Provincial Grand Lodge of Renfrewshire West Provincial Grand Lodge of Renfrewshire West

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GLoS

The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland

William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason

Brethren,

Once again, we are facing another Christmas with limitations, having been informed that the latest version of Coronavirus is more virulent than all others. I fully expect the Scottish Government will, in the course of next week, issue further guidance or legislation as we approach Christmas. We must all continue to adhere to guidance and law, while Grand Secretary will inform all Lodge Secretaries of any change that may come about.

During the week I was delighted to chair the first meeting of the working party whose remit is to ensure that we can reach the £1 million target for Prostate Cancer. This is a disease that affects men world-wide and all of us at home and abroad can benefit from the research being carried out through Prostate Cancer Scotland. Consequently, I would encourage our brethren throughout the world to get involved in this push to reach the £1 million target. There will be several major fund-raising events during the year as well as local events and these will be announced as the plans are finalised. To start the ball rolling, we have a great raffle, especially for whisky connoisseurs. The prize is a 2021 annual Springbank 12-year-old Cask strength whisky and a Springbank 15-year-old whisky. We would like to record our thanks to Springbank Distillery for very kindly donating this prize. If you would like to participate, please contact Brother John Muir by email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Tickets are £5 each and the draw will be made during the first week in February 2022, the winner being announced at the February Communication of Grand Lodge.

SCFS

 
  • Following on from last week’s announcement marking the publication of the 1000thpost, another significant milestone has been reached and many congratulations are extended to our 6000thmember … Brother Lee Wiid. Brother Wiid is a member of Lodge Pinelands Kilwinning, No. 960 and District Grand Secretary of the District Grand Lodge of Western Province of the Cape of Good Hope. In addition, Brother Wiid holds office in the District Grand Lodge working under the Grand Lodge of Ireland.
  • This week saw Group membership rise to 6009 Brethren from not only the Scottish Constitution but from many of our Sister Constitutions throughout the world.
  • The total examples of charitable giving recorded within the group rose to 1029, submitted by 330 of its members.
  • These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 349 Lodges, from within 55 of its Provincial Grand Lodges, District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges abroad under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge. 
  • This week posts were submitted by group members representing the Provinces of Ayrshire, East Lothian, Fife & Kinross, Forfarshire, Glasgow, Lanarkshire Middle Ward, Linlithgowshire, Midlothian, Perthshire East, Stirlingshire, and The Scottish Borders.
  • The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £1,803,688.
 

SCFS Overseas Report  

A number of outstanding posts were published this week … thanks is extended to the brethren who supported SCFS by providing them. 

  • Brother Rinus Grau, DG Secretary of the District of Zimbabwe, shared a post by Brother Keith Ballantine, RWM, Lodge Kariba, No. 1558, of the Lodge’s£3400 Christmas treat and gifts to 60 of the Lodge pensioners. 
  • Brother Rinus Grau also posted news of the DGL of Zimbabwe’s £3500 support of 80 residents in the Masonic Home in Harare, who were treated to a Christmas lunch and food hampers. 
  • Brother Scott Bartlett, IPDGM, shared a post about a donation by the District Grand Lodge of Newfoundland and Labrador, to “The Gathering Place” (fostering self respect and dignity).
  • News of the donation by Lodge Northcliffe, No. 1086, Newfoundland and Labrador, to Grand Falls Windsor Community Kitchen, was also advised by Brother Scott Bartlett.
  • Our Overseas Membership is now 1663 with brethren joining from the Districts of The Bahamas, Far East (South Korea), Guyana, Western Province of the Cape of Good Hope, and Zimbabwe.
  • The Bahamas was the District which had most brethren joining from it … with a good spread of Lodges being represented.
  • We now have 1088 brethren from Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with the GLoS. New members joined from 11 different Masonic constitutions: the GL of Japan, UGLE(Sri Lanka, Isle of Man, Nigeria), GL of the State of Israel, United Grand Lodges of Germany (American Canadian Grand Lodge), GL of South Africa, GL of Tennessee, GL of Maryland, GL of Texas, GL of Ireland, United GL of New South Wales and ACT, and the GL of Indiana. 

I am delighted to report, as many of you will have seen from Jim Ellis’s post on the Facebook page, that in Ayrshire, the toy appeal organised by Christine Oliver in Kilmarnock has once again been an outstanding success with some 772 families benefitting this year. Christine has organised this appeal for several years, and it has grown each year since she started. Sincere congratulations to Christine and her band of helpers for a timely reminder that the ladies always play a significant part in many of our activities.

I hear that Lodge Fraser 267 (Aberdeenshire East) have celebrated the end of 2021 by initiating their 700th member into the Lodge – congratulations to Brother Gerrie Young on his admission to Lodge Fraser.

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

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason

 
 
 
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GLoS

The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland

William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason

Brethren,

In many of the Provinces and Districts we are now well and truly into Lodge Installations. May I take this opportunity to convey my best wishes to all new Masters and Office-bearers for a happy and successful term in office and thank all those who are demitting office, many who have carried out at least an extra year because of Covid. Your service and dedication have been outstanding. Thank you.

On Wednesday this week Ann and I had the pleasure of conveying the Past 1st Grand Principal, MEC Ian Fraser and his wife Joan to Inverness where we met up with the current 1st Grand Principal, Dr Rev Canon Joe Morrow, CBE, QC and Grand Scribe E, MEC Douglas Duncan when Ian presented another cheque to the Iris Murdoch Foundation bringing the total to a magnificent £200,000. Fantastic effort – well done.

SCFS

 
  • The Group saw its membership rise to 5985 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 1008, submitted by 329 of its members.
  • These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 342 Lodges, from within 55 of its Provincial Grand Lodges, District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges abroad under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge.
  • This week posts were submitted by group members representing the Provinces of Aberdeen City, Dumfriesshire, Dunbartonshire, Edinburgh, Fife & Kinross, Forfarshire, Glasgow, Inverness-shire, Linlithgowshire, Renfrewshire West, Ross & Cromarty and Stirlingshire.
  • The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £1,788,261.

MILESTONE POST ANNOUNCEMENT

The raison d'être for the SCFS page is to provide an online opportunity to record and share all the wonderful examples of charity and support by Freemasons in Lodges governed by the Grand Lodge of Scotland. Since its launch in May of last year, posts of such a nature have been received and published. 

This week we celebrate the publishing of the 1000th post. That number in itself is very impressive, but we must look behind this statistic and take cognisance of what it represents … and that is the special nature of our order, illustrated through all these posts which have demonstrated support - large and small, financial and in kind, of time and of care.

The Milestone 1000th post was received from Brother Scott McAdam, WSW, Lodge Ivanhoe, No. 879, in the District of Western Australia, who shared news of a donation of almost £2000 to the mental health charity, “Beyond Blue”.

Many thanks are extended to all Brethren who have contributed towards achieving the 1000th postmilestone. 

 

SCFS Overseas Report  

A number of outstanding posts were published this week … 

  • Brother Jim Kerr, District Grand Master of Central South Africa, shared news of a wonderful donation of almost £5000 by the District to the Cancer Association of South Africa. 
  • Brother Scott McAdam, WSW, Lodge Ivanhoe, No. 879,shared news of his Charity Kilt Run at the Perth Highland Gathering of Western Australia (referred to above). 
  • Our Overseas Membership is now 1655with the most brethren joining from an individual Lodge this week coming from Lodge Peace, No. 908, in the District of Lebanon. 
  • We now have 1070brethren from Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with the GLoS. New members joined from the Grand Lodges of India, Washington, Louisiana, Indiana, Brazil, California, Italy, Canada in the Province of Ontario, Arizona, Columbia, Ohio, United GL of Victoria and UGLE. A special welcome was extended to Brother Roger VanGorden, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Indiana. 

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

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason

 
 
 
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GLoS

The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland

William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason

Brethren,

I am aware that over the past three weeks or so there have been problems with the database. I can only apologise for any inconvenience caused but I can give you all an assurance that our IT staff have been doing everything possible to rectify the situation and I am happy to report that the issues have more or less been resolved. Please have patience, we are doing all we can to resolve matters and make life as easy as possible for Lodge Secretaries in the long term.

SCFS

 
  • The charitable activities which have been published within the group have demonstrated that, even in these most challenging circumstances during the last 20 months, Brethren, Lodges, Districts and Provinces have stepped up to the plate in exercising that noblest of virtues … Charity.
  • This has been comprehensively illustrated by the provision of wide and varied support, large and small, financial and practical, to local / national charities, community groups and individuals.
  • In addition, we have witnessed ongoing support such as the various initiatives by Lodge Buchan St. John, No. 636, which have resulted in a huge amount of food, clothes, toiletries and other goods being distributed to numerous Lodges and Provinces throughout the country. The overall securing of goods and distribution has been facilitated by Bro. Kevin Taggart, IPM, with the assistance of Brother Tommy Walker, DPGM of Linlithgowshire, and Brother Willie Innes, PM, The Caledonian Lodge, No. 392. This has enabled onward donations to be made to various organisations within local communities. 
  • The Group saw its membership rise to 5954 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 991, submitted by 325 of its members.
  • These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 340 Lodges, from within 55 of its Provincial Grand Lodges, District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges abroad under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge. 
  • This week posts were submitted by group members representing the Provinces of Fife & Kinross, Inverness-shire, Lanarkshire Middle Ward and Linlithgowshire.
  • The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £1,776,451.
 

SCFS Overseas Report  

A number of outstanding posts were published this week … 

  • Brother Pédro Turnquest, Secretary of Lodge San Andreas, No. 1835, in the Bahamas, shared news of how Lodge Eleutheran Adventurers, No. 1816, is supporting a family of 22 which has lost everything due to its house being completely destroyed by fire. 
  • Brother Joe Lum-On, WSW of Lodge Polynesia, No. 562, Fiji, shared press coverage in ‘The Fiji Times’ of the lodge’s support for children suffering from cancer and also a post about the lodge’s donation of over £1750 to the Children’s Cancer Foundation in Fiji.  
  • Our Overseas Membership is now 1650 with the most brethren joining from an individual Lodge coming this week from Lodge Montrose, No. 722, in the District of North Island New Zealand. 
  • We now have 1053 brethren from Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with the GLoS. New members joined from the Symbolic GL of Paraguay, GL of India, UGLE (England, Zimbabwe and Malawi, Bahamas and Turks), GL of Alberta, GL of Greece, GL of Mauritius, G and L of Mississippi, GL of Canada in the Province of Ontario. 

My sincere thanks to Brothers Dougie Fergie and Jim Ellis for their tremendous effort with the SCFS Facebook and collation of data – we all appreciate getting the breakdown on activity each week – well done both and to those who assist you in the background.

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

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason

 
 
 
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GLoS

The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland

William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason

Brethren,

May I take this opportunity to convey to all our Jewish Brethren every best wish for a very happy, enjoyable, and meaningful Hanukkah.

What a memorable day yesterday was with Brother Charles Iain Robert Wolrige Gordon of Esslemont, conducting the Grand Lodge Installation in his own inimitable style. I am truly indebted to him for his continuing support and for making the day such a successful one. 450 Brethren were in attendance to witness the ceremony and once again enjoy each other’s company. I would also like to thank Brothers Thomas Constable Smith and Alexander MacLachlan for their undaunting support and encouragement during their term of office and welcome our new Depute and Substitute Grand Masters, namely Brother Jim Bell and Brother Jim Peddie into office. I very much look forward to working with them in the year ahead. 

SCFS

 
 
  • The Group saw its membership rise to 5935 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 981, submitted by 321 of its members.
  • These updated contributions can now be attributed as being made on behalf of 338 Lodges, from within fifty-five of its Provincial Grand Lodges, District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges abroad under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge. 
  • This week posts were submitted by group members representing the Provinces of Forfarshire, Inverness-shire, and Lanarkshire Middle Ward.
  • The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £1,767,310.
  • The group is now fast approaching a significant milestone since its inception, the publishing of its 1000th We await with eager anticipation to see which Lodge / District / Province will receive the accolade of attaining that special place in the group’s history.
 

SCFS Overseas Report  

  • A very interesting post was received from Brother Joe Lum-On, WJW, Lodge Polynesia, No. 562, in Fiji, which detailed a donation of over £1750 to the charity which had been nominated by the wives and partners of the brethren … Children’s Cancer Foundation. 
  • Our Overseas Membership has now reached a total of 1647brethren, with the largest increase in membership, this week, coming from a Lodge under the direct control of Grand Lodge … Lodge Friendship, No. 439, in Mauritius. 
  • Our ICMs (International Constitution Members … brethren who are members of Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with the GLoS) are continuing to play an important role in spreading news of the excellent charity and community support being provided to so many. Our worldwide ICM total is now standing at 1040. 
  • During this week, new International Constitution Members joined from 12different Masonic constitutions, including the GL of Nigeria, GL of Louisiana, GL of Colorado, GL of Illinois, GL of the Philippines, GL of Philadelphia, GL of Mauritius, GL of New Zealand, UGLE(England, South Wales, Cyprus), GL of Mexico, GL of Canada in the Province of Ontario, and the GL of Japan. 
  • It is heartening that more Lodges in our Districts, under Grand Superintendents and under the supervision of Grand Lodge, are sharing the examples of the excellent support which they have been involved in by sending posts to the SCFS page and we would encourage others to follow this example. 

Last Saturday saw a small Deputation from Grand Lodge head north to Golspie where we had the pleasure of installing Brother David Collings as the new Provincial Grand Master. That now concludes the programme of installations with all twelve PGM’s now installed albeit a year later than originally planned. The next group of new PGM’s will take office in February at which time we will start the Installation programme again.

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

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason

 
 
 
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 poppy2021

 They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland

William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason

 

SCFS

 

The Group saw its membership rise to 5888 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 966, submitted by 319 of its members.

These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 338 Lodges, from within 55 of its Provincial Grand Lodges, District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges abroad under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge. 

This week posts were submitted by group members representing the Provinces of Inverness-shire, Lanarkshire Middle Ward, Linlithgowshire & Perthshire West.

The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £1,762,840.

 

SCFS Overseas Report  

 

  • Three outstanding posts, highlighting the support to charity and within the community by our Overseas Brethren, were published this week. 
  • A donation of over £1100 to Breast Cancer by Lodge St. Andrew, No. 829, and the Scottish Masonic Charitable Foundation of Western Australia (SMCFWA).
  • A donation of 10 tablets by Lodge Calabar, No. 1844, in the District of Jamaica, to needy students at Calabar College.
  • Donations by the District Grand Lodge of Western Australia, the Daughter Lodges and SMCFWA of over £6500 towards a mobile skin cancer screening bus and the Special Children’s Big Day Out. 
  • Our Overseas Membership has now reached a total of 1643 brethren with new members joining from Lodges in the Far East (Philippines), Jamaica, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nigeria, Trinidad & Tobago and Grenada. The largest increase in membership was from the District of Nigeria, with the most Brethren joining from an individual Lodge coming from Lodge Itebite, No. 1619, in Nigeria. 
  • Our ICMs (International Constitution Members … brethren who are members of Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with the GLoS) play an important role in spreading news of the excellent charity and community support being provided to so many. This week we reached the milestone of welcoming our 1000th ICM, with our ICM total now standing at 1009. 
  • Many congratulations are extended to our 1000th ICM who is Brother Norberto Gamarra, IPM, Asunción Lodge, No. 124, Symbolic Grand Lodge of Paraguay. 
  • During this week, new members joined from 13 different Masonic constitutions, including the Grand Lodges of California, Canada in the Province of Ontario, Massachusetts, Quebec, Nigeria, India, Alberta, Philippines, UGLE (South Africa, Nigeria), New South Wales and ACT, and Ireland.
  • In addition to the above, a special welcome was extended to BrotherJorge Zeledón-Pacheco, PastGrand Master of the Grand Lodge of Costa Rica. 

Next week there will be a meeting of the Administration Committee who, once again, will have a full agenda to deal with, and that of course, will be followed the following week by the Grand Lodge Installation. The Installation will obviously be a bit different to normal with numbers limited and no Festival of St Andrew to follow. However, it is good that we are getting back to some form of normality and actually having an Installation. Hopefully by November 2022 we will be in full flow once again.

My sincere thanks to the Brethren of Lodge Thorntree for a superb day in Nitshill as we celebrated 150 years of Freemasonry in Thornliebank.

