The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland
William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason
Brethren,
This past week has been a relatively quiet week Masonically with two zoom meetings and a busy day in Grand Lodge yesterday.
However, on Tuesday night I was invited to give a talk on the work that Scottish Freemasonry,and in particular the Province of Ross and Cromarty, has been doing in Malawi. On this occasion, the audience was not Masonic but consisted of ladies of the Scottish Women’s Institute from Ross-shire, Sutherland and Inverness-shire.
I always enjoy telling non-masonic audiences about the values of Scottish Freemasonry and what we do to try and make the world a better place. Without fail, and it happened again on Tuesday, the comment was made – “I didn’t realise what the Freemasons do”.
There has to be a lesson there for us all, to take every opportunity to expel the myths that surround the Craft and make the public aware of our principles, values and standards. You never know, some of those women present on Tuesday night might just have gone home and suggested to their menfolk that they should consider joining the Craft!
This weekend will be a busy one. On Saturday I will be in Perth to host a meeting of Provincial Grand Masters and on Sunday I will repeat the exercise via zoom with our District Grand Masters. We have much to discuss and debate and Grand Secretary and I look forward to both meetings to consider especially, the way ahead for our PGMs and DGMs when they both establish new Standing Committees. It is an exciting time which will lead to our PGMs and DGMs having a far greater voice than ever before in the governance of the organisation.
SCFS
The Group saw its membership rise to 7123 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 1643, submitted by 469 of its members.
These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 434 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, Glasgow, Linlithgowshire and Moray & Nairn.
The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £3,266,675.
SCFS Overseas Report
Thanks are extended to the many Brethren from Lodges in our Districts who strongly support SCFS by adding positive comments of encouragement to the posts which are published. This is greatly appreciated by the Brethren who have sent in details of their donations etc.
I have been asked to make our readers aware of the following meeting –
Sir Robert Moray: A Man of Relevance. A symposium in Edinburgh hosted by Lodge Sir Robert Moray on Saturday 30thSeptember 2023.
For further information please visit:www.MoraySymposium.org
Symposium fee: £75. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Robert Moray was the first speculative freemason to be initiated on English soil in 1641 before speculative freemasonry existed in England. He was a Scottish soldier, statesman, diplomat, judge, spy, and natural philosopherwho developed Royal and Masonic connections. He was a founder member of the Royal Society, publishing many scientific papers. He influenced developments in the turbulent Europe of the 17thcentury, when a state of war was common-place and alchemy was giving way to science.
Next week is a bit busier and I look forward to reporting back to you all on our attendance at the Yom HaShoah(Holocaust Remembrance Day) meeting in Giffnock Synagogue, and the Installation of the new Irish Grand Master in Dublin
Finally, as always, please stay safe and look after each other.
Ramsay McGhee
Grand Master Mason