Covid -19 Update 6th August 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

On Wednesday I attended the Benevolence and Care Committee and was once again totally impressed by the amount of good work carried out by the Committee under the expert chairmanship of Bro Marcus Humphrey greatly assisted by Grand Almoner, Brother Tom Davidson and our Benevolence and Homes Manager, Mrs Dawn Oliff.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the announcement that the contribution from Scottish Freemasonry to Prostate Scotland has now reached £767,220 – a fantastic achievement and one that we should be exceedingly proud of. I have had comment from time to time that this is a predominantly Scottish initiative and doesn’t really include our Districts. Can I emphasise that the monies raised through Scottish Freemasonry are significantly impacting on research into this disease which can affect men no matter where they are and that the results of the research will undoubtedly benefit men throughout the world. This is a vitally important programme for us all and I encourage Brethren throughout the Scottish Constitution to continue their support of the charity.

Another scheme which was given the green light at the meeting was the Queen’s Green Canopy. It was agreed that trees will be planted at both our Homes to mark Her Majesty’s 70th Jubilee Celebrations. I have already mentioned the scheme in the 4th June update but I would again appeal to all Lodges at home and abroad to give serious consideration to participating locally.  For those of you who have not heard of the programme, it is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people, individuals and organisations, from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee.” The tree planting at home should start to take place in October. There is an excellent Queen’s Green Canopy webpage which can be accessed at – https:// queensgreencanopy.org – I commend the page and the initiative to you.

SCFS

 
  • The group was delighted to welcome Bro. Billy Forsyth, Worshipful Junior Warden of Lodge Fraser, No. 267 in the Province of Aberdeenshire East as its 5500th
  • This week saw the total examples of charitable giving recorded within the group rise to 884, submitted by 301 of its members.
  • These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 327 Lodges, from within 55 of its Provincial Grand Lodges, District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges abroad under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge. 
  • This week posts were submitted by group members representing the Provinces of Edinburgh, Fife & Kinross, Midlothian, Moray & Nairn, Ross & Cromarty and Stirlingshire.
  • With the addition of £30,520 during the course of last week, the total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £1,388,221.

SCFS Overseas Report  

  • Our Overseas Membership has now risen to 1547 This is thanks to new members joining us from Lodges in the Districts of Jamaica, Lebanon, Middle East (Thailand) and Nigeria. 
  • The largest increase in membership was from the District of the Middle East, with the most Brethren joining from an individual Lodge, this week, coming from Lodge Lane Xang, No. 1632, Bangkok, Thailand, in that District. 
  • It was an additional pleasure to welcome Brother Col. Lemuel LindoPast District Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge of Jamaica. 
  • Our membership of Brethren who belong to Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with GLoS continues to grow. We now have 772 Brethren spreading news of the wonderful support featured in the posts on the main SCFS page and on the increasingly popular SCFS-Showcase,throughout their constitutions.
  • During this week, the expanding reach of SCFS was seen by the fact that Brethren joined from 11different Masonic Constitutions, including: GL ofBolivia, GL of Chile, GL of Western Australia, GL of California, GL of Denmark, UGLE (England, Eastern Archipelago, South America), GL of Arizona, GL of Japan, United GL of New South Wales and ACT, and the GL of
  • In addition to the above, Brother Noel GeorgeGrand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Newfoundland and Labrador,also joined as an ICM. 

We look forward to receiving and sharing further posts from our Overseas Brethren this week and eagerly await the first ones from a number of Districts. 

On Monday night I thoroughly enjoyed a Zoom meeting with the Brethren of Lodge St Thomas 306 in Larkhall. Many thanks for your kind invitation and warm welcome.

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

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason