Craft News
- Written by: Simon Key
On Saturday the 30th September 2017, Freemasons from every continent attended the Grand Ball at Freemasons Hall to celebrate the founding of the Premier Grand Lodge in London in 1717.
Tickets were at a premium, having taken less than 60 seconds to sell out when they went on sale a year ago. Despite this, a handful of Masons from the Province, together with their partners, managed to attend this once-in-a-lifetime event.
From left, Mrs S. Summerfield, WBro J C. Summerfield, Mrs E. Spence, WBro D. Genner, WBro J. Spence and Mrs P. Genner
- Written by: Simon Key
On Thursday the 5th of October 2017, the Provincial Grand Charity Steward, WBro Gerry Crawford, featured as a special guest on BBC Radio Northampton's Helen Blaby Show.
WBro Gerry Crawford with Helen Blaby (click for larger image)
WBro Gerry updated Helen and the show's audience about the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) Community Awards allocated to a number of charities in the Province by public vote.
The Provincial Grand Master, RWBro Max Bayes, will present the awards on the 9th October 2017 at Northampton and the 11th of October 2017 at Peterborough.
- Written by: Simon Key
WBro Richard Powell's Installation as Master of Lodge of Fidelity No. 445 took place on Wednesday the 4th of October 2017 at Towcester Masonic Hall; it proved to be a most memorable occasion.
WBro Paul Logan did a super job as Installing Master, and WBro Powell distinguished himself during the investiture of his officers, the remainder of the meeting, and the festive board.
WBro Martin Dimmock, Provincial Senior Grand Warden, attended the ceremony as the official representative of the Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro Max Bayes.
All of the brethren present were most touched to hear that WBro Powell's "new" Master's apron had been given to him by Linda, the widow of WBro Mike Pusey, who was his proposer. WBro Pusey sadly passed away in 2013.
At the conclusion of the installation ceremony, WBro Trevor Sherman, a member of Piscator Lodge No. 7557, presented a historic Past Master's Jewel to WBro Powell, as a gift to the Lodge.
From left, WBro Martin Dimmock ProvSGW; WBro Richard Powell, WM of Fidelity Lodge No. 445; and WBro Trevor Sherman, PPGSuptWks & PM of Pomfret Lodge No. 360 (click for larger picture)
The jewel had originally been presented to WBro I.T. Wright, who was installed as Fidelity Master in 1957, some 60-years previously.
WBro Sherman explained how he first became associated with Lodge of Fidelity as a regular visitor, and how he had subsequently acquired the Jewel. He said,
I was Worshipful Master of Pomfret Lodge No, 360 in 2004. I had two personal ambitions at that time: to visit all the old 3-digit Lodges in the Province, and to start collecting Masonic Jewels and memorabilia
After explaining that he had continued to visit Lodge of Fidelity for a number of years, WBro Sherman went-on to say,
I was in contact at that time with a fellow collector in Staffordshire. He was cutting-down his collection and this was one of a number of items I acquired from him. He in turn had bought the jewel from an Antique Dealer in Toronto.
WBro Sherman suggested that the jewel, which, like all Past Masters' jewels, belonged to the Lodge, might be put to good use and presented to another Past Master, perhaps WBro Powell after his year in the Chair.
It was clear that WBro Sherman would welcome a well-deserved invitation to see that presentation being made!
- Written by: Simon Key
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