the Grand Charity in the battle to fight this killer disease.
    Provincial Grand Master RW Bro Peter Marsh handed the cheque to Angela Dudley (centre) and Anna Lewis of the Trust at the Annual General meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Gloucestershire.

London-Anglia link

An Anglia Group of the London Grand Rank Association (LGRA) has been formed, with 57 attending the launch covering Cambridge, Norfolk and Suffolk. VW Bro Walter Crombie, LGRA secretary, told the meeting that the association membership had risen from 7,000 in 1995 to the current 15,000.
    W Bro Mac Leckie was elected chairman and W Bro David Morfoot secretary. Inquiries to David Morfoot on 01953 881642.

Big effort for Hospice

With only 25 subscribing members, Aurea Filia Lodge No 7523 put in a special effort to raise £3,700 for the Trinity Hospice at Clapham in south London. At a celebratory millennium charity dinner at the Central London Masonic Centre, Clerkenwell, the cheque was presented to Alistair Currie, charity representative of the Hospice.
    He was not told the amount beforehand, and said: “I am stunned by the amount and lost for words. But for the generous and continuous support from freemasons and other organisations, the Hospice movement would struggle to exist.”

Library and Museum brochure

A new brochure has been produced by the Library and Museum of Freemasonry at Great Queen Street, which houses one of the world’s finest collection of masonic material.
    The library is open for reference, and archive material is available for research on application. The collections include masonic music, poetry and literature.
    Admission to the library and museum is free, and there are power sockets for laptop computers available at some readers’ desks. There is also a staffed photocopying service. The library is open from 10am-5pm Monday to Friday.
    Free guided tours are available mid-week on the hour, each hour, between 11am and 4pm. Pre-booked guided tours can also be arranged on Saturdays. For more information look on the website at www.grandlodge-england.org.

Three of a kind

Three members of the same family with 133 years in freemasonry have achieved an unusual feat – all are Grand Officers. Mrs Adele Marsh sent in the photograph of her husband Victor (left), from Keystone Lodge No 7911 in Middlesex, appointed a Grand Officer this year after 33 years in the Craft; her father Lindon Walmsley and her brother Keith Walmsley, both of St Michael’s Lodge No 5756, West Lancashire, with 60 and 40 years service respectively.