The following interesting post from Sri Lanka was shared by Brother Nihal Fonseka.

On 12 September the Master of Lodge Bonnie Doon, No.611, Colombo, Bro Heshan Peiris, the Grand Superintendent for Sri Lanka, Bro. Dharmin Perera and Depute Grand Superintendent, Bro. Commander Russell Kerkovan, visited the Rehabilitation Centre for the Communication Impaired and donated Rs 135,000 (£300) towards the material costs of their Vocational Training Workshop. The Rehabilitation Centre for the Communication Impaired (RCCI) is a not-for-profit organisation established in 1993 to care for children and adults with special needs. The funds were raised from contributions made by the brethren of the Lodge.

The Rededication Ceremony in Lodge St Patrick No 1309 last Saturday was a very enjoyable occasion. The Master and Brethren, along with the Provincial Grand Master and his Brethren, made us most welcome. It was good to see the Lodge Room packed to capacity for the ceremony and an equally packed refectory for the excellent meal we enjoyed. Many congratulations on your Centenary.

Last Wednesday I had a very enjoyable evening in the company of the Brethren, and their wives, in the Province of Aberdeenshire East.Their warm welcome, hospitality and generosity were of the highest order. However, the drive home was not the most pleasant due to torrential rain and flooded roads. It feels as though huge volumes of water lying on the roads is, sadly,somethingwe experiencemuch more often these days.

Tomorrow, I am heading to Oban with a large Deputation to carry out the Installation of Brother John Douglas Stewart, our new Provincial Grand Master in Argyll and the Isles.

Last weekend our Jewish Brethren celebrated Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and our congratulations go to them. This weekend is Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) which is the holiest day of the Jewish year when many of our Jewish Brethren will be fasting. We wish them well.

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason

• The Group saw its membership rise to 7303 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 1810, submitted by 511 of its members.
  o These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 448 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 is extended to the following Lodges who had posts submitted on their behalf this week:
  o Buchan St. John, No. 636 (Linlithgowshire) receipt of provisions from major retailer for distribution.
  o Eastmuir, No. 1126 (Glasgow) supporting Eastmuir School.
  o Polkemmet, No. 927 (Linlithgowshire) Senior Pupil Annual Achievement Award, Whitburn Academy.
  o The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £3,795,931.

•    SCFS Overseas Report
  

A wonderful demonstration of prompt and caring support was published this week. A few months ago, a fire ravaged an informal settlement in Isipingo. Hearing the plight of the victims, Brethren from Lodge Fort Jameson, No.1467, KwaZulu Natal, were able to quickly get donations of food and clothes within hours of the incident to assist the displaced.

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Tomorrow, I am heading to Dumbarton with a large Deputation to celebrate the Centenary of Lodge St Patrick No 1309. I’m sure it will be a memorable day.

Looking forward through the remaining weeks of September, I will be in Aberdeenshire East on Tuesday the 19thfor an informal presentation on the duties of the GMM while overseas; on Saturday the 23rdI’ll be heading a Grand Lodge Deputation toOban to carry out the Provincial Grand Lodge Installation.

On 27th September, the Substitute Grand Master, Brother Alexander Moncrieff, Grand Secretary and I head to Panama to Consecrate the new Superintendency of Panama and install the new Grand Superintendent. 

I will report back on all those events in due course.

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason

• The Group saw its membership rise to 7295 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 1806, submitted by 511 of its members.

• These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 446 Lodges, from within 59 of its Provincial Grand Lodges, District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges abroad under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge. 

• Thanks are extended to the following Lodges who had posts submitted on their behalf this week:

• Eaglesham, No. 1265 (Renfrewshire East) supporting The Kilbride Hospice.

• Ben Ledi, No. 614 (Perthshire West) supporting Ripple Retreat.

• Buchan St. John, No. 636 (Linlithgowshire) supporting various Sister Provinces with provisions.

• Firth of Clyde, No. 626 (Renfrewshire West) supporting Gourock Boys Brigade.

• Widows Sons East Chapter supporting The Lily Foundation.

• The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £3,672,511.

This week, a post was published from Brother Danny Langcay with information about Brethren from Lodge Ivanhoe, No. 879, in Western Australia, who very kindly gave of their time to assist the Philippine Embassy during the passport processing in Perth, July 2023. A fine example of involvement in the community.

This week we welcomed Brethren from Lodge Sir William Wallace, No. 868 (Western Australia Goldfields District), Lodge Golden Thistle, No. 744 (Johannesburg, Central South Africa), and Lodge Pinelands Kilwinning, No. 960 (Western Province of the Cape of Good Hope).

Brethren from other Masonic constitutions (ICMs) were similarly welcomed, such as Brethren from Lodges under the GL of Ireland.

Congratulations are extended to Brother Fernando Mariano, Arcadio R. Evangelista Memorial Lodge, No. 254, under the Grand Lodge of the Philippines, who has become our 1800th ICM. These Brethren help spread news of the wonderful support featured in the posts on SCFS to a worldwide audience. 

I received information this week from our DGM in the Bahamas, Brother Tony Bostwick, along with some photographs, showing that the foundation of the new Scottish Masonic Centre in Nassau has been laid. This is good news for our Brethren in the Bahamas. The project started before Covid, but the pandemic brought it to a close. However, DGM Bostwick has re-established the venture and is spearheading a drive to raise funds and to make progress with the build. We wish them well in their endeavour.

Past Grand Master, Brother Joe Morrow, Chair of the Benevolence and Care Committee and I are both looking forward to an event on Friday 6^th October in Grand Lodge when I will officially sign the Armed Forces Covenant. Dawn Oliff is busy working on the programme for the day. I’ll give more information in due course. 

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason

• The Group saw its membership rise to 7292 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 1799, submitted by 509 of its members.

• These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 446 Lodges, from within 59 of its Provincial Grand Lodges, District Grand Lodges, Superintendencies and Lodges abroad under the direct supervision of Grand Lodge. 

• Thanks are extended to the following Lodges who had posts submitted on their behalf this week:

• Bannockburn Bruce & Thistle, No. 312 (Stirlingshire) supporting The Eilidh Brown Memorial Fund.

• Thistle, No. 127 (Ayrshire) supporting Whiteleys Retreat.

• Andrew, No. 1443 (Dumfriesshire) supporting Annan Warriors Ladies Rugby Team.

• The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £3,660,233.

This week we welcomed Brethren from Lodge St. John, No 618 (Hong Kong, Far East), Lodge Api-Api, No. 1826 (Malaysia, Middle East), Lodge Aladro, No. 1757, and Lodge Academic, No. 1150 (both Nigeria). 

This brings our total of Overseas Members to 1982.

Brethren from other Masonic constitutions (ICMs) were similarly welcomed, such as Brethren from Lodges under the GL of Ohio, GL of New York, GL of Florida, and UGLE. 

We now stand at 1799 ICMs and look forward to welcoming our 1800th this week. These Brethren help spread news of the wonderful support featured in the post on SCFS to a worldwide audience. 

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Bro Billy Grant, SPGM of Provincial Grand Lodge of Ayrshire, became aware of the Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) project in Ireland and thought something similar could be done in Ayrshire. The Grand Lodge of Ireland have had tremendous success with the project so, the Province decided to support an Ayrshire version. They donated Teddies to Crosshouse Hospital and Ayr Hospital Paediatric Emergency Departments (A&E), where nursing staff (at their discretion) can give a bear to a child who may be in excessive pain and/or traumatised while attending the Emergency Department.

It has been proven to work in other parts of the UK to help children focus on something other than their distress or discomfort and help the nurse gain their confidence. The child gets to keep the teddy bear. 

The child also can have a positive feeling of their trip to A&E. This project will be ongoing and is funded by the Freemasons in Ayrshire through PGLA.

Other Provinces may wish to pursue a similar project in their own area.

Tomorrow, I look forward to being in one of our oldest Lodges, The Lodge of Journeymen Masons No 8 to celebrate 150 years in the Blackfriars Street Temple.

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason

Two very interesting posts related to the support of Overseas Lodges were published this week. 

• Brother Sasi Dharan shared an article by Brother Abel Arumugam, DGM, Middle East, about a Charity Event organized by Lodge Lane Xang, No. 1632, Thailand, in support of the Duang Prateep Foundation. The foundation has been operating for 40 years and has made an immense impact through its invaluable efforts in aiding the impoverished communities residing in the slums of Bangkok.

• Brother George Barrie, PM, informed the group of a wonderful donation made by Lodge Pattaya West Winds, No. 1803, Thailand, to “Take Care Kids”,a marvellous scheme helping abused children up to teenage years and mothers with small children who need a safe haven from abusers. The Lodge’s donation will supply a further fresh water filtered supply system.

This week we welcomed Brethren from Lodge Darul Takzim, No. 1836 (Middle East), Lodge Remo, No. 1682 (Nigeria), and Lodge Claremont, No. 931 (Western Province of the Cape of Good Hope). Brethren from other Masonic constitutions were similarly welcomed, such as Brethren from Lodges under the GL of the Philippines, and the GL of Cuba. 

Yesterday afternoon I was delighted to welcome the DGM of East Africa (EC), Brother Dr Virendra K. Talwar into Grand Lodge. Brother Talwar has been a great friend to the Scottish District in East Africa and is a splendid example of how the two Constitutions should work together. It was a real pleasure to welcome him and his family to Edinburgh.

Tomorrow, I am looking forward to a run down to Ayrshire to witness a Fellow Craft Degree being delivered by a Degree Team formed of members of the five Ayrshire Lodges chartered in 1771.

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason

An excellent example of cross constitution support of almost £300 by the Brethren in the Philippines was posted by Brother Cameron Sloan, PM, Past Depute District Grand Master, (Far East).  Lodge Perla del Oriente, No. 1034, Manila City, Far East, donated a cheque for P10,000 (over £140) to representatives of United Service Lodge 1341 EC of Hong Kong to be added to their fund-raising efforts to assist in the costs of dialysis of a Filipino Brother of that Lodge.  The donation was matched by Widow’s Sons Scotland - Perla del Oriente Chapter

• This week we welcomed Brethren from Lodge Ratanakosin, No. 1833 (Thailand, Middle East). 
• Brethren from other Masonic constitutions were similarly welcomed, such as Brethren from Lodges under the GL of Newfoundland and Labrador, GL of the Czech Republic, GL of Nebraska, GL of Indiana, and the GL of Ireland(Middle East). 

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason

As I mentioned above, Grand Secretary and I will be leaving on the 06.00 flight on Tuesday morning to our District Grand Lodge of Sierra Leone. It has been over 30 years since a Grand Master Mason visited the District. We will only have one full day in Freetown, but it will be action packed before flying on to Lagos, Nigeria where I will be installing the new District Grand Master, Brother Professor George EdaghoghoEriyamremu,and his Commissioned Office-Bearers.

We are already a third of the way through August. Many of our Lodges at home and overseas will be preparing to get underway once again for the new Masonic Season. As we return to our Lodges, it is a good time to ensure the following: insurance policies are up to date; all Lodges are fully compliant with national and local fire regulations;we are compliant with health and safety and health and hygiene regulationsand the buildings are thoroughly cleaned before we start again. Covid is still out there, so it will do no harm to give the premises a thorough clean with hand gel etc., available for any brethren who wish to avail themselves of it.

Likewise, please ensure the external aspects of our Lodges are looking good and the environs are kept in good order. There is nothing worse than the public at large viewing an untidy and unkempt building – it gives the wrong impression.

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason

The Group saw its membership rise to 7260 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 1773, submitted by 502 of its members.

These updated contributions can now be attributed as to being made on behalf of 443 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 Aberdeen City, Banffshire, Forfarshire, Moray & Nairn, Perthshire East, Perthshire West, and The Scottish Borders.

The total identifiable monetary value of the contributions now recorded has risen to £3,631,613.

This week, an extremely interesting Overseas post was published. Bro Capt Parth Dawda, Hon. Secretary, Lodge Royal Jubilee, No. 742, Solapur, District of India, advised that Lodge Royal Jubilee, No. 742, has undertaken a charity program to support the Sanskaar Sanjeevani Foundation which is working towards supporting 27 children, aged 6 years and above. They hail from deprived tribal families where they have lost either one or both parents and are taking their formal schooling from the nearby government school. The drinking water is of very poor quality so the Lodge decided to provide a commercial water treatment plant, which can treat 50 litres of water an hour, to this institute. It is also gearing up to give them water storage tanks and plumbing towards their normal need. This is in addition to providing a residence uniform to those children and educational book/notebooks as per their requirements.

• This week we welcomed Brethren from Lodge Trinity, No. 1846(Lebanon), and Lodge Notwani, No. 1633(Botswana). Particular mention must be made to Lodge Kilwinning, No. 849 (Western Australia) from which the largest number of new members joined.

• Brethren from other Masonic constitutions were similarly welcomed, such as Brethren from Lodges under the GL of India, GL of New Yorkand UGLE. 

Last Friday night I had the pleasure of attending the Provincial Grand Lodge of Midlothian Masters’ Dinner in Loanhead. It was an excellent night with good food, good company, and outstanding hospitality. A few Districts and Provinces already have Reigning Masters’ Dinners. They are a great team-building initiative. Districts and Provinces that have never had such an event, might consider doing so. While it gives reigning Masters the opportunity to meet and socialise with each other, it also provides a great chance to organise inter-Lodge visitations and so forth – something to think about.

The following day, Saturday 29^th July, it was a real pleasure to attend the Installation meeting of Lodge St Andrew 814 in Pitlochry. What a delight it was to see an almost a full house in a Lodge that, not so long ago, was struggling to keep going. However, with a wee bit creativity, imagination and getting the sleeves rolled up, the Lodge is once again vibrant, and Brethren and visiting Brethren are enjoying being there. Let there be no doubt, it takes hard work to achieve this kind of turn around, but I have witnessed the same happening in our Scottish Lodges, literally around the world. With faith, determination, and dedication we can turn things around – never give up hope.

Tomorrow, looking forward to a trip down to Fife to celebrate 150 years of Freemasonry in Lodge St John No 540, in Crossgates. 

Our Brethren in the Bahamas are working hard to raise funds to make progress with the Scottish Masonic Complex. Last week concrete was poured and, all going well, the blocks will start to rise from the founds. This is an exciting project and we wish DGM Tony Bostwick and his team every success with fund-raising and construction. 

Ramsay McGhee

Grand Master Mason