freemasonry today - spring 2013 - issue 21

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e Official Journal of the United Grand Lodge of England Number 21 ~ Spring 2013 3.50

Number 21 ~ Spring 2013

HEALTH OF A NATIONSupporting cutting-edge research at the Royal College of Surgeons p42

UNITED GRAND LODGE

of ENGLAND

Take an exclusive tour, p32 Funding worthy causes, p56 A place for older masons, p39

REMEMBER THE SENIOR FRATERNITY

A LIFELINE FOR LOCALCHARITIES

EXPLORINGLONDONS HIDDEN GEMS

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Ihave long been fascinated by the study of the source and development of words, and with this comes a realisation that a word can be interpreted in several different ways. I mention this in relation to the challenge of explaining Freemasonry. is is something that remains at the forefront of my mind with all our communications not least the recent successful media tour.

Due to the fact that we are not prescriptive, it is hard to explain Freemasonry while avoiding jargon. is has led us to explain our principles as kindness, honesty, fairness, tolerance and integrity. ese words clearly explain our essential nature.

As you know, we had an excellent reception from local media and I have valued the feedback and support from fellow members. It is fair to say that some members were surprised at some of the words I used in interviews and this brings me back to my earlier point on how people analyse words.

Most interviews were very short, with the interviewer having researched Freemasonry on a strange website. So I used words like fun when describing Freemasonry. I would

not change the word in the context that it was said, but what I meant was that I find Freemasonry enjoyable and rewarding.

Another example of describing Freemasonry comes from one of the pieces from our ritual that ends with being happy and communicating that. Happy is another word that can mean many things but I know as Freemasons we can embrace it.

I hope you will find something to make you feel happy among the features that make up this issue. Worcester Cathedrals first female stonemason apprentice reveals how masonic support is helping her. As the Royal Arch marks its two-hundredth anniversary in 2013, we look at how members and the chapters are helping the Royal College of Surgeons. And as smaller charities struggle in this economic climate, we shine a light on how Freemasons are helping swimming pools stay open, challenging discrimination and supporting air ambulances. ese are all stories that show Freemasonry at its best.

Nigel BrownGrand Secretary

GRAND SECRETARYS COLUMN

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THE CHALLENGE OF EXPLAINING FREEMASONRY REMAINS AT THE FOREFRONT OF MY MIND

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CONTENTS


GRAND SECRETARY 3 Nigel Brown welcomes you to the spring issue

NEWS AND VIEWS 6 e latest masonic news from around the country

LOFTY AMBITIONS 18Tabby Kinder finds out how Freemason support has helped pave the way for Worcester Cathedrals first female stonemason

SENIOR INSIGHTS 25Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes explains why Freemasonry must remember its history while embracing the future

A HELPING HAND 26Luke Turton meets Les Hutchinson to find out about his work at the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys

SUITED AND BOOTED 31A report from the 2012 Lord Mayors Parade, where Freemasons marched in full regalia

AN EXCLUSIVE TOUR 32Philip Davies investigates the hidden interiors of some of Londons most interesting buildings

REACHING OUT 39Caitlin Davies looks into how a special new lodge is keeping older Freemasons involved in the Craft

SUPPORT WHERE IT COUNTS 42Sophie Radice finds out how the Royal Arch has been supporting the Royal College of Surgeons in groundbreaking new research

ON LOCATION 48Ellie Fazan goes behind the scenes at Freemasons Hall to see how the venue balances its film career with the responsibilities of the Craft COMMUNITY CHEST 56A look at how donations from Freemasons across the UK are helping local charities continue their work

BACK WITH A BANG 62A few years ago the Allied Arts Lodge was on the verge of folding. Tim Arnold explains how his brethren survived and how theyre planning for the future

CHARITIES UPDATE 67How Freemasons are helping out around the UK

LIBRARY AND MUSEUM 73Contribute to one of the most important compilations ever published about English lodges

LETTERS 75Your opinions on the world of Freemasonry

REFLECTION 82John Hamill reflects on freedom and tolerance

The Board of Grand Lodge Publications Ray Reed, Robin Furber, Graham Rudd Publishing Director Nigel BrownEditorial Panel Karen Haigh, John Hamill, Susan Henderson, John Jackson, Siobhan McCarthyEditor Luke TurtonConsultant Editor Michael BaigentPublished by August Media Ltd for The United Grand Lodge of England, Freemasons Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZEditorial Freemasonry Today, Freemasons Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ [email protected] contact Freemasonry Today, Madison Bell Ltd, 20 Orange Street, London WC2 7EF Will Hurrell Tel: 020 7389 0848 Email: [email protected] Jerry Hall Tel: 07792 909 275 Email: [email protected] 0844 879 4961 [email protected] Masonic enquiries [email protected] www.ugle.org.uk 020 7831 9811Printed by Artisan Press Grand Lodge Publications Ltd 2013. The opinions herein are those of the authors or persons interviewed only and do not reflect the views of Grand Lodge Publications Ltd, the United Grand Lodge of England or August Media Ltd.

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This magazine is printed on paper produced from sustainable managed forests accredited by the PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes, pefc.org)

Cover image: Greg FunnellThis page: Jude Edgington, Greg Funnell, Derek Kendall, The Advertising Archive, BBC Photo Library

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honouring tradition

HONOURING TRADITION

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Emily Draper, twenty-six, is Worcester Cathedrals first female stonemason apprentice. Tabby Kinder finds out how Freemason support has helped Emily to carve out a dream career

A CAREERSET IN STONE

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IVE GOT THE CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ONLY PERSONALLY FULFILLING BUT ALSO MAKES MY FAMILY PROUD. ITS A CAREER CLOSE TO MY HEART

Perched on a dusty block of stone, Emily is fresh-faced and buoyed from the mornings assessment with her tutor from City of Bath College. Its just a few degrees above

freezing in the drafty workshop that leans against the south-east side of Worcester Cathedral, but Emily doesnt seem to mind. Clasping a chisel in her gloved hand, she absent-mindedly smudges dust on her fleece with the other. I didnt know whether to dress up or not for the photos, she says, so I just wore my normal work stuff.

Chatting to a colleague, a man about twenty years her senior, Emily is charming and sincere. Her youthful presence and the jovial atmosphere of the workshop contrast with the dignified serenity of the cathedral. Its my dream job, she enthuses later, now in the warmth of the on-site office. Her face flushes with the pride she has in her newfound career; its her passion for the trade that won her the position as Worcester Cathedrals first female stonemason apprentice.

THE RIGHT FITFunded by local Freemasons and the Grand Charity, Emily currently splits her time between the cathedral, where she is learning the intricacies of sculpting stone under the tutorage of master mason Darren Steele, and City of Bath College, where she studies the theoretical methods of stonemasonry two days a week. When asked about her decision to pursue an apprenticeship in stonemasonry, Emily says: I think it just arrived in my consciousness one day. Ive always been interested in history, and Worcester Cathedral has always been in the back of my mind because I was brought up near here.

Emilys professional journey began after she completed a degree in Fine Art from The Arts University College at Bournemouth. She enrolled in the stonemasonry diploma at City of Bath College, balancing work and college while driving the seventy-five miles between the two. It was a lot to deal with, especially when you dont know whether youll end up with a job, she says. It was a risk, but definitely a calculated risk. I hoped that if I worked really hard it would make me employable.

The risk paid off when, in August last year, Emily beat forty-five other applicants to win the apprenticeship at Worcester Cathedral. The head of my course recommended I went for it, but I didnt think Id hear back. It was nerve-wracking. When I found out I had been shortlisted, I was over the moon.

For Darren, Emily stood out as a strong candidate: We had a tremendous amount of interest in the apprenticeship, but Emily came out on top as she showed the passion and enthusiasm in stonemasonry as a career that I was looking for.

PRESERVING HISTORYAlthough Emilys grandfather died when she was just twelve, she credits him as the main influence in her career path. He was a mechanical engineer and an illustrator, so his trade was very hands-on and creative but also industrious. Its clear I get a lot of my passion for stonemasonry from him, she says. Coincidentally, Emilys grandfather was also a Freemason at a chapter in Devon.

For Emily, the fact that Freemasons are providing the funding for her apprenticeship proves she is on the right track: Ive got the chance to do something that is not only personally fulfilling but also makes my family proud. I only have memories of my granddad from when I was a child, but my work brings me very close to him as I feel like its something that he would have liked me to do. Its a career thats very close to my heart.

Restoring a cathedral as grand in size and splendour as Worcester is an endless task. By the time youve gone half way round, the bit behind you has started falling apart again, says Darren. The work being carried out is particularly impressive because the conservation team at Worcester Cathedral does not use power tools at any stage of the restoration process. Even for the stonemason industry, Emily says, this is rare: Its sometimes frustrating, but very fulfilling creating something that matters using your hands.

Over the past twenty-three years, the entire exterior of Worcester Cathedral, including the chapter house and cloisters, has been systematically restored. e huge project, which began in 1988, first focused on strengthening the tower, then the cathedrals Works Department moved in a clockwise direction around the rest of the building. e last major restoration project finished in 1874, so the task

had to ensure the building could face the next hundred years. A special thanksgiving service was held in September 2011 to commemorate the completion of the work, which cost 10m in total. More than 7m was raised by public appeal and around 3m was received in grants from English Heritage, the Wolfson Foundation, the Provincial Grand Lodge of Worcester and other grant-making bodies.

SECURING THE FUTURE OF THE CATHEDRAL

HONOURING TRADITION


Emily with the cathedrals master mason, Darren Steele, under whose tutorage she is learning the craft of stonemasonry

Using traditional techniques means that achieving something as straightforward as a flat surface becomes an art form in itself for Emily and her team. In order to actually work something by hand and make something that is technically perfect, you have to have respect for the building, she says. Theres an argument that you can get the same job done twice as fast by using power tools, but I think its important to keep traditional hand skills alive. In a building like this you benefit from having a hands-on approach as you respect the stone more. You want to make it perfect.

LOFTY AMBITIONSIn 2010, Darren and his counterparts founded the Cathedral Workshop Fellowship, a partnership of eight Anglican cathedrals Worcester, Gloucester, Lincoln, Canterbury, York Minster, Winchester, Salisbury and Durham created to develop the professional training of new and experienced stonemasons. This unique community, of which Prince Charles is patron, has developed a qualification championing traditional hand crafts, as well as an exchange programme to allow apprentices to move between the countrys cathedrals to try working on different types of stone. Darren has arranged for Emily to spend a fortnight at Salisbury Cathedral in the spring to hone her carving, a skill in which she has shown promise.

For the past twenty years, the Provincial Grand Lodge of Worcestershire has aimed to ensure that Worcester Cathedral always has an apprentice stonemason in training. Its a worthy ambition but also costly 25,000 over five years.

Provincial Grand Master of Worcestershire Richard Goddard says: I think its very important that we support our heritage and also our roots. We have had a close relationship with the cathedral for more than one hundred and fifty years and its something we should continue to support.

Emilys first major contribution to the restoration of the cathedral is a large restorative phase on the library parapet wall. She took a sixteenth-century weather-worn coping stone and reworked and replaced it. Emilys still coming to terms with the sheer scale of work her job entails, but the rewards of contributing to a piece of history make it more than worthwhile. I thrive on the pressure of working with the knowledge that whatever I add could be there for another thousand years.

MASONIC LEGACYFreemasonry in Worcestershire has a long connection with the cathedral, and the masons contributed greatly to the restoration in Victorian times. e west end of the north aisle of the cathedral is the home of a floor slab monument commemorating Bishop Ernest Harold Pearce, a Freemason and the founding Master of St Werstan Lodge, No. 4004, in 1919. He was appointed Grand Chaplain to the United Grand Lodge of England in 1914.

e last window in the north wall before the north transept, dating back to 1862, shows three stained-glass figures. e figures represent Fides, Spes and Caritas, which translate as faith, hope and charity the three principles that are supported by Freemasonry. e lower panels of the window also contain masonic symbols.

Emily in the cathedral with Richard Goddard, Provincial Grand Master of Worcestershire (left), and her mentor Darren Steele

HONOURING TRADITION

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YOU BENEFIT FROM HAVING A HANDS-ON APPROACH AS YOU RESPECT THE STONE MORE. YOU WANT TO MAKE IT PERFECT

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SENIOR INSIGHTS


Having finished the two yearly regional conferences with Provincial Grand Masters, I can report that one consistent theme was a determination to see our numbers on the increase by 2017. Indeed, in one or two cases this has already started, which means that perhaps we are getting some things right.

I have frequently said that we must not be looking for new candidates simply for the sake of increasing numbers, but if we can start this increase with the right candidates there should be a knock-on effect.

Enthusing new members is of paramount importance and we heard in the last issue from Edward Lord and Julian Soper about the work of the Universities Scheme. I have asked the Universities Scheme Committee to think about how we can best implement some of the principles that were mentioned across the whole Craft.

Recruiting and retaining young candidates is our most important task and I am confident that those who have made the Universities Scheme successful can help us with this important challenge. However, this is not just down to them and we must all pull our weight in this respect.

ALTRUISTIC SOCIETYAt the end of last year, I visited my great grandfathers mother lodge in Hertfordshire and a splendid occasion it was, with a nearly faultless

Reflecting on the need to recruit new members, Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes explains why Freemasonry should remember its history while

keeping an eye firmly on the future

STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

Second Degree ceremony being performed. I can almost hear you all thinking that they would have spent hours rehearsing. Not so, as they didnt know that I was coming.

e reason for mentioning this is that in the reply for the visitors, the brother speaking referred to the Craft as an altruistic society. Altruism is one of those words that I have often heard used and possibly even used myself without having been completely sure of its meaning. e dictionary definition is regard for others as a principle of actionandits rather a good description for a lot of what Freemasonry is about.

If we can instil this ethos into our candidates, we wont go far wrong. Of course, it is not all that we are about, but it is not a bad starting point as it should naturally lead to a practice of brotherly love, relief and truth, which in itself leads on to our charitable giving.

During the past year, the Festivals for our charities in our Provinces have raised a total of nearly 10m, of which Leicestershire and Rutland raised 1.7m for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution; Warwickshire raised 3.16m for the Masonic Samaritan Fund; Cambridgeshire raised 1.285m for the Grand Charity; and Devonshire raised 3.836m for the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys.

I hope that our membership, as a whole, is far more familiar with the activities of our charities than might have been the case twenty or so years ago. e charities promotion of their activities is excellent and the Freemasonry Cares campaign has enlightened many people at home and abroad about what support is available.

While three of our charities are masonic in their giving, the Grand Charity has a wide brief for giving to non-masonic bodies, provided that they are also charities. Not everyone appreciates this aspect, or how much money is involved, and we should be quick to point it out.

We should be proud of our history, but it is of paramount importance that we look forward and ensure that we go from strength to strength in the future, in both numbers and our usefulness to the society in which we live.

FIRST PERSON

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FIRST PERSON

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HOW DID YOU FIRST HEAR ABOUT THE RMTGB?In the 1980s the face of masonic charitable support for children underwent a major change. Previously there had been two childrens charities a girls charity and a boys charity and they had come together to form the trust as we now know it. Having identified a need for additional skills within the new organisation, a letter was sent to every masonic Province asking: Do any of your members have a son or daughter who is educated to A-level standard, capable of completing a degree and interested in a career in accountancy or management? My father was an active Freemason in Cheshire and North Wales and heard about the vacancies. I applied and joined the trust as a management trainee in January 1988.

WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS?Until five years ago, the trust was based in offices opposite Freemasons Hall. When I first walked into the building, with its polished walnut panelling and open fireplaces, I felt like I had travelled back in time. It all seemed so old-fashioned, but the constant rattle of typewriters and adding machines suggested that the trust was a very active and focused organisation.

HOW DID YOU PROGRESS FROM TRAINEE?I spent my first few years learning the ropes within the finance, petitions and fundraising departments. At the end of my training I was drawn to petitions, as I enjoyed being at the heart of the charity, seeing first-hand the difference that our grants could make. A few years later I became a team leader, then worked my way through the ranks, taking on more responsibility as my career developed. All four masonic charities do a fantastic job, but my heart is with the trust. I was delighted to be appointed Chief Executive in 2008.

WHAT MAJOR CHALLENGES DOES THE RMTGB CURRENTLY FACE?Whether they have experienced the death or disability of a parent, or encountered a family break-up, all the children we help have experienced a significant event that has led to financial distress. It concerns me when I meet Freemasons or their families who hold deep-rooted misconceptions about our work. Often these views prevent them from coming forward in their hour of need or make them less likely to support our work. One of our biggest challenges is to ensure that people understand what we actually do.

A LIFE IN TRUST

As the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys celebrates its two hundred and twenty-

fifth year, Chief Executive Les Hutchinson explains how the charity has evolved

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WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES?In addition to the day-to-day management of the charity and reviewing applications for support, an important part of my role involves visiting lodges and provincial meetings. Festival appeals are a major source of income and under the current system, each Province usually supports each of the four charities once every forty years. I must ensure that we use this period of fundraising to maximum effect. Wherever I go I am always astonished and very grateful for the warmth and generosity shown towards the trust.

HAS THE TYPE OF SUPPORT YOU GIVE CHANGED?During my twenty-five years with the trust, the focus of our work has evolved to meet the changing needs of our masonic family, but there are those who think we exist simply to provide a posh education for posh kids. is is one misconception that we have to overcome. More than ninety per cent of the children we support go to a state school and live at home. We have also worked hard to identify how we can more effectively help children of distressed Freemasons succeed in life and today many of our grants target specific items like computers and school trips. In some circumstances, we also support the grandchildren of Freemasons, something that is not widely known within the Craft.

HOW ARE FAMILIES ASSESSED?All our support is subject to a financial test. A family has to have a very low income less than 5,000 a year to receive our maximum support and nothing that we give replaces what the state should provide. Our welfare specialists help families look at what state benefits they can claim, and we review the circumstances of every family that we support each year. First and foremost we are a poverty charity.

IS THE RMTGB UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE?We are currently helping around two thousand children and young people and last year we received the highest number of new applications since 1986. Applications arising from redundancy, bankruptcy and unemployment are all increasing, as they did during previous recessions. Families often turn to us only when they reach breaking point; we would always prefer them to contact us as soon as possible. It is tragic when we are alerted to children whose well-being has suffered because the family assumed we could not help or they were too proud to contact us.

HOW DO THE FOUR MASONIC CHARITIES WORK TOGETHER?In my view, the cooperation and understanding between the charities is closer now than it ever has been. We are all fundraising within the same group and supporting the same beneficiaries albeit at different points in their lives. Sometimes there could be two or three masonic charities supporting the same family, so it made sense for us to move closer together. Our relocation into offices in Freemasons Hall helped with this process, as has the use of a single application form. We are also far more proactive and consistent in our support for almoners and charity stewards.

WHATS NEXT FOR THE RMTGB?Two hundred and twenty-five years have passed since the establishment of the first charity for supporting children of Freemasons. When you look back at what we have achieved, the hundreds of thousands of young people we have helped, you realise how important the trusts work is. e needs of our masonic family will continue to change and, working ever closer with the other masonic charities, we must prepare ourselves for the challenges of the years ahead.

WE ARE CURRENTLY HELPING AROUND TWO THOUSAND CHILDREN. LAST YEAR WE RECEIVED THE HIGHEST

NUMBER OF NEW APPLICATIONS SINCE THE TRUST WAS FORMED

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TRUE TO ITS AIMSThe mission of the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys (RMTGB) is: To relieve poverty and advance the education of children of a masonic family and, when funds permit, support other children in need.

This year, the charity celebrates its two hundred and twenty-fifth birthday and can reflect on a shifting social landscape that has nevertheless seen the RMTGB stay true to its aims.

In 1788, Chevalier Bartholomew Ruspini and the Duchess of Cumberland set up a school for the daughters of distressed masons. A similar provision for boys was established in 1798. As these charities grew, financial assistance was also provided to support children living at home. Eventually these grants constituted the main work of the charities and a decision was made to move away from running schools altogether. A combined grant-making charity, now known as the RMTGB, became active in 1986.

Today the RMTGB provides help to children and young people by awarding financial grants to relieve poverty and help remove barriers to education. In recent years, schemes such as TalentAid and Choral Bursaries have been established to support exceptionally gifted young people. Initiatives such as Stepping Stones and the ongoing support for Lifelites (Registered Charity No. 1115655) demonstrate the RMTGBs commitment to thousands of other disadvantaged children without a masonic connection.

To find out more about the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys, visit www.rmtgb.org

Chevalier Bartholomew Ruspini leads a procession of orphaned girls into Grand Lodge

Les Hutchinson would like families to ask for

help before they reach breaking point

LORD MAYORS SHOW

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The inauguration of the Lord Mayor of the City of London and the associated public parade, known as the Lord Mayors Show, is a keenly anticipated annual event. In 2012, the six hundred and eighty-fifth Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Roger Gifford, took office on 9 November in the Silent Ceremony, before leaving the City of London the following morning to travel to the Royal Courts of Justice to swear loyalty to the Crown.

Its a procession that dates back to 1215 when King John made the Mayor of London one of Englands first elected offices. Every year the newly elected mayor would have to present himself at court and swear loyalty, travelling up-river to the small town of Westminster to give his oath. e Lord Mayor has made that journey almost every year since, despite plague, fire and wars, in order to pledge loyalty to thirty-four kings and queens of England.

Freemasons have been part of the procession in the Lord Mayors Show for a number of years, but last year, for the first time since 1937, the brethren marched in full regalia with their own banners as well as a group banner. Each sponsoring lodge had its name and number on its banner together with an area of need supported by masonic charities in London. With a positive reception from the crowd and reasonablygood weather for November, this was a day to remember for those marching and viewing.

At almost eight-hundred years old, the Lord Mayors Show is a part of Londons history. In 2012, Freemasons joined the parade in full regalia

MASONS ON PARADE

freemasonrytoday.com

Freemasons in full regalia receive a warm reception

London Hidden Interiors author Philip Davies gives an exclusive tour around some of the capitals best conserved and

least known interiors including Freemasons Hall

ALDWYCH UNDERGROUND STATIONSTRAND, WC2R 1EP LISTED: GRADE II

Aldwych Underground Station opened as Strand on 30 November 1907, rechristened Aldwych in 1915. An oddity from its inception, the Aldwych branch operated a shuttle service between Holborn and Strand; various extensions were envisaged, so the station was built, but they never came to fruition, leaving Aldwych as a dead end.

Built on the site of the old Royal Strand Theatre, the station was designed by Leslie Green using the familiar ox-blood terracotta blocks. Three lift shafts were completed in the expectation of expansion, but only one was fitted out with lifts, which still survive. As early as 1917, the eastern tunnel and platform were closed, and used as secure wartime storage for pictures from The National Gallery. After the First World War, passenger demand remained low, and closure was mooted as early as 1933.

From 1940 to 1946 the station was used as an air-raid shelter, and the tunnels for storing the Elgin Marbles and other valuables from the British Museum. The station finally closed on 3 October 1994. Today it is used for training and as a film location, with old tube stock permanently stationed at the branch. It is reputedly haunted by an actress from the theatre that once occupied the site.

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HERITAGE

LONDON BENEATH THE COVERS

FROM 1940 TO 1946 THE TUNNELS WERE USED TO STORE VALUABLES FROM THE BRITISH MUSEUM

Aldwych Station, designed by Leslie Green, was originally called Strand (top); the eerie, abandoned tunnels (bottom)

HERITAGE


FREEMASONS HALL 60 GREAT QUEEN STREET, WC2B 5AZLISTED: GRADE II*

Known as the Masonic Peace Memorial, Freemasons Hall was built as a tribute to its 3,000 members killed in the First World War. Its design is the result of an international architectural competition launched in 1925, won by Henry Victor Ashley and Francis Winton Newman, who had extensive experience designing banks, factories, housing and hospital extensions.

The Grand Lodge of England had been based in Great Queen Street since 1774, where Thomas Sandby designed the first purpose-built Masonic Hall in the country in the form of a Roman Doric temple embellished with masonic symbols.

Originally Ashley and Newman intended to retain Sandbys hall, but it was demolished in March 1932 after serious defects were found. The gigantic new complex was faced in Portland stone and designed on an heroic scale. No expense was spared on the sumptuous interior, which is finished in neo-Grecian style in marble, bronze, mosaic and stained glass imbued with masonic symbolism.

Set on a diagonal axis, the ground floor comprises the grand entrance hall and museum, and a marble staircase lit by full-height stained-glass windows leads to a huge marble-lined vestibule. Facing west is the war memorial window and Roll of Honour, which is housed in a bronze casket by Walter Gilbert, who designed most of the metalwork in the building.

The awe-inspiring Grand Temple entered through bronze doors each weighing 1.25 tons is crowned by a celestial canopy surrounded by a mosaic cornice, which depicts allegorical figures with different orders of classical architecture. Elsewhere, the Boardroom is panelled in hardwood and lit with stained glass, while Lodge Room No. 10 has huge arched bays carrying a domed roof.

NO EXPENSE WAS SPARED ON THE SUMPTUOUS INTERIOR, WITH BRONZE, MOSAIC AND STAINED GLASS IMBUED WITH MASONIC SYMBOLISM

The sumptuous interiors of Freemasons Hall, which is faced in Portland stone (top and middle); the Grand Temple (bottom)

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HERITAGE


VICTORIA HOUSESOUTHAMPTON ROW, WC1B 4DA LISTED: GRADE II

Some of the worst poverty in London was previously to be found yards from the site of Freemasons Hall. The shocking mortality rates of Victorian Britain prompted the less fortunate to form burial clubs, so they could afford a decent funeral for their loved ones as an alternative to the paupers grave.

The early societies were unregulated. Many collapsed from mismanagement or fraud, but a number of reputable societies emerged, one of which was the Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society. Formed as a burial society in 1843, its business was based on penny policies collected door-to-door. Like several other societies, Liverpool Victoria grew into a huge financial institution, the sheer opulence of its building rivalling those of the great banks.

Victoria House, the headquarters of Liverpool Victoria, involved the clearance of an entire street block of Georgian houses on the east side of Bloomsbury Square, making way for the huge Grecian-style, Beaux Arts palace. Designed by Charles W Long and erected over thirteen years between 1921 and 1934, it exuded the twin values of dignity and security, as expected of the headquarters of the great financial institutions.

Beneath the heroic marble entrance hall is a large basement ballroom, fitted out in Art Deco style with chrome, silver leaf and mauve-coloured lighting a sharp contrast to the chaste Greek classicism of the upper floors. A suite of mahogany-panelled Grecian-style boardrooms are found on the third floor, some of which have eighteenth-century marble chimney pieces salvaged from the houses that once stood on the site.

Shortlisted in 1998 as a potential new City Hall for the Mayor of London, it was refurbished by Will Alsop, retaining the historic interiors.

IT EXUDED THE TWIN VALUES OF DIGNITY AND SECURITY, AS EXPECTED OF THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE GREAT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

The Grecian-style exterior and marble entrance hall of Victoria House (top and middle); the Art Deco-style ballroom (bottom)

HERITAGE

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SUTCLIFFES LEGACY IS A COLLECTION OF MORE THAN EIGHTEEN THOUSAND ITEMS A FASCINATING JUXTAPOSITION OF OLD AND NEW OBJECTS

THE BRITISH OPTICAL ASSOCIATION MUSEUM 41-42 CRAVEN STREET, WC2N 5NG LISTED: GRADE II

Founded in 1901 by the optician J H Sutcliffe, the British Optical Association Museum is now hosted by the College of Optometrists, after a peripatetic existence over the past one hundred years. It was first opened to the public in 1914 at Cliffords Inn Hall, prompted by Sutcliffes desire to establish An Optical House Beautiful in line with the fashionable concepts of the Aesthetic Movement. Later it moved to Brook Street and then to Earls Court before arriving at its current location in 1997, a fine early-Georgian house built c1730, with a replica extension erected in 1988.

Sutcliffes legacy is a quirky collection of more than eighteen thousand items relating to ophthalmic optics, the human eye and visual aids, as well as archival material, paintings and prints. The museum display is a fascinating juxtaposition of old and new objects, including the spectacles of famous personalities from Dr Johnson to Ronnie Corbett, and the sides of Dr Crippens glasses, the lenses missing after he tried to use them to cut his own throat in prison in a failed suicide attempt.

The cabinets house an extensive collection of porcelain eyebaths, binoculars, spyglasses and jealousy glasses with sideways mirrors to allow the owner to discreetly eye up potential suitors. Look for the dark adaptation goggles with red lenses used by Second World War pilots to adjust their night vision prior to take off, and the early revolving self-service cabinet of spectacles made by the Automatic Sight Testing and Optical Supply Co Ltd in 1889.

The museum is full of ophthalmic curios, from celebrities spectacles to early night-vision goggles (top); the Georgian facade (bottom)

HERITAGE


JAMES SMITH & SONS53 NEW OXFORD STREET, WC1A 1BL LISTED: GRADE II

In 1830, James Smith established this famous firm of umbrella makers in Fouberts Place, off Regent Street. In 1857, his son opened a shop at 53 New Oxford Street, followed rapidly by six other businesses elsewhere in London, including a hatter and barbershop. From their branch in the tiny passageway at Savile Row they sold umbrellas to many of the leading figures of their day, including Lord Curzon and Bonar Law.

The company was one of the first to use the famous Fox steel frames, named after Samuel Fox, who created the first steel umbrella frame in 1848. In addition to umbrellas, Smiths has specialised in making canes and military swagger sticks, as well as bespoke items such as ceremonial maces for tribal chiefs in South Africa, Nigeria and elsewhere.

The superb shopfront and interior is a beautifully preserved example of a high-class Victorian West End shop, with cast-iron cresting to the faceted gilt and glass fascias, inscribed brass sills, elaborate black and gilt lettering to the upper panels of the windows and a splendid traditional box sign. Inside, the original mahogany counters and display cases are stocked with an array of canes, sticks and umbrellas, most of which are still manufactured in the basement. James Smith & Sons is the largest and oldest umbrella shop in Europe, and its shopfront and interior one of the landmarks of central London.

London Hidden Interiors by Philip Davies is an English Heritage book published by Atlantic Publishing, 40, available from booksellers everywhere. All pictures courtesy of English Heritage. www.londonhiddeninteriors.co.uk

THE SUPERB SHOPFRONT AND INTERIOR IS A BEAUTIFULLY PRESERVED EXAMPLE OF A HIGH-CLASS VICTORIAN WEST END SHOP

The shop is stocked with an array of canes, sticks and umbrellas (top); the beautifully preserved Victorian exterior (bottom)

LODGE PROFILE


As the Universities Scheme recruits younger members, Caitlin Davies reports on how older Freemasons are staying involved in the Craft

Three years ago, Steward Philip Hadlow heard some interesting news. Plans were afoot for a new lodge in Bedfordshire, one that would be geared towards keeping

elderly Freemasons involved in the Craft.The Provincial Grand Master, Michael Sawyer,

and the provincial team realised we were not doing enough for our more elderly brethren, he explains. Many have mobility problems, which means its difficult getting to meetings. We were looking after them when they were ill, supporting their family, but there was a need for something more proactive.

In recent years Freemasonry has been keen to recruit younger members, but that doesnt mean elders should be forgotten. And so Bedfordshires youngest lodge, the Michael Sawyer Lodge of Reunion, No. 9848, was born. Philip became involved because he thought it a fantastic idea.

The lodge began in 2009 and meets twice a year on a Saturday lunchtime, as some people are not keen to eat late or to go out at night at all. Philip doesnt know of any similar scheme, and theres been interest in the project from other Provinces.

While some members were already being picked up and taken to meetings by younger members, the lodge wanted to do more. So people were identified, sent invitations and offered travel arrangements in some cases for a fifty-mile round trip.

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The lodge doesnt do masonic work meetings open with a welcome, then a lecture and the Festive Board. One of the annual meetings is held in Luton, the other in another Bedfordshire centre.

John Cathrine, Provincial Information Officer, is a founder member of the Michael Sawyer Lodge and last years Worshipful Master. Its such a great idea. Its something that was missing from our Province. People get to the stage where they cant drive to meetings and they drift away from masonry.

NOT FORGOTTEN, NEVER SIDELINEDJohn cites a past Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Vic Lawrence, who lives at Prince Michael of Kent Court, a Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution care home. He came to the previous meeting and he wanted to make a speech at the Festive Board. He said it was really great to be invited and see old friends, all of whom he said looked older than him!

Freemasonry in Bedfordshire traces its history back to at least 1841, when the Bedfordshire Lodge of St John the Baptist was consecrated in Luton. By the time the Province celebrated its centenary, there were forty-five lodges; there are now fifty-five.

At the last meeting of the Lodge of Reunion there were sixty people, including twenty honoured guests. It takes time to get something like this off the ground, says Philip, who was Chief Steward for two years, but its getting bigger every meeting.

Lodge members pay annual dues to cover being a member and having two guests. Its funded until the honoured guests outnumber us two to one. It means we can treat them well. You see them sitting there opposite their friends, and theyre having a whale of a time. When they come out with a smile on their face and say, Thank you so much, Ive had a wonderful time, thats what its all about.

John is delighted by the letters of thanks that the lodge receives. One brother is ninety-five and not able to get out much. Well invite him to the next meeting for a nice day out. The letters we get say the principles and ethos of the lodge are exactly in line with what we should be doing taking care of those who could be sidelined and forgotten.

WHEN THEY COME OUT WITH A SMILE ON THEIR FACE AND SAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH, IVE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME, THATS WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT Philip Hadlow

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As the Royal Arch marks its two-hundredth anniversary in 2013, Sophie Radice looksat how members and the chapters have been supporting the Royal College of Surgeonsin groundbreaking medical research

A MATTER OF PATIENTS

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SCHEMES SUCH AS THE SURGICAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP ARE INVALUABLE FOR SURGEONS William Dawes

William Dawes is working on vital medical research at the Blizard Institute in London, thanks to funding from the Royal Arch Masons

and bleed. The younger and smaller the baby, the higher the risk. Our research will look at ways of making the cells that survive the bleed perform better so that the damage will be minimised.

PROVIDING CRUCIAL SUPPORTDawes trained in Leeds and then Liverpool before moving to London, and is now at the Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine doing a PhD. I knew very little about Freemasons until I discovered how much money they give to surgical research. I have since given presentations to chapters and have found the Freemasons Ive met to be so supportive. It has been a real pleasure to speak to them about what we are trying to do we are extremely grateful for their generosity, he says.

The Royal College of Surgeons launched the surgical research fellowships scheme to enable the brightest and best surgeons of each generation to explore treatments for conditions and injuries that affect millions of people worldwide. The scheme relies completely on voluntary donations from individuals, trusts and legacies, and needs more funding to continue the number of worthy research projects supported.

George Francis, Second Grand Principal of the Royal Arch Masons and Chairman of the appeal, explains: In 1966, the Eleventh Earl of Scarbrough, as Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, launched an appeal to mark the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Grand Lodge in 1717. The income from the appeal was given to the Royal College of Surgeons. We are so proud of our contribution to surgical research that it seemed natural that our 2013 Bicentenary Appeal should go into funding more research. We hope to raise well over 1,000,000.

Professor Derek Alderson, Chairman of the Academic and Research Board at the Royal College of Surgeons, adds: We feel it important that donors should understand exactly what is being done with their money, so in the past twelve months research fellows, supported by officers of the College, have made more than forty presentations to a variety of masonic bodies. We never have any problems finding young surgeons to talk about their research, but I suspect that this says more about masonic hospitality than anything else.

