The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland
William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason
Brethren,
Last Saturday was an extremely busy one. I was honoured to head a large Deputation from Grand Lodge to Troon in Ayrshire where over 300 Brethren gathered to witness Brother Jim Bell being installed as Provincial Grand Master of Ayrshire along with his Commission.
At the same time, Substitute Grand Master, Brother Alexander Moncrieff, headed a Grand Lodge Deputation to Tarbert, Loch Fyne where he carried out a splendid rededication ceremony assisted by Brother Alistair Henderson (Acting Grand Chaplain) and Brother George Donnelly (Assistant Grand D of C) to celebrate the centenary of Lodge Tarbert, Tarbert Loch Fyne 1306.
On Tuesday evening I was greatly privileged to attend a meeting of the Zodiac Circle in Glasgow as their guest speaker. The welcome and hospitality was of the highest order, and I was indebted to Brother Tom Jessop for his hospitality and assistance in getting there and back. My thanks to President Hamilton Purdie and the Companions for a wonderful evening.
Yesterday I attended a meeting of the Overseas Committee in the morning at which the Chair, Brother Jim Jack, got us through a long agenda very quickly and smoothly. It was good to acknowledge that a number of Lodges that were struggling, especially in South Africa, are now resuming once again.
In the afternoon, Grand Secretary and I had a long overdue planning meeting which included an update on the Young Masons Initiative which is being well received by almost all Provinces and Districts. It is vitally important that we encourage the Young Masons – they are our future.
SCFS
- The Group saw its membership rise to 7111 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 1626, submitted by 465 of its members.
- These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 431 Lodges, from within 59 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 Edinburgh, Fife & Kinross, Forfarshire, Galloway, Glasgow, Midlothian, & Perthshire West.
- The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £3,257,544.
SCFS Overseas Report
Once again, very interesting posts from our Districts were published this week.
- Brother Craig Jessop, District Grand Master, Eastern Province of The Cape of Good Hope, advised the group of a substantial joint donation from Lodge Bon Accord, No. 965, and Lodge Good Friendship, No. 1800, added to by the District Grand Lodge of East Africa, which was presented on their behalf by the Grand Master Mason to the School of Autism in Port Elizabeth.
- Brother Javon Rollefrom the District PR Department, shared a TV News time feature video about the long standing, excellent community support (twice a year for 27 years) of All Saint’s Camp by Lodge St. Michael, No. 1634, District Grand Lodge of The Bahamas, including its recent donation of essential goods.
Overseas membership of the SCFS group again increased. Particular mention this week goes to Lodge Good Friendship, No. 1800, Lodge Koodoo, No. 1317, Lodge Kirkwood Kilwinning, No. 1393, and Lodge Bon Accord, No. 965 (all from the District of the Eastern Province of The Cape of Good Hope), and to Lodge St. Michael, No. 1634 (The Bahamas), which was the Lodge from which most new members joined.
Additional members were also approved from Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with the GLoS. We were particularly delighted to welcome Brother Pete Murdoch, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Western Australia.
The next Scottish International Conference in 2024/25 will be in Lebanon and the 2027/28 Conference will be in Livingstone, Zambia close to the Victoria Falls. As soon as the dates for the two conferences have been agreed we will publish them so that you can do a bit of pre-planning and preparation. I am certainly looking forward to both.
Finally, as always, please stay safe and look after each other.
Ramsay McGhee
Grand Master Mason