The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland
William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason
Brethren,
Only two days to go until the start of the 4th International Scottish Masonic Conference. I am truly looking forward to welcoming the delegates and their wives and partners from home and abroad to what I’m sure will be a momentous week in Scottish Freemasonry.
Conferences such as this don’t just happen – it takes a lot of effort. I am indebted to Brother Ken Kennedy, Chairman of the Organising Committee and Brother Kalpesh Shah, Organising Secretary, and the entire Committee for the vast amount of work they have carried out in a relatively short timescale to ensure that all will go to plan over the next week.
The programme has been enhanced by Brother Christopher Wong, District Grand Master of the Far East, agreeing that he and two of his Commission will be installed at a special meeting of Grand Lodge on Monday 21st November. All duly qualified Brethren are given a very warm welcome to join us in Grand Lodge on Monday night.
On Thursday we will have the Grand Lodge Installation Meeting followed by the Festival of St Andrew in the Edinburgh Conference Centre. During the Festival, we will present the final cheque
of £1.1 million to Mr Adam Gaines from Prostate Scotland. My heartfelt thanks to everyone at home and abroad who has contributed toward this magnificent sum.
SCFS
- The Group saw its membership rise to 6954 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 1391, submitted by 410 of its members.
- These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 409 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 Provincial Grand Lodges of Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire West, Dumfriesshire, East Lothian, Forfarshire, Galloway, Glasgow, Lanarkshire Upper Ward, Moray & Nairn, and Perthshire East.
- The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £2,740,541.
SCFS Overseas Report .
We were delighted to publish information from Brother Scott Bartlett, IPDGM, District Grand Lodge of Newfoundland and Labrador, who shared news of a generous donation by Lodge Humber, No. 1475, to the Canadian Red Cross in the support of Hurricane Fiona Relief Fund, the hurricane being the costliest and most intense tropical cyclone to hit Canada on record.
- The Overseas membership still continues to increase. New members joining from the following Lodges this week helped reach the current total of 1865 members: Lodge Golden Thistle, No. 840, Lodge Broonhill, No. 983, Lodge Sir William Wallace, No. 868 (all from Western Australia, Goldfields), Lodge Turffontein, No. 1556, and Lodge Thistle, No. 942 (Central South Africa), and Lodge St. Anne’s, No. 1751 (Bahamas).
- In addition, new members were approved from Lodges in amity with the GLoS, such as the GL of Newfoundland and Labrador, GL of Western Australia, GL of Alberta, GL of Cyprusand the GL of the Philippines. Particular reference must be made to an excellent response from brethren under the GL of Canada in the Province of Ontario. Thanks are extended to our 1655 such members for helping to share news, worldwide, of the wonderful charitable and community support featured in the group’s posts.
Last Friday night, Ann and I had a marvellous time with the Brethren of Lodge Galen and their wives and partners when we attended their Centenary Ball in the Glasgow Marriott. Next day I had another very enjoyable day with the Brethren of Celtic Lodge in Edinburgh. We celebrated their 200th Anniversary in fine style. On Monday night, it was back down the A9 to attend the Installation meeting of the Trades House Lodge in Glasgow. During the evening Honorary Membership of the Lodge was bestowed upon Brothers Charles IR Wolrige Gordon, James Peddie and Alexander Moncrieff. All richly deserved.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT
The Glasgow Phoenix Choir Christmas Concert will be held in Freemasons’ Hall, Edinburgh on Sunday 11th December at 2.30 pm for 3.00 pm. Tickets can be reserved through Grand Lodge Reception – only £10 per ticket. This year, in commemoration of the ascension of King Charles III, the choir will perform “Zadok the Priest” as part of the concert.
I am looking forward to being in the Province of Glasgow tonight (Friday) to celebrate with Lodge Galen at their Civic Reception and to being in the Province of Edinburgh on Saturday to celebrate with them, their 200th Anniversary.
Ramsay McGhee
Grand Master Mason