Issue 22 Autumn 2014
1
WORCESTERSHIRE
SOURCE
The Newsletter of Worcestershire Freemasons
Gifts by the hundred! Master plan to help small charities
Good Evans, he’s caught a fish
A three-year campaign to channel some lodge charity collections throughout the Province into a central fund is being launched by Worcestershire Masons in preparation for the 300th anniversary celebrations in 2017 of the formation of the First Grand Lodge in 1717. The scheme was announced by the Provincial Grand Master at the meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge in June. R W Bro Robert Vaughan said: “I believe that support for our local small charities is always popular and worthwhile. With that in mind, I am asking every lodge to nominate three or four small charities or good causes that you would like the whole Province to support, culminating in 2017.
Opportunity “This is not an appeal in the traditional sense. It is an opportunity for every lodge to contribute, through its usual charity collections and proceeds of special events, to a new central fund entirely within the Province. “This will be one of my chosen charities for the next three years.” The PGM continued: “I hope that at the time we celebrate the Tercentenary a large number of charities will benefit from this fund. The already very successful Provincial Lottery will play a significant part in supporting it. “If lodge donations are made using Gift Aid, the grand total will again be enhanced.” The PGM emphasised that lodges will still be free to make individual gifts to charities of their choice but perhaps could allocate one or two collections a year to the central fund.
Equal share At the end of the day the grand total would be divided equally between the nominated charities at a series of presentations throughout the Province – providing an opportunity of showing Freemasonry at its best. He said “details are being sent to every lodge” and added: “I hope very much that you will take advantage of this opportunity to increase awareness of what Freemasonry is and does but, even more importantly, support many small but valuable charities which are frequently under-funded. “I can assure you that there is no shortage of these where, as I am sure you know, even a relatively small amount of money can make an enormous difference.”
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A moment of triumph for Assistant Provincial Grand Master Keith Evans as he catches his first ever fish. Sharing the glory is Peter Robinson, organiser of the Shropshire Masonic Fishing Charity. Suggestions that Keith asked that the fish be made bigger using Photoshop have been strongly denied... See story on Page 3.
Mike: a hard act to follow The announcement came out of the blue. It stated on the Provincial website:“After over seven years of unstinting service in this role, our much loved and highly regarded Secretary and Scribe E, Michael H R Cole has decided it is nearly time to hang up the tools of his trade (at least two pens in saltire, as well as his PC), and spend more time on the things he loves most. “He will leave the post at some point during this Masonic year.” No one appreciated Mike Cole’s support and expertise more than RWBro Richard Goddard during his term as Provincial Grand Master. He says: “Michael was an excellent Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, but an even better Provincial Grand Secretary. “He ran the Provincial office in Bromsgrove with quiet efficiency, always seeking to make economies so that Provincial dues could be kept to a minimum. While never afraid to call a spade a shovel (even in London!), he was always ready to help any lodge secretary or brother who needed assistance. “His administration for large Provincial
WBro Mike Cole
occasions was so thorough that the event appeared to run with effortless ease “I count myself most fortunate to have had Michael as my Provincial Grand Secretary for the majority of my tenure as Provincial Grand Master. I wish him well in his retirement, together with his lovely wife to page 4
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