Covid -19 Update 30th July 2021 GMM Bro William Ramsay McGhee


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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 might still be living under restrictions, but time certainly does not stand still. Here we are at the end of July ready to start not only a new week on Sunday but a new month. Hopefully August will bring with it good news about the fight against Covid and the re-opening of Lodges.

In accordance with the reduction of Government protection levels the Grand Lodge shop at Freemasons’ Hall will once again be open to customers from Tuesday 3 August 2021.  Customers will be limited to a maximum of four in the shop at any time and they must wear face coverings when inside Freemasons’ Hall.  No other part of the building will be open, but it’s a step in the right direction.

The weekly update is featuring a first this week – the announcement of the winners of the Grand Lodge June Draw.

Number

Name / Lodge

Amount

     

1278

Robert J Edgar

£600

6612

Lodge Unity No 682

£500

6407

The United Lodge of Dunkeld No 14

£400

5100

Lodge St John Operative No 37

£300

3170

Lodge Oak No 877

£200

 

Congratulations to all the winners – if your Lodge has not taken out tickets or you personally haven’t taken a ticket, now is the time to do so. The Draw is open to everyone at home and abroad – it is a bit of good fun – give it a go.  Get details from Grand Lodge on 0131 225 5577.

 
SCFS
 

  • The Group saw its membership rise to 5475 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 875, submitted by 299 of its members.
  • These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 324 Lodges, from within 55 of its Provincial Grand Lodges, District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges abroad under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge.
  • This week posts were submitted by group members representing the Provinces of Edinburgh and Linlithgowshire.
  • During the course of the pandemic posts have been shared on a weekly basis highlighting the sterling work which has been undertaken by the Young Ashlars and latterly the Edinburgh Masonic Food Initiative.  This initiative which has been running since the spring of 2020 drew to a close this week with a total of 25,813 meals having been cooked, prepared and delivered to Masonic Brethren and vulnerable persons throughout Edinburgh.
  • The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £1,357,701.
 
 

SCFS Overseas Report  

  • Our Overseas Membership has now risen to 1541 This is thanks to new members joining us from Lodges in the Districts of Barbados, Central South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Trinidad & Tobago and Grenada. Interestingly, this week, all new Members came from different Lodges. 
  • Our membership of Brethren who belong to Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with GLoS continues to grow. We now have 755 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 constitutions.
  • During this week, the expanding reach of SCFS was seen by the fact that Brethren joined from 12 different Masonic Constitutions, including: GL ofIreland, GL of Quebec, GL of Russia, MWGL of the Philippines, GL of California, GL of South Carolina, GL of Indiana, GL of Texas, UGLE (England, South Africa North), GL of Ghana 
  • In addition to the above, the list of Grand Lodges represented by Brethren from within them joining as ICMs had the GL of Mauritius and the GL of Hawaiiadded to it. 
  • A special welcome was extended to Brother Frank CondelloPast Grand Master, of the Grand Lodge of Hawaii. 
  • Brother Martin Weekes, PM/Secretary, Lodge St. George, No. 200, Bermuda, shared a most interesting post about the Lodge’s support of the charity “Meals on Wheels Bermuda.” 
  • We look forward to receiving and sharing further posts from our Overseas Brethren this week.

On Monday night I thoroughly enjoyed a Zoom meeting between the Proxy Masters and their respective Lodges in the District of East Africa. Both the District Grand Master and District Grand Secretary were present, and we had six out of the ten Proxy Masters which was good for a first attempt. It was good for everyone to be able to put faces to names, learn a bit about each other and their respective Lodge. An exercise we will certainly be repeating and one I would recommend to all Proxy DGM’s.

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

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason