Forum Magazine January 2019

The Suffolk Freemasons Magazine

January 2019

FORUM 15th National Masonic Clay Shooting Championships

Saturday 22 June

2019

A first for Suffolk...We are hosting the Nationals!

FORUM The Suffolk Freemasons Magazine Thank you to everyone who has sent in articles for this issue, it is always much appreciated.

Remember this is your magazine and is generally comprised of information which you supply so if you do have anything of interest happening in your lodge or chapter, simply get in touch, my contact details are below.

In this issue you will find several articles which I have taken directly from ‘Solomon’ - I hope that you will find them interesting and that they stimulate you enough to visit the Solomon website yourselves. Solomon is still in development but it will become the largest source of masonic information in the world, simply enrol and enjoy its content.

I attend each event held by The Suffolk Branch of the Masonic Fishing Charity, you can read about the latest elsewhere in this issue but if your lodge is looking for a worthwhile cause to support why not consider sponsoring one of their events? I absolutely guarantee that not only will your lodge have a fantastic day out, you will see first hand the pleasure your donation has given to all the disadvantaged children the charity looks to assist.

Forum is in part funded by the advertising within it, please support those who help us to provide this magazine, the majority of them are Suffolk Freemasons themselves.

Kelvin Avis, Provincial Communications Officer 68 High Street, Hadleigh, Ipswich IP7 5EF Tel: 07771 644716 Email: kelvinavis@me.com

Advertising: Les Howard: Tel: 07775 921814 Email: les.jan@hotmail.co.uk

Guildhall Financial Services

Jottings

from e Provincial Grand Secretary

Well the new Masonic season started on 1st September and it seems to have been flat out ever since. e Provincial rulers have been busy representing Suffolk at Provincial Grand Lodge meetings in London and our neighbouring Provinces and I’m pleased to say we compare very favourably with them in terms of membership, indeed against the national trend and for the third year running we can show a small increase over the previous year. e launch of the Membership Pathway initiative by the Assistant Provincial Grand Master Keith Huxley and his team will I’m sure help us to continue to do this. is effectively takes all the successful good practices identified by the Improvement Delivery Group at UGLE and combines them into one document to assist lodges to attract and retain new members and retrieve lost ones. Not all of the eleven steps included will apply to every lodge but each lodge will be able to identify some initiatives to benefit them.

A glance at the Provincial Grand Lodge of Suffolk Facebook page provides a great opportunity to see what it is that we Freemasons really do and what we do it for. is page was set up with the expressed intention of allowing non Masons to see this for themselves so please encourage your family and friends outside lodge to look at it too. e Suffolk Light Blues page has something added to it every day and it is clear just how many thoroughly enjoyable evenings are spent around the Province. Remember you don’t have to be invited to a lodge meeting, if you’d like to attend one just get together with a couple of friends from your own lodge, phone the lodge secretary and book yourselves in.

As if the achievements of our intrepid cyclists were not enough they have now achieved another ‘First’ by being featured with the PGM and a good crowd of Suffolk Masons in Freemasonry Today. Great to see that their efforts have been recognised all over England and Wales. e final ‘Push’ by many lodges on behalf of the 2019 Festival is proving very successful with a number of good sized cheques gradually swelling the grand total, not long to go now so please keep up the pressure.

Charities outside of Masonry have also benefitted lately with £3000 being raised for Macmillan Cancer Support at the autumn coffee morning and £4000 presented to the East Anglian Air Ambulance by the DeptPGM and Prov. Charity Steward. e Travelling Gavel keeps moving regularly around the Province with many lodges wishing to get their name plaque on the lid of the box. It’s a very successful way of enhancing a lodge meeting and encouraging visitors to come along. I understand that on the last three occasions it has changed hands there have not been less than 30 visitors at the meeting! e December meeting of Stour Valley Lodge was a very special and unusual event. Not only was the PGM in attendance but having taken the Chair at the beginning of the evening he proceeded to open a Provincial Grand Lodge meeting, specially to promote Alasdair Branch to the rank of PPSGW. A truly well earned preferment for a Brother who has contributed enormously to Masonry in Sudbury and to the Suffolk Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge; well done Ali!

Roger Young 01284 723422 email: rogermyoung@icloud.com

Specialist in Equity Release, Mortgages and Protection

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e Suffolk Freemasons Magazine

Going forward, a few dates for your diary.

11th February sees the first production of ‘Pilgrims Progress’ at Gainsborough Lodge by Suffolk Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge following the success of e Ceremony of the Empty Chair.

26th April is the Centenary meeting of Suffolk Installed Master’s Lodge when the PGM will preside having been Installed as Master at the preceding March 5th Installation meeting.

12th May is the PGM’s reception for New Initiates who have joined Freemasonry during the last year; further details will be received by them shortly.

22nd June brings the National Masonic Clay Pigeon Shooting Championships to Suffolk for the first time ever. If you shoot please enter, if you don’t shoot please come along and support the Suffolk team, you never know you might find you’d like to have a go!

23rd October is the 2019 Festival Dinner at the Royal Hospital School.

9th May is the Provincial Grand Chapter meeting at Greshams in Ipswich.

31st May is the Provincial Grand Lodge meeting at e Royal Hospital School at Holbrook. e Dining /Attendance application forms are included with this edition of Forum for both these last two events so please complete them ASAP, especially those brethren who have received an appointment or promotion.

Finally we have a change within the Provincial Secretariat so can I take this opportunity to thank Bob Philips for his efforts in recent years and welcome Peter omas who will be assuming Bob’s duties when he joins us at the end of February. As always my sincere thanks to the other members of the team who put in many many hours to ensure that the Province runs so smoothly.

Roger Nash, Provincial Grand Secretary, January 2019

Suffolk Freemasons continue to support East Anglian Air Ambulance

Quarterly Communications at Grand Lodge - He’s behind you...

Pictured left to right following the meeting of Grand Lodge in London on 12 December 2018 are the RW Rev David Bowen, PGM for Herefordshire, our own Provincial Grand Chaplain Canon Kevan McCormack in his capacity as Assistant Grand Chaplain together with Ian Yeldham our PGM - and if you look very closely - VW Brother Dr David Staples, Grand Secretary is in the background keeping a watchful eye. David and Kevan were initiated into freemasonry in Herefordshire in 1983 and 1984 respectively, meeting each other before then, at church in Ross-on-Wye.

From the Provincial Grand Master Two Thousand and Nineteen

A grant of £4,000 to the East Anglian Air Ambulance from Suffolk Freemasons has brought the total Masonic support given to air ambulances across the country to £2.3 million since 2007. e Air Ambulance operates right across Suffolk and has made more than 2700 lifesaving flights over the last year, transporting many seriously injured people to hospital as well as treating patients on the ground. e grant, which comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, is funded by Freemasons and their families from across England and Wales. During 2018, Freemasons from around the country will be presenting 20 regional air ambulances with grants totalling £192,000. Joanna Drew, Director of Fundraising at EAAA Air Ambulance said: “We are very grateful to Suffolk Freemasons for their continuing generosity. Without support like this the Air Ambulance would not be able to carry on flying and our life-saving work could not continue.”

Neville Warnes the Provincial Charity Steward commented “We are very proud to be able to offer further assistance to the Air Ambulance. anks to the tireless efforts of their doctors and aircrew, many lives of local people are saved every year.”

East Anglian Air Ambulance relies entirely on charitable grants and donations - to make a donation, visit eaaa.org.uk

Almoners Tea Party...

On Sunday 30th September the Lodge of Fidelity Almoner, Stephen Bayfield invited the Widows to a vintage afternoon tea party along with lodge members and their partners. It was a very successful event with a lovely high class tea provided by the Lodge caterer with singing entertainment from the very talented Kelly Bayfield as ‘Vocally Vintage’. e whole afternoon was very well received by all who attended, and many personal messages of thanks have been received by Stephen since the event.

WM Werner Fraenzel-Read pictured with his wife Susan and Vocally Vintage singer Kelly Bayfield

This is the last year of the five, during which we have been furiously raising funds for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution, or as we know it, 2019 Festival. There have been some cracking events as well as many enormous achievements

by Lodges as well as individuals. The Banquet Dinner to celebrate the culmination of this event is to be held on October 23rd 2019 at the Royal Hospital School at Holbrook, which I am sure will be a fantastic event.

Our fund raising can continue until the end of August which gives us just 10% of our allotted time left. So many of you have put gargantuan efforts and time to support this very worthy cause for which I thank you and if you are able, for these last six months, to add whatever you can to your totals, I would be so grateful.

We cannot add a penny piece after 31st August and then we will all be able to say “It is done”. We will have put every possible pound into a total that will be part of Suffolk’s history for ever and we can rest easily for the next five years, having done so.

I personally thank each of you, your families and your friends for all the generosity and support for completing this journey and putting us all in good stead for the help and protection it will afford us in the future.

Lastly, you are all making this Province absolutely exceptional in every which way, from holders of Order of Merit to the newest Light Blue, please continue to forge ahead to make Suffolk the brightest beacon in English Freemasonry.

Thank you.

R.W.Bro. Ian Yeldham Provincial Grand Master

www.suffolkfreemason.org.uk

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Screening for Heart Disease PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SUFFOLK

and Prostate Cancer in Suffolk

Prostate Check Suffolk Provincial Grand Lodge, CHAPS and One Life Suffolk have teamed up to provide a programme for all Suffolk Masons and the general male population to have a Prostate Cancer and NHS Health Check.

The Prostate Check is a simple blood test (PSA) that has achieved very good results in other programmes by highlighting a need to follow the result up with your GP (10% referral). 12,000 men die each year from Prostate Cancer and the latest information shows that PSA based screening can cut the death rate by 50%.

6th July Lowestoft 101 The Avenue, Lowestoft NR33 7LJ

2nd November Ipswich Soane Street IP4 2BG

Details of times and full booking details to follow

NEW AND USED REGALIA

Suffolk Provincial Grand Lodge

Background to Screening e NHS has provided screening for heart disease – the NHS Health Check – for years but screening for Prostate Cancer (PCa) remains controversial. Although PCa is the commonest male cancer and second commonest male cancer killer in the UK, causing over 47,000 new cases and over 12,000 deaths every year, there is no national screening programme, despite PCa causing more deaths than breast cancer. We do have a ‘Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme’ (PCRMP) sent to all GPs and which entitles men over age 50 to have a screening blood test.

Unfortunately many GPs refuse to provide the simple PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) screening blood test on the grounds that it is too inaccurate and the “harms” of screening outweigh the “benefits”. e “benefit” being a life saved through early detection of PCa whilst it is still confined within the prostate gland and is thus curable.

Although PSA is not a perfect marker for PCa, the “harms” case is now well outdated by advances in clinical management of PCa and the latest long term trial evidence has shown that if you are in a screening programme having regular PSA tests from age 50 to 75, you can reduce your risk of dying from PCa. Screening in Suffolk CHAPS is a local Men’s Health Charity that has been providing screening tests for cardiovascular disease and PCa at an annual event at Ipswich Town F.C. since 2014. We were approached by Trevor Tinley and invited to provide these tests at Masonic Centres in Suffolk and commenced with events in Ipswich, Bury and Lowestoft in 2017. Masons were invited to bring their family and friends for tests so the events were not exclusively for Masons.

At each event men over 40 could book, subject to capacity, an NHS Health Check and a PSA test. e Health Checks were free and performed by One Life Suffolk under an existing NHS contract. e PSA tests were charged at £20 which included a comprehensive Men’s Health Booklet, a Men’s Health Passport outlining all common cancer symptoms and UK screening services, full pre-test counselling and a full results report including a recommendation on the timing of future tests.

PSA results are then logged onto a national Masonic database run by another charity and currently holding the results of over 10,000 UK Masons.

Suffolk Results Following an average attendance of 50 at 3 events in 2017, the attendance has increased to 62 at 4 events in 2018, a testament to the local organisation and advertising carried out by Trevor Tinley.

Results are categorised as Green - normal, Amber - slightly abnormal and Red - clearly abnormal. Clear follow-up instructions are issued with each result: repeat PSA test in 1-5 year for normal results, repeat in 3-6 months for Amber results and report immediately to the GP for Red results with a view to a specialist referral.

Provincial Office: Freemasons’ Hall, Soane Street, Ipswich IP4 2BG • Tel. (01473) 232432 • www.suffolkfreemason.org.uk • pgl@suffolkfreemason.org.uk

Regalia Services On our site you will find over 600 pieces of regalia. So, whether you are an Entered Apprentice or a Grand Lodge Officer all of your Masonic and Side Order needs are here.

For example: Masonic publications and Ritual books. Personal Gifts, Clothing such as Morning Suits, Trousers, Waistcoats, Jewellery, including Lapel Pins, Cuff Links, Watches, Masonic Rings and even Lodge Furniture.

Contact: WBro. Rod Hellawell Tel 01473 623533 M 07768 837874 E: regaliaservices@dpsconnect.com Freemasons Hall, Soane Street, Ipswich IP4 2BG

www.suffolkpgl.org.uk

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e Suffolk Freemasons Magazine

e Charity audits the abnormal results 6 months after each event.

Statistically we anticipate that 1 in 3 of the abnormal results will be due to an underlying PCa. Of the 15 abnormal results in 2017, so far 5 have proved positive for cancer. Initial audit of the 2018 results has so far revealed a further cancer from Sudbury. Of the 6 cancers so far confirmed, 1 is on suppressive treatment for advanced cancer, 1 is on surveillance for an apparent non-aggressive cancer and 4 are undergoing curative treatment. is is an above average result by current UK standards and fully justifies the exercise in Suffolk.

We do not receive results of the NHS Health Checks.

Conclusion e events are well attended and have been very well organised by Trevor Tinley. e cancer pick-up rate is above average which fully justifies the initiative and the outcome so far. e biggest benefits in terms of reduction in mortality are achieved through organised screening programmes. To achieve these results, the Charity advocates additional central funding to provide PCa awareness literature to all Masons within the Province and, once informed, the opportunity to enter a Suffolk PGL sponsored screening programme.

Chris Booth, MBBS, FRCS Consultant Urologist (retired) Clinical Director, CHAPS Men’s Health Charity

Paintballing with the Suffolk Light Blues

Unique event at Abbey Brethren of Abbey Lodge No. 1592, in Bury St Edmunds, together with their guests, were witness to a unique event at their November meeting, when the Past Grand Superintendent of the Province, VW Bro. David Watson PGSwdB (Eng.), himself a member of Abbey Lodge, received a Certificate to mark his 50 years of continuous membership of the Craft.

In recognition of this unique event, no less than fourteen Acting Officers were in attendance, forming an escort under the direction of the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, W Bro David Barker, all of whom are pictured, together with the RW Provincial Grand Master, the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent and the Worshipful Master of Abbey Lodge, W Bro. Stuart Chapman.

Sunday the 14th of October saw 25 Suffolk Light Blues together with their friends and family gather deep in the bowels of etford Forest at the UK Combat Paintballing Centre for what was to prove a day of great fun and laughter. We were appropriately designated the blue team and following the briefing got ready for battle. e camouflage overalls, face guards and other protective equipment made us all look exactly like our opponents with only the different coloured balaclavas distinguishing the teams...at least that was the excuse several of our members gave after shooting some of their own, apparently by mistake.

Everyone in our happy band, which included ladies and children, were issued with 300 paint balls as standard but Paul Goodrich Hobson and his nephew Charlie had ordered 1500 and were clearly set on inflicting maximum damage while Paul Rackham was like a kid in a sweet shop when he realised he could purchase unlimited smoke bombs. e first smoke bomb was deployed by yours truly early in the day. Now, in my defence nobody told me that the wind direction played a big factor in the effectiveness of a smoke bomb. So having taken no consideration of the wind direction whatsoever I let rip with the intention of confusing the enemy. e reality was somewhat different as the light autumnal breeze which drifted softly across the battlefield simply blew the smoke straight back in our faces allowing the enemy to overrun our forces who were by that time totally blinded by our own smoke...DOH! Nobody mentioned that much for the rest of the day !

We had three exciting skirmishes before lunch during which bruises were compared and stories of daring-do were eagerly shared amongst the group with of course absolutely no embellishment whatsoever.

As several of our opposing groups were present celebrating birthdays or other special occasions, a stag run was organised by our hosts. We were asked to nominate a member for the stag run and Ryan Harvey was duly elected as he was due to be installed as worshipful Master of Unity Lodge No. 71 the following ursday. Ryan chose Mark Mills from Copperfield Lodge as his running mate and together they sprinted the width of the battlefield whilst under rapid fire from the 70 or so massed ranks of paintball guns. Ouch! To say that they looked like a Dulux colour chart afterwards was an understatement.

When the dust eventually settled on a tired but happy troop of warriors everybody said it had been a fantastic day which was thoroughly enjoyed by all and so by popular request another one will be planned for the springtime.

Ollie Fordham

e RW Provincial Grand Master, Ian Yeldham and the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent VW Bro. David Boswell, both attended to make the presentation in front of in excess of one hundred brethren. e RW Provincial Grand Master made reference to the remarkable achievement of all those who became entitled to such an honour and warmly congratulated VW Bro. David Watson.

In similarly offering his personal congratulations, the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent made reference to his predecessor’s auspicious career in both the Craft and in the Royal Arch, highlighting both his personal qualities and the dedication shown by his service to the Province over many years. e Past Grand Superintendent thanked the RW Provincial Grand Master and the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent for their kind words, making reference to feeling quite overwhelmed by the attendance and support of so many brethren. He spoke of his wonderful memories of his time in Freemasonry and of how proud he was of the Province of Suffolk and was warmly applauded by all those who had been privileged to share the occasion with him.

David Barker

www.suffolkfreemason.org.uk

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Solomon - Fostering Curiosity, Developing Understanding

solomon.ugle.org.uk

What is more, some of these Aprons were extremely costly, and it The Apron, of course, is an inheritance from the days when was reported in The Freemasons’ Magazine of 1793 that ‘at the Masons were operative and needed a protective garment when consecration of the Shakespeare Lodge, No. 516, Stratford on they were working with the blocks of stone, and rough edges and Avon, many wore Aprons from 5 to 10 pounds each’. In modern chips of stone would be a constant hazard. In those days the apron terms that would be many hundreds if not thousands of pounds. would have been much longer and have covered the lower legs as well as the torso. It would probably have When the two Grand Lodges, Moderns been supported by laces around the and Antients, merged in December neck as well as the waist. The apron 1813 to form the United Grand Lodge would probably have been made from of England, there was a great amount calf or sheep skin, as they would have of work to do to rationalise been stronger and have been readily Constitutions, Certificates and Regalia available in the Middle Ages. There and the opportunity was taken to start would have been no ornamentation on The Apron is the most visible identification feature afresh in many cases. The creeping an operative Mason’s apron, but it would of a Freemason and the item that is often referred to additions and decorations to Aprons have distinguished him from other trades by non-Masons when talking about our Order. was one area that had to be people who would have worn different addressed. Fortunately the Brethren styles of apron. involved in the rationalisation had made such a good job of this

Masonic Aprons - A History

We do know that even in the very early part of the Middle Ages there were Trade Guilds and aprons were used in a ceremonial form and there is a record of a Mason bequeathing his apron decorated with letters that have a Masonic allusion even today.

When the first Grand Lodge was formed in 1717 it brought together Freemasons from four active Lodges in London, one of which was a Lodge for Operative Masons and the others apparently were formed of members who in the main were not connected with the trade.

During the 18th century, the aprons worn in Lodges evolved from the basic white lambskin apron to other more exotic designs.

Certainly, in the Hogarth print, ‘Night’, the Worshipful Master and his Tyler are wearing plain white aprons, but these soon became unfashionable. As Masonry spread throughout Europe and around the world it would appear that fancier designs were created, and in some respects, these served to illustrate the Degree or Degrees, which were being worked, or to which the apron’s owner belonged.

In 1767 the Modern Grand Lodge issued an instruction which allowed members of particular Lodges to also line their Aprons with white silk. It is apparent from engravings and reports of the time that many of the Brethren, Grand Officers or not, were edging their Aprons with blue silk.

It is also of interest to note that the method of wearing the Apron was customarily different for the Brethren in the Three Degrees.

The Entered Apprentice wore his with the flap turned inside so that it was invisible. The Fellow Craft wore his with the flap up and fixed to one of his waistcoat buttons while the Master’s flap hangs down on the outside. Such traditions hang on in some parts of the country today, and you may observe some Lodges in different Provinces where the Fellow Craft and Entered Apprentice wear their Apron in such a manner. Reports from those days also indicate that on the Grand Lodge meeting days, the Grand Officers aprons were finely decorated.

After 1760, the ornamentation of aprons rapidly increased and it evidently became fashionable for Masons to adopt more flamboyant designs on their Aprons, and certainly by the early 1800’s some Masons had aprons printed, which contained symbols from other Side Degrees etc. In the case of the Antients Grand Lodge (which had been formed in 1751 as a rival to the Premier Grand Lodge) this was a practical approach, as the Craft Lodge could also work other Degrees such as Royal Arch, Mark, Royal Ark Mariner and Knights Templar.

work that the design of Aprons has stayed virtually unchanged to this day.

In the Constitutions and Regulations of 1815, the United Grand Lodge laid down the standards for Regalia. This now defined in precise details the dimensions, colours and ornamentation of each type of Apron. The only significant difference in this Regalia from our current Regalia was that the colour of the edging of a Master Mason’s Apron is described as sky blue in 1815 rather than light blue as today. (This may just have been bad drafting because the term light blue is used elsewhere in the document). The width of the edging was defined in 1815 to be 1½ inches deep rather than two inches maximum as today. Officers and past Officers of Lodges could have the emblems of their Office in silver or white in the centre of their Apron in 1815, while today only present Officers can do so. In our current times the Officers also have a double circle round the emblem of their Office in which may be inserted the name and number of their Lodge. The only significant change to these regulations has been that Members of the Prince of Wales Lodge may add an edging of garter blue ribbon to the internal border of the light blue edging.

The Regalia for the Grand Master and his Deputy appear to have evolved as time went on. Initially Collars rather than Chains were worn (according to portraits of the High Rulers), but definitions of Chains evolved later for all Grand Officers. The Aprons of the Grand Master, his Deputy and the Provincial Grand Masters, also evolved through time. Initially Provincial Grand Masters had a pomegranate as the emblem in the centre of the Apron with no embroidery around the edge. It seems that the Provincial Grand Masters changed to full embroidery around their Aprons sometime in the 1860s but the first mention in the Book of Constitutions is 1884.

Surviving mid-Victorian Aprons sometimes show a transitional pattern with pomegranates spaced out around the Apron border.

(Grand Lodge information sheet). The final definition was that of the Aprons of ‘Masters and Past Masters of Lodges’. The Rosettes were to be replaced by three several sets of two right angles formed by perpendicular lines on horizontal lines. In 1815 these emblems were to be of ribbon of the appropriate colour for Past Masters (sky blue) and for Grand Officers (garter–blue or gold).

If you visit a Masonic Museum, take a little time to seek out these old Aprons; they are worth a look!

© UGLE 2018, Author Don Peacock

Remembrance Day 2018

WHYMARK & MOULTON LTD

Sudbury Around 15 Masons from various Sudbury Lodges took part in this years parade, forming up on the Market Hill in front of St. Peter's Church, beautifully decorated with a cascade of 23,000 poppies, and marching through a crowded town to St. Gregorys Church for the commemoration service. During the service all 160 plus Suffolk armed forces members who had made the supreme sacrifice were named in a roll call of honour, with W. Bro. Lt. Colonel William Morriss Armes and W. Bro. Lt. Colonel Charles Henry Tippet, both of whom were members of Stour Valley Lodge, being prominent among them. After a very moving and emotional service we left the church and with the Brethren standing to order the Master of Stour Valley Lodge, Bill Dotesio-Eyers, placed a wreath on the war memorial in memory of those Brethren who fell in the Great War and in all conflicts since. We then all formed up and marched through the still crowded streets of Sudbury to return to the market hill and disband. A good turn out of Sudbury Brethren supporting a very special and memorable occasion.

Stowmarket e three Masters from Phoenix, Ala & Bosmere Lodges, and a contingent of brethren with their ladies attended the Remembrance Service Parade at Stowmarket on Sunday 11th November. A very moving ceremony in the church and afterwards at the Memorial Gates where WBro Graham Fielding (master of Ala Lodge) laid the wreath. We returned to the Masonic Hall, Stowmarket to have our Armistice Dinner.

Forty two guests attended which was organised by WBro Colin (Codge) Barber. What a fabulous time we had, one of the best we have put on by the Events Committee. e dinner was presided over by WBro David Card, with moving interpretations and stories of the Stowmarket men who fell during the war. Approximately 150 poppies were distributed on the dining table with the names on each of those who fell during the Great War from Stowmarket. Our thanks go to Chef Andy McGowan who provided the feast.

Hadleigh Members of Virtue & Silence, Brett Valley and Court Knoll this year took part in the Remembrance Parade at Hadleigh. Marching directly behind the armed forces to the War Memorial where the three Worshipful Masters, David Byers, Mac Speake and Jon Neil each laid a wreath on behalf of their respective lodges. After a Service of Remembrance at St. Mary’s Church we retired for lunch together with our ladies and guests and all agreed it was great experience and one which will certainly be repeated.

The Suffolk Freemasons Magazine February 2018

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We mail 2800 copies direct to every Freemason in Suffolk.

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A father’s story...

My name is Tony Bayliss and I am a proud Master Mason and my Lodge is Babergh Lodge No. 8122 in Sudbury. I am an events Catering Manager and am fortunate to manage the Catering for some of the biggest events in the country at Emirates Stadium, Wembley Stadium, Twickenham, Aintree and Cheltenham to name but a few. My 7 year old daughter Teigan has quadriplegic cerebral palsy from what is called the HSV-1 virus. It’s the Herpes Simplex Virus most commonly known as the cold sore virus or the “kiss of death” for infants.

For infants with little to no immune system, it’s fatal. When someone who has the virus in their system and kisses an infant it can spread rapidly. You can have the virus and not even know you have it. You don’t have to have an active cold sore to pass it on. You shed the virus in your saliva and when it gets on the baby it goes through the body so fast. It attacks the brain first. It shows up as a type of meningitis. It’s fluid based around the vertebrae and goes straight to the brain. It then spreads to all their organs. It happens so fast that you don’t even know the baby is sick.

In Teigans case, she was 2 weeks old and when we arrived at the hospital she was having multiple seizures that started in her right arm; we mentioned this to the triage nurse and she told us not to worry it was neurological!! Something still didn’t feel right so we waited to see a doctor for what seemed like forever. In this time we watched the seizures spreading across our daughters body.

Everyone needs to know about this virus and what it does to children and their families! Be mindful of kissing babies on the lips and wash your hands when you are around newborns.

I have seen stories about other infants having this same virus; some unfortunately don’t survive; you never think it’s going to happen to you. ere are not a lot of cases on this but it’s starting to spread more and more. And now it has happened right here to us. Our perfectly healthy, happy, Teigan is not able to do the things she should because of a terrible virus. Do your part, stop kissing babies and start washing your hands. ese babies don’t deserve it. Teigan didn’t deserve it. I as a father don’t deserve it, my wife Beckie does not deserve it and the children don’t deserve it. And now we will live a whole life time of “what if ’s”. It’s not fair.

I organise many Charity and Awareness events for Teigan and next May Bank Holiday 25th and 26th with the support of our very own Suffolk Light Blues I am putting on our biggest event to date “TeigyFest2019” where I have some of the best Tributes in the country coming to perform. We have also recently released a charity single called “SMILE” sung by my good friend and great up and coming artist Adam omas.

Any help anyone can give will be much appreciated.

Please follow Teigan’s story on Facebook at: TeiganSmile – My Journey With Cerebral Palsy Tony Bayliss

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Have you got an idea for an article?

Have you something or someone you would like us to feature?

Have you researched your lodge or masonic hall history?

Editor: WBro. Kelvin Avis Tel 07771 644716 kelvinavis@me.com

e Suffolk Branch of the Masonic Fishing Charity e second event of the year for the Suffolk branch of the MTSFC was held at Highfield Fisheries in orpe Abbotts, near Diss. is venue was kindly donated free of charge by its owner, Mike Roberts, who is a member of Apollo Lodge. e event was attend by e Ashley School, a special needs school from Lowestoft, they brought 16 children and four helpers. e lakes were perfect for this event with great swims, safe platforms and very well stocked with huge Carp.

We could see early on it was going to be a good day with many fish visible from 7 am whilst we were setting up. e day started bright and the sun shone on us all day. e children arrived at 10 am and were introduced to their individual casters for the day. e casters all kindly give up their day to instruct and help the children. Some children doubled up including two young girls who went on to catch the largest fish, a huge carp. ey all fished until around 1 pm when we broke for some food, another great BBQ lunch provided by our chefs Robert Clubb and Brian Dundon from e Court Knoll Lodge. e DPGM David Clarke and his wife represented the Province and also kindly presented the awards, medals and spoke and mingled with the children during the event. e children were, as always, extremely well behaved, it seems fishing has this effect on them. It keeps them focused, occupied and the teachers are often shocked at their concentration. As always, the casters job of connecting and fishing with the children without prying and making them feel comfortable cannot be underestimated, they did a great job.

We need your help... e events include the organisation of people, food, licences, insurance and all other costs. e total cost comes to around £500 per event. It can give very good local PR to your lodge and for Court Knoll it has even attracted new members. A recent event sponsored by Brett Valley Lodge was extremely successful and very enjoyable for their members and Worshipful Master who came and presented the awards. is is great way to spend £500 from your masters list or a donation and works like this.

1. e lodge can help a local school, disabled centre, children’s home or any other disadvantaged group of people. e sponsoring lodge can choose the School or Group or we can find you a local one.

2. e event is undertaken in the name of your lodge, resulting in great local PR for your Lodge. ere is no charge to the school or group.

3. e master or group from the lodge can present the awards on the day.

4. e team from Suffolk MTSFC organise the whole day and provide all the casters so the sponsoring lodge can just attend enjoy the day without having to work, if they want to get involved they can.

5. e children all leave with a free of charge goodie bag including water bottle, wristbands, poncho, pen, hat, bag and included information on Masonry and the MTSFC. To sponsor an event please contact Robert Clubb or Jon Neill at Court Knoll Lodge. jon@sportsafeuk.com or robert@dunwellpmc.com

Sportsman’s Half Time Gin ...e Background Story from Chris Warnes Following a sterling meeting in May we had retired from the lodge as is our usual want and I was sat with W.Bro Paul Rayner in front of the log fire at Sudbury Rugby Club recovering from the unannounced visit of the PGM, glass in hand calming my nerves, discussing our love of the juniper berry and its mystical properties when distilled with a grain mash and lovingly mixed with an appropriate tonic. Our musings turned to our need to raise funds for the lodge charitable donations but within the ethos of our lodge which is to avoid overt collections. Cue a eureka moment, Paul is part owner of ‘The Stillery’ in Bury St Edmunds Sportsmen love gin, lets make a Sportsman’s Lodge Gin! Now many of you may assume this was simply an opportunity to test many suitable gin flavourings in order to find the perfect combination of botanics to suit our delectable palate’s and you would not be wrong. Sportsman’s Lodge descended on Caernarfon for our annual weekend away and having spent two nights swelling the coffers of the local gin bar, tasting most of its 50 or so flavours we had managed to drink them dry of Orange Marmalade Gin and through our dedication to this taste testing process the choice was made.

On our return I relayed this discovery to Paul and he set his Gin Elves into manufacture and Sportsman’s Gin was born, with Merv Jeffrey completing the process by slurring into my ear that we should call it ‘Half Time Gin’, it has got oranges in after all!

So this is your opportunity to own a piece of Sportsman’s memorabilia, for the very special price of £38 you can own a 700ml bottle of this unique hand crafted ‘one shot’ Gin, locally made with undertones of blood orange. The London Dry Gin that is the base for our Gin sells at £40 so with Paul and the Stillery being incredibly generous it is enabling us to sell at £38 and still make a charitable donation to the lodge from every bottle we sell.

At our September meeting in Hadleigh, following a taster at the festive board I took pre-orders for 28 bottles which is testament to the quality of the product.

Sales will go a long way to helping us reach our festival target and beyond that to support our local sporting clubs. The Gin really is fantastic and will beautifully adorn your drinks cabinet and we even have our very own professional label as below...

Finally my express thanks and gratitude to Paul Raynor and his friends at ‘The Stillery’ for supporting us so admirably in our endeavours!

To place an order simply contact Chris Warnes on 07860 565894 or cpw@hadleighcastings.com and for the bargain price of £38 you can support Sportsman’s charity account and indulge your taste buds!

www.suffolkfreemason.org.uk

I9

A System of 33 Degrees In Freemasonry Today or FMT as it is now being published, there is an excellent article about the Ancient and Accepted Rite or Rose Croix as some may know it. If, like me, you have an interest in the History of Freemasonry and its different orders then I do recommend you to read this article it has been compiled by the Grand Secretary General of the Order, Dr Giles Shilson. I have briefly put together some History and facts about the Order which I think you may find interesting.

History e ancient and Accepted Rite derives from the Rite of Perfection which developed in France mainly in the quarter century before September 1762. It’s Constitution and the rituals for its 25 degrees were formulated by Francken in a manuscript bearing that date. It was followed by e Grand Constitutions dated May 1786 which describes the Ancient & Accepted Rite, consisting of 33 degrees largely as it exists today. is document was presented as the product of a council meeting under the titular direction of Frederick the Great. In May 1801, in Charleston the first Supreme Council following the Grand Constitution was opened. In 1845 Dr Crucefix , a Mason with considerable interest in degrees outside of the Craft, obtained a Patent from the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of USA. He along with other eminent Freemasons formed an English Supreme Council. ere are now independent Supreme Councils in over 60 countries. e oldest Chapter in Suffolk is Victoria who received its Warrant 10th April 1867. e youngest is Laconic Chapter which is 10 years old.

Supreme Council 33 degree Grand East 10 Duke Street St James’s e Sovereign power of the Ancient & Accepted Rite in England and Wales is committed to a Supreme Council consisting of 9 Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, as prescribed for every country by the Grand Constitutions. It has the responsibility of managing the affairs and promoting the well being of the Order including the consecration of new Chapters and maintaining fruitful relationships with other Masonic bodies nationally and internationally. Each member of Supreme Council holds the highest degree of the order 33° as do some 50 Inspector General in England and Wales and 20 in districts overseas and a few others who contribute very significant services to the order such as the Grand Patron his R.H. Duke of Kent. e Supreme Council delegates authority to the Districts through an Inspector General he has an executive team of one other called the District Recorder, in Suffolk it is myself, there are no others. Rose Croix is a very lean organisation both at Supreme Council and Districts. Authority is delegated to Chapters to confer degrees from the 4th to 18th. Higher degrees are conferred by Supreme Council at regular ceremonies.

30°, 31°, 32° & 33°.

About e Rose Croix Of the Degrees beyond the Craft probably one of the most thoughtful and beautiful is the 18th Degree or Knight of the Pelican and Eagle, or Sovereign Prince Rose Croix of the Ancient & Accepted Rite. Normally referred to as the Rose Croix. e Degree is a Christian degree which is open to any Brother who has been a Master Mason for at least one full year and who professes the Trinitarian Faith. You do not have to belong to any other order. e ceremony requires thoughtful consideration and a Christian understanding as it is a Masons self-awareness and Christian faith which are key to his participation especially as the Order amplifies the teaching of Craft Masonry within a Christian Context e first three degrees are deemed to be equivalent to the first three degrees of Craft masonry. e intermediate degrees from the 4th to the 13th are conferred on candidates by name and maybe considered as extensions of the Master Masons legend referring to the completion of the temple at Jerusalem under King Solomon’s direction. e 14 - 16th refer to the rebuilding of the temple and were developed in France about 1780 and used the same material as the Royal Arch degree in England. e 17th degree is a mystical preparation for the 18th degree, in which Faith Hope and Charity is dominant.

It is an immensely and thought provoking, impressive and beautiful ceremony which instils warmth and understanding of Brotherly love and of service on which of course the whole Masonic institution is founded. It is a very gentle Order. e Ceremony of Perfection requires the use of 3 different rooms, or the same room dramatically changed in appearance 3 times. e VSL is the Bible,

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e Suffolk Freemasons Magazine

the ritual is a metaphor based on the first verse of St John’s Gospel extolling the principals of Christianity. e last part of every meeting of the Chapter incorporates a secular feast of fraternal rejoicing whose origins pre-date Christianity. It is not a celebration of mass. It is based on east and western traditions of friendship and hospitality. e ritual is performed in a sincere and a very dignified manner. DC’s do not use wands nor do they lead candidates by the arm. e use of gavels is limited and they are not used at festive boards, however much use is made of the court bow. Toasts at the festive board are few in number and responses kept very short.

Rose Croix, like freemasonry as a whole, is not a religion nor is it a substitute for religion, it does however, serve to point the way and it is this which makes Rose Croix so Masonically important, encompassing all we seek, while assisting us to understand the Trinitarian Christian Faith.

Progression in the Chapter Being a progressive order it is the aspiration, but not a requirement, of most members to attain the Chair of the Chapter as Most Wise Sovereign. He will progress through a number of Offices in succession before attaining the Chair as Most Wise Sovereign. e learning requirements of these offices are minimal. e Ritual of the Chair however does require more work but is usually shared throughout the year, the Sovereign conducting different parts of the ceremony at different meetings. It is not necessary to have been Worshipful Master of a Lodge before becoming Sovereign.

Promotion to 30°, 31° and 32° ese degrees are conferred by Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors at the Head quarters of the Order known as the Grand East at Duke Street. Supreme Council members themselves carry out the ceremonies and they are exceptional. e 30° Members are recommend to be given the 30° after having served as Most Wise Sovereign of a Chapter and having been a member for at least 3 years and completed all the work required to a very good standard (perfecting the candidate and installing his successor) without using books, notes and unlimited prompts. e recommendation is made by the senior members of the Chapter and forwarded to the District Recorder and Inspector General for their recommendation. Supreme Council then decide if the recommendation meets the criteria.

Promotion/Election to the 31° is limited to 19 in the District of Suffolk. Not 19 each year but 19 as a total. Anyone who gets the 31° really has to demonstrate that he is not only active in his own Chapter but is a member of the Suffolk Chapter for Past Sovereigns and plays an active role in that Chapter. He will be expected to support the Inspector General by attending various events that take place in the District and support those Chapters that are struggling. Being a long standing member of a chapter does not mean Promotion.

Promotion/Election to the 32° is is limited to 6 in the District. It really is exceptional and will indicate that sterling service and active service has been given to the District, the Inspector General and to the Order itself and is still being given. e 31° and 32° is a recommendation from the Inspector General which is then discussed by the Supreme Council who may recommend the Promotion and the individual will then get elected and receive the ceremony at Duke Street in London.

If you are interested in this order, don’t wait to be asked, and then please contact me on raykpascoe@hotmail.com or Phone 01728 663699. IF, and it’s a big IF, I could only belong to one order then it would be Rose Croix.

Raymond Pascoe (District Recorder)

A Unique Ceremony at Suffolk’s oldest lodge...

On the 20th of December 2018, e Lodge of Unity No. 71, the oldest Lodge in the province of Suffolk conducted a very unique ceremony when the current WM Ryan Harvey initiated his father Sean. Ryan also happens to be the youngest ever Master of the Lodge in its long history, consecrated way back in 1747. e evening was much enjoyed by all present with an extra special charge given to the candidate by our Provincial Grand Master in exemplary fashion. A very festive Festive Board followed, with heartfelt speeches and the customary toasts, everyone present agreed it was a night to remember.

DON’T LET JUST ANYONE SERVICE YOUR LAND ROVER

Rotary Lodge of Suffolk holds first Light Blue Demonstration On Monday 3rd December a team of ‘Light Blues’ from the Rotary Lodge of Suffolk put on a demonstration of a First Degree Ceremony. All the members that took part stepped up an office or in some cases it was their first performance in the temple.

One of the many highlights of the evening was the delivery of the Charge. is was split between four members, Bros John Clements, Bavesh Dave, Les Davies and Ashley Rowlandson. e delivery was prompt free and received much acclaim from all the other brethren attending. Henceforth this will be known in 9306 as the Charge of the Light Blue Brigade. e Lodge DC Barry Bloomfield complimented all the brethren that took part for the high quality of the ceremony and the effort and enthusiasm and commitment they put into learning their roles. e Worshipful Master Steve Flory acted as the candidate and added a sense of humour to the event by adding labels to his footwear.

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After the ceremony we all sat down to a sumptuous meal where the roast beef was provided by and carved at the table by Master Butcher Bro George Debman. Following the dinner a selection of Christmas carols were heartily sung.

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I 11

PJK Commemorates the 100th Anniversary of the Armistice Back in May 2017 I called a contact of mine W.Bro. Mark Smith, an Essex Mason, to find out what his availability might be in November 2018. Mark is a notable historian on the Great War, a member of the Western Front Association, a member of the Guild of Battlefield Guides and a renown expert on the history of the Victoria Cross. Mark is also the Medals and Militaria Expert appearing on the BBC TV programme, Antiques Roadshow.

Suitable arrangements were made, and I was delighted to have Mark deliver a talk titled “The War to End All Wars” at Ashlar House on Thursday 29th November 2018. The evening was hosted by the Philip Jervis Kay Lodge.

140 Brethren from across Suffolk and the neighbouring Province’s assembled and welcomed the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, David Clarke and the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Keith Huxley into the meeting. The meeting attracted many serving and former members of the Armed Forces, many of whom were in uniform. All were invited to wear their medals, decorations and Service, Corp or Regimental ties to add splash of colour and a sense of occasion.

The Worshipful Master David Harries introduced the guest speaker Mark Smith, who entertained the Brethren with a remarkable talk titled “The War to End All Wars”. Being a commemoration to the 100 years since the Armistice, Mark’s talk encapsulated how the Great War started, how it was fought and how it end finally ended. This informative, poignant and enthralling talk lasted for just over an hour, after which Mark was met with spontaneous and generous acclamation. Amongst those present were Bro. Ivan Kennell, a veteran of WWII and Brothers Duane Ashworth & Michael Grigg, both of whom had lost sons, killed in action whilst on operational duty in Afghanistan. In their memory, the Alms collection was divided between the benevolent funds of the Grenadier Guards and The Royal Anglian Regiment respectively.

At the Festive Board, the WM, DPGM, APGM and the Guest Speaker were ‘Piped’ in by Peter Pryke. Following a narrative and pre-amble to reflect the evenings proceedings, Bro. (Maj) Neil Thomas, MBE, read the Rudyard Kipling poem ‘Tommy’. The Brethren, who were in very good voice sang ‘Pack up your Troubles’ and ‘It’s a long way to Tipperary’, ably accompanied by the Provincial Organist, Graham Colthorpe. This was followed by the Rupert Brooke sonnet ‘The Soldier’ read by David Barker. Paul Masters, the Secretary of Comrades Lodge (Essex) read the Role of Honour opposite for those Brethren of Suffolk Lodges who were killed in action or as a result of their wounds. Ralph Robertson offered a Prayer of Dedication which was followed by the ‘Last Post’ played by Kevin McGlinchey of Doric Lodge. The brethren remained silent for a moment of respect, Ralph then read the words from the Kohima Epitaph, “When you go home, tell them of us and say, for Your Tomorrow, We gave our Today”. The WM called for a toast to Absent Brethren. The hymn ‘I Vow to Thee My Country’ was then sung.

Jolyon Berry read the Laurence Binyon poem ‘For the Fallen’ after which the Hymn ‘Jerusalem’ was sung with great gusto and enthusiasm by the Brethren.

Following the return of thanks, The Loyal Toast and Masonic Toasts were observed. The DPGM gave a brief personal account of his Grandfather’s involvement in the Great War bringing with him family letters from the time, a tangible reminder of how every family in the country had been affected.

The brethren came to order and sang the song ‘We’ll Meet Again’ and following the Tyler’s Toast, departed shorty after 10pm.

A truly memorable, and at times moving meeting that proved an appropriate tribute to commemorate such an historic event in the nation’s history.

Ralph Robertson, Assistant Secretary PJK L9300

Role of Honour • Lieutenant Colonel William Moriss ARMES Territorial Decoration (TD) Suffolk Regiment. Stour Valley Lodge No. 1224. Missing, presumed Killed in Action at Gallipoli 12th August 1915 Aged 43.

• Private John BOTTERILL, Royal Fusiliers, Adair Lodge No. 936. Killed in Action at Messines 15th June 1917 Aged 41 • Captain Bernard St. John GLANFIELD, Suffolk Regiment, Abiff Lodge No. 2810 and Waveney Lodge No. 929. Died of Wounds at the Somme 31st August 1916 Aged 36 • Lieutenant Arthur Ernest HEBBES, Suffolk Regiment. St. Margaret’s Lodge No. 1452. Lost at Sea 28th November 1917 Aged 41 • Sergeant Harry John HINES, Suffolk Regiment. Fidelity Lodge No. 555. Killed in Action at Neuve Chapelle 12th March 1915 Aged 41 • Company Sergeant Major Charles Aubin LEGROS, Military Medal. Canadian Infantry. Abiff Lodge No. 2810. Killed in Action at Artois 1st October 1918 Aged 33 • Captain John Coupar MYERS. Household Cavalry Doric Lodge No. 81. Killed in Action at Lys 4th May 1918 Aged 43 • Captain Thomas William NICHOLLS, Household Battalion, Household Cavalry.

Fidelity Lodge No. 555. Killed in Action at Arras 3rd May 1917 Aged 39 • 2nd Lieutenant John Ridley PRENTICE. Suffolk Regiment. Doric Lodge No. 81.

Killed in Action at Ypres 18th June 1915 Aged 22 • Lieutenant Bertram Coleby RANSOME. Royal Army Service Corps, British Union No. 114. Died of Pneumonia on the Somme 30th June 1918 Aged 47 • Private Samuel Rand ROBERTS, Norfolk Regiment, Corinthian Lodge No. 3093.

Died of Wounds in the Final Advances 4th September 1918 Aged 39 • Lieutenant Walter Larmond SCOTT DSC+Bar, Royal Naval Reserve, St. Margaret’s No. 1452. Killed in Action and Lost at Sea 29th March 1917 Aged 31 • Captain Norris SNELL, East Yorkshire Regiment, British Union Lodge No. 114.

Killed in Action on the Somme, 14th July 1916, Aged 41 • Gunner Frederic William SNOW, Royal Garrison Artillery. St. Luke’s Lodge No. 225. Killed in Action at Passchendaele, 26th September 1917 Aged 37 • Fleet Paymaster Philip Bennetts STEVENS, Royal Navy, St Margaret’s Lodge No. 1452. Killed by Accident on HMS Vanguard, 9th July 1917 Aged 42 • Private Frank James TIDMAN, Norfolk Regiment, St. Andrews Lodge No. 1631.

Killed in Action at Cambrai, 30th November 1917 Aged 24 • Major Charles Henry Tippet, Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Stour Valley Lodge No. 1225.

Killed in Action at Gallipoli 7th August 1915, Aged 52 • Gunner William Anthony VYSE, Royal Garrison Artillery Unity Lodge No. 71. Died Post War Illness at Home, 22nd February 1919 • Assistant Paymaster Charles WAKEFORD, Royal Navy Perfect Friendship No. 376. Lost at Sea HMS Champagne 9th October 1917 Aged 37 • Captain Henry Russel WEEKS, Welsh Regiment. Adair Lodge No. 936. Died of Wounds at Salonika, 23rd September 1918, Aged 24 • Captain Herbert John WEST Military Cross, Bedfordshire Regiment, Felix United Service Lodge No. 3833. Died of Wounds on the Somme Aged 30 • Private Francis Hayward WICKS, London Regiment (Artists Rifles), Doric Lodge No. 81 and of Royal Saint Edmunds No. 1008. Died 1st November 1918, Aged 27

Members of the PJK Lodge and brethren of todays Armed Forces

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e Suffolk Freemasons Magazine

A double 60 Year Presentation at Christchurch

Find us on Facebook!

Search: Provincial Grand Lodge of Suffolk Provincial Grand Lodge of Suffolk now has an official Facebook page which is totally open to public viewing and run by your Communications Team. It will give you up to date information on what is happening around the Province as well as having topical posts from United Grand Lodge, the Masonic Charitable Foundation, Supreme Grand Charity and many others. Being an ‘open page’ not only do we invite you to follow and enjoy its content but also your family, friends and colleagues. If you have anything to you want to share with everyone via the page, simply get in touch - kelvinavis@me.com.

Back row - Rodger Oatley (Son), PGM, Roger Nash (Son) Front row - David Clarke DPGM, Ken Oatley, WM Neville Branch, Ted Nash, David Boswell MEG Sup On 14th December the PGM attended Christchurch to present two 60 year certificates to Bro Ken Oatley PPGStdB (Initiated 10.10.58) and WBro Ted Nash PPJGW (Initiated 12.12.58). Both of them served in 617 Pathfinder Squadron, although they can't remember meeting, and by coincidence this occasion was the 617th meeting of Christchurch Lodge.

Ken Oatley was born on 24th March 1922 in Frome, Somerset to American parents, James and Marie. His Grandparents had originally emigrated to the Unites States in the 1880’s but both died not long after arriving. When the War broke out in 1939, Ken joined the Home Guard and in 1940 joined the RAF to train as a Spitfire pilot, flying solo on Tiger Moths after only 8 hours training.

In 1944, Ken was selected to train with a new Squadron of Low level dive bomb markers, this was to become 627 Mosquito Pathfinder Squadron based with 617 Squadron, the Dambusters at Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire. After the war, Kens father bought a Bakery and Restaurant businesses in Northampton. Ken, with his entrepreneurial spirit, turned the derelict basement of the Restaurant into one of the country’s first theme restaurants in the shape and style of a Pan American Clipper airliner complete with 40 seats and waitresses. Ken sold the family business in 1967 to Associated British Foods and in 1969 started another business in Ipswich with 3 Restaurants and a 36 bedroom Hotel in Leicester. Retiring in 1983 to concentrate on his cars, he still plays a violin, is an avid watcher of Formula 1 on TV and loves his Big Band Jazz.

Ted Nash was born 20th May 1925 at the top of Berners Street, Ipswich, he was educated at Northgate Grammer School, left at 16 and joined R & W Paul, Malsters in Ipswich. Ted volunteered for the RAF in 1942 ‘to fix the aircraft the King kept breaking’ and saw active service at several airfields in the UK including with 617 Squadron, e Pathfinders Squadron where Ken Oatley was also a navigator. Finished up in Egypt repairing and refitting aircraft to bring troops and equipment home from the Far East. Demobbed in 1946. He joined D Quinton and Sons, Agricultural Merchants at Needham Market after returning home and became MD and Chairman in 1963, remaining in those positions until the business was sold in 1991. Ted served the community and town council of Needham Market for about 40 years in various capacities including head of planning and as town Mayor, eventually retiring at the age of 90. He was also a school governor for over 30 years, including chairman for over 10. Sat as a Commissioner of Taxes for HMRC for over 25 years and a former member of Stowmarket Round Table and 41 Club.

Ted was proposed by his Father in Law, Seconded by his Brother in Law and Initiated into Christchurch Lodge on 12th December 1958, became Master in 1971 and held the offices of ADC and DC. He was also founding ADC of Bosmere in 1992 followed by Charity Steward for 15 years. Active ProvGStdB in 1980, PPGSuptW 1996, PPGReg 2004, PPJGW 2010, received the Order of Merit in 2015. Exalted into Royal Alexandra Chapter in 1969.

Thinking of making someone an ‘Honorary Member’ ?

How often does chat turn to wondering how dear old Bill or Bert or Brian are now, “It seems years since we have seen him. He was such a loyal Member”.

Masons are almost by definition warm hearted and as we ask ourselves why don’t we make him an Honorary Member momentum gathers and in the Lodge Committee none can possibly speak against. What a wonderful gesture. Or is it…?

Rule 167 of the Book of Constitutions sets out the ground rules and is both comprehensive and clear. What might be the advantages?

Let us list them: 1. It is a public gesture of respect and affection by the Brethren of the Lodge for the Mason so honoured.

2. He is relieved of all future fees paid to the Lodge and, it follows, the Lodge is in turn relieved of any dues owing to Province and Grand Lodge.

3. He remains a member of the Lodge and is entitled to receive the Agenda and any circulated Minutes.

This seems convincing. Are there any disadvantages? Indeed, there are and some are substantial. Much will depend on whether or not the Honorary Member subscribes to another Craft lodge.

Rule 127 imposes a serious disability on any Honorary Member who is not a subscribing member elsewhere.

1. This Rule precludes him from visiting another named Lodge more than once; not just once per year but throughout his lifetime! Of course, this does not apply to his own Lodge or Lodge of instruction.

2. He may not take formal Office in his Lodge, except as an elected Tyler. (Rule 104 (b). Though he may be invited, from time to time to stand in for an absent Officer.

3. He may not vote in his Lodge and, just like a Visitor, he should refrain from offering an opinion especially on any financially related matter to which of course he does not contribute. It follows that, as an 'elder statesman', his advice in his Lodge Committee would assuredly be welcome but he should be cautious about initiating discussion if there are possible financial overtones.

4. He should never invite a personal guest unless given express permission by the Master.

All these caveats may seem cruel and unfair towards a man whom the Lodge wishes to see honoured. The rationale of United Grand Lodge is simple. No one should enjoy the privileges of Freemasonry, other than within the Lodge that honoured him, unless he is actually contributing financially toward the good of the whole. Phrased in less formal language: 'No one is entitled to a free ride'.

Still want to propose Bill or Bert or Brian? Think long and hard.

Take into account his health, his pattern of Lodge activity and his other Craft interests. Honorary Membership can be a supreme reward - but it may also become a heavy cross to bear.

Solomon – Fostering Curiosity, Developing Understanding

www.suffolkfreemason.org.uk

I 13

Alex Workman makes a reluctant pilgrimage The 11th August 2018 was an important date in my calendar. I had to be in Northern France that day. I had to put flowers on my Great Uncle Alick’s grave.

He died 100 years ago, on 11th August 1918 and is interred in the Bouchoir New British Cemetery. Alick was born in 1899 and, like his brother Ellis and millions of others, had to became a soldier. He was placed with the 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment and would have joined up in 1917, after turning 18. Training would have taken some months and then he was shipped to France.

In early 1918, the German Spring offensive had taken significant quantities of land, previously unheard of in the First World War, but had not taken the strategically significant towns of Arras and Amiens with their vital rail bridgeheads. A counter attack was planned for August, using the best troops available to the British commanders, the Canadians and the Australians. The 1st Dorsetshire Battalion was part of the reserve force.

The Battle of Amiens started in great secrecy (the Canadians and Australians were told to keep quiet in French company for fear their accents would be noted) on 8th August. Two days later, it was deemed a significant success and the tidying up began. The reserve Divisions were used for this and somewhere on that large battlefield, the Dorsetshires went into action on 11th August 1918. It was probably Alick Workman’s first battle. It can’t have been far from Bouchoir, although that had been retaken on the 9th August. The Dorsetshires lost a lot of men that day, along with the Royal Scots. Whatever the incident, judging by the number of deaths, it was obviously a bad one. In many ways, it doesn’t matter to me what Alick was fighting over when he died.

The Battle of Amiens was a significant battle, if now rather forgotten, in that it first drove the Germans back, retaking most of their previous gains, but more significantly, it changed the ethos of the fighting to an offensive one. The Hundred Days that followed ended the war.

The Cemetery at Bouchoir, like all military grave sites, is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Their website was the first indication that I had relatives lost in the First War. I remember the mixed feelings of finding a lost relative on the CWGC Website.

Sadly this was after my Grandfather’s death so I couldn’t ask him. My father had heard of him and we spoke of visiting his grave on the

Centenary of his death. Sadly my father didn’t make it. In the end, I went alone.

I was not the only visitor to the Cemetery that day. In the Book of Remembrance, I counted over 20 names paying their own tribute that day.

The cemetery itself is quiet, dignified and flawlessly maintained. It had been flooded ten days before my visit – you would never have known. Arrow straight lines of gravestones contain 764 graves, 533 identified. Alick is in Section 5 Row D Grave 14 in a line of fellow members of the Dorsetshire Regiment. I like to think he is surrounded by his mates.

In many respects, this was a more intense moment for me than I expected, not just because of the blood link, but also because of the more personal nature of the Cemetery. Unlike the Menin Gate in Ypres, with its endless series of panels of names unremembered elsewhere, or the size of Tynecot, this was smaller so you couldn’t get lost in the sheer volume of names.

Leaving the Cemetery, I returned to Amiens. The 20 mile road back held an additional seven war cemeteries. All small, smaller than Bouchoir, they tell a macabre tale of fighting, probably at the same time, and of loss.

My Great Grandparents had to deal not only with the loss of Alick but also of his older brother Ellis who died in February 1919 in Gloucester Hospital of blood poisoning from shell splinters he received in his liver and kidneys. Ellis volunteered in 1914, was invalided out with the kidney injuries that eventually killed him and then, unbelievably, re-enlisted. His parents never really recovered.

My grandfather, Ellis and Alick’s brother Gilbert, never spoke of them. He never spoke of his service in the Second World War either, despite the pestering of a war obsessed small boy. To my shame, I didn’t know he had brothers or that Gilbert had been decorated in WW2 until after his death. I remember helping to clear out his house and coming across the box containing his WW2 Service medals, still in the box they came in, medals and ribbons never combined and never worn. He attended Memorial Services every year in a spotless suit, standing at the back with the other civilians.

For the last couple of years, Freemasons have attended the Remembrance Day Service and laid a wreath. This year, I shall be attending in my capacity as Master of the Countryside Lodge of Suffolk, wearing my collar. As this is the centenary of the ending of the War, can I gently encourage all other Lodges to send a member to attend their local event. We will all have our own reasons for attending. If nothing else, we should remember that we can meet as Freemasons because of them.

I have another reluctant pilgrimage to make. 24th February 2019, this time to Gloucester.

In memoriam: 240660 Lance Corporal Ellis James Workman, North Staffordshire Regiment, died Monday 24th February 1919 Gloucester Hospital aged 29 and 20290 Private Alick Workman, The Dorsetshire Regiment, killed in action Sunday August 11th 1918 Bouchoir France age 19.

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Local families receive support thanks to grant from Suffolk Freemasons

Families struggling to cope will have somewhere to turn, thanks to a grant of £4,929 to Home-Start Mid and West Suffolk from Suffolk Freemasons. e grant will support a service which helps parents who have at least one child under five. Home-Start Mid and West Suffolk looks at the challenges the parents can encounter and provides encouragement, understanding and help. In particular they will look at: • e child’s physical needs and development • Dealing with their child’s challenging behaviour • Support to play and interact with their child • Enabling parents to facilitate their child’s language development Other issues where parents may seek support include post-natal depression, mental health problems, depression and loneliness and isolation. Home-Start Mid and West Suffolk’s work is all about early intervention which prevents a problem becoming a crisis. ey empower parents to help themselves through the support of trained, dedicated volunteers who are parents themselves or have parenting experience.

Staff train and support the volunteers to enable them to support parents either within the home visiting service or within the family group settings. rough the home visiting service a volunteer will visit and support a parent in their home for two or three hours on a weekly basis for a few months. e family groups are run by a staff member with the support of the volunteers who help for two hours a week. Parents attend with their children. In some areas the charity also has some groups run by volunteers with the support of staff. Volunteers also help at occasional family groups which are specifically for dads to come with their children for a few hours a month.

Carol Read, Chair of Trustees at HomeStart Mid and West Suffolk, said: “Anyone who has children knows how difficult it can be in the best of circumstances. We use the skills and experience of our volunteers to help those parents who are in need of support. We’re very grateful to Suffolk Freemasons for their generous grant which will allow us to provide essential advice and encouragement to people who really need it.”

DPGM David Clarke commented “We’re very pleased to be able to help Home-Start Mid and West Suffolk, who do outstanding work providing support for local families. eir trained and dedicated volunteers help to prevent a problem becoming a crisis.”

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Ceremony of the Empty Chair e Suffolk Provincial Grand Stewards presented the Ceremony of the Empty Chair to the Nottingham Installed Masters Lodge in January. e presentation was warmly received by the Brethren with the evening being made even more poignant when the WM showed the Brethren a Union Jack flag his Grandfather had taken with him went he went to war in 1916. e flag had been signed by 80 from his regiment, the Post Office Rifles of Nottingham, his Grandfather had returned but many of his colleagues died in action.

e PGM RW P.G Marshall then informed the Brethren that on 25 April 2017 he had been to Great Queen Street for the unveiling of 64 paving stones to commemorate the English Freemasons who were awarded the Victoria Cross in the First World War, 43 more Victoria Crosses to Freemasons across the British Empire, equating to 1 in 6 VC’s being awarded to Freemasons in that War. He believed this displayed the best elements of Masonry, self sacrifice, honour and a sense of doing the right thing.

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I 15

Pa

Freemasonry is not the only organisation that pulls you in to its friendship...

Have you ever joined something new and after a few weeks of cold shoulder, “You’re not from round here are you?” and.... “you’ve not been here long enough to be one of us yet!” you think, is this really worth the effort? Well don’t give up yet, because Freemasonry is not the only organisation that pulls you into it’s friendship like an old school friend, a golf buddy and an older brother rolled into one. Come to the Isle of Man, where the sheep smell of exhaust fumes, the cats have no tail and you can get from the airport to the pub on a steam train. Ronaldsway Airport, yup Ronaldsway, it’s just like waking up in the middle of the shipping forecast, Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea, Ronaldsway Coastal Station...and there you are, rattling along in an old fashioned compartment carriage behind James the Red Engine on your way to Castletown. Next stop The Glue Pot and a pint of Okell’s 1907, brewed to celebrate one hundred years of the Isle of Man TT races. There’s a pattern forming here, the pub is really the Castle Arms but everyone calls it the glue pot to explain why they get stuck in there! This island has such a magnetism and, just like a compass, get too close and who knows which way you’ll end up pointing. All this is no problem for the Manx people because they are, as they like to say, like their three legged emblem, whichever way life throws them they always land on a foot!

There is no shortage of compasses (and squares) on the island and with nineteen lodges, six chapters and other orders, The Castle Arms is not the only Glue Pot on this rock in the Irish Sea. There is something reassuring about the longevity of the island’s traditions and a healthy respect for the past because silently and like a father’s clip round the ear it teaches us to respect the present and learn how to craft a future worth looking forward to.

So by now you can begin to see why this island has it’s hands firmly clasped around my heart, plus here is the home of the final piece of my “Happiness Jigsaw”, motorcycle road racing. Followers of the will TT ride across Europe, fly in from as far away as Australia and even bring bikes across from Ireland on the decks of fishing boats. All this just so they can line the closed roads of the Snae Fell Mountain Course as bikes fly past not eight or ten feet from where they stand, sucking the air from your chest as the screaming vortex closes behind them and they accelerate away to over two hundred miles an hour. Every year there’ll be someone who asks me “Where’s the best place to watch?” and every year I’ll give the same answer, “From standing inside a fluorescent orange vest”.

Joining the “Orange Army” of volunteer race marshals, is like being adopted into a family.

The island itself is a beautiful place to visit in its own right but...if you’ve ever thought “I’d quite like to go over to the TT” then don’t hold on any longer. Seven years ago, when I thought “I’ll give it a chance” I could not have guessed what the Isle of Man would give back to me. The experiences I’ve had, the friends I’ve made and all held together by the invisible glue of Freemasonry. Hard at work, under the surface, down in the engine room, out of sight...there works the determined, sensible, well organised influence of the craft. Making sure the superficial, temporary and ill considered tinkering of commercial enterprise and sometimes even of government, are not allowed to jeopardise the future of this beautiful, courageous and yet viscerally violent organism that has survived one hundred and eleven years of outstanding achievement alongside heartbreaking grief.

Although this was not intended as a sales pitch, if your interest has been sparked and you fancy a visit to the island to discover its beauty for yourself or even taking your bike over and riding the TT Mountain Course, then why not get in touch with me. I’ll be happy to help anyone with tips, tricks and advice for your trip. The TT fortnight 2019 is 25th May until 7th June and although you may well be too late to book for this year, there is still the more sedate Manx Classic GP in August for a gentle introduction to road racing on the island. The Isle of Man TT Lodge No. 9872, of which I am a member, meet on the Tuesday during race week and I’d be delighted to book in some interested guests.

Bill Dotesio-Eyers

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250th Anniversary Update We will be celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Suffolk in 2021 and, as many of you will be aware, among the celebrations being planned to mark this significant milestone of Freemasonry in Suffolk, a book is to be produced, which will not only record the history of Provincial Grand Lodge, but also each of our 68 Lodges. e book will be sent to each member of the Province, without charge, as an acknowledgement of their contribution to the success of the Province. e name of every member, as at 1st January 2021, will be recorded on their Lodge page. I am again asking for information regarding your Lodge. Many Lodges will already have marked an anniversary, be it 25 years or 250 years, and therefore much information may be readily available, but individual members may also have information of interest.

I do not wish to add to the burden of your already hardpressed Secretary by expecting him to write your history, merely forward information to me, and I will do the rest.

My details may be found at the front of the Provincial Year Book.

Graham Saward

50 Year Certificate for Barry Williams

e November 13th Meeting of Royal Clarence was attended by the Provincial Grand Master, accompanied

by WBro Barker, Prov G Director of Ceremonies together with VW Bro John Rice who is an honorary member of the Lodge to present a 50 Year Certificate to Barry Williams. e Worshipful Master Andy Bush conducted a superb First Degree and Initiated Mr Quick into Freemasonry with the Charge being expertly delivered by Paul Cammiss. e PGM then warmly welcomed Bro. Quick to Suffolk Freemasonry and presented him with various items on behalf of the Province. e Provincial Grand Master was delighted to present WBro Barry Williams with a Certificate and a Lapel Pin together with his personal congratulations to mark the 50th Anniversary of Barry’s Initiation into St Vincent Lodge No 6978 in the Province of West Kent on 10th October, 1968.

Successful Soane Street Open Day For several years now, Ipswich Freemasons have opened the doors of their Temple in Soane Street to the public as part of the Heritage Open Days scheme. Year after year we are both surprised by the number of visitors and the variety of questions we get asked! Needless to say, on some occasions we have difficulty in remaining unphased by some of the more “unusual” ones!

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Well, 2018 has been no exception. Over the weekend of 15th & 16th September we received a total of 525 people over our threshold, showing off our wonderful building and enlightening them into the word of Freemasonry. It has been a resounding success, enjoyed by both our visitors and the Brethren who willingly gave up their time to act as Stewards and orators. What is most pleasing is the interaction we get from the visitors, particularly the ladies. We watch their faces and body language change as the steadily pass through the building, having their eyes and minds opened as they move from room to room.

In my mind, this is something other Masonic Halls in Suffolk should also do – the Heritage Open Day scheme is national and I am sure that the general public in all of our towns where we have a permanent Lodge room, would be very interested in seeing it. Our payoff is that at the same time we significantly raise our profile and, I can assure you, find some good candidates along the way!

My thanks as always go to the Brethren of all ranks, from an Entered Apprentice to a Grand Officer, who assisted me in this task. I should also make mention of our wonderful Bar Manager Hannah, who arrived first and left last on both days.

My sincere apologies before I start if I either mis-spelt your name or missed you off the following list of those who I must thank - Chris Grant, Paul Goodridge-Hobson, David Mullet, Peter Matthews, David Wilson, Peter Sutters, Forbes Powrie, Peter Whiley, Gawain Fraser, Richard Head, Glyn Lee, Richard Pettit, John Beckett, Steve Hyland, Kevin Lynch, Trevor Shave and Mike Beckett.

Paul Taylor

www.suffolkfreemason.org.uk

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What a wonderful day out, is Twinning the way to go?

Solomon - Start your journey You will have heard of Solomon but what is it? Very simply it is a resource of Masonic information, which is there to offer you encouragement, help and support on your masonic journey. Just visit solomon.ugle.org.uk and once you register yourself on the website you will be able to explore a huge amount of material enabling you to enjoy a greater understanding of the ritual, symbolism, history and traditions of Freemasonry.

Finding your way around You will find both learning sections contain ‘Modules’ that cover the Craft Degrees, Royal Arch, History, Symbolism, Lodge Matters and ‘about Freemasonry’. ere are also welcome and guidance videos to offer encouragement, help and support. To access a module you simply enrol into it, browse, search and download material as desired. We encourage you not to enrol in modules beyond your present Masonic level, so as not to diminish the enjoyable experiences to come. Any content may be used for personal reading.

Some items are in audio formats too and more formats are being introduced.

What you will find ‘Nuggets’ are short 5 - 10 minute items ideal for any regular or instruction meeting or gathering. Select a topic suited to the occasion and ask a member to deliver it. ‘Nuggets’ can be used to provoke interest and learning, promote discussion and increase involvement. Ideally they will become a regular and welcome additional agenda item.

Papers are more for personal reading, or small group study, they can also be used as mini-presentations.

Presentations ese items are intended for Lodge and Chapter use, delivered by an approved presenter in a vibrant, interesting and entertaining way. ey could be followed by questions and discussion.

Demonstrations Explanatory demonstrations of a ceremony are a good alternative to a live event. An opportunity to learn and understand more of the significance and deeper meaning. Arguably a ‘must see’ for us all.

Quizzes Much of the material lends itself to a quiz or other ‘fun’ learning.

Solomon is still in its early stages and will expand in volume, range and diversity. ere will always be a need to source new and credible material and the Solomon team look forward to receiving the views and suggestions of all who use it.

www.solomon.ugle.org.uk Solomon: Fostering Curiosity - Developing Understanding

“ Solomon develops my masonic knowledge and understanding ”

Fostering Curiosity, Developing Understanding

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On Saturday 17th November members of Landguard Lodge No. 9346 together with a sprinkling of those from the other three Felixstowe Lodges, making twenty five in total all bundled into a couple of mini buses and made the early morning journey down the A12 to visit UGLE. e reason? To enjoy a very special Ceremony of Passing for Bro. Phil Johns, a member of Landguard.

John Jarman and Barry Bloomfield both being regular guests to Landguard and also members of e Old Masonians Lodge No. 2700 had enquired whether Landguard would visit London and carry out a joint ceremony. e members of e Old Masonians were out in force to ensure that their Suffolk friends enjoyed a fabulous meeting - with their officers conducting the Ceremony and Mark Campbell of Landguard delivering an explanation of the Second Degree Tracing Board.

Hospitality was then extended to us at a wonderful Festive Board held at Parkers Restaurant where W.Bro. Jamie Read we all enjoyed that good old Your presence here has cheered our day seaside favourite Fish ‘n’ Chips And touched our lives in a special way with Mushy Peas. At the end of A day so grand would not have been their Festive Boards it is Without your fellowship so keen From North and South in this fair land traditional that a member of e Each Brother clasps a friendly hand.

Old Masonians rises to With heart and hand and badge so true, reminisce about the time they Our Masonic thanks we give to you. spent at the old school, on this The WM and Brethren of occasion it was John Jarman Old Masonians’ Lodge No. 2700 who shared with us some of the wish you a warm welcome very moving and sincere times he spent there from the age of eight through to his early teens. e Old Masonians Lodge has a wonderful history - briefly, in 1798 members of the United Mariners Lodge No. 23 founded a subscription fund which led to the foundation of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys. e Institution was charged with ‘clothing and educating the sons of distressed and indigent freemasons’ at schools near their own homes.

In 1857 the first boys school was founded at Wood Green, North London and in 1902 a purpose built school opened in Bushey, Hertfordshire. In January 1929 a junior school was added close to the main school and in that year 800 boys were wholly provided for by the Craft. In 1898 e Old Masonians Lodge was founded as part of celebrations to mark the Centenary Year of the institution and daughter lodges followed. Since 1977 old boys have continued to come forward as initiates and joining members and ‘non’ old boys were welcomed with equal enthusiasm. roughout its long history these lodges have inspired the devotion of members keen to keep alive the spirit and memory of the school and is dedicated to preserving its caring traditions.

In 1970 after a long and distinguished history the Royal Masonic Junior School was closed and the buildings and grounds sold to Hertfordshire County Council and re-opened as a comprehensive school for 1000 pupils. In 1977 despite a valiant fight by masons and old boys the Senior School closed after 120 years.

Jamie Read

02/11/2018 12:24

Equipment Trolley donated to West Suffolk Hospital Magna Carta Lodge in Bury St Edmunds, have helped to raise money for an equipment trolley for the critical care unit at the West Suffolk Hospital. It came after they held their end of year ladies’ night with the wife of the master Jane Gwatkin choosing the My WiSH Charity, which supports the hospital. A total of £800 was raised from raffles held

by Magna Carta which meets at Ashlar House. e trolley contains critical care medical equipment so that when a patient comes into hospital or is on another ward that needs the care Ian Frost, medical clinical lead, the doctors can take the trolley and Jane and Jamie Gwatkin perform all that is needed off the and Debra Baker, ward manager ward. Prior to this they had a bag that couldn’t contain all the equipment and was very heavy and unorganised making it difficult to find things along with trips back and forth to the unit.

Jane explained that she wanted to raise the money for a local charity and was “passionate’ about the hospital. “It’s really nice to be able to donate the money to a local charity and to have something that you can physically see on the ward at the hospital. “e staff on the critical care unit are an amazing bunch of people and when we visited them we were blown away by what they do.” And Irene Serrant, who works on the unit, said the trolley would prove “invaluable” to staff. She said: “It is an equipped treatment trolley to take off the unit in order to stabilise critically ill patients outside of CCS (Critical Care Services) prior to admission to the unit. “is equipment would prove invaluable in bringing timely critical care treatment to patients wherever they may be in the hospital.”

Russell Cook

Ionic report good news...

Only three years ago after not having delivered a ceremony to a candidate for a number of years members of Ionic were seriously concerned about their future. However good fortune does sometimes happen, especially with a little help from members. In the last two years Ionic has added five new members, but not content with that, this last year have a further four new candidates join us.

However that poses a nice problem as Ionic meets only six times a year which includes the Installation meeting. Ionic still have to complete all three degrees on the 5 new members, as well as completing all three degrees on the further 4 new members. To overcome this problem Ionic will be starting their January meeting at 4.00 pm, to enable them to deliver two First Degrees, whilst later in January, Old Framlinghamians’ will on behalf of Ionic deliver a double Second Degree. Again in February Ionic will open Lodge at 4.00pm to deliver two First Degrees. To add to the busy schedule Ionic will, at their March 2019 meeting, be celebrating their 75th Anniversary, whilst it is planned that Ionic’s Mother Lodge will deliver a Double Second Degree on their behalf in March. So in three months we will have completed 8 ceremonies!

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A Fabulous Festival Fun Day!

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Suffolk Freemason and Master Craftsman presents chairs to the oldest lodge in Essex At a packed installation meeting in Colchester of Angel Lodge No. 51, which is the oldest lodge in Essex, WBro Paul Smith a master craftsman and Suffolk Freemason gave an interesting and informative presentation of the new masters and wardens chairs that he had designed replacing an original chair that was presented to Angel Lodge in December 1757.

Paul who is a Past Master of The Lodge of Virtue & Silence in Hadleigh was contacted by Ken Parrish and David Betts who were members of the Colchester Abbey Gate Lodge which was formed in 1921 and closed in November 2014. As officers they were tasked with distributing and spending a large legacy from the lodge which was being spent to improve the fabric and facilities at the St Giles Centre. Their mission was to commission the design and making of the principal officers chairs to replace the very fragile original chair from 1757.

Much time was spent discussing possible designs. It was finally decided to follow the outline of the back of the original masters chair, with the same volume of the sacred law carved on top of the masters, the level and plumb rule on the 2 wardens, all to have a blue hide upholstered back panel and seat traditionally upholstered, turned and carved miniature architectural columns on the back legs, shaped arms and turned front legs. The chairs were made in antiqued oak with traditional pegged mortise and tenon joints for strength. Paul who is also a Mark master mason carved his mark on the back of each chair.

At the meeting Paul explained about the whole process of designing and making the chairs and remarked that it was a great honour and privilege to do so, particularly with Angel Lodge being the first lodge in Essex to spread in to Suffolk and was instrumental in helping start some of the oldest lodges in Suffolk such as Virtue and Silence, Perfect Friendship and British Union.

To mark the occasion Paul Taylor the current Provincial Junior Grand Warden representing our PGM and Greg Flatt, then WM of British Union were in attendance.

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Festival 2019 ...together we can do it As we all know, this is the closing lap of Festival 2019, but I think is a good opportunity to remind everyone about how quickly this ‘New Year’ is already moving on, and to draw your attention to a few matters, which may not be completely obvious, especially to those who have never experienced a Festival before.

I believe that most people will already be aware that the Final Event, will be a Banquet Dinner, to be held at the Royal Hospital School at Holbrook, on Wednesday October 23rd. this event is open to non-Freemasons, so it will be an opportunity to bring Friends and Family to a prestigious event at a fabulous location, to which normally , attending as a Visitor wouldn’t be particularly easy,. ere will be some opportunities to book a complete table, and a few entertainment surprises for you and your guests on the night. Ticket information will be available soon, but I don’t want to clash with the significant work which is involved in ticketing for our Provincial Grand lodge Meeting. For the moment, I would be pleased if you would note your diaries, and start thinking about potential Guests.

Mentioning e Final Event leads nicely in to the next point, which is to remind everyone that this is not the final date for donations. Again, as you may already know, Grand Charity not only mentions our final total amount at the event on October 23rd, they also produce a booklet showing the amount each lodge, Chapter, and so on has donated. is needs the financial information to be collated, and the document drafted and printed, and Grand Charity advise that they need about 3 months for this to happen, so effectively, the end of July will be the closing date for donations, although I believe that this may be extended to the end of August, we cannot count on that at present. Further, with many Lodges closing for the Summer recess in April or May, it underlines that time is of the essence.

In previous Festivals, a further sum was added to our own donations, which had arisen from other Provinces making donations, but not for a

Festival 2019 500 Club We are nearing the end of the road and in the first instance can I thank each and every one of you that has supported the Festival2019 500 club. With an income so far of just under £50,000 we have supported the festival and given prizes equally to the tune of £25,000. In the past four years 41 lodges have had a winning number and returned £7,000 to their lodge accounts. The luckiest number has been 120 with 65 and 210 close behind but overall Tumbling Tom & Tess have thrown out 144 winners with prizes ranging from £75 to £285. Many of you have already renewed via standing order or cheque but there is still opportunity to join if you want to be a part of the club for the final year and have a chance to not only support the festival and contribute to your individual and chosen lodges target but also to have 36 chances to return on your investment. Our challenge is to have at least 550 members sign up for this year and we will have raised an astounding £30,000 for the festival, if you would like to renew or start a new membership please send Kate an email kf@hadleighcastings.com or call her on 01473 827281 and she will send you out an entry form, you can pay by cheque, cash or Bacs and we will allocate you a number. The draw results are available on the Festival 2019 website and if you are a lucky winner you will be notified by email directly after the draw.

Thank you all so much for your support over the past four years and good luck to all of our members, remember you’ve got to be in it to win it.

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e Suffolk Freemasons Magazine

specific Festival, which often added a significant amount. Since the formation of the MCF, we can no longer count on this addition, because if there is anything, it will not be very much. However, our regular donation payments which have an end date of December 2019 or beyond, will be included in the total together with our notional interest for this full year. If all this is added to the fact that Lodges usually need between 2 and 3 meetings to complete a donation, I cannot therefore sufficiently stress the urgency of making any payments which are currently intended.

My role invariably turns to how much money I can persuade Individuals, Lodges, Chapters and other orders to donate towards our Festival, but this cannot be one-sided, so apart from spending many hours expressing thanks, on behalf of our RWPGM, for the generous donations you all selflessly provide, I always try to also mention what happens to the money you donate. Often members ask me about the MCF policy towards International tragedies. As examples I can confirm the following; £25,000 was given to assist Guatemala after the Volcanic Eruption, £10,000 was paid to the District Grand Lodge of Madras, and a further £10,000 to Plan international, to support them after the Kerala flooding in India, and £70,000 was donated at 50% each to the British Red Cross, and Plan International after the Indonesia Tsunami. ese are just a few examples but only from the period July to October last year.

Here at home, including the block grant to support Freemasons in Care homes, £16,300,000 was spent on supporting the Masonic Community during last year, and increase of 11% from 2016/2017. Further, £3.1 million was spent on the hugely successful Community Grant Awards, from which, our own Province gained very appropriately. A further £3 million was donated in grants to a vast number of Charitable Institutions covering, for example, Financial Hardship, Education and Employability, Health and Disability, Social Exclusion and Disadvantage, Medical and Social Relief. ese sums also include Hospices receiving £612,000 and Air Ambulances £192,000, both being only a part of our significant donations over many years.

It isn’t practical to list most of what we pay out, because frankly, the numbers are mind-boggling, but worth noting that these colossal sums only suffer from small Administrative costs.

I feel that it is also important to note the MCF’s vision ‘ For Freemasons, For Families, For Everyone ‘ In this day and age we are a modern inclusive group, and we should be pleased with what we can and do, achieve.

Neville Warnes Provincial Grand Charity Steward

Andy & Nick - e Epilogue... e last time I wrote for forum we still had two lodges to go – Mildenhall & Sportsman’s. e original challenge to cycle to each of the Lodges within the Province of Suffolk was completed on the 8th September 2018 when we visited e Sportsman’s Lodge of Suffolk No 9931. e meeting was at the superb setting of the historic Guildhall in Hadleigh. It was an extremely well attended meeting with all three of the rulers there to support our last cycle ride together with many other Brethren we had met on our travels. Sportsman’s Lodge showed amazing support and camaraderie for us. (Nick & Andy are both founder members) with a combination of donations from the Lodge, visiting brethren and Auctions and the sale of the Sportsman’s Lodge Gin to make a superb last donation of £1000 to the challenge! en, as you may have seen in the Freemasonry Today magazine, on the 12th September the cyclists set out on the very final cycle ride, not to a Lodge in Suffolk but to visit Grand Lodge in London. For this they were accompanied by the RWPGM Ian Yeldham, his wife Amanda and WBro Stuart Mitchell, who was then WM of Unity Lodge. Once again, an amazing turnout from the Province with over 70 Suffolk Brethren there on the day!

And so, the challenge is ended…..

Having had time to reflect it was a brilliant experience. Hard yes but so any decent challenge should be…otherwise where is the challenge? But so very worthwhile and most humbling. To have visited each and every Lodge in Suffolk, attended a meeting and to have been so very warmly welcomed and generously supported is something I will never forget. I am extremely grateful and feel very lucky to be a part of Suffolk Freemasonry and have made many new friends along the journey.

And now to some well-deserved ank you’s Firstly, to all of the Brothers that have turned out time and again to transport our suit’s, cases and regalia to the meetings – and afterwards for driving us and our bikes back home. ere have been many of you, and we thank you all. But two that deserve a special mention are Bro Stephen Martin-Halls and WBro Cliff Sargeant, both members of Priory Lodge, who turned out well in excess of a dozen times, each, to help with the transport. And to WBro Paul Rackham who helped with the visit to Grand Lodge, collecting a parking fine and not letting us help with any expenses!! Without the help from you all I really don’t think this challenge would have been completed.

To each and every Lodge that we visited and all the Secretaries who helped with arranging our visits. And of course, to the Brothers within them, what a wonderful and amazing band of Brothers you all are. ank you for your friendship, your generous support and your camaraderie. I hope to see you all again in the future and will look forward to visiting again sometime but on four wheels, or maybe two, but however many they will be motorised!

For all the individual, personal and other donations from Brothers we have met along the way, many whom we were meeting for the first time. e individual donations came to an incredible £1969. I have every one recorded and I thank you all so much.

But a particular mention must be made to Bro John Warner of Stour Valley Lodge who donated a massive £1000 via his company Suregreen!!

And also, to WBro Andy Robson from Priory Lodge who assisted with transport but also personally gave us £200 towards our quest.

To WBro Kelvin Avis for his help with the final Banner and for his support and promoting our quest in Forum magazine. And Bro David Dunhill for adding all of the write ups to the Festival Website.

To WBro Brian Simpson and his Physiotherapy Clinic in Ipswich. April 2017, I had a severe back injury and was told in A&E I was lucky to have not broken it…. With some intensive treatment (at no cost) I was able to cycle again just 4 weeks later. Not bad as for 10 days I was hardly able to walk….

To the Provincial Executive, in particular our PGM, the RWBro Ian Yeldham for his enthusiastic support from day one. e number of meetings that he, the then DPGM VWBro John Rice and his successor WBro David Clarke and the APGM WBro Keith Huxley managed to attend or coincide with our visits was of great support. And how many PGM’s in the United Grand Lodge of England have cycled to Grand Lodge? And of course not forgetting the Provincial Grand Charity Steward WBro Neville Warnes, for his help, support and encouragement. He’s managed all the donations I’ve paid in and made sure that the appropriate Lodge gets credit towards their targets for the support of our challenge and the Festival.

And finally, Last, but by no means least to my friend and Brother WBro Nick Moulton who has been a part of this challenge from the very first

visit. He has given me support and friendship (and someone to moan to when it was cold and wet) and really this challenge has been as much his as it was mine and no mean feat for someone of such advanced years, he was 53 when we started out and although had been a mason since 1990 was still just Bro Moulton, but this year we cycled to his installation meeting and he is now Worshipful Master and aged 57 and says he’s too old to cycle any more. Don’t you believe it, I think there is a few miles left in him yet. And Nick it would be a shame to leave those expensive bikes languishing in your garage…. Without you joining me it would have been a much lonelier experience.

It’s certainly been what we intended it to be, a challenge, in more ways than one, juggling work and personal commitments to sometimes take a whole day off Now it’s all done I look back and wonder how on earth we fitted it all in, but we did. en trying to fit in with when different Lodges meet and of course we cannot control what the weather will do on the day! But there were some unforgettable rides, with great weather, followed by memorable meetings. We formed new friendships and with having visited every Lodge we have seen a lot of Suffolk Countryside & Freemasonry that many a brother has perhaps not yet seen…. It’s all there waiting for you…just get out and visit! Without the festival and this challenge Nick & I simply would not have those memories.

It has all been so worthwhile with such great and friendly support wherever we have visited. e strength and camaraderie that exists within Suffolk Freemasonry and Suffolk’s stunning countryside have made it a very memorable experience. And to have received the financial support from all the Lodges and Brethren to have raised the sum of money we did is simply amazing. ank you all, WBro Andy Gentle e Total amount raised at the end was £21,659 Total Completed To Go Miles Covered 2260 2260 0!

Lodges 70 70 0!

Details of all the visits can be viewed on the website at www.festival2019.co.uk/andy-on-yer-bike/

www.suffolkfreemason.org.uk

I 21

How did the structure of Provinces come about?

Freemasonry in England and Wales exists at three levels. The basic unit of organisation is the Lodge. Each Lodge is ‘private’ in that it depends on having been regularly consecrated following the issue of a Warrant from United Grand Lodge, but thereafter it is reasonably free to go about its business provided it has the requisite number of members, pays its dues to its Province and to the United Grand Lodge and conforms to the requirements of its own bye-laws, those of its Province and the rules laid down by the United Grand Lodge in the Book of Constitutions.

Thus, the Lodge can decide who can be a member. It can also decide where it wishes to dine, and what the progression of office is within its ranks. It may also develop over time its own variations of the ritual. At the other end of the scale it is the United Grand Lodge which is the ‘mother’ organisation for the whole of Freemasonry in our nation and beyond and decides a whole range of policy issues with regard to the operation of the Craft. ‘UGLE’ also has a massive role with regard to Masonic Charity which is one of the most important aspects of the Institution. Between the two we have ‘Provinces’. What are they and why are they important?

The notion of a Province took root in the 18th century following the creation of the Premier Grand Lodge in 1717. At first not all the Lodges in the country were subject to the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge, and, indeed, after the great schism of the mid-eighteenth Century when Freemasonry became divided between the so called ‘Moderns’, who had created the Premier Grand Lodge, and the ‘Antients’ who disputed its authority, there was a considerable confusion about what constituted regular Freemasonry. The Moderns laid great store by the notion of the Province, as that enabled them to have a prominent local figure as Provincial Grand Master, who acted the deputy ‘within his area’ for the Grand Master himself. The Provincial Grand Master was able to exercise central authority on a local basis, and to ensure that only regular Lodges operated within his area, while at the same time discountenancing all irregular ones. It took the Moderns the best part of the 18th century to fully establish the notion of the Province and create a network across the nation. By the time of the Union of the two rival organisations in 1813, the Province had become an indispensable part of the Masonic structure and has remained so ever since.

Each Province must have a Provincial Grand Master, who is appointed for a fixed period of time by UGLE, and a Province cannot select or elect its own Provincial Grand Master. The ‘PGM’ may appoint a Deputy who will function in the Provincial Grand Master’s absence and otherwise assist in the functioning of the Province.

Provided a Province has a sufficient number of Lodges it may also have one or more Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, though oddly enough, the Book of Constitutions, the basic ‘rule book’ of the Craft, does not require a PGM to appoint a Deputy or Assistants. However, in practice such appointments are always made. Usually those appointed will already hold Grand Rank and the appointment of a Brother not already having Grand Rank would not entitle him to that honour automatically, such appointments and promotions being the prerogative of UGLE. Most Provinces mirror ancient Shire County boundaries rather than those of modern local government areas.

There are also other exceptions, as some counties have so many Lodges that there has to be more than one Province, and others, such as Middlesex, still function as a Province, despite having long ceased to exist as a shire county. Similarly, since 2003, those Lodges which meet within a 10-mile radius of Freemasons’ Hall in London fall under the Jurisdiction of The Metropolitan Grand Lodge.

The Grand Master has the power to form any area into a Province, or in the case of overseas areas under the jurisdiction of UGLE, a ‘District’ and he may also re-arrange Provincial and District boundaries. According to the Grand Lodge website there are also 12 overseas Lodges which fall to be directly administered from Freemasons’ Hall in London.

It is hoped that enough has been said to whet your appetite, and maybe stimulate you to find out more about the history and importance of your own Province and play your part in its growth and development. solomon.ugle.org.uk

22 I FORUM

e Suffolk Freemasons Magazine

Santa supports TLC Just before Christmas I was asked by the Events Manager at Glemham Hall, Donna Stockley, if I would act as Father Christmas for two days.

Glemham Hall has always been very supportive of our Teddies for Loving Care and suggested as recompense for my services they would make a donation to the charity.

Surrounded by lots of promotional material including big Ted, the event proved very popular and was quickly sold out with well over 100 excited Children attending.

Special thanks must go to our Provincial TLC representative Dave Wilson who set up all the publicity material in Glemham Hall for the event. Dave has since received a donation of £300 to TLC from Glemham Hall as a token of their gratitude in helping make the Children’s Santa experience so successful.

Stephen Bayfield

Indonesia earthquake victims receive £70,000 from MCF ousands of people who had their lives devastated by the deadly earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia were given urgently needed shelter and clean water, thanks to a grant from the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends, from across England and Wales. e £70,000 grant will be split evenly between Plan International UK and the Red Cross. Plan will be able to provide shelter kits to 593 families (2,610 people), while the Red Cross will be helping 160,000 people with safe water and improved sanitation. e death toll stands at more than 2,000, with over 5,000 people listed as missing. As many as 1.5 million have been affected, with many having lost homes and many more living without power, clean water or medical provision. David Innes, Chief Executive of the Masonic Charitable Foundation, said: “is is a terrible time for the people of Indonesia, and I am very pleased that the Masonic community have been able to move fast and provide Plan International and the Red Cross with funds to provide life-saving shelter and clean water to many thousands of people in need.”

Alan Gosschalk, Fundraising Director of Plan International UK, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Freemasons for providing this grant to help those whose lives have been turned upside down by the earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia. “People urgently needed clean water, shelter and food and our team responded by distributing shelter kits, blankets and tarpaulins to the affected communities.”

Ben Webster, British Red Cross Head of Emergencies, said: “I would like to thank the MCF for their generous grant of £35,000 to the Indonesian Earthquake and Tsunami Appeal, which will go towards helping 160,000 people with safe water, improved sanitation and hygiene kits alongside other essential aspects of the Red Cross response”.

63657 Clay Shoot Entry Form.qxp_Layout 1 18/01/2019 08:01 Page 1

A First for Suffolk When the four original members of the SMaCSS committee agreed to deliver the 15th National Masonic Clay Shooting Championships they probably had no idea then just how much work might be involved. When they found out they quickly recruited three more experienced and well qualified people onto the committee to help and, now, the whole team is working hard to deliver a first class show and a ‘First for Suffolk’. We are grateful to the many organisations who have committed to sponsoring our event. Following their recent merger, our major sponsor is Huws Gray/Ridgeons the Builders’ Merchants and they, in turn, are being supported by their various suppliers. At the time of going to print, the first entries have already been received and we look forward to having many more.

Another first for us. We are inviting raffle prize donations for, over the years, these have been a major source of funding for us. But this year, we are having two raffles, the new addition being the Big Gun Raffle, with tickets priced at £5.00 each. e prize is an unused Webley & Scott 912K over and under Sporter in a case and we are very grateful to the donor.

Since 2008, when we started by supporting EACH who were looking to build a new hospice, we have been able to distribute more than £23,000 to our various Charities and this year we have decided to support both the 2019 Suffolk Provincial Festival and the Suffolk Horse. Perhaps better known to most as the Suffolk Punch, the Suffolk Horse breed (Equus ferus caballus) is under serious threat and in danger of dying out. We are determined to do something about that serious situation in the months and years to come.

Currently under construction is an e-copy of a souvenir publicity booklet so please watch out for its launch in the near future.

Main Sponsors

15th National Masonic Clay Shooting Championships

Saturday 22 June

2019 And open to everyone!

Hosted by the Suffolk Masonic Clay Shooting Society

In aid of the Suffolk Horse and the Suffolk Masonic 2019 Festival

High Lodge Shooting School Haw Wood, Hinton, Nr Darsham, Suffolk IP17 3QT www.highlodge.co.uk

Saturday 22nd June 2019 Registration from 8.30 am for a 10.00 am start (Prize giving at approximately 2.30 pm)

100 Bird Sporting Competition over 15 Stands Individual and Three Man Team Trophies for Ladies, Juniors, Guests, Veterans (65+ on the day) and Masonic categories

Entry Fee £55 inc. lunch Spectators and Supporters are most welcome

Raffle (Please bring a raffle prize, as these will be very much appreciated) The Big Gun Raffle We will be offering a shotgun on the day by way of a special prize!

Entry forms can be downloaded from: www.suffolkpgl.org.uk/clubs-and-societies/shooting/2019-nationals and Facebook ‘Suffolk Masonic Clay Shooting Society’ Enquiries to SMaCSS Vice Chairman: Ruffy Ruffles on 0778 901 8871 email: smacssvicechairman@gmail.com

We hope to see many visitors and spectators to these Championships at High Lodge and we are sure they will have a happy day with us. If some less experienced shooters feel they are not quite ready to participate at this level they might like to come and shoot with us at our Club shoots starting on February 16th. We are keen to introduce new interested parties to the sport especially ladies and young people. We will give them every support and will arrange instruction should they wish.

e ‘Big Gun Raffle’ at the 2019 Nationals rough the kindness of a very generous donor SMaCSS are planning to offer, by way of a “Big Gun Raffle”, a new and unused 12 Bore Shotgun at the 2019 Nationals which are being held at High Lodge on June 22nd 2019. As may be seen in the accompanying picture the prize is a Webley & Scott 912K over and under Sporter with 30” barrels. A retail selling price today might be in the region of £700 - 900. To comply with UK Law, the winner will need a shotgun licence. Should the winner not have, arrangements are in hand to hold the prize in a legally compliant way until arrangements are made and a licence is secured. A licence holding winner may take delivery on the day.

In accordance with SMaCSS’ Aims & Objects to “provide an opportunity for Masons and their friends and families who may like to take up the sport”, the organisers will make every effort to assist the winner to achieve a smooth and legal delivery. Tickets @ £5.00 each.

Many more details and further information is available at www.suffolkpgl.org.uk or Ruffy on 07789 018871

FORUM

Have you got an idea for an article?

Have you something or someone you would like us to feature?

Editor: WBro. Kelvin Avis Tel 07771 644716 kelvinavis@me.com

www.suffolkfreemason.org.uk

I 23

Exceptional 30O for Frank Wilmot On Wednesday 26th September at a general meeting of Point Du Jour Rose Croix Chapter No 737, Excellent and Perfect Prince Frank Wilmot 180 (E&PP) in the Ancient and Accepted Rite received a patent to be come Illustrious Brother Frank Wilmot 300. is is an extremely rare occasion and very seldom does it happen, so why did it, you may ask.

Well Frank has been a member of Point Du Jour, a regular attender and supporter for many years and eventually he was persuaded to progress through the various offices and finally he was enthroned as Most Wise Sovereign. He carried out his duties impeccably and to the satisfaction of his peers and was recommended to be elected to the 300. is was supported by the Inspector General Dr David Woodings and submitted to Supreme Council, head office at Duke Street London. ey accepted the submission and allotted a date when Frank would receive the ceremony and then be invested as a member of the 300.

However, due to personal circumstances outside of Franks control and the fact that he is a full time carer for his wife 24/7 he was unable to go to London and declined the promotion. e Inspector General discussed Franks situation with the Supreme Council and they agreed that they would present a patent to Frank and he would become Illustrious Brother Frank Wilmot 300. is was carried out and Frank was almost speechless. At the festive board he thanked the Chapter and particularly to the Inspector General for his support and encouragement. is really is an exceptional event and I have no doubt that in time and with circumstances allowing Frank will attend a meeting in London to witness a very beautiful 300 ceremony.

Raymond Pascoe 320, District Recorder

Suffolk Installed Masters Lodge No. 3913 1919 - 2019

Centenary Meeting Friday 26th April 2019 Ashlar House, Bury St. Edmunds Suffolk Installed Masters Lodge is celebrating its 100 Years Anniversary in April 2019.

As part of this important milestone, the Lodge will be holding a special Centenary Meeting where our Provincial Grand Master, as the newly installed Master for 2019, will be presiding.

A chance to be part of a unique and special event marking 100 Years as a Lodge Booking Forms available from W.Bro. R. Young, 78 Abbotsbury Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 2HP rogermyoung@icloud.com

24 I FORUM

e Suffolk Freemasons Magazine

Following the Travelling Gavel....

On 1st November 23 members of Christchurch, including the DPGM David Clarke travelled to the coast to challenge Colneis Lodge and launch a raid on the Travelling Gavel. A packed temple witnessed WM Darren Harris and his officers deliver an excellent 1st Degree ceremony, much to the enjoyment of one Christchurch member who had only been through his own initiation Ceremony twenty days earlier. A full St John's Hall hosted a noisy and laughter filled Festive Board which was further enhanced by the attendance of this year's group of Provincial Stewards who wanted to launch their 'Movember' appeal. Indeed one of their number got Movember in reverse by shaving off the beard he already had there and then, leaving only his moustache remaining. e traditional 'forfeit' was called for and the travelling contingent duly obliged by throwing back their heads and launching into a thunderous rendition of Pack up Your Troubles followed by It's a Long Way to Tipperary, complete with the DPGM dressed in an ARP Warden's helmet! Honour satisfied WM Darren presented the Travelling Gavel to WM Neville Branch to complete a cracking good evening.

On Friday 10th January having rescued the Gavel from Colneis in November Christchurch Lodge found themselves under siege when both British Union and St Lukes lodges mounted a raid to secure it for themselves. An excellent Second Degree ceremony delivered by WM Neville Branch and his team, which included the Deputy PGM explaining the Tracing Board was witnessed by a packed Soane Street temple. Tables and chairs at the Festive Board stretched from one wall to the other as 77 brethren sat down to dine and enjoy one another's company. Both lodges were asked to stand and a head count proved that St Luke's had the greater number attending, 16 to British Union's 11 so it was they who had to complete the forfeit.

Everyone having warmed their vocal chords with a quick burst of 'My Old Man Said Follow the Van' St Luke's enthusiastically launched themselves into a specially commissioned piece entitled 'Here We Are at Christchurch', sung to the tune of We Shall Not be Moved. Suffice to say that none of the members of St Luke's were invited to audition for the Provincial Choir!! Indeed Stephen Sheldrake, WM of British Union made the point that he was under the impression that it was they who were the 'non singing' lodge! He then went on to say that by coincidence it was when he was previously in the chair of BU in 1993 that the Gavel had been presented to him by a visiting brother from Ipswich in Queensland, Australia with the expressed purpose that it should be used to foster visiting within the Province. With 27 visiting brethren present with the specific purpose of capturing the Gavel he felt that its raison d'etre was very much alive and well. e Travelling Gavel is an enjoyable and fun way to visit other lodges throughout the province in the company of friends - why not arrange a raid with your lodge?

Find us on Facebook ‘Provincial Grand Lodge of Suffolk’

Busy meeting at Abbot Baldwin...

Commendation for Tom Crickmore Tom receives his commendation for 42 years exemplary service to Freemasonry in Suffolk. Tom at 94 is still attending Corinthian Lodge where he was Almoner for many years.

