The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland
William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason
Brethren,
The New Year Festival of the Order of Danish Freemasons was an outstanding event. Over 500 Brethren were present to witness the ceremony in the magnificent home of Danish Freemasonry. The procession of visiting Grand Masters, Sovereign Grand Commanders and other dignitaries was accompanied not only by Grand Organist but a full-blown orchestra. The ceremony itself, while conducted in Danish, was nevertheless a tremendous event in which to be involved. Brother Douglas Gray, Grand Master of Ireland and I were very impressed by the Ceremony of Light. This involved the Grand Master, Brother Walter Schwartz, taking the light of Freemasonry, in the form of a candle, and lighting the candles of each of his Provincial Masters so that they in turn could take that light back to their respective Provinces. A very moving and poignant ceremony.
The dinner following the ceremony was equally impressive during which we were entertained by the Danish Girls’ Choir of Fredensborg Chapel. The choir, which consists of 20 girls aged 13–20, under the direction of Cille Buch, who is an active opera singer and actress in her own right, was one of the highlights of the weekend. The singing was of the highest order and their rendition of the Irish Blessing was superb.
The festival concluded on the Sunday afternoon with an orchestral concert in the main chamber of the building.
Also present from Scotland were M∴P∴ Sovereign Grand Commander Bro Charles Iain Robert Wolrige Gordon of Esslemont 33˚ and M∴Ill∴ Grand Secretary General Bro Alexander Galbraith 33˚
SCFS
This week saw Group membership rise to 7024 Brethren from not only the Scottish Constitution but from many of our Sister Constitutions throughout the world.
The total examples of charitable giving recorded within the group rose to 1519, submitted by 442 of its members.
These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 424 Lodges, from within 58 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 Fife & Kinross, Linlithgowshire, Midlothian, Perthshire East and Perthshire West.
The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £2,931,411.
SCFS Overseas Report
We were delighted to publish information this week of a most important donation to the Cape Maclear Clinic, towards the prevention of the spread of the Cholera outbreak in the area, by Lodge Viphya, No. 1571, Blantyre, Malawi.
- The Overseas membership continues to increase and now sits at 1884. This week, for new members joining, particular mention must be made to Lodge Sir Walter Scott Breadalbane, No. 859 (Western Australia), Lodge Melacca, No. 1851 (Malaysia, Middle East), and Lodge Allegiance, No. 1465 (Belgium).
- Additional members were also approved from Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with the GLoS, such as from the GL of Minnesota, and the GL of New Jersey.
- A special welcome was extended to Brother Fatih Sahin, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Ukraine.
** We are grateful to those Overseas Lodges and Districts who have shared news of their support of others and look forward to further publishing similar posts.**
This has been a very productive week in Grand Lodge. The special meeting of the Admin Committee went well on Wednesday as a result of which the proposals for the Motion to be tabled in Grand Lodge in February will all go forward to Grand Committee next week.
The Heads of Orders meeting yesterday was both informative and positive. All present gave updates on various aspects of the work being carried out, the state of membership and IT Integration among the Orders. The current initiative by Grand Lodge on Young Masons was welcomed and the meeting concluded with an excellent lunch hosted by the Royal Order of Scotland.
Finally, as always, please stay safe and look after each other.
Ramsay McGhee
Grand Master Mason