Massachusetts Tribute to Prince Hall

Prince Hall, the founder of African-American masonry, and a civil rights pioneer, is to have a memorial erected in his honour at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
     He is believed to have been born in 1735 and died in 1807, and Prince Hall Freemasonry has become a global institution. Among his many achievements, he opened the first school for American children in Boston, and fought against slavery in the area. He was also a popular caterer and leather craftsman.
     Artist Ted Clausen has designed his memorial in several elegant six-foot marble slates, inscribed with a series of quotations from Prince Hall on one side, and quotes about him on the other. The quotations were chosen after research conducted with the help of Cambridge High School students.
     The site of the proposed memorial has already been dedicated in the presence of the Mayor, E. Denise Simmons and the Massachusetts Prince Hall Grand Lodge Grand Master Leslie Lewis.

Kitchener Lodge Alms Plate Returned to Cyprus

A chance meeting at Corinthian Lodge No. 2350 at Hindley Masonic Hall, Province of West Lancashire, between Jim Miller, Master of Prodesse Lodge No. 8678 and Peter Schofield, led to the return of an engraved and inlaid silver and copper alms plate belonging to Lord Kitchener Lodge No. 3602, based in Dhekelia, Cyprus.
     Peter noticed the plate on display in the archives of the Wigan & District Association for Masonic Research at Hindley Masonic Hall, and mentioned this to Jim Miller, who, it so happened, is chairman of the Association. Contact was made with Association secretary Fred Lomax.
     Peter, a member of Lord Kitchener Lodge, asked how the plate came into the possession of the Association. Apparently it belonged to the lodge when it was based in the District of Egypt & Sudan until October 1955, when the Suez Crisis saw their move to Cyprus.
     The plate was handed to the Association by the relatives of the late Major John Yates, who it is believed was Senior Warden of the lodge in or about 1955, when he was stationed in Egypt, and before it moved to Cyprus.
     Lord Kitchener Lodge celebrates its centenary this November, and a formal request was made by Lord Kitchener Lodge for the return of the plate in time for their centenary, and it was handed back at a meeting of Prodesse Lodge.
     There will be a week long celebration of the centenary in Cyprus in November, including a ladies festival and trips on the island. Other events will be arranged and all visitors will be made most welcome. The centenary takes place on 17 November

Help for Bush Fire Victims

Victims of the Australian bush fires in the state of Victoria have been helped by English masons who have donated £15,000 via the Freemasons’ Grand Charity.
     The money has been donated to the Grand Lodge of Victoria, at Melbourne, for its Grand Master’s Victoria Bushfires Appeal. This appeal was launched with an initial contribution of AU$400,000 from the Grand Lodge of Victoria's Benevolent Fund, and will provide direct and prompt assistance to the communities and individuals affected by the fires.
     The impact of the fires has been catastrophic. At least 189 people are known to have died and whole towns have been reduced to ash. The flames, which have been fanned by a combination of record temperatures, drought conditions and changing wind direction, have scorched an estimated 365,000 hectares of land.
     Describing the appeal, Garry Sebo, Grand Master of Victorian masons, said that funds raised ‘would be directly applied to significant community redevelopment and reconstruction projects in addition to providing direct assistance to seriously disadvantaged members of the masonic and wider community.’
     A committee had been established under the chairmanship of Vaughan Werner, Deputy Grand Master, to co-ordinate Freemasons Victoria’s response to these events and react to the needs of communities and individuals directly affected by the fire.
     Garry Sebo added: ‘I am also particularly anxious that we promptly respond to the needs of freemasons, their relatives and friends who have been affected by the fire.’
     ‘Freemasons Victoria is liaising with Government agencies to investigate the logistics and feasibility of contributing AU$1,000 for each bereavement in support of the grant being offered by the Commonwealth Government to supplement funeral and memorial costs.’
     The funds raised by the Appeal will be on a non-tax deductible basis in order to ensure that they may be directly applied to vital reconstruction projects being conducted in the community. It is the aim of the Appeal to generate a further AU$300,000.
     A remarkable demonstration of the bonds of brotherhood and community can be drawn from the Australian jurisdictions, with Freemasons from Queensland making considerable offers of support to Victorians, despite suffering through their own natural disasters; record floods and an outbreak of dengue fever.
     Donations to the Grand Master’s Victorian Bushfires Appeal can be made by cheque made out to ‘Freemasons Victoria – Grand Master’s Fire Appeal’ or by Direct Electronic Transfer into BSB 083-817, account number 86-647-2578
     With thanks to United Grand Lodge of Victoria.

Swazi Kids Boost

Rugby Football Lodge No. 9811 in the Province of Yorkshire, West Riding, have sponsored – Swaziland Kids Rugby Union Mission (SKRUM) – with member Steve Reynolds assisting youngsters infected with HIV/AIDS.
     Steve, a biology teacher for 25 years at Birkdale School, Sheffield, was granted a sabbatical to work for SKRUM, which introduces the game of rugby into schools. Steve is a Level Three rugby coach and with his experience with England Rugby Football School’s Union, has been ideal to help the youngsters in Swaziland, which has the world’s highest incidence of HIV.
     Since returning home he has decided to take up a full-time position as Regional Development Officer and SKRUM UK Liaison Officer responsible for fundraising and GAP year student management.
     Go to www.skrum.org for more information.

Friar Yasha

English masonic historian Yasha Beresiner has become only the ninth member of the English Constitution to become a member of the Society of Blue Friars, at the Order’s annual event held recently in Alexandria, Virginia.
     The Society was formed in 1932 explicitly ‘to recognise masonic authors.’