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Festival for the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys – 2009

The Provincial Grand Master’s congratulations go to all the brethren of Northumberland who have helped the Province towards its target of £2.5 million.
Quote: ‘The many millions raised for our Masonic Charities from Provincial Festivals never fails to make me proud to belong to such a generous organisation...’ Lord Northampton.

Reminder: Festival Dinner Wednesday 13th May - Deadline for your application is 17th April 2009
(Lost your Application Form download a copy from the website – www.northumberlandmasons.org )

News from United Grand Lodge

At the Quarterly Communication of United Grand Lodge in December 2008 Lord Northampton the Pro Grand Master announced his retirement from the position he had occupied since March 2001. He’d previously served for 5 years as the Assistant Grand Master and in total had spent the last fourteen years as a High Ruler in the Craft. A copy of his address to the last meeting of Grand Lodge at which he presided has been posted on the Provincial website.
At the Quarterly Communication of United Grand Lodge in March 2009 Peter Geoffrey Lowndes was installed as Pro Grand Master. At the same meeting he was succeeded as Deputy Grand Master by Jonathan Spence who in turn was succeeded as Director of Ceremonies by Oliver Lodge, Past Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies. The Assistant Grand Master, David Williamson has continued in office.
Congratulations
Congratulations are recorded to the following brethren and companions who travel to Great Queen Street at the end of April to receive their Craft and Chapter Grand Rank appointments/promotions, namely:
In Craft: Ist Appointments: W.Bros. M.D.E. Auld, F.C. Boak, G. Craigs and W.E. Nesbit all PAGDC.
Promotions: W.Bro. R.A. Hume, to PJGD
In Royal Arch Chapter; Ist Appointments: Ex.Comps. G.J. Long, R. Thornton and J. Tomlin all PGStB
Promotions: Ex.Comps. J.Y. Chan and J. Warham both to PAGSoj.

The Freemasons Grand Charity

The Australian Bushfires Appeal
In February the President of The Grand Charity approved an emergency grant of £15,000 to assist victims of the bushfires that tore through the state of Victoria, Australia. The money was donated to the Grand Lodge of Victoria, at Melbourne, Grand Master’s Victoria Bushfires Appeal. As brethren will have seen in the press and on the TV the impact of the fires has been catastrophic. Over two hundred people are known to have died, whole towns have been reduced to ash, and an estimated 365,000 hectares of land have been scorched by the flames, which have been fanned by a combination of record temperatures, drought conditions and changing wind direction. The money is being used to provide direct and prompt assistance to the communities and individuals affected by the fires.
Fiji Floods
In response to a request from the South West Pacific Group of Lodges, The President of the Grand Charity has approved an emergency grant of £5,000 to help victims of severe flooding across Fiji. Triggered by torrential rains in January the flooding affected most of Fiji and destroyed housing and infrastructure, leaving thousands homeless. Many of the families now housed in the emergency relief centres have lost everything and have only the clothes they were wearing when they escaped the waters. The estimated cost of the damage has been calculated to be in excess of £60 million. The emergency relief grant will support the relief efforts of the South West Pacific Group of Lodges.

News from Provincial Grand Lodge

Office hours: Monday to Friday 9.00am to 4.00pm

Congratulations:-
To: W. Bro. Matthew Swinburn Usher and W. Bro.Kenneth Baileff  who in October and December 2008 respectively celebrated 60 years membership in the Lodge of Swinburne No.2680. W. Bro. Brian Rudd, PSGD, Assistant Provincial Grand Master presented W. Bro Usher with a framed certificate and a commemorative lapel pin at the October meeting. W. Bro Baileff, who now lives in Doncaster has a special place in the Lodge history for as a small boy he used to visit the first Master of the Lodge W.Bro J.T. Stark therefore providing a link from 1898 to the present day. Unfortunately he was unable to attend in December to collect his certificate.

To: those brethren who have recently received certificates celebrating their 50 years in freemasonry details of which can be found on the website

To: King Solomon Lodge No. 7564 who celebrated their Golden Jubilee in January.

