The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland
William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason
Brethren,
Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of heading a small Deputation from Grand Lodge, to Lodge Tarbolton (Kilwinning) St James No 135 where the Masters of the five Ayrshire Lodges who have recently celebrated their 250th Anniversary, worked an excellent Fellowcraft Degree as part of their charity appeal for Whiteleyes Retreat.
At the conclusion of the meeting, we enjoyed an evening of fellowship. After an excellent meal, we had an array of speeches, entertainment, raffles, auction – a superb evening, but most importantly, an evening which raised the magnificent sum of £7,100 for Whiteleys Retreat.
Once again, we witnessed what can be achieved with a bit of teamwork, enthusiasm, and commitment.
Whiteleys Retreat, based outside Alloway, provides free therapeutic short breaks and extended support for children, young people, and their families, with cancer and life altering illnesses. Families from across Scotland can take advantage of the facilities.
SCFS
- The Group saw its membership rise to 7292 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 1799, submitted by 509 of its members.
- These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 446 Lodges, from within 59 of its Provincial Grand Lodges, District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges abroad under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge.
- Thanks are extended to the following Lodges who had posts submitted on their behalf this week:
- Bannockburn Bruce & Thistle, No. 312 (Stirlingshire) supporting The Eilidh Brown Memorial Fund.
- Thistle, No. 127 (Ayrshire) supporting Whiteleys Retreat.
- Andrew, No. 1443 (Dumfriesshire) supporting Annan Warriors Ladies Rugby Team.
- The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £3,660,233.
This week we welcomed Brethren from Lodge St. John, No 618 (Hong Kong, Far East), Lodge Api-Api, No. 1826 (Malaysia, Middle East), Lodge Aladro, No. 1757, and Lodge Academic, No. 1150 (both Nigeria).
This brings our total of Overseas Members to 1982.
Brethren from other Masonic constitutions (ICMs) were similarly welcomed, such as Brethren from Lodges under the GL of Ohio, GL of New York, GL of Florida, and UGLE.
We now stand at 1799 ICMs and look forward to welcoming our 1800th this week. These Brethren help spread news of the wonderful support featured in the post on SCFS to a worldwide audience.
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Bro Billy Grant, SPGM of Provincial Grand Lodge of Ayrshire, became aware of the Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) project in Ireland and thought something similar could be done in Ayrshire. The Grand Lodge of Ireland have had tremendous success with the project so, the Province decided to support an Ayrshire version. They donated Teddies to Crosshouse Hospital and Ayr Hospital Paediatric Emergency Departments (A&E), where nursing staff (at their discretion) can give a bear to a child who may be in excessive pain and/or traumatised while attending the Emergency Department.
It has been proven to work in other parts of the UK to help children focus on something other than their distress or discomfort and help the nurse gain their confidence. The child gets to keep the teddy bear.
The child also can have a positive feeling of their trip to A&E. This project will be ongoing and is funded by the Freemasons in Ayrshire through PGLA.
Other Provinces may wish to pursue a similar project in their own area.
Tomorrow, I look forward to being in one of our oldest Lodges, The Lodge of Journeymen Masons No 8 to celebrate 150 years in the Blackfriars Street Temple.
Ramsay McGhee
Grand Master Mason