Freemasonry Network

(by editorial board, Monmouthshire Beacon , 7th October 2024 )

 

Monmouthshire Freemasons proudly announced a remarkable total of £1,020,240 raised for charity during the 2024 Festival at a gala dinner held at the Celtic Manor. This significant achievement underscores the dedication of the Masonic community to supporting worthy causes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF).Festival appeals, which typically last for five years, are organised by provinces across England and Wales to generate essential funds for the MCF. These events are vital funding sources, accounting for the majority of donations made to the Foundation. The proceeds from the 2024 Monmouthshire Festival will be distributed to various deserving organisations, furthering the impact of Freemasonry’s charitable efforts.Service has long been a cornerstone of Freemasonry, which boasts a proud 300-year history of aiding those in need. Members of Monmouthshire Freemasons actively contribute at local and national levels, dedicating their time and resources to… . read more:

 

 

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(by Lorraine Tinney, Greenock Telegraph, 1st October 2024)

 

Lodge Doric Kilwinning No68 opened its doors to the public at the weekend. More than 50 people went along to have a look over Saturday and Sunday. The event was part of Doors Open Day Inverclyde festival, which gives the public free access to fascinating local buildings. Eddie Lapsley was only too happy to show people around and said he had positive feedback. He said… read more:

 

 

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(by Bridget Dempsey, Times & Star, 4th October 2024)

 

A group of freemasons from Workington have travelled to Sweden to on what has been an experience ‘they will never forget’. It all started when one of the St Johns, Workington lodge members met Christer Gronavell on the harbour at Harrington and got talking about their dog. After a while the pair started talking about the Freemason community in Workington and Christer asked if he could look at visiting the Gordon Street Masonic Room, as he had been a member of the St Jacob’s lodge in… read more:

 

 

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(by Kevin Clark, Sunderland Echo, 4th October 2024)

 

Durham Freemasons have made a £7,500 donation to More Than Grandparents (MTGP), an organisation which provides support for kinship carers – grandparents, aunts and uncles or other family members looking after children whose parents are unable to do so. The money will be split between two uses, with £2,500 going towards the cost of the charity’s annual pantomime, held at Millfield Community Centre, but in danger of failing this year due to… read more:

 

 

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(by Staff Reports, kpc NEWS.COM, October 3, 2024)

 

Jim Crowl and Tom Berry, both members of Angola Masonic Lodge No. 236, received their award of gold for being a member for 50 years, reports Paul Friend, publicity chairman. Both received a certificate and 50 year pin from the Grand Lodge of Indiana. Two other members, Charles Nedele and John Stock have also reached their 50 year status, but were not able to attend the presentation on Monday. Angola Masonic Lodge No. 236, located on the southeast quadrant of the Public Square, was chartered in 1858, and thus has been in existence for nearly 170 years. Hundreds of local men have been members over the years. The current building of the Masons, built in… read more:

 

 

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(by Arielle Breen, Manistee News Advocate, September 30, 2024)

 

Masonic Lodge #228 of Manistee members and Pere Marquette Masonic Lodge #299 of Ludington donated $500 to a fundraiser to buy a bulletproof vest for Manistee County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Faro. Faro is trained in narcotics searches as well as tracking people and missing items such as a stolen purse or wallet that may have been discarded by a thief. Faro is professionally trained in narcotic detection including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and ecstasy. The sheriff’s office previously noted that adding Faro to the department was a cost of about $12,000 plus… read more:

 

 

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(by Brandon Mawson, News&Star, 1st October 2024)

 

Cumbria Freemasons were invited to a Patterdale Mountain Rescue boat launch. The Freemasons helped to cover the costs of the boat which the mountain rescue team will use as part of their emergency service work. In a post on social media, Cumbria Freemasons wrote: “The Team supports the emergency services by providing a rescue service for those in danger in the hills and valleys around Ullswater. “They are called out by the Police, Fire, and Ambulance services, and by HM Coastguard for… read more:

 

 

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(by Sophie Day, Gazette, 27th September 2024)

 

A man has been busy over the summer making financial donations to local good causes. Peter Foster, the charity steward of the 104-year-old Elvetham Masonic Lodge, has been handing out cash to help local groups. Peter said: “Every summer, Elvetham Masonic Lodge try to provide some financial support to local good causes with suggestions for… read more:

 

 

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(by Allegra Rosenberg, Slate, September 28, 2024)

 

A nondescript building in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood houses, variously, the offices of the Fader magazine, the offices of the National Institute for the Psychotherapies (and various therapists’ rooms therein), and the infrastructure consulting firm AECOM. Visitors to the building, coming in through the 23rd Street entrance, might glimpse some strange imagery decorating the lobby—a mural full of odd symbols, men in aprons moving blocks of stone around a pyramid featuring a golden sun. The Masonic Hall was built by Freemasons in 1873, and is still owned and operated by them. The 23rd Street half of the city-block-spanning building is the commercial side, rented out to tenants, but the other side is entirely occupied by Masonic lodge meeting rooms, libraries, and administrative offices, and has been for over… read more:

 

 

The post What if the Solution to Men’s Loneliness Is … Freemasonry? appeared first on FREEMASONRY.network.

(by editorial board, The Daily Telegraph, 28th September 2024)

 

A new leader of the Freemasons in NSW and the ACT is keen to clear up the myths behind the rituals, special handshakes and hidden symbols of the mysterious brotherhood… read more:

 

 

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(by Matthew Holmes, Strout News, 27th September 2024)

 

Gloucestershire Freemasonry held its annual Charity Day at ‘The Hill’ in Stroud to celebrate the support given to local charities during 2023. Sean Sullivan, the Charity Steward, opened the proceedings. Ian Davies, the newly appointed head of over 2500 Gloucestershire Freemasons, told everyone how the members had donated £338,056 to purchase mobile scanners for Cheltenham, Gloucester and Southmead hospitals over a period of only 18 months. He then explained that grants totalling almost £154,000 to other local charities came from the MCF (Masonic Charitable Foundation), GCF (Gloucestershire Charitable Foundation) and the GMCA (Gloucestershire Masonic Charity Action) which… read more:

 

 

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(by Dave King, Sussex World, 23rd September 2024)

 

This past Saturday, seven members of the West Group of Sussex Freemasons braved challenging weather to participate in Stonepillow’s annual Big Sleep Out event. Held on the lawns of Chichester Cathedral, the event aimed to raise awareness and funds to support the homeless in Chichester and Bognor Regis. The Freemasons raised an impressive £2,674 in sponsorship to aid Stonepillow’s essential services. Stonepillow, a local charity founded in 1989, has a long history of providing shelter, rehabilitation, and support to homeless and vulnerable individuals in West Sussex. The Big Sleep Out event is… read more:

 

 

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(by Craig Bunday, Peterborough Telegraph, 25th September 2024)

 

Peterborough Freemasons are amongst those who, together with other members in Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire, have given generously to worthwhile local causes in the past, have now surpassed giving £2.5 million to worthwhile causes over the last six years. Lodges within the Province, which includes the Peterborough Masonic Centre in Ellindon, Bretton, have been in a six year ‘Festival’ since 2018. They had a target of £2.024M to raise for the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which does amazing work for Masonic Charities such as Teddies For Loving Care and Lifelites – the only charity giving children with… . read more:

 

 

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(by Newsdesk, Charity Today, 23rd September 2024)

 

Westminster-based Woman’s Trust is a charity that supports women who have experienced domestic abuse to rebuild their lives through specialist counselling, therapeutic support groups and psycho-educational workshops. Since it was established in 1996, it has helped over 19,600 women across London – face to face in venues in Westminster, Hammersmith & Fulham, Newham, Hackney and Tower Hamlets, as well as via remote channels when appropriate. As the Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated that 1.4 million women experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2023, the work of Woman’s Trust could never be more important. When women first come to Woman’s Trust, they report serious mental health impacts from the trauma of the abuse – 48% of their clients report depression; 21% report self-harming and 37% report suicidal feelings. Key outcomes of their services include… read more:

 

 

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(by Joey Oliver, mLIVE, September 21, 2024)

 

The Masonic Temple on North Madison Avenue was built in the 1890s, making it one of the city’s rich sources of history. But with age comes stories of the paranormal – tales of those who once walked the Masonic Temple halls revisiting them in the form of auras, shadows or waves of cold air. Indeed, Bay City’s Masonic Temple is one of the city’s more intriguing destinations when it comes to alleged paranormal hot spots. And for those eager to better understand it, they will have the chance in October to check it out for… read more:

 

 

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(by Matthew Paddick, Geraldton Guardian, 19 September 2024)

 

The Freemasons have celebrated the formation of a new Mid West district, with its leader installed in a ceremony last weekend. Members of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry from across the State gathered in Geraldton to celebrate the formation of the District of Midwest and the installation of its leader Carl Reynolds. Mr Reynolds said it was a privilege to be… read more:

 

 

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(by Sophie Skyring, Wisbech Standard, 18th September 2024)

 

A Freemasons Lodge has donated £1,000 to a Rainbow Guides group. The Gild of Holy Trinity Freemasons Lodge No 6125 in Wisbech made the donation to the 1st Leverington Rainbow Guides. The donation was made possible with the support of the City and University of Cambridge University Charitable Trust, the Breakfast Bruvvers Club, and personal donations from members. The Leverington Rainbows, who meet weekly at Gorefield Community Hall, provide a structured programme of… read more:

 

 

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(by Keith Dempsey , Recorder & Times, September 20, 2024)

 

Gananoque council has unanimously approved an encroachment agreement for the Masonic Lodge, paving the way for its conversion to housing. The agreement with the owner of 299 Arthur Street provides legal approval of the structure within the town’s right-of-way. Town officials have permitted the minor encroachment in practice for more than a century, but the owner wanted the encroachment agreement on paper in order to complete work on the property. The Masonic Lodge, which is encroaching on the town’s right-of-way of William Street, has been there for approximately 150 years. Currently, the property is owned by… read more:

 

 

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(by David Barton, Thurrock Nub News, 16th September 2024)

 

Thurrock may not be the first name that springs to mind when you think Caribbean, but the Essex Freemasons of Henry de Gray Lodge who meet at the Cross Keys Masonic Centre in Chadwell St Mary, changed all that with a Caribbean Beach themed party that will live long in the memory. With the assistance of fellow Freemason Steve Bruyel and his family who hosted the event a ‘Tiki’ bar was erected, sandy beach backdrops adorned the garden walls, and the sound of reggae music, laughter and fun were heard everywhere. Accompanied by a barbecue consisting of jerk chicken with other local favourites, and a never-ending stream of mojitos, everyone had a fantastic day and a very long night. The Charity event for Fragile X Society, was… read more:

 

 

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(by Oliver Murphy, The Hunts Post, 17th September 2024)

 

A man charged with “fraud by abuse of position” while serving as a treasurer for a Freemasons lodge appeared in court on September 6. Raymond Godby, of Station Road, Abbots Ripton, appeared at Cambridge Crown Court charged with one count of fraud by abuse of position and two counts of fraud by false representation. The alleged offences occurred between July 1, 2018 and September 5, 2022 while he was treasurer at the Stuart Lodge of the Freemasons. The lodge is based in… read more:

 

 

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