He was presented with his certificate by VWBro David Boswell who Installed Tom as Master back in 1993.

e 245th meeting at Abbot Baldwin Lodge proved to be a particularly pleasant and very busy evening for the lodge with the Initiation of Scott Darnell, the presentation of Mike Helliar’s 50th Certificate, a ballot for Initiation of Mr John Martineau and finally a Notice of proposal for Honorary Membership for W. Bro A. C. Smith, all in the presence of the Provincial Grand Master. e PGM presented Mike with his certificate and spoke at length of his personal life and especially his masonic career which started with his Initiation into Old Cedarians Lodge No. 8078 (Beds) on 9th November 1968. In Suffolk Mike was appointed PPJGW in 2016 and PPGStwd in 2018.

He is Secretary of Stour Valley Lodge, a Founding member of Sportsmans Lodge of Suffolk and a joining member of Suffolk Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge. He is also Scribe E of Priory Chapter, assistant Scribe E of Suffolk Installed First Principals Chapter, a member Suffolk Provincial Grand Stewards Chapter, Treasurer of Simon of Sudbury Rose Croix and a member Suffolk Chapter Rose Croix.

Mike reiterated his enjoyment of masonry over those 50 years and particularly since his arrival in the Province of Suffolk in 2012 where he was warmly welcomed and had subsequently joined Abbot Baldwin.

St. Andrews makes donation...

St. Andrew’s Lodge No. 1631 is one of a few Suffolk Lodges that meets in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

One of our widows receives support from a local group called ‘e Norfolk & Norwich Liver Group’ whose fundraising has previously enabled them to purchase a Fibroscan machine in 2012 and 2 years later a portable machine which can be moved around between hospitals. e Liver Group are currently raising funds for a third, more advanced and lighter portable machine. Liver disease is now the third most common cause of premature death in the UK. A donation of £1,000 was recently presented to Dr Martin Phillips, one of the leading liver surgeons in the area. e presentation gave the WM Mike Brown, Almoner Andy Hunt and Charity Steward Colin Hills the opportunity to emphasise that one of our core principles is to help others and raise funds for charitable purposes, not just for Masons and their families but also for many other good causes.

“In case of cancelled Ceremony phone Orator”

I was honoured to be appointed for a further term by our Provincial Grand Master so therefore thought it time to further explain the Orator scheme as it were! Some five years ago the Orator appeared to somewhat akin to an emergency service.

“In case of cancelled Ceremony phone Orator”. Fortunately this appears to be no longer the case and many lodges now avail themselves of an Orator to break from the circle of ceremonies so to entertain and sometimes educate the brethren even though our lodges appear busier with more candidates than before. I believe this to be an excellent step forward with an opportunity to prove that freemasonry is not, nor was ever meant to be, about ceremonies and ritual alone.

Personally I have been fortunate to visit many lodges here in Suffolk, London and elsewhere and have enjoyed not just the hospitality shown but also the comments and informed debate following a presentation. In fact many of our junior brethren have voiced their appreciation at having the opportunity to state views and be involved. Therefore I thought it time to formalize and expand the scheme. Hopefully all Lodge Secretaries will be receiving details of an expanded programme of lectures and talks given by myself and others which will hopefully educate, cause debate, and above all entertain. None too long (average 35 minutes) none too esoteric (to avoid snoring in lodge) and hopefully educational and thought provoking. As stated, further details to lodge Secretaries once finalised, but any questions just email me.

Now to a success story somewhat unique to our Province. ‘The Ceremony of the Empty Chair’, first performed by Priory Lodge but now by our Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge has been exceptionally well received wherever we have visited. Some 15 visits to date, many to London and other Provinces, the brethren have evinced to our hosts the quality of their theatrical skills. In all cases audiences (including many of our rulers) have remarked and congratulated our cast’s portrayal of a very moving ceremony. Therefore, in order to ensure our “luvvies” and indeed Suffolk’s continued theatrical fame, that very same team, with a few new fame seeking Stewards are currently rehearsing my latest production ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’. The first public performance will be hosted by Sudbury’s Gainsborough Lodge on Monday 11th February. Once perfected we will be on the road again, so if any Lodge fancies hosting us please contact me.

And to finalise a wonderful new initiative. Certain Bury masons of theatrical bent, not being Stewards were somewhat aggrieved that they could not achieve theatrical fame.

So they got in touch and they are now forming their own troupe to hopefully entertain you all with yet another script penned by your Orator. If you want to be involved contact Nick Wiseman at info@townandcountrygardening.co.uk.

It appears that our Province comes replete with frustrated theatricals.

W.Bro. Peter Thorogood Provincial Orator

www.suffolkfreemason.org.uk

I 25

The Provincial Grand Chapter of Suffolk Dear Companions, We look forward to another eventful and exciting year in Suffolk Royal Arch Masonry is year will see the culmination of all the hard work that both the membership of the Craft and the Holy Royal Arch of Suffolk have put into the Festival. It has been notable that each year Royal Arch Province of Suffolk has presented a cheque to the Provincial Grand Master at the Annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge, and this year will be no exception. How special it was that at our last Provincial Convocation the “Big Draw” was launched and will be drawn at our May Annual meeting.

Now is the time that the Appointments and Promotions have been announced and on behalf of the executive of the Royal Arch may I congratulate all those recipients in both the Craft and Royal Arch. is is an exciting time in Freemasonry with a new Grand Secretary/Scribe E who is certainly doing the job he was hired to do, to move Freemasonry forward with documents online, and comprehensive training for us all, including the introduction of Solomon (an example from the RA section can be found on page 27). ere is a lot of talk of burdening new Companions with too much ritual before they have gone through the Chair of their Lodge, but remember Companions both Supreme Grand Chapter and e United Grand Lodge of England have seen fit to state that a mason of four weeks and upward can join the Royal Arch and indeed continue through the three Principals chairs without being a Past Master, food for thought!

Within this Province my Deputy and Almoner along with the Companions of Suffolk Installed First Principals Chapter are involved with several initiatives to promote interest and explain the importance of completing the 4th Step in Pure Ancient Freemasonry. e most recent is the introduction of a “Red Table” meeting where a Chapter invites members of the Craft to come and learn about the order within a Royal Arch setting and how it fits into Craft Masonry. e next Red Table is being hosted by Phoenix & Ala on 29th April at Stowmarket Freemasonry should be Fun, and enjoyed in the company of like-minded individuals who acknowledge its social and personal qualities.

David Boswell, Grand Superintendent

Coffee Morning raises over £4000 for Macmillan Cancer Support

Royal York Chapter No 81 On ursday 1st of November 2018 the Grand Superintendent, E. Companion David Boswell together with E. Companion Ralph Robertson, Charity Steward for Royal York Chapter No 81 & 2nd Provincial Grand Principal were invited to the Salvation Army Centre in New Street Woodbridge. With winter approaching, the Companions of Royal York Chapter donated money to the Salvation Army for their work with homeless people and those in vastly reduced circumstances in the Woodbridge area. is was matched by the MEGS Fund from Provincial Grand Chapter Charity. ey were met by Major Alan Hill who explained the work the Salvation undertakes every day of the year in the Woodbridge area. ey provide 25-30 food parcels every week and hot meals. On Christmas Day he expects 60 or so people would attend the centre for a hot meal. Alan explained the centre also offered washing facilities for dirty clothing and replacements where needed. e chance of a hot shower and more importantly, company and friendship to those who had no one else in their life.

Alan has been in post as the Corp Officer for Woodbridge for the past year. He explained that any donation would go to helping those who were homeless but felt that it was best not to give money directly to anyone on the street. Alan made an astute assessment of what was needed, the government benefits available to those on the street and what really helps in such cases. e annual running costs are between £10 – 12k each year. He assured the MEGS that the £600.00 just donated was gratefully received and would make a positive difference to many, especially with the onset of Winter not too far away. e picture shows the Grand Superintendent, E. Companion David Boswell present a cheque for £600.00 to Major Alan Hill.

Ralph Robertson

Felix Chapter provide help to Families in Need e members of Felix chapter decided at their Christmas meeting to donate a sum of £100.00 to FIND (Families in Need), this sum was further enhanced by a matching donation from the discretionary fund administered by the Grand Superintendent on behalf of the Provincial Grand Charity.

Subsequently a cheque for £200 was presented by Ex Comp Jason Flower Z of Felix Chapter to Maureen Reynel MBE founder and Chair of FIND at their current headquarters in Hinds Road Ipswich. During the Christmas period they packed sufficient boxes and individual presents to distribute to 1,000 families, groups such as YMCA and Shaftesbury, and individuals. 40 families in need in Felixstowe were recipients of support during the Christmas period and continue to be supported throughout the year.

Held at Ashlar House in Bury St Edmunds our now annual Coffee Morning, organised by Amanda and Jenny the wives of our PGM and Grand Superintendent, saw a huge number of Craft and Chapter members come together to enjoy a great selection of homemade cakes and pastries in the company of friends and family. With the help of donations, a raffle and the auction of some lovely donated items the sum of £4116 was raised in aid of this very worthwhile charity.

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e Suffolk Freemasons Magazine

FIND has been in existence for over 25 years and because of changing times and the every increasing need for food banks and other basic necessities of life FIND is now with the assistance of many local organisation and people embarking on a new phase of expansion and will be moving to a new home currently owned by Ipswich Borough Council.

Planning permission has now been granted and many local firms have given free their services to convert and fit out this new facility. To help meet the financial challenge they have launched “FIND 50” to encourage groups and individuals both small and large to each raise or donate £2,000 for the ‘FIND 50 £100,000 Lifeline appeal’ and over £34k has been raised so far.

Further information of the work of FIND and how you can all help is available on www.findipswich.org.uk

A little lift for local charity David Boswell presented a cheque for £1,000 to Jo Searle, Chief Executive of the Bridge Project Sudbury at Martyn Chapter’s meeting on 18th April 2018. e Bridge Project provides a meeting place, activity, learning and support programmes for disabled, vulnerable and frail adults in the local community.

Generally self funded through its activities and running the cafe. Mainly staffed by volunteers, with the cafe kitchen staffed largely by supervised vulnerable adults also providing a daily meals on wheels service. e Charity needed to raise around £20,000 to replace a lift at their premises in Sudbury which would enable all clients to access all activity rooms and areas. Fundraising initiatives were undertaken including sponsored tandem skydives by some of the disabled and vulnerable users of the services. It was through this initiative, Keith Cook became aware of the situation, as one of the participants Boyd Robinson, who had learning difficulties, was raising funds through sponsorship from residents of Stoke by Nayland. Keith then made a proposal to the members of Martyn Chapter 1224 to make a donation of £500, which was matched by the Grand Superintendent, bringing the total to £1,000. e lift is now installed and three members of Martyn Chapter attended the official opening in September. e lift was opened by Mr. Norman Robinson, the father of Boyd who through his tandem skydive sponsorship was one of the largest individual contributors. Sadly, Boyd died suddenly of a heart attack at home about two months earlier, aged 49, and never saw the lift installed.

Keith Cook

Honorary Membership for Ken Canter Abbot Baldwin Chapter were very please to offer Honorary Membership to our loyal and long standing member EComp Ken Canter. e presentation was made by our Mel Pettit and Ken’s wife Marion was presented with a bouquet in appreciation of her allowing us to share her husband’s company in our chapter for so many years. Ken has been a long and loyal member of the Chapter having served as its MWS in both 1994 and again in 2002 and for over thirty years provided sound advice, good counsel and an exemplary example to us all.

Below is an extract from Ken’s letter of acceptance. ank you for coming to see me and Marion on Tuesday. I have to say that I have been very touched and honoured to be made an Honorary Member of the Abbot Baldwin Chapter, and I was particularly proud to receive the recognition from yourselves on behalf of the members. It has been an honour to be able to serve the Chapter twice as First Principal, and I have been very grateful for the friendship, support, and fraternal solidarity from the members of the Chapter. We would like to thank the Chapter very much for the gifts, and really appreciate the gesture and kindness which are gratefully accepted by both of us.

With thanks and best wishes, Ken and Marion For those in the Province who know Ken they might like to hear that he remains in good heart and finds himself living with his health problems rather than suffering from them. A truly remarkable and very special couple.

Andrew Catton

As we are aware, the Holy Royal Arch Order is acknowledged as the fourth step in Pure Antient Craft Masonry. To help encourage our brethren who have not yet taken this fourth step to find out more about this important Masonic Order, a special informal meeting is arranged on Monday 29th April 2019 starting at 6.00pm at e Masonic Hall, Stowmarket, Suffolk. is meeting has the support of our Provincial Grand Master and M.E. Grand Superintendent. ey both encourage interested brethren to attend. is meeting will be a ‘red table’ event at which brethren will be supported by Holy Royal Arch companions to come and learn about Holy Royal Arch Masonry and where it fits into Craft Masonry. Brethren will be invited into a HRA Chapter setting to listen to a short presentation on the Order, followed by a question/answer session. e only qualification needed is that brethren are Master Masons. e meeting will be held under the banner of e Phoenix and Ala Chapter 516, so please contact E.Comp. Colin Barber, codge@btinternet.com or Tel 01449 675548 to reserve your place at this informative meeting. We hope that all Chapters who use the Masonic Hall will support this initiative. Please include name, lodge name and number for those brethren who will be attending. Dress code is smart casual.

After the presentation, there will be a festive board at which those non companions will be the guests of the HRA Chapters supporting this initiative. Companions will pay for their meals. is invitation is open to any brother including Entered Apprentices, Fellowcrafts and Master Masons who are interested in increasing their Masonic knowledge irrespective of where their lodge meets. I would therefore encourage you to disseminate this invitation as wide as possible. It is not necessary for the brother or brethren to be accompanied by any potential sponsor, although this would be preferred.

Hosted under the Banner of Phoenix and Ala Chapter 516 Open to all Craft Masons from any Lodge in the Province

What are the Royal Arch colours?

We hear each year at the Installation Convocation, the explanation of the robes of the Principals and the significance of the colours. But where do the colours come from?

For this we need to travel back some 3500 years to the time of Moses. The Book of Exodus tells the story of the time the Lord spoke to Moses and told him how the Jews were to live. He also taught them how to pray. He gave instruction in how a moving Temple to his glory was to be built and thus the tabernacle was formed.

The Lord gave Moses instruction in the colours to be used in the fabric of the Tabernacle. These colours were Red, Purple and Blue, or Blue, Purple and Scarlet depending on which version of the Bible you read. These colours were said to represent the elements.

Red for fire, Purple for the sea as the blood of shellfish dyes it and Blue for the sky. The Lord chose Bezaliel and Aholiab, other names in our ritual, to prepare and sew the cloth for the tabernacle.

The Lord also gave instruction on what the High Priest should wear, and the colour of this robe was to be blue. This shows why the colours for the robes of our Principals are so important and it also shows just how old some of our practices date from. So, when you see or wear those robes remember they represent one of the most Holy items of the Israelites.

solomon.ugle.org.uk

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