Provincial Grand Lodge of Renfrewshire West Provincial Grand Lodge of Renfrewshire West

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The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland

William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason

Brethren

Last week Grand Committee circulated the 1st edition of the guidance for re-opening Lodges. Can I stress the fact that the documentation is guidance – given the diverse nature of our Lodges, it is impossible to find a one size fits all solution. The guidance will be updated regularly by the Administration Committee as Government Guidelines and local circumstances change. I would appeal to Provincial and District Grand Masters to ensure that the guidance notes are adapted to suit local needs.

On Wednesday afternoon we enjoyed the first presentation in Series 4 of the History and Heritage lectures when Brother Dr Kang Tee Yong gave us a very interesting and informative lecture on the history of the District Grand Lodge of the Middle East. There were some concerns that having the lecture at 13.00 hours due to the time difference might not work but contrary to that, the presentation attracted an audience of 145 Brethren.

The next lecture in the series will be at 13.00 hours on Wednesday12th May from our District Grand Lodge of Gibraltar.

 
SCFS

 and - SCFS-Showcase 

The Group saw its membership rise to 5082 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 771, submitted by 282 of its members.

These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 319 Lodges, from within all 32 Provincial Grand Lodges, 23 of its District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge.

The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £1,206,573.

This represents an average of £22,765 per week over the last 53 weeks.

 

SCFS Overseas Report 

  • Our Overseas Membership has now risen to 1436 This is thanks to new members joining us from Lodges in Central South Africa (Transvaal), Sierra Leone and the Gambia, Western Australia, Trinidad & Tobago and Grenada. 
  • Our membership of Brethren who belong to Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with GLoS continues to grow. We now have 552 Brethren spreading news of the wonderful support, featured in the SCFS posts, throughout their constitutions.
  • This week Brethren joined from 10different Masonic constitutions, namely: GL of Canada in the Province of Ontario, GL of the Philippines, United GL of New South Wales and ACT, GL of Ohio, GL of India, GL of China, GL of South Africa, GL of Newfoundland and Labrador, UGLE (England, South Africa). 
  • In addition to the above, the list of Grand Lodges represented by Brethren within them joining as ICMs had the Grand Lodge of Alaska added to it. 
  • A very special welcome is extended to Brother Charles Ward, who is the Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Alaska. 
  • Brother Beng Hock Teo, District Grand Secretary of the Middle East, sent in a wonderful post showing Brother GK Dass, Almoner, Lodge Scotia, No. 1003, Penang, demonstrating care and support at the Penang Covid-19 Vaccination Centre. 
  • Another very interesting post by Brother David Slingsby, Lodge Southern Cross, No. 398, showed the District Grand Lodge of the Western Province of the Cape of Good Hope supporting firefighters with donations of sustenance as they fought a fire at the University of Cape Town. 

 

My sincere thanks to the Provincial Grand Master and Brethren of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Renfrewshire West for their very warm and much appreciated welcome on Wednesday night. The presentation attracted an audience of 230. I find it truly amazing to see what we have all been able to achieve thanks to the power of Zoom.

Finally, as always, please stay safe and look after each other

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason


 
 
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GMM William Ramsay McGhee


A reminder that all Brethren (yes, EAs and FCs too!) are welcome to attend a special PG Lodge Communication via Zoom, to be held on Wednesday, the 5th of May, 2021, at 7.30pm prompt.

 
The special business of the meeting is a talk entitled The Way Forward, which will be given by the Grand Master Mason, Brother William Ramsay McGhee.
 
The PG Master looks forward to your support at the meeting, and remember, this meeting is not just for the brethren of Renfrewshire West - it is open to all brethren.
 
NB - you MUST REGISTER IN ADVANCE via Zoom link which is included below.
 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland

William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason

Brethren

 

During the past week both Grand Secretary and I have been asked on a few occasions – “When can we open our Lodges again?” The Heads of Orders are meeting on 9th June to appraise the situation but until then all Lodges in Scotland will remain closed. I am cautiously confident that we will see movement after that date and in preparation, Grand Committee agreed yesterday morning to issue guidance notes to all Lodges at home and abroad to assist in the process of reopening whenever that will be. The guidance notes will be equally relevant to our Brethren in the Districts and Superintendencies provided they use them in conjunction with local laws and guidance. Further guidance will be issued shortly in respect of the use of Lodge premises by other organisations. I am aware that such activity is a vital source of revenue for some Lodges. Legal advice is being sought on the matter, but we will ensure that we do all in our power to safeguard Lodge Trustees and members.

