Weekly Update 7th October 2022 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,

The past week has been a mixture of happiness and sadness. Last Saturday I travelled east to Peterculter where we all enjoyed the belated Centenary celebrations of Lodge Leuchar. It was a most enjoyable day both in the Lodge and at the Dinner which followed. My thanks to all the Brethren in Peterculter.

Yesterday was a sad day as we gathered in The Lodge of Dunblane No 9 for a Lodge of Sorrow in respect of Past Provincial Grand Master of Perthshire West, John Scott Brockie. Thereafter we joined with a large congregation in Dunblane Cathedral for the funeral service. John would be known to many of you as his commitment to Freemasonry saw him travel extensively throughout Scotland and beyond. 

This weekend will be a busy one. Tomorrow, Saturday 8th, I will have the privilege of heading a Grand Lodge Deputation to Lodge St James No 123 in Brechin to celebrate, again belatedly, their 250th Anniversary. We’re all looking forward to the occasion.

On Sunday afternoon at 14.00 we have the first of the new series of lectures organised by the History and Heritage Group. The first lecture – Scottish Freemasonry in Mauritius – will be presented by Brother Gerard Jean-Regis Basile Fanchette and I commend it to you. Information on how to access the lecture can be found on the Grand Lodge Facebook page.

At 15.00 on Sunday afternoon, I will be hosting a zoom meeting of all Proxy District Grand Masters and I’m looking forward to our discussions.

SCFS

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Scottish.Constitution.Freemasonry.Supports/ 
 
The Group saw its membership rise to 6873 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 1343, and we are delighted to congratulate and thank Bro. Jim Reeves, RWM of Lodge Robert Burns Initiated, No. 1781, as the 400th contributor to the group.
These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 403 Lodges, from within 57 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 Provincial Grand Lodges of East Lothian, Edinburgh, Glasgow & Lanarkshire Middle Ward.
The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded is £2,651,766
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SCFS Overseas Report .

• It was a pleasure to publish a post in which Brother Bob DuffeyPM, shared news of the financial support of Lodge Northcliffe, No. 1086, in the District of Newfound and Labrador, for the Relief Hurricane Disaster fund, in the wake of the recent hurricane which impacted the Atlantic provinces.

Our membership of brethren from Lodges located outside Scotland continues to grow. Reference this week must be made to Lodge Nigel, No. 847, in the district of Central South Africa, for adding to this total. 

• There are now 1839 members in the SCFS group from our Lodges overseas.
• In addition, we have 1617 ICMs (International Constitution Members) - brethren belonging to Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with the GLoS. This week new members joined from the GL of Poland, GL of CaliforniaUGLE (Eastern Archipelago), with a notable number joining from the GL of Cuba
 

**We would encourage our Overseas Lodges and Districts to continue sharing news of their excellent support of others and look forward to publishing further posts from them.**


The Committee who are working on the Conference are certainly stepping up the pressure – only eight weeks to go 
to what is going to be a tremendous week of Masonic learning, discussion, interaction, socialising as well as cementing old friendships and making new ones. The programme is almost complete and will provide a very fitting run up to the Grand Lodge Installation and Festival of St Andrew on Thursday 24th November.

Day tickets for the Conference are now available and,separately, tickets for the Installation and Festival of St Andrew are now available from Grand Lodge. This will be a unique week in Scottish Freemasonry – one that I commend to all of you. If you don’t have your tickets yet – don’t delay – they are selling fast.

An additional item on the Monday agenda will be the Installation of Brother Christopher M Wong as District Grand Master of the Far East. This will take place in Grand Lodge on the Monday evening and a warm invitation is extended to Brethren to attend. This will bring Grand Lodge fully up to date with all Provincial and District Installations – my sincere thanks to Grand Secretary and Grand Lodge staff for managing to engineer three years into one year.

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

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason