The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland
William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason
Brethren,
Welcome to the 200th edition of the Weekly Update.The 200thedition will also be the final edition as I demit Office on the 30th of November when I will have the great honour of Installing our new Grand Master Mason, Brother Dr Joseph John Morrow, CVOCBEKStJKCDLFRSE, the current Lord Lyon King of Arms.
Through the medium of the Weekly Update, may I take this opportunity to thank you all, your Lodges, Provinces, Districts and Superintendencies for the support you have given me over the past five years. It has been a real privilege to serve as your Grand Master Mason – I only hope that my endeavour over the period has matched your expectations of me.
Can I also take the opportunity to thank Grand Secretary and his staff at 96 George Street for the tremendous support I have received from them all. It has been greatly appreciated.Likewise, my sincere thanks to Brothers Dougie Fergie and Jim Ellis for their weekly contributions in respect of SCFS. They are both doing a tremendous job and, on your behalf, as well as my own, I thank them sincerely.
I will not be disappearing from Grand Lodge totally. Constitutionally, I will assume the role of Chair of the new Governance and Strategy Board. I look forward to this new role in which I will hopefully be able to assist in taking Scottish Freemasonry forward in a very positive, upbeat, and meaningful way.
In closing, can I thank you all, at home and overseas, for the warm welcome, affection and friendship that you have so kindly shown to me over the past five years – the memories I have will be cherished and valued for the remainder of my life.
SCFS
The Group saw its membership rise to 7367 Brethren from not only the Scottish Constitution but from many of our Sister Constitutions throughout the world.
o This week saw the total examples of charitable giving recorded within the group rise to 1884, submitted by 525 of its members.
o These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 457 Lodges, from within 59 of its Provincial Grand Lodges, District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges abroad under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge.
o Thanks are extended to the following Lodges who had posts submitted on their behalf this week.
o Leuchar, No. 1224 (Aberdeenshire West), supporting Culter School Parent Council.
o Widows Sons Scotland West Chapter, supporting Prostate Scotland.
o The Lodge of Fort William, No. 43 (Inverness-shire), supporting Lochaber Action on Disability.
o The Bruce, No. 593 (Forfarshire), supporting Brechin Flood Relief Fund.
o Widows Sons Scotland East Chapter, supporting Poppy Scotland.
o Buchan St. John No. 636 (Linlithgowshire), supporting Brechin Buccaneers.
o The Douglas Lodge, No. 409 (Linlithgowshire), supporting Beatson Cancer Charity and Autism in local schools.
o Lindores, No. 106 (Fife & Kinross), supporting local Thursday Club & Newburgh Xmas Lights.
o New Monkland Montrose, No. 88 (Lanarkshire Middle Ward), supporting My Name’s Doddie Foundation.
o Provincial Grand Lodge of Edinburgh, supporting Dean and Cauvin Young Peoples Trust and The Sick Childrens Hospital Charity.
o The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £3,865,359.
SCFS Overseas Report
Brother Craig Jessop, District Grand Master of the Eastern Province of the Cape of Good Hope, shared news of Lodge Bon Accord, No. 965, facilitating an art competition which raised funds to enable donations towards benevolence, the purchasing of food etc. for the local Old Age Home and the treating of 10 residents to a Gala Dinner / Evening
.
• Brother Thomas Rohde, Past Master of Lodge Fort Jameson, No. 1467, in the District of KwaZulu Natal, advised on the efforts of that Lodge and of Lodge Grantleigh, No. 1136, in organising and financing the 38th Annual Seniors Luncheon, attended and enjoyed by a significant number of guests.
• This week we welcomed a number of new Brethren from Lodges overseas: Lodge Fort Jameson, No. 1467 (KwaZulu Natal), andLodge De La Vega, No. 1477 (Jamaica). In addition, there was an excellent response from the District of Eastern Province of the Cape of Good Hope from which a number of Brethren joined from the following Lodges: Lodge Caledonia, No. 796, Lodge Koodoo, No. 1317, and Lodge Thistle, No. 833.
• Brethren from other Masonic constitutions (ICMs) were similarly welcomed such as Brethren from Lodges under UGLE (Eastern Cape), and the Grand Lodge of South Africa.
Last Saturday I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Lochaber, where, along with the PGM, Brother David Crilley, I paid a visit to Lodge Mallaig No 1056. It was a great night catching up with the Mallaig Brethren some of whom I have known for over 40 years.
Please support the Annual Christmas Concert by the Glasgow Phoenix Choir in Freemasons’ Hall on Sunday 10th December at 2.30 pm.
Finally, as always, please stay safe and look after each other.
