The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland

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

Brethren

SCFS

SCFS Overseas Report 

• We welcomed another 13Overseas Brethren this week, bringing our Overseas Membership to 1281
• The geographical spread of Overseas Members saw Brethren being welcomed from ... the Bahamas, Barbados, Far East, Zambia.
• The largest increase in membership was from the District of Zambia.
• Lodge Lusaka, No. 1368, (Zambia) andLodge Perla del Oriente, No. 1034, (Far East). had equally the largest number of Brethren joining from an individual Lodge.
• Our International Constitution Members (ICMs) viewing the SCFS page has increased to 185with new ICMs joining the group from the Grand Lodge of India, Grand Lodge of South Africa, UGLE, United Grand Lodges of Germany, United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and ACT(we were delighted to welcome Brother Jamie Melville, Past Grand Master), Grand Lodge of the Philippines, Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia. 

Outstanding posts were received this week.

• Brother Andrew Shaw shared news of a donation of £4,000 organised by Lodge Lusaka, No. 1368, and Lodge NKana, No. 1378, in the District of Zambia, for the erection of a hospital partition for Covid treatment. 

 Brother George Rogers, IPDGM of Western Australia, shared news of a donation, by the DGL and Daughter Lodges, of over £11,300, to support funds of the Motor Neurone Disease Association (WA). 

I have asked Sue to distribute a paper by Brother Alan Carmichael from Lodge `Dalkeith Kilwinning No 10 in which he gives some expert advice on grants that are currently available. The paper will accompany this update. My sincere thanks to Alan for his assistance in this matter.

View Grants document here

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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

I hope you had an enjoyable, albeit quiet New Year within the lockdown restrictions. May I take this opportunity to wish you all, and your families, a very blessed, happy and healthy 2021. We will overcome the nightmare that is Covid and we will get back to our meetings – we just need to hang in there a bit longer, but we will get there.

That said, it has not been the start to the New Year that we would have wished for. Little did I think when I penned the first update that I would be writing the 50^th update in January 2021. The whole country is back in total lockdown but that little light, provided by the vaccine being made available, is still shining and we should all be eternally grateful for the skill of the scientists for getting us to this stage. Last night I had a Zoom meeting with the European Grand Masters and while it is no consolation, we are not alone in this upsurge – it is widespread throughout Europe and the Brethren in Croatia are also fighting against earthquakes. It was reported at the meeting last night that in and around Zagreb yesterday they experienced thirteen tremors – the day before it was seven. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this very difficult time.

As I reported last week, the Heads of Orders meeting will take place on this coming Wednesday. Please don’t expect a definitive answer as to when we can get back to holding meetings again. We will be looking at all our options and the Strategy Group are working on guidelines for a safe return to opening. I have asked Grand Secretary to contact the Scottish Government this week – they have never responded to any of my three letters to them – and ask that when the lockdown is over and some of the restrictions are lifted that we are given the same privileges that the churches have enjoyed. If we can get that assurance, then we can start planning in earnest.

I am very much aware that I haven’t been in contact with the Lodges who should have had Anniversary Celebrations – simply because the goalposts keep changing. This week I have rescheduled the Calendar yet again in the hope that we will get out and about sooner rather than later but what I can do is give an assurance that every single Lodge who have had an anniversary over the past year will have a Rededication Ceremony carried out by Grand Lodge. Depending on future restrictions there may be a greatly reduced Deputation from Grand Lodge, but we will be there with you. Each Saturday, my Depute and Substitute will be heading Deputations so that we will have three events running every Saturday – we may even do some mid-week, but we will be in every Lodge on the list. Once the Government give us a clue as to what we can or cannot do, we will be in touch with proposed dates.

Likewise, I am mindful that I have eight Provincial Grand Masters waiting to be installed. That too will happen, and I will be speaking to each of them soon to discuss arrangements.

SCFS

SCFS Overseas Report 

• With another 11 OverseasBrethren joining the group, Overseas Membership is steadily climbing and is now standing at 1268  New members were welcomed from Lodges in Central South Africa, Far East (Japan), Lebanon, Peru, Sierra Leone and The Gambia, Trinidad & Tobago and Grenada, and Western Australia.
• The first Overseas Member of 2021 was Brother Gary Bonifacio, Lodge Perla del Oriente, No. 1034, the Philippines in the District of the Far East. Congratulations, Brother Bonifacio.
• 40 International Constitution Membersjoined .. coming from the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and ACT, Grand Lodge of Quebec, UGLE, Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario, Grand Lodge of Spain, Grand Lodge of Ireland, Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines, Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon, Grand Lodge of India, Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Grand Lodge of China, Grand Lodge of Virginia, Grand Lodge of South Africa, Grand Lodge of Cuba, Grand Lodge of Nigeria, Grand Lodge of Russia, Grand Lodge of Alberta. 
• We now have 172 members from other Masonic Constitutions which are in amity with the GLoS. News of the wonderful support by our Brethren, featured on the SCFS page, is truly being spread world wide.
• The first ICM of 2021 was Brother Michael Van Der Linde, Lodge de Goede Trouw, No. 2, from the Grand Lodge of South Africa. Congratulations, Brother Van Der Linde.
• We had the greatest of pleasure in welcoming Brother Andrey Bogdanov into the group as an ICM. Brother Bogdanov is the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Russia. 
• Finally, a very interesting post from the Widows Sons Lebanon Chapter was shared with the group ... we look forward to receiving and sharing many more posts from our Overseas Districts, Lodges and Brethren this coming year. 

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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

I hope and trust that you all had a very enjoyable Christmas despite the restrictions.

I have little to report this week given that Grand Lodge staff are on Christmas Leave although Grand Secretary and I have been in regular contact during the holiday period.

Unfortunately, the Craft has suffered quite a few deaths during the past week with both Brethren and wives of Brethren passing away. It is extremely difficult for families who suffer bereavement at this time of the year on top of the many restrictions relating to funerals brought about by Covid-19. I’m sure you would wish to join with me in extending our united condolences to all in our Masonic family who have suffered bereavement at this time.

The Heads of Orders meeting will take place on 13^th January. This will be followed on Thursday 14^th with a meeting of the Administration Committee. I will provide an update from those meetings in the weekly update on 15^th January.

The announcement this week that the vaccine produced by Oxford University has now been given full approval will hopefully mean that the vaccination programme can now go ahead with some speed. This, however, has been dampened somewhat with the significant rise in cases throughout Scotland this week.  We will need to remain patient, but I am confident that we will have meetings in the New Year.

Hogmanay is certainly going to be much quieter than normal this year with all the usual celebrations put on hold. Despite the stay-at-home restrictions, I hope that as we step into 2021 you and your families will all be blessed with good health and happiness in the year ahead. 

SCFS

SCFS Overseas Report 

• Although understandably quiet, due to festive period priorities, we did welcome Brethren from Central South Africa (Transvaal), Middle East (Malaysia and Singapore), Jamaica, Western Australia Goldfields, Nigeria, Lebanon. Our Overseas Membership of Brethren and is now standing at 1257 
• International Constitution Membersjoined from the Grand Lodge of Nigeria, Grand Lodge of New South Wales and A.C.T., Grand Lodge of Ireland, Grand Lodge of Illinoise, Grand Lodge of India, Grand Lodge of Virginia, Grand Lodge of Quebec, UGLE (Cyprus), Grand Lodge of Japan, Grand Lodge of Russia, Grand Lodge of Italy, United Grand Lodge of Queensland, Grand Lodge of Texas. 
• Total ICM membership is now 132. 
• We look forward to welcoming both our first Overseas Member and first ICM of 2021.

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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

2020 started well – after a busy January and February at home, I flew out to Johannesburg where accompanied by Grand Treasurer, Brother Jim Bell, I had the pleasure of visiting our District Grand Lodge of Central South Africa followed by the Installation of our new DGM of Botswana, Brother Jayaraman Ramesh. We then headed to Harare in Zimbabwe where we joined the Brethren of the District at their annual communication. From Zimbabwe, next stop was Malawi to visit two schools and two Lodges before making our way to KwaZulu Natal to install the new DGM, Brother Ken Tucker. It was then back to the UK where we encountered a country beset with the deadly Coronavirus.

Since then we have all experienced a year that has been extraordinary, frustrating and difficult. For many, a year of sadness losing loved ones and being unable to mourn their passing properly – for many, a year of distress through ill health, mentally and physically – for many a year of concern with loss of jobs or businesses collapsing and of course a year which has seen all  our Lodges closing whereby we have been unable to join with each other as would be the normal.

However, in the midst of adversity we have much to be thankful for. We have witnessed first-hand the valued tenets of Brotherly Love and Relief being demonstrated in so many ways throughout all of our Districts, Provinces and Lodges. We have witnessed the creative and imaginative use of technology to keep everyone in touch with each other. We have witnessed the staff at Grand Lodge going that extra mile to keep the wheels of our beloved organisation turning and we have witnessed the tremendous dedication of our staff in the Masonic Homes resulting in them remaining Covid free. Working Parties have been established to work on the future strategy of our organisation and to update the present discipline system with further working parties to be established in the New Year to take us forward in a positive and upbeat manner. I extend my sincere thanks to you all for your support and understanding during the year – it is greatly appreciated.

