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A Grateful Lewis

Sir,
     I would like to share with Brethren my pride for my father who has been an inspiration to me throughout my time in masonry.
     I was Initiated, Passed and Raised in Wynnstay Lodge No. 3876, in the Province of North Wales in 1994. During my time within masonry I have been guided and encouraged to learn the degrees in masonry - being mentored by a person I consider to be a true and faithful Brother. He proposed me into St Mabon Mark Lodge No. 919, in the Province of North Wales in 1996 and again encouraged me to carry out each office with pride and honour. In November 2004 I had the privilege and honour of being installed as Worshipful Master of Wynnstay Lodge No. 3876, at the age of 34 years old by my Father and Brother Stanley J Brimlow.
     November 2008 my Father collapsed in the early hours of a Saturday morning and was admitted into the local hospital for medical checks and to research how and why this had happened. He had spent three weeks under medical care, suffering from three broken ribs from the collapse. This all happened at the same time that my Mother was admitted in the Royal University Hospital Liverpool and I was due to be installed in the chair in St Mabon Mark Lodge; as you can imagine, the strain was immense.
     St Mabon Mark Lodge was honoured that year as it was our 75th Anniversary and we had the Provincial Grand Master of the Province of North Wales, T G Williams as our Master who allowed my Father to install me yet again as the Master of a Lodge. This was extremely touch-and-go with him being in hospital and the Director of Ceremonies working hard to put a alternative plan in place for the Installation.
     Three hours prior to my Installation ceremony my Father was released from hospital and permitted by the doctors not only to attend the Lodge but to carry out my Installation even though he was in a lot of pain.
     The Installation was conducted with honour, pride and brotherly love and for that I must thank my Father, our Director of Ceremonies and the Provincial Grand Master for giving me the opportunity of being installed once more by my Father It was the proudest masonic day of my life and feel that such a story should be shared; I am extremely proud of my Father and grateful for all he has done for me.
     J Sean Brimlow
     Wynnstay Lodge No 3876
     Ruabon, North Wales

True Friendship

Sir,
     I write to inform you that my husband, a member of the Lodge of True Friendship, No. 218, died on the 27th December 2008.
     He had been in Freemasonry for a long time. He was a member originally, in Scotland, like his father. He was in the Chair, I remember, of the above Lodge in 1988. His funeral has recently been held, and I was particularly moved to see twelve members from his Lodge there.
     Another member wrote to me and then came all the way from Lincolnshire to be at the funeral. Such loyalty and sincerity from so many people has truly been very uplifting and helpful at this time of loss. As we have no family and I have no brothers or sisters I am somewhat alone but my husband was one of a family of seven boys and three came to the funeral - the fourth is in Queensland, Australia, but in close touch.
     The Almoner and his wife gave me support during the ten days or so my husband was in nursing care at the hospice.
     He had cancer and was most brave, I now see, not to let me know the pain he was in.
     I know little of Freemasonry of course, but did attend dinners; I have nothing but praise for all everyone has done and would wish you to know this,
     Josephine Todd
     Henleaze, Bristol

Anfield Bicycle Club

Sir,
     I much enjoyed reading David Kennedy’s article about John Houlding and Liverpool FC.
     John Houlding was the second President of the Anfield Bicycle Club, formed in 1879. In its early years the Club was at the forefront of long distance cycle racing both in the United Kingdom and France. The Club’s early members included some of the leading riders of the day including George Pilkington Mills, Lawrence Fletcher, ‘Doc’ Carlisle and Billy Neason.
     The Club was also influential in establishing the administrative structure for cycle time-trialling and road records in the United Kingdom which still exists today. This tradition of active involvement in the administration of the sport continued into the twentieth century thanks to men like Bert Green, W P Cook, Rex Austin, Les Bennett and John France - names that may be familiar to some older readers.
     The Club is still going, running an annual 100 mile time trial (since 1889), and has regular Saturday runs with a website at www.anfieldbc.co.uk and a Club history - the Black Anfielders - which is regarded as a classic of its type.
     David Birchall
     Past President Anfield Bicycle Club
     Knutsford, Cheshire

Joint Festive Board

Sir,
     The Lodge of Friendship and Fidelity and the Lodge of Perfect Light regularly have their January meeting on the same day at the Southgate Masonic Centre. One of the Masters suggested that we have a joint Festive Board as many of the brethren of each lodge were known to each other. Having canvassed both lodges to see if there was support for the idea, the overwhelming response was to go ahead.
     After a good deal of planning and a lot of effort, particularly on the part of the Steward of each Lodge, the joint Festive Board went ahead. Normally for the January meeting about forty to fifty brethren attend each Lodge, but on this occasion we had about one hundred an twenty sitting down for dinner.
     I must say that it was a resounding success and all who attended had nothing but compliments to make. There was a terrific buzz and feeling of friendship throughout the evening. The seating plan was organised such that the brethren of each Lodge were mixed on each sprig and both masters sat together on the top table.
     Toasts and responses were made alternately by each lodge which meant that each one was represented in all the Toasts.
     Such was the success that we have already been asked to run it again next year.
     Finally I would suggest that other lodges who meet at the same temple on the same day try this and I feel sure they will be equally delighted. I would be happy to answer any questions that a brother organising such an event may wish to ask.
     Howard Grant
     Secretary The Lodge of Friendship and Fidelity No 7077
     Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire

A Travelling Gavel

Sir,
     As the current Master of The Lodge of Brotherly Love No. 329, I wonder if it would be possible to discover the current whereabouts of a Travelling Gavel which we had in 1998 or thereabouts after which it was claimed by another lodge. It would be interesting to find its current whereabouts and history since that date.
     The history of the gavel is as follows: it is 78cm long, the diameter of the head is 10cm and its width 20cm. It weighs 4 kg. It is a gavel designed to travel around the country to encourage new bonds of friendship between Lodges.
     The history of the Travelling Gavel goes back to October 12th 1994 when the new Master of St Martins’ Lodge, Chatham, Masachusetts, United States of America was installed and eleven brethren from England were present including five brethren from King Alfred Lodge No. 3169, in Weston-super-Mare and one brother from Loyal Lodge No. 251, in Barnstaple.
     Following the installation a twinning ceremony was conducted with King Alfred Lodge and St Martin’s which continues to exist today. It just shows you what a small world it is as the master of that time is currently in England and is to visit King Alfred Lodge. During the winter months of 1996/97 it was determined that while a Travelling Gavel did not exist in England, Lodges in Massachusetts enjoy a Travelling Gavel as a means of promoting Masonic Friendship. Accordingly, several members of St Martin’s Lodge conceived the idea of taking a travelling gavel to England and on April 4th 1997 the gavel was carried to England.
     Three members of that Lodge came to England in April 1997 and presented the Gavel to Loyal Lodge No. 251, on Monday April 7th 1997 and they in turn presented it to King Alfred Lodge No. 3169 on April 11th. The members of the Lodges concerned had no idea what was happening until the story of the Gavel unfolded during the course of the presentation. In January 1998 it was claimed by the brethren of Meridian Lodge No. 5060, in Stockport, Cheshire.
     Thereafter we lost trace of it.
     Steven Defries
     Lodge of Brotherly Love No 329
     Yeovil, Somerset

Outrage!

Sir,
     I wonder how many brethren share my feelings of surprise and disappointment at the publicity given by Freemasonry Today to the so-called Order of Women Freemasons.
     The photograph that appeared in Issue No. 4 (Autumn) prompts mixed feelings.
     This is the second occasion an article on women masons has been published. Do you wish to justify this organisation or are you simply short of material? Surely there are many subjects and topics that would be of more interest to your readers.
     David Johnson-Smith
     Wilmslow Lodge No 6127
     Stockport, Cheshire

Let's Get It Right

Sir,
     Bro. Langton enquires as to whether a group of reigning masters, should collectively be described as a 'deluge.' In the absence of any comment to his enquiry, may I suggest that this term would not be appropriate, but could conceivably well apply to a group of Commanders of Royal Ark Mariner Lodges!
     Owen Burton
     Camellia Thea Lodge No 7351
     East Doncaster, Victoria Australia

No Down Sitting

Sir,
     I refer to George Langton’s letter entitled Reigning masters.
     Many years ago; indeed well over 40 now, when I first became a mason, I was privileged to know the last of the Edwardian generation of old men most of whom were very knowledgeable Masons.
     It was stressed to me that there were two things that should never be said. The first was that the Brethren at the Festive Board should not be asked to be ‘upstanding’ because the word does not exist. It was said to me that the Brethren are never asked to be ‘downsitting’. The word was wrong and was not correct English.
     Similarly it was stressed to me that Masters should never be referred to as Reigning Masters: clouds rain; monarchs reign. Masters are ‘visiting’ masters.
     Keith Metcalfe
     Lodge of St Mary No 5148
     Torquay, Devon