 
SCFS

A significant milestone has been reached and many congratulations are extended to our 5000th Member ... Brother Ian Duff. Brother Duff is a Past Master of both Lodge Broughty Castle, No. 486, and Lodge Discovery, No. 1789, and, in addition to currently being Almoner in both Lodges, is also Junior Deacon in Lodge Aurora Borealis, No. 1809.

Another 52 Brethren joined the group which saw its membership grow to 5049 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 757, submitted by 281 of its members.

These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 319 Lodges, from within all 32 Provincial Grand Lodges, 23 of its District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge.

Another £4635 of contributions with an identifiable monetary value was added during the week, seeing the total rise to £1,196,182 since the creation of the group.

 

SCFS New Development

Following the recent announcement that identifiable support in excess of £1Million has been recorded within the group, which now prepares to celebrate its first anniversary, has received its 750th post and has welcomed Bro. Ian Duff as its 5000th member, the Admin Team of SCFS is happy to announce that, as of Saturday 1st May, 2021, a public facing Sister page is to be launched on Facebook. The page, named “SCFS-Showcase”, will highlight a selection of posts which have appeared over the last year on the main SCFS page ... on an ongoing basis. The creation of this page will enable friends and family, along with other members of the public to view, share and comment on the many examples of the charitable giving undertaken by Scottish Constitution Freemasons throughout the world. We hope that this latest development of the SCFS page will receive your support and help spread the many good news stories to a much wider audience. The page can be accessed from Facebook by searching for “SCFS-Showcase” or by using the link below.

SCFS-Showcase

 

SCFS Overseas Report 

Our Overseas Membership has now risen to 1432 Brethren. This is thanks to new members joining us from Lodges in Newfoundland and Labrador, Central South Africa (Transvaal), Middle East (Singapore), Lebanon, Bermuda. 

The largest increase in membership was from the District of Lebanon, with the most Brethren joining from an individual Lodge coming from Lodge Al Arz, No. 1853, the second youngest Lodge in Lebanon. 

Our membership of Brethren who belong to Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with GLoS continues to grow. We now have 542 Brethren spreading news of the wonderful support, featured in the SCFS posts, throughout their constitutions. 

This week Brethren joined from 15 different Masonic constitutions, namely: GL of Norway, GL of Nigeria, UGLE (South America, Guyana, Bombay), GL of Texas, GL of Missouri, GL of Greece, GL of Romania, GL of Canada in the Province of Ontario, GL of Mexico, GL of Michigan, GL of India, GL of Illinois. 

In addition to the above, the list of Grand Lodges represented by Brethren within them joining as ICMs had the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick, the Grand Lodge of Equador, and the Grand Lodge of Israel added to it. 

 

Finally, as always, please stay safe and look after each other

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason


 
 
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The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland

William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason

Brethren

As I reported last week, Grand Secretary and I attended the Installation of David M Booker as the new Grand Master of the Freemasons of South Australia and Northern Territory which was transmitted by Zoom. The Grand Masters of New Zealand, New South Wales and Capital Territories, the United Grand Lodge of Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland were all physically in attendance.

It was an interesting Ceremony with wives and relations joining the Brethren.  It was therefore more of an Investiture than what we would experience as a Grand Lodge Installation, although much of the ritual was word for word with our own.

I was delighted that a number of Brethren from Lodge Rosslyn St Clair No 606 in the Province of Midlothian were also in attendance due to the fact that one of their number, Brother Boyd Sparrow, was installed as the new Grand Secretary of South Australia and Northern Territory.

The icing on the cake, however, was that I was able to convey not only greetings and congratulations from the Grand Lodge of Scotland but a special congratulatory note from Past Grand Master Brother Marcus Humphrey whose grandfather was Grand Master of South Australia and Northern Territory from 1939 to 1944 while he was the State Governor.

We are all well aware of the problems and issues that have arisen due to Covid-19 but there have been “silver linings” and one of those silver linings has been the ability to communicate, through Zoom and other platforms, with our Brethren in the Districts. I have had the pleasure of several productive meetings with our District Grand Masters – something that never happened previously.

We have been able to welcome several Brethren from our Districts onto the current Working Parties and many of our Proxy Masters have been able to join in local Zoom meetings throughout the world.  The really good news is that in the future we will be able to capitalise on the technology and enjoy a much closer and more productive and valuable relationship with all those Brethren around the world who are proud to acknowledge that they are all Scottish Freemasons.

Grand Secretary has tasked several of our Grand Lodge staff to revitalise the Grand Lodge Shop. Sue, Rebecca and Linda, assisted on the technical side by our IT Manager Willie Rice, are working hard to source new, good quality merchandise and improve the on-line sales facility. Keep an eye on the Grand Lodge Facebook page for up-to-date information.

This week we can announce that we are now stocking Award winning Pickerings Gin, which is distilled at Summerhall Distillery in Edinburgh using an original 1947 Bombay recipe, incorporating 9 Scottish botanicals.

The team have negotiated new and improved shipping rates – we can now ship one bottle (next day delivery, UK only) at £9, which is half the price it used to be. We can also ship up to 6 bottles also at £9!  So, anything up to 10kg costs just £9. Through DHL Sue has also negotiated good rates to get merchandise to our Districts subject to local conditions, so why not give her a call?

 
SCFS

Another 27 Brethren joined the group which saw its membership grow to 4997 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 746, submitted by 277 of its members.

These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 317 Lodges, from within all 32 Provincial Grand Lodges, 23 of its District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge.

Another £5,163 of contributions with an identifiable monetary value was added during the week, seeing the total rise to £1,191,547 since the creation of the group.

SCFS Overseas Report 

  • Our Overseas Membership has now risen to 1422 This is thanks to new members joining us from Lodges in Togo, Nigeria, India, Central South Africa (Cape Province), Bahamas. 
  • Our membership of Brethren who belong to Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with GLoS continues to grow. We now have 517 Brethren spreading news of the wonderful support, featured in the SCFS posts, throughout their constitutions.
  • This week Brethren joined from 13different Masonic constitutions, namely: The National GL of Poland, GL of the Philippines, UGLE (England, Zambia, South Africa), GL of British Columbia and Yukon, GL of Ireland, United GL of Germany (GL of AF&AM of Germany), GL of India, GL of Japan, GL of Canada in the Province of Ontario, GL of Argentina, GL of Bolivia. 
  • In addition to the above, the list of Grand Lodges represented by Brethren within them joining as ICMs had the Grand Lodge of South Carolina and theIcelandic Order of Freemasons added to it. 
  • With reference to posts published, Brother Ken Dorsett shared a very interesting post highlighting the wonderful support of the All-Saints Camp (refuge for HIV/AIDS sufferers) by Lodge St. Michael, No. 1634, in the Bahamas, which showed Brother Gustavus Samoa Ferguson, RWM, and members of the Lodge responding to resources requests from the Camp. 

Finally, as always, please stay safe and look after each other

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason


 
 
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The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland

William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason

Brethren

 

As some of you may have seen from Facebook, I had the privilege and pleasure of presenting a cheque this week to Prostate Scotland for £34,500 which takes our total donation to a tremendous £690,000. Your collective efforts on behalf of Prostate Scotland have been truly outstanding and have done much to help in the fight against prostate cancer. The research results will help men, not just in Scotland, but worldwide. Many thanks for all your effort. It is greatly appreciated.

Saturday will be an early shift for Grand Secretary and I to fulfil a promise to attend the Installation of the new Grand Master of the Freemasons of South Australia and Northern Territory which is being transmitted by Zoom. The Ceremony starts at 06.00 our time. Looking forward to seeing how they go about the meeting. Will give you an update on the ceremony next week.

SCFS

The Group saw its membership rise to 4970 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 739, submitted by 275 of its members.

These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 317 Lodges, from within all 32 Provincial Grand Lodges, 23 of its District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge.

The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £1,186,384.43.

There have been 113,174 individual comments likes, and other reactions to the group since its inception.

SCFS Overseas Report 

  • Congratulations are extended to our 1400th Overseas Member, Brother Collin Virgo, Lodge Jackson McLaren Wint, No. 1818, District of Jamaica. There are now 1417 Brethren from our Lodges overseas who have become members of the SCFS group.
  • This week Brethren joined from our Lodges in Central South Africa (Orange Free State and the Transvaal), Lebanon, Malawi, Trinidad & Tobago and Grenada, Bahamas, Jamaica, Jordan, Namibia. 
  • The largest increase in membership was jointly from the District of Lebanon and the District of the Bahamas ... with the most Brethren joining from an individual Lodge coming equally from Lodge Harmony, No. 1830, in Lebanon, and Lodge Saint David, No. 1741, in the Bahamas. 
  • Our membership of Brethren belonging to Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with the Grand Lodge of Scotland continues to grow. With the addition of the new ICMs joining this week, we now have 501 ICMBrethren spreading news of the wonderful support, featured in the SCFS posts, throughout their constitutions.This week Brethren joined from the GL of Florida, GL of Colombia, Prince Hall GL of Ontario and Jurisdiction, UGLE (District GL of India, Districts of Madras, Bermuda), GL of Argentina, GL of India, National GL of Poland, GL of Peru, GL of Chile, GL of Nova Scotla, National GL of France, GL of Romania, GL of Maryland. 
  • In addition to the above, the list of Grand Lodges represented by Brethren within them joining as ICMs had the GL of Venezuela added to it. 
  • Congratulations are extended to Brother Joel Gronkowski, Village Lodge, No. 315, under the Grand Lodge of Florida, who has become our 500th
  • This coming week, we look forward to receiving a number of posts from our Overseas Lodges and Districts showing the excellent support which is being provided by them within their local communities. 

Finally, as always, please stay safe and look after each other

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason


 
 
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The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland

William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason

Brethren

We are at the time of year when many of our Brethren will be involved in various religious celebrations but, because of the lockdown restrictions throughout the world will be unable to do so in the traditional way. Nevertheless, may I wish you all a happy and meaningful celebration - to our Christian Brethren celebrating Easter, our Jewish Brethren, Pesach, our Hindu Brethren, Holi, our Muslim Brethren, Ramadan and our Sikh Brethren, Baisakhi.

A year on from the postponement and the eventual cancellation of the Abseil Event at the Forth Bridge the final amount raised by Brethren and friends was collated with Prostate Scotland at the end of last week and the figures reported to the Benevolence and Care Committee of Grand Lodge earlier this week. The fantastic news is that the amount raised was £33,428 and this was raised by 33 brethren and 1 lady representing 27 Provinces from the length and breadth of Scotland. What a phenomenal effort by all who registered to take part in the event and all their supporters who allowed their sponsorship to become a donation and enabled this fantastic amount to be presented to Prostate Scotland the Nominated Charity of The Grand Lodge of Scotland. Times have been difficult for all charities due to the pandemic which means that you all deserve a very special “Thank You” for your support which allowed Prostate Scotland to progress its work with men with prostate disease and providing support for their families despite all the difficulties. Well done everyone.

On Wednesday I attended the Benevolence and Care Committee meeting by Zoom. Much business was conducted but the outstanding issue of the day for me was hearing about the care, dedication, commitment and devotion to duty displayed by our staff in our two Masonic Homes. This past year has been an extremely difficult and stressful year for all the Homes staff, but they have acted in the most professional way possible ensuring that all our Residents have been kept safe and well. An exceptional achievement and I’m sure you’d wish to join me in thanking Mrs Dawn Oliff in 96 George Street, our two Homes Managers, Gillian and Wilma and all the staff in both Homes for a job well done.

 

SCFS

 

Another 33 Brethren joined the group which saw its membership grow to 4843 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 718, submitted by 270 of its members.

These updated contributions can now be attributed to 316 Lodges, from within all 32 Provincial Grand Lodges, 23 of its District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge.

Another £13,930 of contributions with an identifiable monetary value was added during the week, seeing the total rise to £1,046,061 in the 48 weeks since the creation of the group.

 

SCFS Overseas Report 

  • With the inclusion of the new members we have welcomed from our Lodges overseas this week, our Overseas Membership has now risen to 1387Brethren. We look forward to welcoming our 1400th Overseas Member very soon. 
  • These new members joined us from their Lodges in ... Jamaica, Lebanon, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago and Grenada. 
  • An additional 15Brethren joined from Lodges operating under Grand Lodges which are in amity with the Grand Lodge of Scotland, (ICMs). The number of  ICMs viewing the SCFS page world wide now totals 449. This week, Brethren joined from the GL of Quebec, GL of Alabama, GL of India, GL of Saskatchewan, GL of Philippines, UGLE, GL of Washington, GL of British Freemasons in Germany (under the United Grand Lodges of Germany), GL of Japan. 
  • In addition, the list of Grand Lodges represented by Brethren within them joining as ICMs had thePrince Hall Grand Lodge of the Commonwealth in the Bahamas added to it. 
  • A big “Thank you” is extended to Brother Warren Saks, PM/Secretary, of St. George’s Lodge, No. 10, in Montreal, for encouraging many Brethren to join as ICMs. 

·         A very special welcome was extended to Brother George Duke, Past Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of India.

Throughout the past year I have been asking you all to keep in touch with each other to ensure that everyone is fine and not wanting for anything. Many of you have and are doing just that in many different ways – one such example comes from the Brethren of Lodge Fraser No 267 in the Province of Aberdeenshire East. They have been having their regular “Horse and Stag” quiz nights and this Friday will be asking their 1000th quiz question. Congratulations to Lodge Fraser and my sincere thanks to everyone who keeps in touch in so many ways.

Finally, as always, please stay safe and look after each other

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason


 
 
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The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland

William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason

Brethren

 

As I sit down to write this week’s update, it has just been announced on the news that the death rate from Covid-19 in Scotland has now exceeded 10,000. Throughout the world it is now at 2.8 million deaths. Our thoughts and prayers at this time go out to all our families at home and abroad who have lost loved ones to this insidious disease.

Initially, I had indicated that we would remember all those Brethren who have died in a special In Memorium Service whenever Grand Lodge can meet again, however, given the numbers involved and the fact that we had to cancel the Grand Lodge Divine Service due to have been held in Glasgow Cathedral over a year ago, I would like to think that we could look at reviving the Divine Service at a suitable time and dedicate it to the memory of all those Brethren who have passed to the Grand Lodge above and invite the families of the Brethren to join with us in an act of remembrance.

I am fully aware that many of our Districts and Provinces are having similar thoughts and I would encourage them to do so but I fully believe that we should do our level best to bring the family of Scottish Freemasons together to unite in a worldwide remembrance service. I will ask Grand Committee for their thoughts at the earliest opportunity.

Could I take this opportunity to thank the Brethren, especially those who attended the under 40 seminars, who continue to feed information into the Strategy Group – it is greatly appreciated. After the Provincial and District meetings we did pull together a list of issues arising from the meetings which were circulated to the District and Provincial Grand Masters. I am hoping that we can do the same with the responses from the under 40 meeting.

SCFS

  • The group welcomed another 47 Brethren into its ranks with its membership now standing at 4923. All group members are 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 731, submitted by 272 of its members.
  • These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 317 Lodges, from within all 32 Provincial Grand Lodges, 23 of its District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge.
  • The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £1,182,484.

SCFS Overseas Report 

  • We will be celebrating the milestone of welcoming our 1400th Overseas Member this coming week now that our Overseas Membership has risen to 1398 This is thanks to new members joining us, this week, from Lodges in Sierra Leone and The Gambia, Central South Africa (RSA), Namibia, Nigeria, Lebanon, Republic of Panama. 
  • The largest increase in membership was from the District of Lebanon with the most Brethren joining from an individual Lodge coming from Lodge El-Mizab, No. 1130,based in Tripoli, in Lebanon. 
  • Our membership of Brethren belonging to Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with the Grand Lodge of Scotland continues to grow. With the addition of 30new ICMs joining this week, we now have 480 ICMBrethren spreading news of the wonderful support, featured in the SCFS posts, throughout their constitutions. This week Brethren joined from the GL of Ontario, GL of Indiana, GL of India, UGLE (England, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia), GL of South Africa, GL of Washington, GL of Newfoundland and Labrador, GL of Ireland, GL of Victoria, GL of Virginia, United Grand Lodges of Germany, GL of New South Wales and ACT, GL of Quebec, GL of Spain. 
  • In addition to the above, the list of Grand Lodges represented by Brethren within them joining as ICMs had the GL of New Jersey, GL of British Columbia and Yukon, and the GL of Nova Scotia added to it. 
  • Again, we are delighted to note that our ICMs are being proactive in inviting their fellow Brethren to join this group. a reflection of the quality of the posts which Brethren are submitting for publication.
  • A special welcome is extended to RW Brother Avron Jacobson, who is the Assistant Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of South Africa. 

Finally, as always, please stay safe and look after each other

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason


 
 
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Delighted , in the company of Past Sub. GM, PPGM Bro. Alex Galbraith to present the 32nd Scouts with a cheque for the sum for the £2000 on behalf of the Freemasons of Renfrewshire West and also an IMac computer. A Certificate marking the occasion was also presented.

32 scouts

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The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland

William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason

Brethren

 

The Young Masons zoom conference last Saturday attracted a total of 205 Brethren. I was delighted with the turnout and even more delighted with the vibrancy displayed and the standard of the discussions in each of the five breakout groups. This has resulted in a significant amount of feedback which Grand Secretary is now feeding into the Strategy Working Groups. My sincere thanks to all who took time out on a Saturday morning to attend. I would also like to record my sincere thanks to the facilitators and the scribes in each of the five breakout groups and to Grand Secretary and our IT manager for their excellent organisation.

Next week brings three Zoom meetings – on Tuesday, the Overseas, External Affairs and Special Purposes Committee will be meeting followed that afternoon with the Information and Communications Committee then on Wednesday by the Benevolence and Care Committee.

I had the pleasure last week to attend the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Vernal Equinox meeting at which ME Companion J Stewart Wood, Grand Master of the Great Priory of Scotland gave an excellent presentation on the various Orders related to Royal Arch Masonry. It was a well-attended meeting expertly chaired by the 1st Grand Principal, ME Companion Joseph John Morrow, CBE, QC, LLD.
 

SCFS


  • The Group saw its membership rise to 4843 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 704, submitted by 265 of its members.
  • These updated contributions can now be attributed to 313 Lodges, from within all 32 Provincial Grand Lodges, 23 of its District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge.
  • The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £1,032,131.

There have been 106,912 individual comments likes, and other reactions to the group since its inception


SCFS Overseas Report 

Our Overseas Membership has now risen to 1383 Brethren with new members joining us from their Lodges in ... Bermuda, Far East (Hong Kong), Fiji, Guyana, North Island New Zealand, Sierra Leone and the Gambia, Trinidad & Tobago and Grenada. The largest increase in membership was jointly from the District of Guyana and from Bermuda (which has only 3 Lodges, all under Grand Superintendents). The most Brethren joining from an individual Lodge were from Lodge Alpha, No. 1594, based in Georgetown in Guyana. 

An additional 32 Brethren (ICMs) joined from Lodges operating under Grand Lodges in amity with the Grand Lodge of Scotland, bringing our ICM membership to 434. This week Brethren joined from the GL of the Philippines, GL of Quebec, GL of Canada in the Province of Ontario, GL of Victoria, UGLE (England, Montreal and Halifax, Bermuda), GL of Wisconsin, Grand Lodge of Texas, United GL of New South Wales and ACT, GL of California, GL of Japan, GL of Ireland, GL of Ohio. In addition, the list of Grand Lodges represented by Brethren within them joining as ICMs had the Grand Lodge of Lithuania and Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ontario and Jurisdiction added to it this week.

Interesting fact - Brother Rick Huggins joined as an ICM within hours of his initiation into Lodge Mornington, No. 160, GL of Victoria ... having been invited by his uncle, Brother Lex Law, WJW, Lodge Blackridge, No. 1145. 

A very special welcome was extended to Brother Robert Dupel, who will be installed as Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Quebec on 29th May.  

A very touching post was received from Brother Joseph B Lum-On, WJW, sharing details of a donation made by Lodge Polynesia, No. 562, in Fiji, towards the support of an elderly gentleman who is experiencing medical and social challenges during this difficult period.

 

Finally, as always, please stay safe and look after each other

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason


 
 
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