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BACK NEXT Spring 2009 Issue 48 Letter from the Editor Grand Secretary's Column Address by The Grand Master News and Views On The Level Masonic Education International News Royal Arch News Freemasonry Beyond The Craft A Bit Rum The Business of Freemasonry Freemasonry and Suffrage Graduates into Freemasonry The Meaning of the Sphinx Westminster Bridge Masonic from its Foundation Off the Record Review: Scottish Rite Ritual Review: The Compasses and the Cross Review: The Sphinx Mystery Review: A Handbook for the Freemason's Wife Letters to the Editor Library & Museum of Freemasonry Grand Lodge Grand Charity Masonic Samaritan Fund RMBI RMTGB Canon Richard Tydeman: Hidden Mysteries Copyright 1997-2010 Grand Lodge Publications Ltd Designed and Maintained by: Cyberpoint Limited

FREEMASONRY TODAY Spring 2009 - Issue 48 - Index Letter from the Editor I received a sad letter the other day. It was from a Freemason who felt that he had missed out on potential promotions. He wanted to know - demanded to know - what precise qualifications were necessary for the various honours given out in Freemasonry. He ended his letter, disgruntled at not having been progressed to some Past Grand, or Past Provincial, office by proclaiming bitterly, ‘Thirty-three years in masonry, wasted!’ ... Grand Lodge: Grand Secretary's Column Masonic Biography of the Pro Grand Master, Peter Lowndes Address by the Grand Master News and Views: Welsh Lead the Way on Survey — Inaugural Mentoring Conference — RMTGB Chorister Enthroned as Boy Bishop — Authors’ Lodge Goes Back to the Future — Grand Master at Special June Event — Prince Philip Thanks Buckinghamshire Masons for Donation — Knights Templar Launch Hospital Appeal — Arson Hits Co-Masons in Ulster On The Level: French Exhibition — Brooklands Invite — New PGM for Dorset — Bill Stone Dies at 108 — Help for Heroes — Lincoln Double — Sign of the Times — Clay Invitation from West Lancs Masonic Education: Hamill Heads Tercentenary Project — Canonbury: Eleventh International Conference — Cornerstone Conference — Manchester Events International News: Massachusetts Tribute to Prince Hall — Kitchener Lodge Alms Plate Returned to Cyprus — Help for Bush Fire Victims — Swazi Kids Boost — Friar Yasha Royal Arch News: Five Exalted in One Day on the Scillies — Warwickshire Fund Vehicle for Age Concern Freemasonry Beyond the Craft: Mark Funds Welsh Ambulance — Opening of Hereford Hospital Scanning Unit A Bit Rum It was ironic that when police caught up with Allen Stanford, the Texan billionaire accused of perpetrating a ‘massive’ fraud, in February they found him in Fredericksburg, a Virginia town named after Frederick Louis, the eldest son of George II and an important figure in masonic history, who was known as ‘Poor Fred’ because he spent so much gambling on cricket matches. Stanford, of course, was best known in England not for his financial services company but because he had landed his helicopter on the lawn at Lord's Cricket Ground last summer and challenged England to a winner-takes-all $20 million match against his team of ‘Superstars’ ... The Business of Freemasonry There was a time, not so long ago, when Freemasonry was run discreetly, like a private gentleman’s club and the Grand Secretary seemed a distant, even aloof, figure gazing down from privileged heights. But no longer: Freemasonry is now run as a modern business and the Grand Secretary is a hands-on chief executive but accountable, not to shareholders, but to a large and diverse membership. It is a job needing skill, business acumen and ... Freemasonry and Suffrage Lady Freemasons – once never mentioned in polite masonic society – have recently been celebrated in a highly successful Centenary exhibition at Freemasons’ Hall in London. Along with their heightened profile, new research has shown that early women masons (and some men) once played a striking part in feminist history, in their support of the fight for the vote. Freemasonry which included both men and women in its lodges ... Graduates into Freemasonry Travelling with David Williamson, the Assistant Grand Master, to Singapore for the celebrations of the District Grand Lodge of Eastern Archipelago’s 150th anniversary provided a good opportunity to reflect on the Universities Scheme. The Assistant Grand Master is the President of the Universities Scheme, while Eastern Archipelago is the first District in the United Grand Lodge of England to discuss involvement. Although still in its early years, the Universities Scheme has grown and expanded, not so much like a balloon ... The Meaning of the Sphinx The Great Pyramid and the Sphinx are the two iconic images of ancient Egypt, and have always been of the deepest possible interest to Masonry. Why? No one has ever penetrated to the heart of the mystery of the Sphinx: what is it, or should I say, what was it? Whose face is on it? What does it represent? Why is it there? Why is it ... Westminster Bridge Today, Londoners take for granted the large number of bridges that traverse the nation’s capital river, but until the early eighteenth century there was only one bridge that crossed the Thames –– London Bridge. Although several bridges have spanned the Thames since Roman times only a single bridge existed at any one time and it was not until the 1730s that construction began on a second bridge, one that connected Westminster with the Surrey bank. The man chosen by the specially established Bridge Commission to oversee the construction of this new edifice ... Masonic from its Foundation The first time I heard about Foundation Lodge No. 82 and its remarkable building in Cheltenham was in Israel, on one of the recent Holy Land masonic tours. Ray Pearson, a Past Master of the lodge, enthused of the beauty and uniqueness of the custom built hall, inviting me to visit on our return to England. As we approached the junction of Portland and Albion Streets in Cheltenham, the Masonic Hall came into view, its enormous facade proudly ... Off the Record Initiation is a rite performed by all main stream religions and many wisdom schools throughout the world. ‘Initiation’ is given various names and the rituals performed in very different ways; in fact, the word initiation is often carefully avoided. Freemasonry is different in that it uses this word. Importantly, Freemasonry is an institution that awaits your ‘adult’ decision to make this commitment which initiation demands. Many religions allow parents to make this decision for you, for example, early life Baptism and Confirmation. In Freemasonry, which of course is not ... Review: The Scottish Rite Ritual, Monitor and Guide Review: The Compasses and the Cross; A History of the Masonic Knights Templar Review: The Shpinx Mysteries; The Forgotten Origins of the Sanctuary of Anubis Review: A Handbook for the Freemasons Wife Letters to the Editor A Grateful Lewis — True Friendship — Anfield Bicycle Club — Joint Festive Board — A Travelling Gavel — Outrage! — Let's Get It Right — No Down Sitting Library & Museum of Freemasonry One of the many collections held in the Library and Museum at Great Queen Street is that of photographs and prints. The three largest subject areas are pictures of individuals (including members of the Royal family), group pictures, often at ladies nights or public masonic events, and pictures of masonic buildings and their interiors including Freemasons’ Hall in London. Before photography came into use in the middle of the nineteenth century, the pictures are in the form of engravings and the collection proliferates once photography became common and affordable. The collection has a number of uses including as a resource for family historians, lodge historians ... Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge, 11 March 2009, Report of the Board of General Purposes Masonic Charities: Grand Charity Masonic Charities: Masonic Samaritan Fund Masonic Charities: RMBI Masonic Charities: RMTGB Hidden Mysteries We are told that Freemasonry is a progressive science and thus in the Second Degree we progress from the principles of moral truth and virtue and are permitted to extend our researches into the hidden mysteries of nature and science. Not that we should abandon moral truth and virtue. Far from it! Progress implies using what we have learnt but increasing the uses to which it is put. The newly initiated apprentice first of all has to learn the ‘language’ of Freemasonry before he can use that language and to know what it means. So what are these ‘hidden mysteries’; from whom are they hidden and why? Let us start by extending our own researches into the full meaning ...   Issue 48, Spring 2009 © Grand Lodge Publications Ltd 1997-2010