The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland
William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason
Brethren
As you will all be aware by now, we look forward to hopefully being able to resume Masonic activity at the start of the new season in the autumn. We should be aware that it will be a phased return to our meetings, depending on the restrictions that may be in place by then. However, there is hope and we now have the ability to start planning for the return.
The strategy Group will be meeting next week, and I will ask them to start revising and updating the advice to Lodges at home and abroad on what will be required to ensure a safe return to our meetings. Government advice and rulings change frequently, and it is important that we keep up to speed with those developments. I am also looking to our District Grand Masters and Grand Superintendents to ensure that all our Lodges are compliant with the advice and legislation in each country.
The Grand Lodge Administration Committee will also be meeting next week when much of the agenda will be taken up with discussion on the recommendations from the strategy group in respect of the five main issues that were identified in the survey. The strategy group and their working parties have produced a significant amount of material to be considered by the Administration Committee and I thank them for their efforts. There is still much work to be done regarding the long-term strategy, but bringing the material that has been researched and dealt with to the Administration Committee is a major milestone in our future development.
- The Group saw its membership rise to 5264 Brethren from not only the Scottish Constitution but from many of our Sister Constitutions throughout the world.
- This week the total examples of charitable giving recorded within the group rose to 830, submitted by 291 of its members.
- These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 322 Lodges, from within all 32 Provincial Grand Lodges, 23 of its District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges abroad under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge.
- During the week posts were submitted by group members representing the Provinces of Aberdeen City, Dumfriesshire, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Galloway, Glasgow, Inverness-shire, Linlithgowshire, Midlothian & Orkney & Zetland.
- The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £1,328,938.
SCFS Overseas Report
- Our Overseas Membership has risen to 1489 This is thanks to new members joining us from Lodges in Central South Africa (RSA), Jamaica, Lebanon and Western Australia. We now look forward to welcoming our 1500th Overseas Member this coming week.
- The largest increase in membership was, once again, from the District of Lebanon.
- Our membership of Brethren from Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with the GLoS continues to grow. We now have 648 Brethren spreading news of the wonderful support featured in the posts on the main SCFS page, and on the increasingly popular SCFS-Showcase,throughout their respective constitutions.
- This week Brethren joined from 9different Masonic Constitutions, namely: the National GL of Romania, GL of Victoria, GL of Alberta, GL of Maryland, United GL of Queensland, UGLE (England, Nigeria), GL of Canada in the Province of Ontario, GL of India.
- In addition to the above, the list of Grand Lodges represented by Brethren within them joining as ICMs had the Most Serene Grand Lodge of the Republic of San Marino added to it.
- A very special welcome was extended to Brother Mirko Granwho is the Grand Secretary of the Most Serene Grand Lodge of the Republic of San Marino.
- A very interesting post was received from Lodge Northcliffe, No. 1086, in the District of Newfoundland and Labrador, showing its support of the Y2C Youth Centre which provides a safe interaction place for local 12-18 year olds in Grand Falls, NL.
My sincere thanks to the members of the three Chapters of the Widows Sons for their very warm welcome to their zoom meeting last Wednesday. It was a pleasure to meet with you all.
Finally, as always, please stay safe and look after each other
Ramsay McGhee
Grand Master Mason