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

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason

 
 
 
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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

May I take this opportunity to wish everyone but especially our Hindu Brethren, a very happy Diwali. Diwali symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance." I had the privilege, some years ago, of being in Singapore during Diwali and what a wonderful festival it is. I hope all Brethren and their families, who are celebrating this week have a very happy, enjoyable and meaningful time.

The Benevolence and Care Committee met this week and I continue to marvel at the work carried out under their remit. It was heart-warming to hear that both our Homes are still Covid free thanks to the dedication and commitment of Mrs Dawn Oliff, her two managers – Gillian Hunter and Wilma McDonald and all members of staff at the Homes for the outstanding level of care, attention and dedication they have given to all our Residents during the lockdown.

From the reports at the Committee meeting, I am confident that the running total to Prostate Cancer Scotland will reach £800,000 by the end of this year which gives us all a clear objective before the Installation in 2022 – to raise the final £200,000. It was agreed at the Committee that I can go ahead and appoint a working party to dream up fund-raising ideas and to co-ordinate the fund-raising. I will be looking to the Register of Interests to find suitable members.

SCFS

 
  • The Group saw its membership rise to 5841 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 966, submitted by 318 of its members.
  • These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 338 Lodges, from within 55 of its Provincial Grand Lodges, District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges abroad under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge.
  • This week posts were submitted by group members representing the Provinces of Glasgow, Renfrewshire West and Ross & Cromarty.
  • The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £1,622,886.
 

SCFS Overseas Report  

An outstanding post was published this week from Lodge Northcliffe, No. 1086, in the district of Newfoundland and Labrador, which shared news of the Lodge’s admirable donation to Madd Exploits Valley, as the charity works towards stopping impaired driving and to support victims of this. 

  • Our Overseas Membership is still steadily growing and has now reached a total of 1634 brethren as a result of new members joining from Lodges in Central South Africa (RSA), Far East (Philippines), Jamaica and Fiji. 
  • Our membership of brethren who belong to Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with the GLoS also continues to increase and now stands at 973. These members play an important role in spreading news throughout their respective constitutions of the excellent support which brethren of the Scottish constitution are providing to so many. 
  • During this week, new members joined from 11 different Masonic constitutions, including: GL of Canada in the Province of Ontario, GL of the Philippines, GL of India, GL of New South Wales and ACT, United GL of Queensland, UGLE, GL of Kansas, GL of Quebec, GL of Indiana, GL of Hawaii. 
  • In addition to the above, a special welcome was extended to BrotherJeffery VanCuren, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of South Dakota.
  • It is encouraging that more Lodges in our Districts, under Grand Superintendents and under the supervision of Grand Lodge, are sharing with us the examples of the excellent support which they have been involved in, and we look forward to publishing future news. 

Can I convey the grateful thanks of my Deputation to the Provincial Grand Master of Orkney and Zetland, his Office-bearers and Brethren, for the excellent hospitality we received in Lerwick and in Brae last weekend – it was a delight to be with you all once again. Despite the travel issues, we all thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Many thanks.

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

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason

 
 
 
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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

Yesterday, Thursday 28th October, marked a significant step forward in the fight against Covid with the first Grand Lodge Communication since February 2020. Around 250 Brethren were in attendance and how good it was to be back in Grand Hall.

As you can imagine, we had a lengthy agenda to cope with and all those in attendance had received substantial amounts of paperwork to work their way through but thanks to the organisation of Grand Secretary and his staff, all went according to plan.

The Grand Lodge Installation will take place on Thursday 25th November but there will be no Festival of St Andrew. Numbers will be restricted but it is another step in the right direction.

This weekend I will be heading a Deputation north to Shetland where we will be installing Brother Alan Balfour as the PGM of Orkney and Zetland. Hopefully the weather will improve compared to what it was in Edinburgh yesterday!

SCFS

 
  • The Group saw its membership rise to 5821 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 962, submitted by 317 of its members.
  • These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 338 Lodges, from within 55 of its Provincial Grand Lodges, District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges abroad under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge.
  • This week posts were submitted by group members representing the Provinces of East Lothian & Fife & Kinross.
  • The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £1,620,306.
 

