East African Masons Aid Bomb Explosion Victims

District Grand Master of East Africa, Bro JK Chande has announced that masons will assist the children of the bread-winners who died in the embassy bomb explosions which took place on 7 August. For this purpose District Grand Charity has established a fund with an initial contribution of 1.7 million Kenyan shillings.
    Freemasons will use this fund to provide education and preparation for life for the children of the diceased. In cases of eye, ear and facial injuries, treatment could be considered in Kenya using the services of specialists who are brethren. Bro Chande (right, foreground) disclosed that a committee has been established under the chairmanship of well-known ear, nose and throat specialist Dr Harish Rudani who is currently Master of a Nairobi lodge.
    On August 19, some 255 masons from Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and the Seychelles met at the Travellers Tiwi beach hotel in Mombasa, Kenya. Organised by Bro JK Chande, the two day conference discussed ways to improve knowledge of the Craft. The meeting also provided Bro Chande with the opportunity of donating Kshs 100,000 to the Kwale Eye Centre, while the same sum was also given to the Likoni Association for the Physically Disabled and the Msambweni School for the Handicapped.
    The conference was widely reported in the East African Press and Bro Chande’s attempts both to illuminate journalists as to the true character of the Craft and to promote openness seem to have largely paid off, judging from the printed reports. However, it would appear that the Craft in East Africa still has its work cut out, if a report by Douglas Okwatch in the Sunday Standard (23.8.98) is in any way representative of misconceptions about the Craft in East Africa. Okwatch painted a picture of the Craft as a secret body of ‘top people’ whose existence and beliefs threatened the security of the state (information gleaned from past papal warnings). The writer of the article strongly implied that the subject of Devil worship was one which should be considered when thinking about Freemasonry. In a fascinating, if highly regrettable, twist, the writer referred to British Home Secretary Jack Straw’s call for a list of masons in the judiciary as a plain indication of the British government’s views of Freemasonry. Clearly then, the present actions of the government are serving not to calm ‘public concern’, as claimed, but rather to fuel anti-masonic propaganda.

Bucks puts PR in Top Gear

Lord Burnham, who was installed as Buckinghamshire’s new Provincial Grand Master on 14 July, has decided to increase awareness of Freemasonry in the Province. He has already been interviewed by local press and radio and promoted a major Provincial Open Day on August 16 at Beaconsfield Masonic Centre, where the public was invited to find out the facts about Freemasonry. It is guessed that at least 200 people attended.
    Before he retired, Lord Burnham was a Daily Telegraph executive - a media background which enables him to get his message across effectively. “I am very much in favour of making the Freemasons more open to show that there is nothing sinister about us and nothing for people to be worried about.” he says. Lord Burnham also wants to get a lot more people involved in Freemasonry, including young people.
    Buckinghamshire Freemasons have also raised £1.4m for the Grand Charity, with a final target of £2m which they hope to achieve by next June.

Goose and Gridiron Restored

In 1717, four London lodges meeting in taverns came together to form the first Grand Lodge. One of these taverns was the famous Goose & Gridiron. While the original site is now a car-park to the north of S.Paul’s Cathedral, the original sign is presently safe in the restorative hands of the Museum of London and will soon be on permanent loan to the Exhibition of English Freemasonry in Great Queen Street.
    The Goose & Gridiron Society is planning to fix the sign to an 8’x4’ photograph of the tavern, taken just before its demolition in 1894. A perspective street scene will be created to simulate London House Yard and the sign will be illuminated by coloured lighting. It is hoped that the official unveiling will take place some time in October.
    Restoration and fixings will cost £1,000. Grand Lodge Library is funding half and the Goose & Gridiron Society have launched a “Save the Goose” Appeal for the rest. All contributions will be gladly received by the secretary Peter Locke at 19, Oakfield Ave. Kenton, Harrow, Middlesex HA3 8TH.

Government Registry of Judiciary Masons

On 28 July 1998, Lord Farnham, Pro Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, wrote to the Home Secretary in response to a letter from the Lord Chancellor to the Lord Chief Justice which asked all members of the judiciary to declare, for the purposes of a public register, whether they are or are not Freemasons, or to decline to answer the question.
    The Rt Hon The Lord Irvine of Lairg (The Lord Chancellor) stated in his letter to The Lord Chief Justice (dated 15 July 1998) that he “would like to emphasise at the outset that I have the utmost faith in the integrity of the judiciary both collectively and individually. I do not believe that there is any truth in the suggestion that some members of the judiciary may have been wrongly influenced in hearing cases by virtue of their Masonic membership. The Home Affairs Committee itself found no such evidence. Nevertheless it is undeniable that, well founded or not, there is a level of public concern on this issue which could serve to undermine public confidence in our justice system. This must be avoided if at all possible. I hope that the public register will go some considerable way to doing this.”
    This effort to single out the judiciary for special treatment was powerfully challenged by the Pro Grand Master, Lord Farnham, in his letter to The Rt Hon Jack Straw MP, the Home Secretary : “The members of the United Grand Lodge of England consider the proposal to single out Freemasons involved in the administration of the criminal law and the requirement to register their membership to be offensive, arbitrary, oppressive and without justification. The letter of 15 July from the Lord Chancellor to the Lord Chief Justice requesting all Judges and Magistrates to register is but an example of this process. To confine the proposals to Freemasons is highly discriminatory, likely to encourage discrimination against Freemasons by others and to entrench discrimination in many other spheres as acceptable behaviour.” The Pro Grand Master added that to “single out a section of society for special treatment of this nature is a dangerous path not in accordance with our understanding of democracy.”
    As things stand, the Lord Chancellor’s form requiring statements of membership (including the option of declining to make a declaration - the which declension would be recorded) will yield a register to be published this Autumn in which the names of all members of the judiciary will be listed, including “nil returns”.
    This process is the result of the Government announcement on 17 February that (in the words of the Lord Chancellor) “unless the United Grand Lodge could itself assist, it would proceed to invite all magistrates, police officers, legally qualified members of the CPS, prison staff, probation service staff and members of the judiciary to declare voluntarily whether or not they were freemasons.”

New Grand Charity Secretary

Dudley Wensley has joined the Grand Charity as its new Secretary. “I aim, with the members of the Grand Charity Council, to build on the foundations already laid and make sure Freemasons really know what is done on their behalf with their money, particularly in London and the Provinces.” He says he also wants to make sure that the public at large understands and appreciates what Freemasonry does for the good of the community.
    Bro Wensley previously worked for Agfa and is an old boy of the Royal Masonic School for Boys. Before joining the staff on 1 August he was an Assistant Provincial Grand Master in Middlesex and chaired the Middlesex ’98 committee which organised the Province’s 1998 Festival for the Grand Charity.
    Recent donations to non-masonic charities include nearly £100,000 spread over four years to assist research by the Alzheimer’s Disease Society; £78,000 to Centrepoint, the charity which cares for homeless people in London, and more than £30,000, through the District Grand Lodge of Cyprus, to the Cyprus Registry of Organs and Tissue Donors.
    W Bro Dudley Wensley J.P.

Internet News

Two of the more fascinating new masonic internet pages (excluding that of FMT) are without doubt those of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons (HFAF) - one of two women-only masonic organisations in the country.
    The Grand Lodge of Scotland’s page is well designed and is regularly updated to encourage people to return. The site contains a great deal of information, such as the history of Grand Lodge, an account of how Freemasonry started, a lively ‘frequently asked questions’ section, a description of Freemasons’ Hall in Edinburgh and its library and museum. The site also has details of publications for sale, such as the yearbook. The address is http://www. GrandLodgeScotland.com/
    The HFAF web page has already received the Masonic Leadership Research Centre’s Quality Seal for “showing the world the positive aspects of Freemasonry”. It contains a history of the Order, news, a well-filled guest book, a discussion forum and a message from their Grand Master, Eileen Gray. The address of the Order (founded in 1913) is : http://www.powerpro.demon.co.uk/hfaf Anyone interested in knowing more about the Order can write to 68 Great Cumberland Place, London W1H 7FD.
    There are now also four English Mark Masonry web pages : Bedfordshire, the Channel Islands, London and Sussex.
    Bedfordshire: http://members.aol.com/Bedsmark/
    The Channel Islands: http://user.itl.net/~crgoss/mark.htm
    London: http://www.opinicus.demon.co.uk/MMM/MMM.html
    Sussex: http://www3.mistral.co.uk/alanfroom/sussexmark/

Scoring the Century

On October 24, Bro Conrad Leonard will be 100 years old, surely the oldest active Lodge Organist known to the Craft - and quite probably the oldest regularly working musician in the UK! How does he do it? He says “it’s the three Ms : Music (that’s been my life), Masonry (which is my code of living) and Moderation - in everything”.
    Conrad Leonard was born in South Norwood in 1898 and attended the Whitgift School in Croydon from 1911 to 1917. After six months in the trenches with the Middlesex Regiment, he enrolled at the Guildhall Scool of Music. Qualifying in 1923, he worked as a professional musician, becoming director of music at London’s Lyceum in 1936 and writing over 40 compositions including My Love is Only For You and I Heard a Robin Singing, still heard throughout the world today. Publishers Laurence Wright employed Bro Leonard as a staff arranger and he went on to play and arrange for many of the great names in the business, for example : Fred Astaire, Cole Porter, Gracie Fields, Anne Ziegler and Petula Clark. He has also conducted his own theatre orchestra for London and provincial musicals and has worked with BBC orchestras and, among others, the Frank Chacksfield Orchestra.
    Bro Leonard, with over 65 years of service to the Craft (his Mother Lodge is London Warwickshire No 3846), is an active man, playing for numerous London Lodges and City of London Livery Companies. He also believes strongly in the therapeutic value of painting and of keeping his intellect sharp, resisting the tendency of men more than half his age to sit back and vegetate. To Bro Conrad Leonard, musician extraordinaire, Freemasonry Today extends the heartiest congratulations!

Surbiton Open Day

Home to 96 lodges, Surbiton Masonic Hall played host to some 400 men, women and children on a gloriously sunny Saturday 25 July 1998. Local MP Edward Davet arrived (unannounced) at 10.45, and so great was his interest that when the Mayor and Mayoress (Councillor and Mrs David Cunningham) arrived, Chairman Anthony Machin had to put the MP in the capable hands of the Grand Superintendent so as to be able to greet the Mayor. The MP was very interested to learn of the non-masonic uses to which the Hall is put, serving, as he put it, “the community as a whole”. According to Marketing Director Barrie Freeman “It was hard to contain the Mayoress’s enthusiasm when she realised just how much money we raise for charity, both masonic and non-masonic. She explained that during the current Mayor’s year they are making awards to a lot of local organisations raising money for charitable purposes, but none came anywhere near the sort of sums we raise. She asked the Provincial Grand Master if he would have any objection to our being nominated for such an award. The Provincial Grand Master, The Right Honourable the Earl of Shannon (above right – at the FMT stand) , opined that we had hidden our charitable light under a bushel for far too long and he would have no objection at all. On leaving, the Mayoress felt that the exhibition should have been held for a month and everyone in Kingston forced to attend”
    Visitors were delighted to see John Edgerley’s private collection of masonic memorabilia while the Elizabathan Suite was filled with stands representing Freemasonry Today, The Grand Charity, The RMBI, The New Masonic Samaritan Fund, The Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys, The Princess Alice Hospice, The RNLI and a number of other charities. It is now the intention of The Surbiton Masonic Hall to make the Open Day an annual event.

A Cocktail to Remember

W Bro Ron Farr, Past Master of the Lodge of New Hope No 6370, recently joined a ‘Top of the World’ cruise to Norway. On boarding m.v. Victoria, Ron identified himself as a mason to the Purser who agreed to announce that all masons contact reception with a view to a possible cocktail party. The call proved successful and thanks to the splendid co-operation of P&O (who provided room and waitress services free of charge), 20 brethren, two masonic widows, Captain Steve Burgoine and Lady, and Staff Captain Paul Derham and Lady came together for a grand cocktail party on 6 August. A very special guest to the party was Ms Millevina Dean who Bro Farr had heard was on board. Ms Dean is one of the last surviving passengers to have sailed on RMS Titanic’s disastrous voyage of 1912.
    In addition to generating a memorable party, the gathering also raised the sum of £193 which was presented to a marine charity of the captain’s choice.

Maryland’s Grand Master visits Portsmouth

In 1971, American navy diver John Naquin had just completed service in Vietnam when he was drafted to HMS Vernon at Portsmouth on an international exchange programme. Initiated into Camp Springs Lodge 227 in Maryland, Bro Naquin was passed and raised, by special arrangement, at Prudence Lodge No 7183, Portsmouth. During his three year tour of duty, John was promoted Lieutenant Commander in a ceremony on board HMS Victory. On leaving Portsmouth in 1973, John rose to become Director of Diving at the Pentagon, before retiring. In 1996 he was installed as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Maryland. As such, it was his dearest wish to revisit Portsmouth and Prudence Lodge in particular, bringing with him a party of fellow masons and their wives.
    A warm and friendly fraternal welcome was organised by the then Secretary of Prudence, W Bro Peaper, culminating in a total of 307 masons from the Province of Hampshire and Isle of Wight being ready and willing to give 76 US visitors a sample of British hospitality. The first day ended in a buffet attended by over 120 people, while Day 2 fulfilled the Grand Master of Maryland’s expressed wish to tour HMS Victory. This was followed in the evening by a meeting at Prudence Lodge No 7183 when US Brethren were joined by over 100 members of the English Constitution to witness a Third Degree ceremony. Dinner was held for brethren and their wives in the Portsmouth Guildhall. The third day saw a gathering of 200 masons, including the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, W Bro Brian C Bellinger, on the Isle of Wight when the American team demonstrated the Maryland version of the Third Degree to the delight and enlightenment of all present. On the following day, the American party left Hampshire to visit London’s Freemasons’ Hall.
    After a hectic three days, W Bro Harry Peaper of Prudence Lodge and all who participated were left with many happy memories and many warm, new friendships established as a result of a transatlantic link forged with a young US Naval Officer 27 years ago.
    W Bro Harry Peaper. Prudence Lodge No 7183, Portsmouth

Two Lodges called “Union”

On 20 May 1998, Union Lodge No 134 (the only English speaking lodge in Finland), under the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Finland, was consecrated in Helsinki. A great masonic honour was given to W Bro Michael Gordon Franklin, an Englishman now residing in Finland, by being appointed and installed as the first Worshipful Master of the lodge : another example of the ‘unification’ of the Free and Accepted Masons of Finland with the United Grand Lodge of England.
    To further mark this unique occasion, the current Master, W Bro N.Howarth and Right Worshipful Bro Robin Pooley OBE of the oldest lodge of the same name in the masonic world, namely Union Lodge No 52 (Norwich), of the United Grand Lodge of England (which received its warrant in 1736), were in attendance. Together they presented to the youngest Union Lodge in existence a suitably inscribed commemorative square and compass.
    The Festive Board was held at the Suomalainen Klubi (Finnish Club), attended by the Master, Grand Master and 60 other brethren. Future meetings of the new lodge called Union will take place on the first Thursday of the months October, November and December. English speaking masons who happen to be in Helsinki will be most welcome. Please contact the Master, Michael Franklin on Tel/Fax 358 9 682 1829, for more information.

Millfield Lodge Consecrated

Millfield Lodge No 9669 was consecrated on 23 July 1998. Formed by masons who are Old Millfieldians, masters of Millfield Public School and parents of Millfieldians, the lodge will provide a pathway to Freemasonry for all connected to the school.
    Millfield was founded 63 years ago by RJO Meyer, the eccentric and brilliant captain of Somerset County Cricket Club, after a request to provide an English education for six sons of eminent Maharajahs whose sons Meyer had taught in India. These Indian children were joined by a variety of talented children from a wide range of backgrounds, some on high fees and some on full scholarships. One of the original pupils, Nathan Penny, is a Founder member of the new Millfield Lodge. Today, 1700 children have the benefit of Millfield’s excellence, especially sporting excellence, with countless former pupils achieving international honours - 12 former pupils competed in the 1992 Olympics.
    The idea for a lodge was mooted in 1991 by Old Millfieldian Nigel Payne. Unfortunately, there was some opposition from the school, even though nearly every major public school has an old boys lodge. Circumstances dictated that the lodge be formed in London and called Millfield, rather than Old Millfieldian or Millfield School, as had been hoped. Christ’s Hospital Lodge provided much appreciated sponsorship. Its London meeting place is nevertheless fortuitous for its many international members. The lodge intends to match the old school in the pursuit of excellence. Long may it do so!

Virginia Welcomes Quatuor Coronati Lodge

On 9 July, 25 brethren of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge of Research, along with members of the Correspondence Circle, left Heathrow for the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria, near Washington DC, as guests of the Civil War Lodge of Research No 1865 AF & AM of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
    At 10.00am on the Saturday morning, brethren assembled at the Masonic Memorial, an awesome 333 feet tall building dedicated in 1932 on the historic site of Shooters Hill. In the afternoon, Alexandria’s stupendous auditorium was converted to a lodge room, accommodating some 300 masons from no less than 26 American States, as well as brethren from England, Scotland, France, Holland and Italy. W Bro Paul Bessel, Master of the host lodge, opened the proceedings with a delicate knock of the original gavel used by George Washington in the masonic ceremony for the laying of the cornerstone of the Capitol in 1793. Before lunch, brethren were presented with a controversial paper on the Civil War from the point of view of masonic morality, eloquently delivered by Bro Bessel. After lunch, the members of Quatuor Coronati Lodge No 2076 EC were invited to occupy the officers’ chairs. Bro John Ashby masterfully explained the procedures for opening a lodge under the English constitution and Bro Aubrey Newman explained the aprons worn by UK Brethren. The Master, W Bro Yasha Beresiner, explained the use of Grand Lodge tracing boards which were afterwards given as gifts to the Civil War Research Lodge. W Bro Beresiner then presented his illustrated paper on Early Aspects of Masonic Ephemera.
    Bro John Ashby acted as Director of Ceremonies for the English style Festive Board, a novelty to the US Brethren, which took place in the impressive Assembly Hall of the Memorial. After the superlative meal, the first toast was given to the Constitution and the President of the USA and the Queen. Bro Brent Morris proposed the toast to the two Masters in a most eloquent and amusing manner. This was responded to by Bros Paul and Yasha who had much in common, not least the warm memory of their fathers, both ardent Freemasons, who were no doubt looking down on them at this very moment, with great pride. More toasts followed and the exceptional day’s events came to an end about 10.00pm with many reluctant to part, lingering in the still bright light of the events of such a full, satisfying and instructive day. Before departure on the Sunday, the Master of QC and Bro Ottaviano Caporali had the honour to be invited to place a wreath at the tomb of George and Martha Washington at the Mount Vernon home of the greatest American patriot and Mason.
    Yasha Beresiner. Master. Quatuor Coronati Lodge No 2076

The Masonic Hearing Dog

Formed in 1982, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a charity to train dogs to become the ears of profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing people. Without the immense financial support of Freemasons over the years, the charity could not have got off the ground. There are now 500 dogs working for people of all ages and from all walks of life. W Bro John H Broster, Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon of the Lodge of Unanimity No 113 in Preston was honoured to be the first Freemason to receive a hearing dog in January 1997.
    “Coppers” alerts Bro John to the telephone, the door bell, the smoke alarm, and the fire alarm in public places. He also wakes Bro John up in the morning on hearing the alarm clock. Coppers thoroughly enjoys his Masonry, becoming excited at the sight of his master’s donning his morning suit and black tie. He also takes a keen interest in all the movements of the lodge and especially delights in forming processions in and out of the lodge. He gets a lot of attention wherever he goes, indeed, visitors are now coming specially to see the Masonic Hearing Dog. Coppers himself is now looking forward to accompanying John after he is enthroned as Most Wise Sovereign of Bellisama Chapter No 405 Rose Croix next November.