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(by editorial board, Morning Journal, January 23, 2025)

 

East Palestine Masonic Lodge #417 and East Palestine Order of the Eastern Star #381 held its annual Masonic Bodies Christmas Party. Eastern Star Junior Past Matron is responsible for the gifts for the children. Gifts bags were filled with coloring books or fun pads, crayons or colored pencils, blanket throws, apple and a candy cane. Twenty-four bags were made but it was a small crowd and only 12 children were in attendance. Some of the extra bags were taken by attendees for people who would only have a small or no Christmas. Pictured, beside Santa is Jr. PM Mary McMillin; back row is Sentinel Laura McMillin and… read more:

 

 

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(by Robbie Bennett, Ely Standard, 26th January 2024)

 

Cambridgeshire Freemasons have donated more than 36,000 teddies to local hospitals in the county. The appeal began after a Freemason’s wife suffered a severe allergic reaction and was resuscitated and stabilised by medical staff. This prompted the group to give more than 36,000 teddies to children in A&E departments at local hospitals, including Addenbrooke’s, Ely, Wisbech, and Doddington hospitals. This initiative is part of the Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) appeal, which aims to comfort children in distressing medical… read more:

 

 

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(by Ed.Condon, The Pillar, January 25, 2025)

 

An announcement surfaced online Friday, issued the Conference of Grand Masters of Prince Hall Lodge Freemasonry, and stating that the Grand Lodge of South Carolina had conferred membership on President Joe Biden. According to the announcement, dated Jan. 19 — the day before Biden left office — the president was granted a “resolution of membership” by the lodge in recognition of his “exceptional dedication and service to the United States” which “reflects the core values of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of South Carolina, including brotherly love, relief, and truth.” It is not uncommon for outgoing presidents to be honored by groups and organizations. But as the second Catholic to hold the office, Biden’s new “membership” of the lodge presents a particular issue: Catholics have been banned from joining masonic lodges and organizations since 1738, and are subject to canonical penalties for doing so. So, is Joe Biden now a Freemason? And if so, what canonical penalties does he face? Based on the facts available, the situation is more complicated than… read more:

 

 

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(by Julie-Ann Spence, Northern Ireland World, 22nd January 2025)

 

At the January meeting of Lisburn & District Masonic Charity Fund (LDMCF) representatives from local charity organisations visited Lisburn Masonic Hall. LDMCF Chairman W.Bro Eddie Carson, handed over cheques from the fund to the visiting charities, showing support as Freemasons for the fantastic and valuable work they do within the local community. Each of the charities gave a short presentation on the vital services they provide for the community in and around Lisburn and across Northern Ireland. Groups that received donations included Age NI, Lisburn2gether Special Olympics, Angel Wishes NI, Lisburn & North Down First Responders, and Knitted Knockers. St Marks Church Ballymacash also received a cheque in December. A spokesperson for the LDMCF said… read more:

 

 

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(by Times Team, Times.co.nz, January 23, 2025)

 

An organisation that empowers young people to become active in their communities has received a valuable cash injection. Three local Freemasons Lodges in Howick, No.314, Wairoa No.55, and Pakuranga Lodge No 416, in collaboration with The Howick and Districts Masonic Trust and The Freemasons Charity, donated $4,500 to Youth Project NZ. The charitable trust, which operates in east and south Auckland, used the money to buy high-vis vests, t-shirts, rubbish nippers and garden gloves. The funding was intended to enhance the organisation’s litter-removal efforts and provide them with custom t-shirts to be worn by members of its Youth Board. Youth Project NZ says the donation is part of… read more:

 

 

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(by Carson Hughes, St Peter Herald, January 21, 2025)

 

Freemasonry has a reputation for its clandestine traditions, but Nicollet Lodge 54’s newly elected leader Derrick Fountain has big plans to bring the 160-year-old fraternal organization into the public eye… read more:

 

 

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(by editorial board, News-Bulletin, January 16, 2025)

 

Under the leadership of our Worshipful Master, Worshipful Brother Larry Lindberg, and the chairman for the raffle, Brother Candido Mohedano, the lodge started the raffle last summer, offering chances to win one of three major meat packages from Sam’s Butcher Block in Bosque Farms. The lodge sold chances all around the area, resulting in raising enough funds to provide a first-class dinner, framed certificates of appreciation and gift cards for the first responders selected by their peers in Rio Communities and Belen, New Mexico State Police and the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office. Those recognized were Belen police officer Elizabeth Keller, Rio Communities police officer… read more:

 

 

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(by Gavin Engelbrecht, The Northern Echo, 18th January 2025)

 

A County Durham school for children with complex learning difficulties will now be able to offer additional activities in the community, thanks to a new minibus. Villa Real School in Consett received a donation of £57,000 from the Mark Benevolent Fund for the vehicle, after the Mark Master Masons of Durham applied for the funding on its behalf. Villa Real is a mixed day school for children and young people aged from two to 19 who have severe, profound, medical, and complex learning difficulties, with some pupils also living with autism spectrum disorder or cerebral palsy. The school’s previous minibus was no longer usable, and replacing it was costly due to the required special adaptations. The Mark Master Masons of Durham applied to… read more:

 

 

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(by Noticeboard, In Your Area, 17 Janary 2025)

 

Family Friends offers a unique service by, recruiting and training volunteers who are usually parents themselves, to visit families in their homes who have at least one child up to 14 years old to offer informal, friendly, and confidential support. Based in Wrexham, providing local community support to families in crisis for over 25 years. In 2023 their volunteers worked with 180 families in crisis. So far, this year they have had more than 200 requests for support and are currently working with 70 families and have a waiting list of another 70. These numbers have significantly increased since the covid crisis as more and more vulnerable families are… read more:

 

 

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(by ShaggyDuck, Enid Blog, January 16, 2025)

 

Garfield Lodge #501 of Enid donated $8640 to the family of Kynlee Thomas of Waukomis. Kynlee is affected with a disease known as MSMDS (multisystemic smooth muscle dysfunction syndrome) which is caused by a mutation in the ACTA2 gene. There are less than 50 known cases worldwide of MSMDS. Multisystemic Smooth Muscle Dysfunction Syndrome (MSMDS) is an ultra-rare disease which affects all of the smooth muscle in the body and is considered to be multisystemic due to its ability to affect most of the subsystems in one’s body. MSMDS is caused primarily by an ACTA2.R179H genetic mutation, however has been documented to be caused by… read more:

 

 

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(by Thomas Weber, Post Bulletin, January 16, 2025 )

 

As fire raged through Rochester’s Masonic Temple building on the afternoon of Jan. 17, 1916, city officials placed an emergency call to Winona asking for help. Rochester firefighters were having a difficult time containing the fire, which began in the basement of the Weber & Judd drug store located on the first floor of the Masonic building. Employees of the drug store had discovered the blaze at about 1 p.m. Workers at some downtown businesses were seen extinguishing sparks that blew onto the roofs of their buildings. At mid-afternoon, firefighters were pumping 11 streams of water into… read more:

 

 

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(by John Topping, The Gazette, 14th Jan 2025)

 

Help where it matters most – at the heart of our community. As we approach mid-January of 2025, most of us take the time to reflect on the year gone bye and the year ahead, making resolutions to perhaps move more and eat less, and to be more committed to helping others who may be less fortunate than ourselves. What many of us are not aware of are the local charities who work year-round dedicating themselves to helping and supporting some of our most vulnerable members of the Fylde Coast community by providing essential items to help meet their basic human needs. Charities such as Wes’ Café & Community Larder, and Helping Hearts Fylde serve the surrounding community every day, week-in, week-out throughout the year, and provide additional support during the difficult Christmas and New Year holidays. For many of us, this is a time of celebration and happiness, however, for individuals and families most in need, this can be a time of worry and anxiety. With this in mind, equipped with bags of generous donations collected from… read more:

 

 

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(by William Crooks, The Record, 12 January 2025)

 

On Jan. 10, the Société Alzheimer de l’Estrie received a generous donation of $10,000 from the Lake Magog Lodge, No. 55. This contribution, presented at the society’s Sherbrooke headquarters, highlighted a shared commitment to supporting individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease. David Bouffard, a Master Mason with the Lake Magog Lodge, explained on the scene that the donation was part of their district-wide fundraising initiative, coinciding with the lodge’s 150th anniversary. “Every year, Freemasons from our district choose a project to support. This year, we organized various activities, including bowling and other fundraising events, to collect $10,000,” Bouffard said. The funds were split between assisting a fellow member in Quebec City living with Alzheimer’s and… read more:

 

 

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(by Paul Evans, The Tenby Observer, 10th January 2025)

 

Tenby Lodge have continued their long standing support for the Paul Sartori Foundation by donating £1,000 to the Pembrokeshire based charity, which offers free specialised care and support for those in the later stages of any life-limiting illness. They provide a range of services in the patient’s home, and help those close to the patient during the illness and through the bereavement period. The donation was… read more:

 

 

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(by Imogen Barber, The Mail, 9th January 2025)

 

Kind-hearted souls have donated thousands of pounds to help kickstart a disaster fund, following a ‘devastating’ fire that claimed the life of a local resident. Cumbria Freemasons have stepped up to support the community of Kirkby Lonsdale after the town’s old Market Hall suffered a blaze. A fire on Sunday December 8, 2024, has left its mark on Market Street and the ‘ancient heart’ of the town. As a result, one resident sadly lost their life, and… read more:

 

 

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(by Staff Reporter, TimesNews, Jan 9, 2025)

 

Appalachian Community Action and Development Agency staffer Karen Davidson has been recognized by the Virginia Masonic Lodge for her community and volunteer work. Davidson received the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Community Builders Award during the Catlett Masonic Lodge No. 35’s December meeting. Worshipful Master Jacob Beaver of the Fincastle Masonic Lodge in Dungannon and Worshipful Master Jack Compton represented the Grand Lodge during the presentation The Community Builders Award recognizes non-Masons for lasting impact in their cities, towns and… read more:

 

 

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(by Staf Report, Los Gatan, January 8, 2025)

 

Mt. Moriah Lodge #292 will hold its Installation of Officers ceremony on Thursday, Jan. 9, at the historic Los Gatos Masonic Center, located at 131 E. Main St., Los Gatos. This evening will begin with a light fare served at 6:30pm, followed by the open installation ceremony at 7:30pm. The event will conclude with a celebratory reception featuring cake and champagne. The Installation of Officers is a time-honored masonic tradition, marking the transition of leadership and celebrating the dedication of members who… read more:

 

 

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(by Donna Williams, Euro Weekly, 31 December 2024)

 

Members of the Freemasons of Valencia Provincial DANA Flood Relief Committee have been concentrating their relief efforts on the flood disaster area that includes the town of Aldaia. Therefore, it was particularly gratifying for them to attend the last day of term at the CEIP El Rajolar primary school in that town. Five Brethren, RWBro Rodney Bignell, Provincial Grand Master of Valencia, and… read more:

 

 

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(by editorial board, Lincolnshire Today, 2nd January 2025)

 

Another £7,000 has been given by Freemasons to Lincolnshire’s St Barnabas Hospice, supporting its £12-a-minute running costs which mean it has to raise £6.3m every year to keep providing its services. The money has come from Freemasons’ Lodges in Lincoln, Grantham, and Skegness, and has been topped up with matched funding from the Freemasons’s national charity the MCF. This is in addition to £5,000 given last year. That was made up of £2,500 from Lincolnshire’s Freemason golfers, who were celebrating their Association’s centenary, which was also matched by the MCF. Lodges involved the latest donation, all of whom gave £500, were Witham in Lincoln, St Clement in Skegness, and all five Grantham Lodges – Doric, Granta, William Peters, Sir Isaac Newton, and Meridian Daylight. Lincolnshire Freemasons’ Communications Officer Stuart Pearcey said: “Although £7,000 might seem like a lot of money, it covers less than 10 hours of… read more:

 

 

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(by Chris Craddock, BBC News, 3rd January 2025)

 

There are plans to remember the Freemasons who were forced to hide their community during the German Occupation of Jersey during World War Two. The new head of the community group in the island wants to work with the island’s museum to highlight how members were persecuted by German troops. Tim Dallas-Chapman was formally recognised as the new head of Freemasonry in Jersey last month. He wants to recognise the work done by Freemasons to preserve their way of life as part of the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day on 9 May. Mr Dallas-Chapman also wants to… read more:

 

 

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