SCFS Overseas Report  

Several outstanding posts were published this week … 

  • Brother George Rogers, Immediate Past District Grand Master of Western Australia, shared news of a wonderful donation of over £8100 to the Returned Services League of Western Australia by the brethren in that district. 
  • Brother Bobby Law, Past District Grand Master, highlighted the wonderful support of Epworth Children’s Home in Germiston, South Africa, by brethren in the district of Central South Africa. 
  • A post from Brother Scott Bartlett, Immediate Past District Grand Master of Newfoundland and Labrador, showing support by Lodge Northcliffe, No. 1086, for the Ronald McDonald House for Sick Kids and their Families, was also published. 
  • Overseas Membership has now reached a total of 1630 brethren due to new members joining from Lodges in the Districts of the Bahamas and Newfoundland and Labrador. 
  • Our membership of brethren who belong to Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with the GLoS continues to increase and now stands at 959. These members play an important role in spreading news throughout their respective constitutions of the excellent support which brethren of the Scottish constitution are providing to so many. 
  • During this week, new members joined from 11 different Masonic constitutions, including: GL of California, GL of Tennessee, GL of South Carolina, GL of Nigeria, GL of Texas, UGLE, GL of South Africa, GL of Japan, United GL of Queensland, GL of Peru. 
  • In addition to the above, a special welcome was extended to Brother Stephen Michalak, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of South Australia and Northern Territory. 
  • It is encouraging that more Lodges in our Districts, under Grand Superintendents and under the supervision of Grand Lodge, have shared with us the examples of the excellent support with which they have been involved and we look forward to sharing future news with all our brethren.

My sincere thanks and that of my Deputation to the Master and Brethren of Lodge St Peters Operative for the very warm welcome we received last Friday night – the 200th anniversary celebrations were a joy to be part of.

Likewise, our sincere thanks to the Master and Brethren of Lodge St Martin in Ullapool where we enjoyed their Centenary celebrations last Saturday. A very productive and enjoyable weekend.

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

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason

 
 
 
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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

While in Grand Lodge yesterday, I had a final planning meeting for our first Grand Lodge Communication since February 2020. It will be a bit different, but we are meeting again, which is good news. Grand Secretary will be issuing the paperwork this week and I can confirm that there will be a fair amount of bedtime reading! 

I am being informed of more and more Lodge meetings taking place which is also good news and, from what I have seen, the Government guidelines are being adhered to which is so important. We must be continually aware that the virus is still very much in our midst but by getting the vaccines and adhering to the rules and regulations, we will remain as safe as we can be while moving back to some form of normality. I can tell you that in Scotland at the moment, we have 460 applicants awaiting either enquiry committee or their EA Degree. Grand Secretary is currently conducting a survey amongst our Lodges abroad to get a true world-wide figure. 

SCFS

 
  • The Group saw its membership rise to 5801 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 955, submitted by 317 of its members.
  • These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 338 Lodges, from within 55 of its Provincial Grand Lodges, District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges abroad under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge. 
  • This week posts were submitted by group members representing the Provinces of Aberdeenshire East, Edinburgh and Stirlingshire.
  • The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £1,606,694.
 

SCFS Overseas Report  

  • An outstanding post from Brother Bobby Law, Past District Grand Master, and Brother Andy Kiloh, was published highlighting the wonderful support, to the value of over £52,000, which has been provided for the needy in the District of Central South Africa. 
  • Our Overseas Membership has now risen to 1628Brethren as a result of new members joining from Lodges in the Districts of the Bahamas, Jamaica, Sierra Leone and The Gambia, Western Australia, and from our Lodge in Peru, Lodge Peace and Concord, No. 445. 
  • The largest increase in membership was from the District of Sierra Leone and The Gambia.
  • Our membership of Brethren who belong to Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with GLoShas now increased to 943. These members play an important role in spreading news throughout their respective constitutionsof the excellent support which Brethren of the Scottish constitution are providing to so many. 
  • During this week, new members joined from 7different Masonic constitutions, including: United Grand Lodges of Germany, GL of Japan, United Grand Lodge of Victoria, GL of Peru, UGLEand the GL of 
  • In addition to the above, a special welcome was extended to Brother Godfrey Place, Provincial Grand Master of the Northern Division of the Grand Lodge of South Africa. 
  • We would encourage more Lodges in our Districts, under Grand Superintendents and under the supervision of Grand Lodge, to share with us the examples of the excellent support which they are undoubtedly involved in, and we look forward, in turn, to sharing it with all our Brethren.

