Covid -19 Update 28th May 2021 GMM Bro William Ramsay McGhee


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The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland

William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason

Brethren

 After my excitement last week about getting the fibre optic cable into Grand Lodge, I’m afraid I have to tell you this week that it didn’t happen. The weekend wasn’t a total lost cause as our IT manager and the main contractor completed a power of work inside the building but, once again, we have been let down badly by the sub-contractor who has been engaged to bring the fibre optic cable into the building. The Grand Secretary and our IT Manager are on the case and are pursuing the next step – hopefully I will have better news very soon.

Further to the advice sent out recently on procedures for re-opening Lodges, I can now inform you that Grand Secretary will be in touch with Provincial Secretaries very soon with information on an excellent deal that has been negotiated by Grand Treasurer to purchase “Fogger Machines”. Basically, the deal is as follows but Grand Secretary will circulate full details to the Provinces.

 

Bundle Per Lodge:

  • 1 x ULV-50 Pro Fogger - £465.00 plus VAT
  • 3 x TriGuard 5 Litres - £53.25 plus VAT                                               (£17.75 plus VAT per unit)
  • 2 x TriGuard 750ml - £9.70 plus VAT                                                  (£4.85 plus VAT per unit)

Discount per lodge bundle - £251.00 plus VAT

Total Price - £276.95 plus VAT Per lodge Including Free next day delivery.

Grand Committee has already agreed that these devices can be purchased through Lodge Benevolent Accounts.

 
 
SCFS
 

The Group saw its membership rise to 5216 Brethren from not only the Scottish Constitution but from many of our Sister Constitutions throughout the world.

This week saw the total examples of charitable giving recorded within the group rise to 806, submitted by 289 of its members.

These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 320 Lodges, from within all 32 Provincial Grand Lodges, 23 of its District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges abroad under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge.

During the week posts were submitted by group members representing the Provinces of Edinburgh, Fife & Kinross, Kincardineshire, Lanarkshire Upper Ward, Linlithgowshire, Perthshire East, Perthshire West & Stirlingshire.

The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £1,286,648.

This represents an average of £22,975 per week over the last 56 weeks.

 

SCFS-Showcase 

 

SCFS Overseas Report  

As a result of new members joining from Lodges in East Africa (Uganda), Fiji, Jamaica, Lebanon, KwaZulu Natal, Malawi, Middle East (Malaysia), Sierra Leone and The Gambia, Sri Lanka, Trinidad & Tobago and Grenada, and the Western Province of the Cape of Good Hope, our Overseas Membership has now risen to 1476 Brethren.

The largest increase in membership was from the District of Lebanon, with the most Brethren joining from an individual Lodge, this week, coming from Lodge Lebanon, No. 1312. 

Our membership of Brethren belonging to Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with the GLoS continues to grow. With the addition of 36 new International Constitution Members (ICMs), we now have 622 Brethren spreading news of the wonderful support, featured in the posts on the main SCFS page and on the new SCFS-Showcase, throughout their constitutions.

This week Brethren joined from 12 different Masonic constitutions, namely: GL of IrelandUGLE, United GL of Victoria, GL of India, GL of South Africa, United GL of Queensland, GL of California, GL of Japan, GL of Canada in the Province of Ontario, GL of Kansas, GL of Norway, and a significant number from the National GL of Romania.

Very special welcomes to the SCFS group are extended to Brother Paul Kneller, WM, Royal Gloucester Lodge, No. 130, Hampshire & Isle of Wight, UGLE, who is our 600th ICM, to Brother Felix Pintado, Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Victoria, and to Brother Donald Smith, Past Grand Master, currently Grand Treasurer, of the Grand Lodge of Japan.

A number of most interesting posts were received :

Lodge Robbie Burns, No. 860, Brother Shane White, RWM, and the SMCF of Western Australia, supporting the vulnerable youth within the community through “Youth Futures.”

The Caledonian Lodge of Kampala, No. 1815, Uganda, supporting Belitwegomba School of Blind. 

District Grand Lodge of Central South Africa supporting the Cancer Association of South Africa

Lodge Api-Api, No. 1826, Malaysia, supporting villagers through its Covid-19 Food Aid Programme. 

 

My sincere thanks to the Brethren of the Province of Argyll and the Isles for their kind invitation to be with them last Wednesday night to discuss the way forward.

Finally, as always, please stay safe and look after each other

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason