The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland
William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason
Brethren,
You will no doubt have been kept up to speed with Hurricane Fiona through news bulletins at home. We were incredibly fortunate – it passed to the west of us in St John’s and moved north hitting the west side of the island and Nova Scotia hard. We had some high winds and rain early in the Saturday morning but that was as bad as it got.
The Installation of Brother Warren Dinham went well, and everyone seemed happy with the entire day. The Brethren in Newfoundland and Labrador know how to organise successful events – their attention to detail was first class and the day ran very smoothly.
On Sunday morning we attended the morning service at Wesley United Church. We received a very warm welcome from the Minister, the Rev Bill Mercer, who conducted a very enjoyable service with a powerful sermon based on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Thereafter we enjoyed lunch at Woodstock with many of the Brethren and their wives.
On Monday we travelled to the picturesque village of Brigus where we were able to enjoy a leisurely walk before heading to Cupids – a neighbouring town. There we had lunch before visiting the Legacy Centre and an Archaeological site where they are investigating the first ever English settlement in Canada by Governor John Guy in 1610. It was a most interesting visit and quite remarkable to witness how they are piecing together ruins from 400 years ago into an understandable story today.
Our final night in St John’s saw us back in Freemasons’ Hall where we enjoyed dinner, made by the Brethren, before attending a meeting of Lodge St Andrew where we witnessed five candidates – two from Lodge St Andrew, two from Lodge Conception and one from Lodge Northcliffe being passed to the FC Degree. A tremendous evening of Masonic Fellowship with over 50 Brethren in attendance.
We had a tremendous time in Newfoundland and Labrador. The welcome, hospitality, and friendship we experienced was of the highest order. Thank you, Newfoundland and Labrador.
SCFS
- The Group saw its membership rise to 6832 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 1336, submitted by 397 of its members.
- These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 403 Lodges, from within 57 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 Provincial Grand Lodges of Ayrshire, Linlithgowshire, Perthshire East & Renfrewshire East.
- The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded is £2,648,445.
SCFS Overseas Report
- It was a pleasure to publish a post from Brother Jim Kerr, DGM, District of Central South Africa, sharing news of the excellent support of Gary Talbot, Master, and Lodge Athol, No. 1442, to various Homes and Feeding Schemes in the District.
- Our Overseas Membership has risen to 1838 This is thanks to new members joining us from the following Lodges: Mount Lebanon, No. 1312, and Trinity, No. 1846 (Lebanon), Civil and Military, No. 726 (Bermuda), Jordan, No. 1339 (Jordan), and Plus Ultra, No. 1856 (Sierra Leone and The Gambia). The largest increase in membership was from the District of Lebanon.
- We now have 1609ICMs (International Constitution Members) - brethren belonging to Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with the GLoS. These brethren are important in spreading news worldwide of the wonderful support given to others by our brethren as shown in the posts on the main SCFS page and on the increasingly popular SCFS-Showcase. This week that group was boosted by new members joining from 11different Masonic constitutions: GL of Utah, United GL of Victoria, GL of Alberta, GL of Pennsylvania, UGLE, GL of South Africa, GL of British Columbia and Yukon, GL of the Philippines, GL of Ireland, and the GL of Greece.
- Congratulations are extended to Brother William E McCraw, Chaplain of Golden Spike Lodge, No. 6, under the Grand Lodge of Utah, who is our 1600th
- In addition, a very special welcome was extended to Brother George Grant, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia.
**We would encourage our Overseas Lodges and Districts to continue sharing news of their excellent support of others and look forward to publishing further posts from them.**
Finally, as always, please stay safe and look after each other.
Ramsay McGhee
Grand Master Mason