HOME Current Issue Index by Issue Search the Site Translate On-Line Printer Friendly Internet Help Centre Regulars Specials Humour Book Reviews Links Affinity Lodges Subscriptions About FMT ADVERTISING Contact Us

BACK NEXT Winter 2007/8 Issue 43 Letter from the Editor Grand Lodge News Briefing News and Views On The Level Cornerstone Conference International News Beyond the Craft All You Need Is Love The Distinguishing Badge of a Mason A Passion for Freemasonry Napoleonic Prisoners of War in Hampshire A Freemason's Journey to The East Visions of Utopia Early Masonic Jewels Brother Lightfoote's Journal Review: The Influence of Neoplatonic Thought on Freemasonry Review: Emulation Working Today Review: Tell Me More About The Mark Degree Letters to the Editor The Freemasons' Grand Charity Library & Museum of Freemasonry Grand Lodge Supreme Grand Chapter Masonic Charities Canon Richard Tydeman: High Time Copyright 1997-2008 Grand Lodge Publications Ltd Designed and Maintained by: Cyberpoint Limited

FREEMASONRY TODAY Winter 2007/8 - Issue 43 - Index Letter from the Editor Whenever I open my newspaper or turn on my television I seem to find myself bombarded with selfrighteous discussions of truth, with words such as transparency and honesty bandied about as though they actually meant something to the user. Too often I feel asked to forgive, justify or ignore a host of squalid misdemeanours as ‘honest’ mistakes. In fact, looking at this spectacle, I feel more and more that I have been drawn into the company of low rent bottom-feeders for whom a pathetic excuse that all can see through is called ‘a robust defence’ and supposed to be taken seriously as a mark of probity. It is all rather gladiatorial, but played out in the dusty arena of some corrupt ... Grand Lodge: Grand Secretary's Column — India Visit — Masonic Year Book News Briefing: A Message from Lord Northampton The Pro Grand Master — European Grand Masters' Meeting in London News and Views: Duke of Kent Follows Family Tradition into the Ancient and Accepted Rite — City of London Event for Medical, University and Legal Lodges — Universities Scheme Meeting to Encourage Dialogue — Masons Go Gunning in Clay Competition — Hertfordshire County Council Drops all Reference to Freemasonry on its Job Application Forms — All The Fun of the Fair at Worcestershire Group 12's Day Out for the Kids — Speculative and Stonemasons Play Key Role in Armed Forces Memorial Construction — Guide to Emulation Working is Published On The Level: Kenneth Thomas is New PGM for Sussex — Herefordshire Team on Welsh Sponsored Charity Walk — Getting Their Goat in Northampton — Peter Kindler Takes on Royal Arch Role — It's A Dog's Life! — Essex Consecrates New Masters' Lodge — Canonbury Masonic Research Centre — Quatuor Coronati — Cornerstone Society — Manchester Association for Masonic Research Cornerstone Conference: The Problems of New Masons and a Study in French Freemasonry International News: Strong English Family Connection to New Province of Ontario Grand Master — Namibian Stalwarts Gather in South Africa Beyond the Craft: New Mark Head for Berkshire — Knights Templar Church Event — Surrey Mark Province and Hiram Lodge Celebrate 150 Years — Portsmouth Guildhall Mark Installation — Scrap of Parchment May Absolve the Knights Templar from their 'Crimes' after 700 Years — Former Indian Preceptory Holds its Installation All You Need Is Love Is it not a tragedy that the English language is so bereft of words for love? The ancient Greeks fared far better as, in addition to eros, they talked of agape, caritas and philia. The last three of these correspond closely to the three Grand Principles of Freemasonry. Brotherly love – agape – is that unconditional and non-judgemental love that sees all humans as equal in the eyes of God and it reflects the love of God for all his children, irrespective of their faith. Caritas, or charity, is the caring and compassionate love that drives us to relieve suffering while philia represents that desire for association, for friendship and companionship, but particularly for an affiliation with truth ... The Distinguishing Badge of a Mason Probably the most well-known fact about Freemasons for the general public is that they wear aprons for our ceremonies. What is less well known, even amongst members of the Craft itself, is the vast range of apron designs which exist. Today we have settled upon standardised designs: the Craft, the Royal Arch, each Order and Chapter beyond the Craft have their distinctive aprons. The Craft begins with a very basic example and as ... A Passion for Freemasonry An audience with Neville Barker Cryer is a wonderful experience for any mason interested in the history and traditions of our movement, but to visit him at his own home is an even greater privilege and that was my good fortune on a beautiful late autumn day. Neville was nearing the end of his recovery period following major heart surgery; he looked well and was in fine form. As Neville settled I sensed a warmth about the man and his abode which immediately set me at ease. I have read many of his books and articles but I wanted to know something about the man ... Napoleonic Prisoners of War in Hampshire The Minutes of my lodge, then Ancient’s Lodge No. 88 (now Lodge of Economy No.76), meeting at The King’s Head Inn, Winchester, on Saturday November 17th 1810 record: ‘The following Brethren were introduced as visitors belonging to the Lodge of the Great Orient of France, prisoners of war, marching from the interior to Portsmouth for the purpose of being embarked for Scotland’ The names and ranks of four infantry and two cavalry officers ... A Freemason's Journey to The East The new candidate for initiation, once he is permitted to enter the door into the Lodge Room, is immediately introduced to what appears to be a very strange world; a world parallel to the one he has left outside the door. First he is asked to confirm that he is free, and then he sets out on a long journey to the east. He begins this by