Covid -19 Update 7th October 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

Scottish Freemasons at home and abroad have assisted their local communities in so many ways over the past 18 months – something we should be extremely proud of. However, we are now at a stage, both within and out with the Craft where we are seeing a rise in mental health issues. To try and help reduce the potential problems and be able to point people in the right direction, we are taking a pro-active approach to the subject. Mrs Oliff has all the material ready for inclusion in the proposed Mental Health Awareness leaflet and has arranged for the printer to produce a proof so that we can hopefully have some advance copies available for the Communication on 28th October with the wider distribution to all our Lodges early in November. The availability of the leaflet is an important positive step which will hopefully lead, in the new year, to some brethren in all our Provinces and Districts volunteering to be trained as Mental First Aiders in a constructive and helpful attempt to assist those having difficulty in coping with the fallout from the pandemic.

SCFS

  
  • The Group saw its membership rise to 5744 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 941, submitted by 313 of its members.
  • These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 338 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 Argyll & the Isles, Glasgow, Linlithgowshire and Stirlingshire.
  • The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £1,548,058.


The public facing “SCFS-Showcase” page, which highlights a selection of posts which have appeared over the lifetime of the main SCFS page, is proving to be highly popular, now having achieved over 1000 followers from 48 different countries.

  • This page enables friends and family, along with other members of the public, to view, share and comment upon the many examples of the charitable giving being undertaken by Scottish Constitution Freemasons throughout the world.
  • The success of SCFS Showcase very much depends upon your support, and the sharing of the page, or any of its individual posts, with friends, family or on other Facebook groups, will enable the invaluable contributions, which are being made on a regular basis, to reach a much wider audience. The page can be accessed from Facebook by searching for “SCFS-Showcase” or by using the link below. http://www.facebook.com/SCFS-Showcase-112159604046627
 

SCFS Overseas Report  

  • Our Overseas Membership has now risen to 1615Brethren, with most new Members coming from Lodge Hesperus, No. 1738, in the District of Trinidad & Tobago and Grenada. A welcome increase in ourmembership from Sri Lanka (Lodge Bonnie Doon, No. 611) was also noted. 
  • We now have 927 Brethren (ICMs -International Constitution Members), who belong to Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with the Grand Lodge of Scotland, with new members joining this week from 7different Masonic Constitutions, namely: GL of Missouri, United GL of Victoria, GL of New South Wales and A.C.T., Grand East of the NetherlandsUGLE(England, Nigeria), GL of South Africa, GL of Japan. These ICMs play an important part in spreading news of the excellent examples of support published on the SCFS page. 
  • Posts showing the outstanding donations and support by Lodges in our Districts of Western Australia, Middle East, Zimbabwe, and Kwa-Zulu Natal were published on our public SCFS-Showcase

Last weekend was another busy one with two Provincial Installations and a Lodge amalgamation. My sincere thanks and that of the Depute Grand Master for the welcome we received in Moray and Nairn, Perthshire West and the Scottish Borders. This weekend, I am looking forward to being in Dundee for the Installation of Brother Peter Taylor as Provincial Grand Master of Forfarshire.

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

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason