Covid -19 Update 14th January 2022 GMM Bro William Ramsay McGhee

 

GLoS

The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland

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

Brethren,

I had the opportunity to attend the first zoom meeting of the Organising Committee of the 4th International Scottish Masonic Conference last week under the chairmanship of Bro Kenneth Kennedy, Past Depute Grand Master. I am delighted that members of the Committee have hit the ground running and are very enthusiastic to make this a memorable event. As you will be aware, the conference should have been in Zambia this year but due to a number of issues, it has been agreed that we bring the conference to Edinburgh.  We will return to Zambia.

The dates for the conference are 20th November to 23rd November 2022.  At the end of the week, we will celebrate the Grand Lodge Installation and Festival of St. Andrew followed by the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland Convocation on Friday 25th November 2022. 

The choice of Edinburgh for this year’s Conference will provide an opportunity for the Brethren from the Provinces to be specifically included in our activities and we look forward eagerly to their participation. This will also provide a great opportunity for Brethren from our Districts and Lodges overseas to meet and interact with many more Scottish Brethren than would normally be the case. 

For those of you who have had the pleasure of attending our past Conferences, I am sure that you will not want to miss out on what promises to be a very special event.  The opportunity for those eligible to attend the Conference, the Grand Lodge Installation, the Festival of St. Andrew and a Supreme Grand Chapter Convocation all in one week makes this an occasion “not to be missed”.  

The Committee Chairman will shortly be sending out a formal invitation and I urge all Provinces, Districts and Lodges to circulate the information to their members.

SCFS

 
  • The Group saw its membership rise to 6126 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 1074, submitted by 344 of its members.
  • These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 357 Lodges, from within 56 of its Provincial Grand Lodges, 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 Aberdeenshire East and Inverness-shire.
The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £1,835,261 
  

SCFS Overseas Report  

We were delighted to receive the following post from the District of Lebanon:

  • Brother Nour Al-Ayyash, PM, (Secretary / President Elect of WSL), posted information of a very generous donation from Widows Sons Lebanon to the Children’s Cancer Centre of Lebanon (St. Jude) which was made to mark the end of the Chapter’s successful presidency of Brother Rabie Jarmakani, DGM.

*This week we welcomed 30 Brethren from Lodges located outwith Scotland.

  • Our Overseas Membership is growing steadily … now standing at 1679,with Brethren joining from the Districts of Western Province of the Cape of Good Hope, Central South Africa (RSA), and Far East (Japan)We would encourage even more Brethren in our lodges abroad to join the SCFS group. 
  • We now have 1156 Brethren from Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with the GLoS, and who spread news, worldwide, of the wonderful support given to others by our Brethren. New members joined from 13 different Masonic constitutions this week: GL of Texas, UGLE (England, Nigeria, Sri Lanka), MW York GL of Mexico, United Grand Lodges of Germany, GL of Nigeria, GL of Washington, United GLs of New South Wales and ACT, GL of California, GL of Missouri, GL of Massachusetts, GL of the Philippines, United GL of Victoria, Prince Hall GL of Texas. 

 Arrangements for Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee are now well in hand. As I have mentioned before, one way we can join in the celebrations is by involvement in the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative. By planting a tree or trees in and around our Lodges or by joining with other local organisations, we would not only mark the Jubilee but do our small bit for the environment. The Woodland Trust can provide packs of trees to community groups free of charge. The window for March applications has closed but new applications can be made in the spring for planting in November. Please give the initiative some consideration.

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

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason