The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland
William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason
Brethren,
Greetings from The Bahamas. I arrived here yesterday afternoon after three very special days in Bermuda.
It was a bad start to the tour with British Airways cancelling all flights on Saturday morning due to an IT failure. As a result, I was two days late in getting to Bermuda. However, we certainly made up for lost time and on Tuesday 1st March, I had the immense pleasure of installing Brother Martin Paul Weekes as our new Grand Superintendent in Bermuda. He is undoubtedly a worthy successor to Brother David Cook who has carried out his duties with great success over the past five years. Brother Weekes is an extremely active and committed Freemason. He has some very positive ideas as to how to take the Superintendency forward and I look forward to seeing his progress. Scottish Freemasonry in Bermuda is in a very healthy state.
On Wednesday 2nd March Brother Weekes and I toured the island and visited all three Lodges. I thereafter had another antigen test before spending a very enjoyable evening in the Officers Mess at Police Headquarters.
The remainder of Wednesday evening was spent trying to get a Bahamas Health Visa which I eventually succeeded in doing at 11.30 pm.
I am now in Nassau and look forward to installing Brother Anthony Ulysees Bostwick as the new District Master on Saturday.
This morning I was on Bahamas Breakfast Television talking about Scottish Freemasonry and the support we are giving to Prostate Cancer Research. Later today I have meetings with both the Governor General and the Prime Minister and tonight a reception with Brethren and their wives.
I will endeavour to give you brief updates each week which will eventually lead to a full-blown account of the trip in the 2023 Yearbook.
SCFS
- The Group saw its membership rise to 6327 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 1115, submitted by 354 of its members.
- These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 363 Lodges, from within 56 of its Provincial Grand Lodges, 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 Forfarshire and Orkney & Zetland.
- The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £1,951,659.
SCFS Overseas Report
This week, we were delighted to receive a very interesting post from Bermuda.
- Brother John Skinner, Lodge Civil and Military, No. 726, posted information on the contribution of the three Scottish Lodges in Bermuda … Lodge St. George, No. 200, Lodge Civil and Military, No. 726, and Lodge Somers Isles, No. 1505, all part of The Freemasons Fund for Bermuda, which recently donated $2,500 (£1850) each to PALS (support of cancer patients and families) and Vision Bermuda (helping people with no or low vision to maintain independence).
This week we welcomed 29 Brethren from Lodges located out with Scotland.
- Our Overseas Membership of Brethren from Lodges under the GLoS continues to grow steadily … now standing at 1707, with new members joining from the Districts of Lebanon, Central South Africa (RSA) and Middle East (Malaysia).
- In addition, we now have 1275 Brethren from many other Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with the GLoS, and who spread news, worldwide, of the wonderful support given to others by our Brethren. New members joined from 9different Masonic constitutions this week: GL of the State of Israel, GL of Ireland (Bermuda), GL of Poland, GL of the Philippines, UGLE (England, Western Cape, South America Southern Division, Bahamas and Turks), GL of Hawaii, United GL of Victoria, GL of New South Wales and ACT, GL of Alberta.
- Again, we would encourage our Overseas Lodges and Districts to continue sharing news of their good support of others and look forward to publishing posts from them … most especially first posts from some Districts.
Finally, as always, please stay safe and look after each other.
Ramsay McGhee
Grand Master Mason