The ribbons and the background to the Royal Arch logo on the apron change from white to red then blue as the Companion progresses in the order.
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100 Doctors and Nurses at Stoke Mandeville Hospital received Chocolate Hearts or Chocolate Roses courtesy of Buckinghamshire Freemasons.
Bill Smithson, a member of went on a shopping spree across Bucks from Milton Keynes to Aylesbury to buy the chocolates ready for Valentines Day. Bill said “ In an overstretched NHS the staff don’t stop caring and neither should we”
The chocolates were donated to Elaine at the Hospital’s Acts of Kindness Team, for her to distribute, and later this morning she wrote “Thanks again Bill, I have shared them with A&E, the Medical Doctors team, the same day emergency assessment department, and wards 15,16,17 & 18….They were delighted !”
A further 20 gifts were left by Bill for The staff to let them know they are always close to our hearts in Freemasonry.
A Chapter is conjointly ruled by the Most Excellent Zerubbabel, Haggai and Joshua and are called the Principals whereas a Lodge is ruled over by the Worshipful Master. They each carry a sceptre and wear colourful robes.
Scribe Ezra is the equivalent of a Secretary and Scribe Nehemiah is like the Inner Guard. The Janitor outside the door is the same as a Tyler.
A Chapter has 3 additional officers called Sojourners. They are an integral part of the joining ceremony which is known as an Exaltation.
The remaining officers have the same names as their Craft counterparts: Treasurer, Director of Ceremonies, Almoner, Charity Steward, Assistant Director of Ceremonies and Stewards.
All officers wear collars with the jewel of their office appended but are coloured red.
Chapters, like Lodges, are grouped into Provinces, based on old County boundaries, with the Supreme Grand Chapter overseeing all of the Provinces.
Joining the Royal Arch is the natural progression from the Craft as the Ceremony addresses the missing knowledge from the events described in Third Degree Ceremony. Membership of the Royal Arch is also a gateway into joining many other Orders within Freemasonry.
Kip was initiated 50 years ago to the very day! Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Matthew Eaton, gave a brief history of Kip's life, as well as his extensive Masonic career.
Kip's partner, daughters and son-in-law were invited to attend and they surprised Kip when they, along with all the other guests, were invited into the Lodge room to witness this very special occasion.
A superb meal after the meeting, known as the Festive Board, finished off the evening with another presentation to Kip by way of a cake made by Bev Harfield.
Well done to everyone involved in organising this fantastic celebration event.
Liberté Chérie (French for "Cherished Liberty") was a Masonic Lodge founded in 1943 by Belgian Resistance fighters and other political prisoners at Esterwegen concentration camp. It was one of the few lodges of Freemasons founded within a Nazi concentration camp during the Second World War.
The lodge was created on November 15th, 1943 inside Hut 6 of Emslandlager VII and located in Esterwegen, Lower Saxony, Germany.
Paul Hanson was elected master. The brethren met for lodge work in Hut 6 around a table, which was otherwise used for cartridge sorting. A Catholic priest stood watch, so that the brethren could hold their meetings, and protected their secrecy.
The seven Freemasons who created the lodge were:
Paul Hanson, Luc Somerhausen, Jean Sugg, Franz Rochat, Guy Hannecart, Amédée Miclotte, and Degueldre.
Today 27th Jan, is Holocaust Memorial Day, the 80th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest and most infamous of the Nazi’s death camps.
A chance for all to remember the millions that have lost their lives just because of their differences.
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The Holocaust, also known as the Shoah, was the genocide of European Jews during World War II. Between 1941 and 1945, Nazi Germany and its collaborators systematically murdered some six million Jews across German-occupied Europe, around two-thirds of Europe's Jewish population.
Deaths: Around 6 million Jews
Start date: 1941
End date: 8 May 1945
What started as a simple conversation led W Bro Eugene Matthias, our 'Freemasonry in the Community' coordinator, to the Cowper & Newton Museum in Olney and became something extraordinary.
The museum had long dreamed of a new kitchen and a beautifully redecorated shop to enhance the visitors' experience. Unfortunately, rising costs made those dreams seem unattainable.
But dreams do come true! The Olney Masonic Club stepped in, teaming up with Bathrooms by Harpers (Ed & Mario) to bring this dream to life.
The museum needed £600 to reach its goal, and we were proud to cover the shortfall. Ed and Mario went above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect.
To celebrate this special occasion, the museum staff and OMC (Freemasons) marked the presentation in style, dressing up to commemorate the moment.
Royal Order of Scotland
Authentic documentary proof in the archives of the Grand Lodge gives rise to the popular assertion that the Royal Order of Scotland is senior to every other Masonic system, except for the Craft. The Grand Lodge is recorded as having first met in 1769.
From the earliest written recordings of meetings, the Order claimed that the King of Scots was the Hereditary Grand Master, and a seat is always kept vacant for him at every meeting of each Provincial Grand Lodge, and all meetings of Grand Lodge. The Order is administered from Edinburgh.
