The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland
William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason
Brethren,
It has been a busy week – the Tri-partite meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday after which I headed off to Edinburgh Airport to catch the afternoon London flight to connect with the over-night flight to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai. Also on board was Brother George Donnelly, Proxy DGM of India. He will also be assisting me, carrying out his duties as Assistant Grand D of C, both in India and in Sri Lanka.
We arrived in Mumbai yesterday morning where we were greeted by Bro Kersi Limathwalla, DGM, Bro Bomi Methu, Past DGM and Bro Noshir Paghdiwalla, District Grand Secretary. Unfortunately, Bro Donnelly’s luggage decided to stay with British Airways in London. We were taken to a delightful restaurant at the racecourse where we enjoyed a traditional Indian Lunch along with Bro Kersi Commissariat, his wife and daughter before heading to the Trident Hotel.
From there we made our way to the Mumbai Masonic temple where we met some of the District Grand Lodge staff, including Swapmali and Shiraz, two delightful ladies who assist Bro Paghdiwalla run the District. We also took advantage of having a run through the ceremony with the DGM while in the main Temple – a useful exercise before the actual Installation.
In the evening we joined senior Office-bearers and enjoyed a traditional Indian meal.
This morning, after an early breakfast, we left the hotel at 07.30 to catch a flight to Cochin, followed by a 4-hour drive to Munnar where tonight we will attend the Installation Convocation of Chapter Camellia No 871
SCFS
- The Scottish Constitution Freemasonry Supports Facebook Group was created in May 2020 to provide a means for Brethren, Lodges, Districts, Provinces, and other Overseas Lodges operating under the Grand Lodge of Scotland to share the support being provided both at home and abroad.
- 145 weeks later another significant milestone has been reached with a total of £3,080,823 examples of support, both monetary and in kind, being recorded within the group. Many examples of the diverse range of support, both large and small, have in recent years been published in the Grand Lodge Year Books, including the 2023 edition which is now available from Grand Lodge.
- The Group saw its membership rise to 7051 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 1549, submitted by 448 of its members.
- These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 426 Lodges, from within 59 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 Forfarshire, Glasgow, Linlithgowshire, Inverness-shire and Perthshire West.
SCFS Overseas Report
As posted by Brother George Rogers, PDGM, Western Australia, a very sizeable donation (£5,800) has been made on behalf of the Scottish Masonic Charitable Foundation of WA, the DGL and the Daughter Lodges, to another very worthwhile charity, this time to the “Lions Cancer Institute”. This money will go towards the running costs of its Screening Bus which provides free cancer screening to people living outside the Perth area.
- Now with 1893 Overseas Members, we are approaching our 1900th member from our Lodges abroad. This week particular mention must be made to Al-Arz, No. 1853, Lebanon, Lodge Tullibardine in the East, No. 1118, Malaysia, Middle East, Lodge Golden Feather, No. 855, Western Australia, Goldfields District, and Lodge Royal Jubilee, No. 742, India, for adding to that total.
- Additional members were also approved from Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with the GLoS. This week we welcomed Brethren from Lodges which are under UGLE, GL of Michigan, GL of India, and the United Grand Lodges of Germany.
We would encourage our Overseas Lodges and Districts to continue sharing news of their support of others by sending posts to the SCFS group.
My sincere thanks to the Brethren of Lodge St David (Tarbolton) Mauchline 133 for a tremendous day celebrating their 250th anniversary – the welcome and hospitality was second to none. Likewise, our Depute Grand Master, Brother Bud Gauld, has asked me to convey his grateful thanks to the Brethren of Lodge Panmure 299. The visit to Arbroath was his first as DGM and he did a fantastic job. Congratulations to Bud and his team.
Finally, as always, please stay safe and look after each other.
Ramsay McGhee
Grand Master Mason