My sincere thanks and that of my Deputation to the PGM and brethren of the Province of Kincardineshire for the welcome we received in Stonehaven last Saturday. It was a grand day, well organised, culminating with a very welcome High Tea in the Station Hotel. 

This weekend takes on a different style – no Installations this weekend but two celebrations – first a bi-centenary in Lodge St John Operative No 286 in Thurso on Friday night then a cross country journey to Ullapool on Saturday for the Centenary celebrations in Lodge St Martin No 1217.

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

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason

 
 
 
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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

Welcome to the 90th edition of the Weekly Update. Little did I think when I penned the first one in March 2020, that I would still be doing it 19 months later.

However we had very heartening news this week at the Heads of Orders meeting. In terms of Grand Lodge, we can report that some 70% of Lodges in Scotland are back operating to some level – whether that be for Committee and/or Business Meetings or full-blown Regular Meetings with Degrees being worked.

We are also hearing of plans to have Installation Meetings this year in a significant number of Lodges at home and abroad. In Scotland, we are aware that there are well over 400 candidates awaiting Initiation. Grand Secretary is writing to the District Grand Lodges to get an overall number.

That said, globally, we are aware that during the past 19 months over 1000 brethren have passed to the Grand Lodge above. As I have mentioned before, it is the intention of Grand Lodge to hold a Memorial Service, hopefully in February 2022 at which each of those Brethren will be remembered.

Further details of the service will be made available soon and all being well it will be broadcast live so that our brethren, wherever in the world they may be, will be able to join those who are attending the service by a video link.

SCFS

  
  • The Group saw its membership rise to 5766 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 950, submitted by 316 of its members.
  • These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 338 Lodges, from within 55 of its Provincial Grand Lodges, District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges abroad under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge.
  • In addition to the posts submitted by group members representing the Provinces of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Lanarkshire Middle Ward, Lanarkshire Upper Ward and the Scottish Borders, several posts were added by the Widows Sons Scotland East and West Chapters who have been regular contributors to the group.
  • The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £1,553,538.
 

SCFS Overseas Report  

  • Our Overseas Membership has now risen to 1622 This is thanks to new members joining us from our Lodges in the Districts of the Bahamas, Central South Africa (RSA), Far East (Philippines), Trinidad & Tobago and Grenada, Sierra Leone and The Gambia. 
  • The largest increase in membership was from the District of the Bahamas. 
  • We now have 935 Brethren (ICMs -International Constitution Members), who belong to Lodges whose Grand Lodges are in amity with GLoS, spreading news of the wonderful support featured in the posts on the main SCFS page and on the increasingly popular SCFS-Showcase, throughout their constitutions worldwide.
  • During this week, the expanding reach of SCFS was seen by the fact that Brethren joined from 7different Masonic Constitutions, including: GL ofCalifornia, GL of New Brunswick, United GL of Victoria, GL of Georgia, Grand East of the Netherlands, UGLE, and the GL of Ireland.
  • An interesting post was received from Brother Ivor Lopez, District Grand Secretary, sharing the support of Great Ormond Street Hospital by Lodge Al Moghreb Al Aska, No. 670, in the District of Gibraltar. 
  • This was published on SCFS-Showcase in addition to a detailed post highlighting the support of Lodge Ailsa, No. 1172, Singapore, in the District of the Middle East, for the Children’s Wishing Well Foundation.
  • Lodges in our Districts, under Grand Superintendents and under the supervision of Grand Lodge, are all encouraged to continue sharing the examples of the excellent support in which they are involved and we look forward, in turn, to sharing it with all our Brethren. 

My sincere thanks for the welcome the Grand Lodge Deputation received in the Province of Forfarshire last Saturday. It was a joyful occasion with great optimism being displayed for the way ahead. This weekend, I am looking forward to being in Stonehaven for the Installation of Brother Graham MacKay as Provincial Grand Master of Kincardineshire.

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

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason

 
 
 
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