stepping off with his left foot. Why? The left foot, freedom, and the east; the symbolism seems like some eccentric addition ... Visions of Utopia The first weekend of November saw the Canonbury Masonic Research Centre (CMRC) host its ninth international conference, an event that drew speakers and delegates from across Europe and North America. One of the original aims of the CMRC was to address the lack of scholarly research being conducted into Freemasonry in the UK and elsewhere, a focus that remains at the heart of the Centre’s mission. The dire need for such scholarly research was recognised as long ago as 1969 by the Oxford historian, John Morris Roberts, who made ... Early Masonic Jewels The Worcester Masonic Museum is famed throughout the masonic world for its outstanding collection of the medals and jewels belonging to the Craft and beyond. In August 1884, George Taylor, an enthusiastic Freemason and numismatist of Kidderminster, sold his collection at cost to the Museum, following an exhibition at the Guildhall in Worcester. This was to become the nucleus of the Museum collection. Just 7 years later in 1891, together with the ... Brother Lightfoote's Journal Homobonus, as his name implies, was a good man. Trained by his father in the craft of tailoring, he earned an enviable reputation for skill, precision and integrity. He never cut corners, neither did he pad his part – or his accounts. On top of his professional probity he was renowned for his piety, his generosity in alms giving and his care for the needy and the sick. During the Gloria at Mass, on this day in 1197, he stretched forth his arms like Christ crucified and fell dead. He is the patron of Cremona, though he was never guilty of fiddling. I have always felt ... Review: The Influence of Neoplatonic Thought on Freemasonry Review: Emulation Working Today Review: Tell Me More About The Mark Degree Letters to the Editor The Supreme Being — Remembrance Day — MQ and Freemasonry Today The Freemasons' Grand Charity What are we all about? (Freemasons that is) A question we are all asked on many occasions you will agree. By now we have the stock answers of what the craft does for us as individuals, moral and spiritual development, making one the best one can be etc, etc, etc…but when it comes to the charitable side of the craft and what Freemasonry does for others, it’s a little more complicated…. Or is it? An absolute must website for all members and non-members alike is www.grandcharity.org – A simple description of the actual charity is; “The Freemasons' Grand Charity is a grant-making charity, which supports people in need.” Their website is far more than that! It seems that ... Persistence Pays Off in Discovery of Miniature Many provinces have built up, over the years, a collection of portraits, engravings and photographs of their Provincial Grand Masters. In some cases it can be a challenge to find an image of some of the early PGMs. This was certainly so in Essex where, prompted by the publication of a Provincial history and the opening of a Provincial museum, much effort was spent trying to develop such a collection. One early Provincial Grand Master, William Wix, seemed to have eluded all efforts and no known image had been located either in national collections such as the National Portrait Gallery or from local sources. Then, one day this summer, during yet another search of the internet ... Grand Lodge It is proposed to permit the appointment of a Grand Orator, to be mirrored at Metropolitan, Provincial and District level, who will have the responsibility of managing and organising talks, lectures and orations. In addition to the administrative functions of the office he may also write and deliver talks, lectures and orations himself, though it is not essential that he should do. Notice to amend the Book of Constitutions was given. Annual Investiture. So that sufficient accommodation can be reserved for those Brethren who are to be invested and their friends, admission to the Annual Investiture is by ticket only. Brethren to be invested for the first time may invite to be present with them three ... Supreme Grand Chapter A fresh definition of the status of the Royal Arch is to be considered by Grand Lodge following the publication of the report of the working group set up last year under the chairmanship of the Second Grand Principal, George Francis. The announcement was made by Lord Northampton, Pro First Grand Principal, to the November meeting of Supreme Grand Chapter following publication of the report into the recruitment and retention of Royal Arch Masons. The report was going to Grand Superintendents, who would make it more widely available in Provinces. The report covers neither the Metropolitan Grand Chapter, as they are to bring out their own report, nor Districts overseas ... Masonic Charities: RMTGB Festival Forum Proves Huge Success — Lifelites Launch New Web Site — The Freemasons' Grand Charity Gives Special Support to Children's Hospices — New Web Site Launched with Extra Features — New Logo and Old Title for Masonic Samaritan Fund — MSF Sees Medical and Lay Recruits to its Board — Extra Support Given as Grants Reach £3.7M for Financial Year for More than 600 Applicants — First World War Veterans Meet at RMBI Home High Time Time is rather like money: it can be kept or lost, it can be saved or wasted, given or received, made or spent. A young man once arrived on a new motorcycle at his grandfather’s door. ‘Do you know, grandfather,’ he said, ‘that with this new bike I have saved ten minutes on the journey here.’ ‘Saved ten minutes, eh?’ answered the old man. ‘And what are you going to do with them? One should always have a purpose in saving time. The biblical book Ecclesiastes which contains the wonderful advice to ‘remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth’ also contains eight verses on the use of time, beginning, ‘To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven’ ...   Issue 43, Winter 2007/8 © Grand Lodge Publications Ltd 1997-2008