Membership of this elite Order is highly prized, admission is by invitation only to Master Masons of 5 years and upwards, by two current members of this Order.
You can read more about them here: https://www.royalorderscotland.org/
If you are interested in joining this order within Buckinghamshire, please message us.
Buckinghamshire Freemasons, under the banner of Freemasonry in the Community, made a 50 mile Pilgrim's Walk in aid of the Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity.
The Hospice wished to purchase new Cuddle beds, which are Hospital-style double beds, enabling partners to sleep in the same bed as their loved ones during their final days and hours, to create an endearing and loving memory.
Just before Christmas, Tracey Batt, IPU Ward Sister said;
Here at the Hospice we never underestimate the power of touch and a hug. We see all the time how being near loved ones, offers comfort when it is needed most and we are so thrilled to have been given the opportunity to purchase two Embrace Cuddle beds which were installed this week.
Being able to now offer patients and those they love, the opportunity to lie side by side, to snuggle children up with parents or grandparents is simply wonderful.
Within hours of installing these new adaptable beds, we were able to use them to their full advantage when a couple stayed overnight together in the bed. We witnessed the emotional impact and benefit of being able to spend precious time, when time is short, hugging closely together and it provided us with an insight into how valuable these beds will really be to the care we provide to our patient and families.
Prince Philip started his life in Freemasonry in 1952, at the age of 31. He was initiated into Navy Lodge No. 2612, on 5 December.
On 6 March 1953, Prince Philip progressed to the Second Degree of Freemasonry, before advancing to the Third Degree on 4 May 1953. The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) issued his Grand Lodge Certificate on 7 May that same year and he has remained a member until his death.
The Duke of Edinburgh was born in Corfu on 10 June 1921, the only son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Alice of Battenberg. He therefore also held the title Prince of Greece and Denmark.
Prince Philip joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1939, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Prince Louis, who was Admiral of the Fleet and First Sea Lord. He had a long and successful career in the Navy and rose to the rank of Commander.
Prince Philip was also a qualified pilot and was the first member of the Royal Family ever to fly out of Buckingham Palace in a helicopter.
He was known to drop into meetings at his Freemasons Lodge almost unannounced. Navy Lodge has a storied past and an amazing roster of luminaries appear upon its membership roll. The Lodge prides itself on being the premier Naval Lodge in the world, with an unparalleled history that includes four monarchs as past members – King Edward VII, King Edward VIII, King George VI and King George II of the Hellenes.
The former Duke of Edinburgh was patron or president of some 800 organisations, with special interests in scientific and technological research and development, the encouragement of sport, the welfare of young people, and conservation and the environment.
Freemasons can also count other members of the Royal Family among their number, including HRH The Duke of Kent, who is the longest-serving Grand Master of the UGLE.
The annual Buckinghamshire Provincial membership scheme, the 12 Days of Christmas (12DX) this year included Dagmar Lodge, which is a Special Interest Lodge with a rugby theme.
At their 12DX meeting, the members and visitors of Dagmar Lodge donated to support the MK Alliance Project, a school and community-based initiative to improve access to high quality rugby in Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas for children of all backgrounds.
It currently involves over 16 Schools and around 70 players, giving both new and experienced players the opportunity to be given free coaching and play competitive rugby. All the coaches and first aiders generously give their time for free.
The donation from Dagmar Lodge enables the players to be provided with a warm meal after games. This also helps them build new bonds and friendships, allowing them to grow their social skills and improve their confidence.
The Alliance is also a 'Safe Place' which gives players the opportunity to share any issues or problems they might have outside of the game in confidence, knowing it is safe to do so.
The Operatives
The full title of this Order is the Worshipful Society of Free Masons, Rough Masons, Walkers, Slaters, Paviours, Plaisterers and Bricklayers, in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Commonwealth, and Territories Overseas. It is often familiarly known as the ‘The Worshipful Society of Freemasons’.
Operative or Guild Masons were organized in England with royal approval dating at least from as early as the Grand Assemblage of 926 in York, which is reputed to have been authorized and encouraged by King Athelstan. The constitutions of the Society state that the Order was founded in 1913. The ritual of The Operatives as they are familiarly called, is more archaic in form and much fuller than that of the ‘speculatives’, containing practical instruction of which only echoes are found in speculative ritual, thereby providing an interesting field of study for the serious Masonic student.
Lodge meetings are held in Assemblages.
The degrees of the Society are seven in number.
The regalia is minimal and consists of a blue cord or blue collarette from which is suspended the badge of the member’s grade.
Badges are simply exchanged as progression is made. All members wear the distinctive Society tie.
Qualification for joining is that a candidate must be a Master Mason, a Mark Master Mason, and a Royal Arch Mason.
Find out more here: https://www.theoperatives.org/
BMCF have Donated £1,000 to buy new memory sticks and were sent the
following Testimonial:
“Our current crop of memory sticks is starting to show their age, so we thank
Bucks Masonic Centenary Fund who very generously awarded us a grant of
£1,000 which will help us to continue our quick turnround of audiobooks. Many
thanks, we really appreciate your support and so will our beneficiaries in the
country.”
Carol Hart
A Vision for Growth
John Clark's leadership was characterised by his vision for expansion. He tackled the membership challenge directly, stating, "Membership is the lifeblood of our organisation. Without a strong membership base, all other aspects of our work suffer." His strategy, developed with his team, focused on innovative marketing and engagement to attract and retain members. This approach led to four consecutive years of growth, underscoring the effectiveness of his initiatives.
Family and Freemasonry
John’s passion for Freemasonry extended into his personal life, witnessing the progression of his sons, Jack and David, within the Craft. "Seeing my sons take on progressive roles within Freemasonry has been one of the greatest joys of my tenure," he shared. Both sons have not only been initiated but have also served as Provincial Stewards, Masters, and then Secretaries of their respective lodges, demonstrating their commitment and leadership.
Innovative Initiatives
John's tenure wasn't just about numbers; it was about enhancing the Masonic experience. Inspired by him, "Project Transform" was launched to upgrade lodge room facilities and ceremonies. "We wanted to make Freemasonry not just a tradition but a theatrical experience," he explained. This project aimed to make ceremonies more engaging and meaningful.
A Digital Leap Forward
Recognising the need for a modern approach, John's team introduced a digital platform for managing membership enquiries, streamlining data, and improving executive reporting. This system, known as HeliPAD, was pivotal during the lockdown when traditional methods were impractical. Its success led the United Grand Lodge of England’s IT team under Past Bucks Deputy Hugh Douglas-Smyth to develop Portal, a comprehensive system amalgamating various administrative functions.
Community and Engagement
John fostered a vibrant community spirit through innovative engagement during the lockdown, hosting "Zoom Into Freemasonry" calls, family quiz nights, and virtual pub gatherings. "We had to adapt," John remarked, noting these events not only maintained interest but also boosted membership inquiries.
There were many amazing highlights, including triple initations at both Temple Manor Lodge and Dagmar Lodge.
Newly made Bro Toby was initiated into Temple Manor Lodge by his father, in the company of his uncle and grandfather.
In total, Buckinghamshire Freemasons have presented the 'Gift of Freemasonry' to over 150 people during the last three seasons of 12DX. Over 80 lodges have participated in this annual event.
For general enquiries about joining:
If you are based in Buckinghamshire, please use this link: https://buckspgl.org/joinFor people elsewhere in the UK and around the world, please use this link: https://www.ugle.org.uk/.../find-your-nearest.../lookup-area
BMCF have donated £2,000 which will go towards ensuring that deprived families with children receive support including Children’s Presents over Christmas and have recently received the following Testimonial:
Christmas is a particularly difficult time for many of our clients and last year so many asked for help with Christmas decorations, food and even gifts for their children. We found the Buckinghamshire Masonic Centenary Fund on-line. The application process was very simple and we were delighted to hear back quickly that our application of £2000 had been granted. This money will allow us to have a Christmas Fund that we can draw upon to provide much needed gifts and festive items for the many families who simply cannot afford Christmas this year.
We cannot thank the Buckinghamshire Masonic Centenary Fund enough for their support this year. It is going to make such a difference to so many.
Thank you
Kim, Carrie and Shannon.
The first recipient of the prestigious annual Mark Twain Humour Prize in 1998, Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor III was an influential and popular American comedian.
A veteran of 40 films between 1967 and 1991, he has been featured in four films, Live and Smokin', Richard Pryor Live in Concert, Richard Pryor Live on Sunset Strip, and Here and Now. His recordings have earned him two platinum albums, five gold albums, and five Grammys.
Pryor spent a short time in the U.S. Military from 1958 to 1960.
While living in Peoria in the early 1980's Pryor would join Henry Brown Lodge No. 22.
In 1963 Pryor moved to New York and began appearing regularly in Night Clubs with artists such as Bob Dylan and performers such as Woody Allen. At the time Pryor was inspired by Bill Cosby and his comedy was more middlebrow in comparison to the material that he would use later in his career.
In 1969 Pryor headed to California and signed with the record label Laff Records. In 1973 Pryor appeared in a documentary called Wattstax, in the film he riffed on the tragic-comic absurdities of race relations in Watts and through out the nation.
There were many amazing highlights, including bell ringing at the Festive Board at Old Pals Lodge in Slough by volunteers from Friends of Langley Park.
We also welcomed a new member to the Lodge of Concorde; Bro. Paul embarked on his Masonic journey with the help of the Lodge's airside safety unit, complete with ceremonial marshalling paddles at the ready.
In total, Buckinghamshire Freemasons will present the 'Gift of Freemasonry' to over 60 people during the season. Over 40 lodges are participating between now and the 19th of December.
For general enquiries about joining:
If you are based in Buckinghamshire, please use this link: https://buckspgl.org/joinFor people elsewhere in the UK and around the world, please use this link: https://www.ugle.org.uk/.../find-your-nearest.../lookup-area
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