Tomorrow we celebrate Christmas, our Jewish Brethren have just celebrated Hanukkah and only a month ago our Hindu Brethren celebrated Diwali. The common theme in the three celebrations is Light. As we approach the start of a new year, while there will be ongoing difficulties, likewise there will be light. We have, thanks to the dedication of our scientists and medical experts, a vaccine which will hopefully give us all the protection that we so desperately seek to allow a return to some form of normality.

I wish you all a peaceful, a hopeful and a light-filled Christmas. May you and yours enjoy Christmas despite the restrictions and I pray that the New Year will be a year of great blessings for you, your families and all those dear to you.

SCFS

SCFS Overseas Report 

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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

I mentioned briefly last week that the results of the international survey in which more than 7500 of our Brethren participated have been finalised. The results are with the strategy group, but Grand Secretary will arrange to get the results sent to all Districts and Provinces, hopefully today. I am keen that you all look at how you can use the information locally but equally keen that you give feedback to the strategy group. It is important that the strategy group take on board the views and recommendations from the Districts and Provinces in order that they can present as holistic a report to the Administration Committee as possible. In addition, as a direct result of the findings, I am looking to set up a “young masons forum” in the new year. Fuller details of the timescales and how the feedback can be achieved from the Provinces and Districts will be included in the covering letter from Grand Secretary. I look forward to receiving your responses and to learn how you intend to use the information locally. I extend grateful thanks to Brother Kenneth Miller who has worked extremely hard both organising the Survey and analysing the results. A job well done.

SCFS

SCFS Overseas Report 

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I wrote this before seeing the Grand Chaplain's Advent message. You will see we have some over lap in our thoughts on Light. 

 St. Matthew Chap 2 vs 10-11:

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

St. Luke Chap 2 Vs 14-16: 

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

In the Bleak Mid-Winter (Last 2 Verses)

Well here we are, it’s December again with Christmas and New Year on their way. Normally this month I would be doing the Lodge Crawfurdsburn Divine Service. Maybe you will be kind enough to look on this as my mini sermon for 2020.

It has been another quick year despite the lockdown and restriction that the pandemic has brought us.  This is going to be a memorable year for us all. For the older amongst us and for our children and grand-children. I am sure they will be telling their children and grand-children the story of how life changed for us all in 2020.

Christmas will be different this year too with the limits on who we can see and what we can do. I hope you all manage to enjoy your Christmas despite those restrictions.

One thing that hasn’t changed about Christmas is in the messages brought to us from St. Matthew and St. Luke, and reflected in the carol, In The Bleak Mid-Winter.  The message of the birth of the baby Jesus. Matthew and Luke tell the story that we love. The story of the baby in the manger. Neither St. Mark nor St. John start their gospels with the birth of the baby but at this time of year that doesn’t matter. It is the celebration of  the birth of Jesus that we remember.

Of course it is a time of year when our Brethren of other religions celebrate in their own ways too with the Hindu Diwali festival of lights and the Jewish Hanukkah, also a festival of lights. So let’s not forget the diversity of Freemasonry at this time of year.

Our Muslim brethren too revere Jesus as the “Prophet who did not die”. The story of Mary and the virgin birth is told in the Quran 19: 16 to 34. Muslims believe Jesus’ first miracle was to speak as a baby from the cradle when his mother was accused of committing the sin of becoming pregnant out of wedlock. The baby Jesus is reputed to have said that He was the servant of Allah and had been appointed by Allah to be a prophet.

Whatever book is your Volume of the Sacred Law it is a time to celebrate the Light. Christmas is of course the birth of Jesus, the Light of the World. (St. John 8 vs 12) Jesus, foretold by the angels to the shepherds who travelled to see Him in the manager. They went on to tell everyone they met about the coming of the Son of God. Jesus, visited by the wise men who were guided by a star to Bethlehem, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

2020 may bring restriction on how we celebrate Christmas but it cannot change the way we celebrate the original meaning of Christmas. To visit the baby Jesus in our own way. To think about Him and the Christmas message, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

So what can I give Him? If I were a Shepherd I could bring a lamb. If I were a Wise Man I could bring gold, frankincense or myrrh. Yet what can I give Him? Give my heart. And isn’t that the most important thing you can bring him? Give your heart, give your love to the Light of the World. Carry that light with you wherever you go. Brighten the world, don’t bring darkness to those you know, those you love and even those strangers you meet going through the road that is your life. A kind word and just a smile to lighten everything.  (There I go quoting the Beatles again and I didn’t realise until I’d written it. ) Peace and goodwill to all mankind, regardless of their religion, creed or colour.

Bring your gift to Jesus, give your heart. Bring love and kindness. Bring peace and goodwill.  Ring out 2020 and ring in the new by bringing your light to 2021.

John Lennon would have been 80 this year. The 8^th of December marks the 40^th anniversary since he was shot down and murdered. I would like to finish off this message to you with his words which I think sum things up nicely.  

“So this is Christmas, And what have we done? Another year over, A new one just begun.

And so this is Christmas, I hope you have fun. The near and the dear ones, The old and the young.

And so this is Christmas, For weak and for strong, For rich and the poor ones, The world is so wrong. And so happy Christmas, For black and for white, For yellow and red ones, Let's stop all the fight.

A very Merry Christmas, And a happy New Year. Let's hope it's a good one, Without any fear.”

A Christmas Benediction

Let us go from this place proclaiming that we have seen the glory of God.

Believing that there is a light that shines in the darkness, which the darkness will never overcome.

And may the love of the Creator, the joy of the Spirit, and the peace of the Christ-child be with you this Christmas and evermore.

Amen.

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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

I am indebted to Brother Dr Douglas Nicol, PGM of Aberdeenshire East for the following information regarding the Coronavirus vaccine.

“Vaccines have been developed and are now being released in the UK, and the hope is that most of us may be vaccinated by early Summer. This will assist us revert to a degree of normality and I encourage you and your families to take advantage of them.

There are two vaccines which are being released in the UK which work in different ways. 

1)    The Oxford vaccine manufactured by Astra Zeneca uses well-established technology.

2)   The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use a new technique developed over the last year which has been thoroughly tested in spite of the short time frame.

Although enough vaccine will eventually be available to protect us, I am becoming very concerned about "fake news” regarding the vaccine and its safety currently circulating on social media. This includes masonic media, where the alleged dangers of vaccination are proffered. These include -

1) “It hasn't been tested enough and we are going to suffer side effects later”.

2) “The vaccine will take over the cells of our bodies and cause serious conditions in future”

3) “The vaccine contains microchips which will allow governments to control us”. 

4) “The vaccine is made from animal or aborted human foetus material”

5) “Comments also include allegations that Governments are not being honest with us”.

Scientifically there is no evidence for any of these or other similar statements.

I am really anxious that many Brethren, on hearing these reports will refuse the vaccine. I feel strongly that we need a high rate of vaccination to protect Brethren and their families and allow lodges to restart. In my professional opinion, vaccination will ensure greater safety of our members, many of whom are of mature years or suffer chronic ill health. It is said that a figure of 70% is required to achieve appropriate "Herd Immunity" to move towards allowing this. I also feel that it is our duty to be vaccinated not only for our own safety but for the safety of Lodge members and our families, as not doing so will put ourselves, friends, and family at risk and also prolong this pandemic.

I do appreciate that this new technology can appear to be frightening, but I trust the scientists and can assure you that they are doing their best for us and would not release a vaccine recklessly. Having had experience of seeing what the virus can do to my own patients and having received reports from consultant colleagues who worked in ITUs managing Covid cases, my conclusion is that I would rather take a risk on a vaccine than seriously risk my life should I develop Covid. 

Please Brethren, when you get the opportunity, take the vaccine as it may save your life”. 

Dr Douglas Nicol, Provincial Grand Master Aberdeenshire East 

SCFS

An additional 33 new members joined the group which now has a membership of 4139 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 526, submitted by 219 of its members. These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 276 Lodges, from within 31 Provincial Grand Lodges, 20 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 £399,368. This represents an average of £12,480 per week to date.

There have been 72,690 individual comments, likes, and other reactions to the group since its inception.

SCFS Overseas Report 

• Our Overseas Membership is steadily climbing and is now standing at 1236  New members were welcomed from Lodges in Belgium, East Africa, Sierra Leone and The Gambia, Western Australia Goldfields District.
• 21 International Constitution Membersjoined from the Grand Lodge of New South Wales and A.C.T., Grand Lodge of Norway, Grand Lodge of Bulgaria, UGLE, Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario, Grand Lodge of Japan. 
• A notable statistic is that 10 Past Masters also joined the group from Lodge Leonardo Da Vinci, No. 152, under the Simbolic Grand Lodge of Paraguay. 
• Extremely interesting posts were received showing the great support being given by Lodge Northcliffe, No. 1086, and Lodge Newfoundland Kilwinning, No. 1754 (Newfoundland and Labrador), Lodge St. Andrew, No. 1140 (Republic of Panama), Lodge Scotia, No. 1323, and Lodge Salisbury Kilwinning, No. 1097 (Zimbabwe), District Grand Lodge of Newfoundland and Labrador, District Grand Lodge and its 10 Lodges (Western Australia)

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