To: Henry Naisby Smith who on 15th January 2009 celebrated 70 years in Freemasonry at a meeting of Wansbeck Lodge No. 5171 held at the Masonic Hall, John Street, Ashington in the presence of W.Bro John James (Ian) Craigs the Deputy PGM who invested Harry with the rank of PProvSGW. W.Bro Harry was initiated into Wansbeck Lodge on 19th January 1939. Harry was appointed a Steward in 1947. During the next 10 years he occupied all the posts on “the Ladder” and was installed Master in March 1957. He served as Lodge Secretary from 1959 to 1973. He has held the office of Lodge Organist since his appointment in 1975, a position he has held for the last 45 years at St George’s (now Trinity) Church, Ashington where he has also been an Elder since 1968.

Good and Bad.
The bad news is that sadly November saw the closure of Thomas Bewick Lodge No.8246 and in December the closure of Freedom Lodge No.5920. The Good News; Thanks to the generosity of the brethren in the Northern Region of the Province The T.L.C. Teddy Bears have reached the A&E Departments at both the Alnwick and Berwick Infirmaries. This has been achieved two years ahead of schedule largely through the enthusiastic fund raising efforts of the brethren including the recent bicycle raffle which raised the magnificent sum of £636.00.

Bowling News
Dates for arranged matches this season:-
Wednesday 12th August, Durham away at Consett 2.00pm.
Sunday 16th August, the Markham Wright Trophy at Benfield
Tuesday  4th August, Cumberland/Westmorland at St. George's commencing at 1.00pm
Further information and details regarding the bowling club’s activities are available from W.Bro. John Meikle Tel.0191 2840886
 
Golf News
In this time of recession and doom and gloom Northumberland’s Masonic golfers can look forward to a season of cheaper golf! Membership of the Golfing Society has been reduced by over 30% to a mere £10! So why not join now and enjoy our two outings organised for Tuesday 21st May at Prudhoe Golf Club and Wednesday 16th September at Arcot Golf Club: Further details are available from the Secretary, Michael Anderson, Tel. 0191 2362641.
The Annual Charity Golf Day will be held on Tuesday 19th May 2009 at Arcot Golf Club - £120 per 4 man team includes round of golf and 2 course meal. Application Forms are available from your Lodge Secretary and on the website www.northumberlandmasons.org – The purpose of the Charity Golf Day is to raise funds for the NMCA, whilst enjoying each others company in a round of golf and a meal, so brethren don’t forget we need donations for the tombola. Additionally why not Sponsor a hole? – For details contact Peter Danbury at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or John Kindred at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A Gallon Bottle of Whisky for the RMTGB
Brethren may recall it was reported in the August 2008 edition of the Newsletter that W.Bro. Ken Cooper and Bro. Philip Thornton were visiting Lodges selling tickets for a gallon bottle of whiskey they had donated to raise funds for the Festival. The winner of the Bottle Whisky drawn at Holmes Lodge No 2571 was W. Bro John Ternent of Bothal Lodge No 4116.  The winning Number 1555 was sold at Eadwine Lodge, Bedlington. Ken and Philip’s efforts raised the magnificent sum of £5324.00 for the Festival. They would like to express their thanks and appreciation to everyone who contributed to the raffle and for the welcome and generosity received in all those Lodges who played host.

News from the other Orders

Annual Provincial Assembly of Royal Ark Mariners
On the 7th April 2009 at Whitley Bay Masonic Hall the R W Provincial Grand Master of the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariners will preside for the last time at its Annual Provincial Assembly to be held under the banner of the Triangle Lodge of Installed Commanders.  Whilst it is expected that the Worshipful Commanders and Wardens of all Royal Ark Mariner Lodges will attend, all Royal Ark Mariners are encouraged to attend and support those brethren who are to receive appointment to Royal Ark Mariner Provincial Grand Rank.
The popularity of this meeting is again evident in that all available places at the Festive Board have already been taken.

Royal Arch Chapter Annual Convocation
On the 15 April 2009 at St James Park Newcastle upon Tyne the ME Grand Superintendent will preside at the Annual Provincial Convocation of Provincial Grand Chapter at which he will invest and install E Comp David Melvin as Dep. Grand Superintendent, E Comp Barry N Speker as 2nd Prov. Grand Principal and E Comp VAC Reece as 3rd Prov. Grand Principal,  following which the new Provincial Officers will be appointed and invested.    A few places are still available for the Festive Board.