At the Blizard Institute of Cell and Molecular Science in London, William Dawes is trying to find out how to lessen the damage done to premature

newborn babies who have suffered a stroke. Part of the surgical research fellowships scheme run by the Royal College of Surgeons, Dawes is just one of the medical pioneers in the UK whose work has been funded by Freemasons.

From investigating how to prevent acute kidney injury during major heart surgery through to exploring how to decrease mortality rates following traumatic brain injury, the fellowships scheme will be benefitting from financial support given by the Royal Arch Masons 2013 Bicentenary Appeal. The fundraising exercise aims to provide a permanent reminder of the Supreme Grand Chapters full emergence two hundred years ago by its future relationship with the Royal College of Surgeons.

Schemes such as the surgical research fellowship are invaluable for surgeons, says Dawes, who is also being supported by Sparks, the childrens medical charity. The research we have been funded for will look at ways of lessening the damage done to the brains of premature newborns who have bleeding into the ventricles of the brain. Our focus is a collection of tiny, fragile blood vessels in the germinal matrix, which is the area of brain adjacent to the wall of the ventricles. These blood vessels are vulnerable to fluctuations in blood flow, which can cause them to rupture

Angelos Kolias, pictured above, is looking into whether the blockage of large veins inside the head contributes to brain swelling after head injuries

ROYAL ARCH SUPPORT

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Like William Dawes, Nishith Patel and Angelos Kolias have made presentations to chapters throughout the UK to discuss their vital research work

NISHITH PATEL RESEARCH TITLE: ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY FOLLOWING HEART SURGERYLOCATION: BRISTOL HEART INSTITUTE, BRISTOL ROYAL INFIRMARY

I first heard about the fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons and I jumped at the chance to apply. It is very competitive, with a four-part application process, because so many surgeons want the chance to kick-start vital research in their surgical area.

We are looking at the way two different methods can prevent acute kidney injury during major heart surgery. The first method is a drug trial and the second is to put the blood through an automated washer during surgery to prevent organ injury. We looked at the blood used in blood transfusions and found that some of it had gone off because it had been stored too long. Putting blood through an automated washer to remove toxins could be very useful for all those who need blood transfusions and so that has become part of our research too.

I was surprised that the Freemasons funded these fellowships because I knew very little about them. I have since given presentations to small groups of Freemasons and found that they not only asked very detailed and intelligent questions but that they also seem to really appreciate and understand our work when we explain it to them. I have found the Freemasons to be very decent and down-to-earth people who are open to hearing complex medical explanations, which is very refreshing. I so appreciate the opportunity they have given me.

ANGELOS KOLIAS RESEARCH TITLE: TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY: THE ROLE OF VEINS LOCATION: ADDENBROOKES HOSPITAL AND UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

I heard about the fellowship from my supervisor, Peter Hutchinson, who was himself supported by a Freemasons fellowship during his PhD. Peter is now a reader and honorary consultant in neurosurgery at the University of Cambridge and Addenbrookes Hospital.

Head injuries still claim the highest toll in terms of lost lives and disability for those under the age of forty. The aim of my research project is to examine whether blockage of the large veins inside the head is contributing to the brain swelling after head injuries. Research in patients suffering from another condition that leads to high pressure inside the head has shown that quite a few of these patients have blockage of the veins. A novel way of dealing with this problem is the insertion of a stent, which is an artificial tube, inside the blocked vein. As a result of this, the pressure inside the head is reduced and the patient gets better. This treatment was developed in Cambridge about ten years ago.

Essentially, my research project aims to find out whether a similar mechanism applies to patients with severe head injuries. So far we have some promising results showing that about one-third of those who have a severe head injury and skull fracture develop blockage of the veins. Without the help of the Freemasons, we would not have been able to undertake this kind of research we are very grateful for all their help and support.

WITHOUT THE HELP OF THE FREEMASONS, WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO UNDERTAKE THIS KIND OF RESEARCH Angelos Kolias

BODIES OF WORK

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FILMING AT FREEMASONS HALL

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HALLOFFAMEFrom e Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy to Spooks, the stunning corridors, Grand Temple and distinctive exteriors of Freemasons Hall have played a crucial supporting role on screen. Ellie Fazan goes behind the scenes



ITS UNIQUE AND LAVISH INTERIOR AND CENTRAL LONDON LOCATION HAVE MADE FREEMASONS HALL A FIRM FAVOURITE Jenny Cooper

In 2009 a member of the public, concerned by the presence of American soldiers loitering on the steps of Freemasons Hall, phoned the police in panic. Had the relationship between the UK and US broken down? Were the soldiers about to declare the Hall a forward operations base?

We were filming with Matt Damon for Green Zone, remembers Karen Haigh, Head of Events, who has overseen the film career of Freemasons Hall thus far. While things can get surreal, her first priority is to ensure filming does not obstruct the Halls primary function. So while Matt Damon was saving the world downstairs, meetings were going on upstairs as usual.

Karen has been working with Jenny Cooper from Film London to promote Freemasons Hall as a location. Funded by the Mayor of London and e National Lottery through the British Film Institute, and supported by the Arts Council England and Creative Skillset, Film London operates as the citys film agency. It works to promote London as a major international production centre, attracting investment from Hollywood and beyond.

e agency looks after the capitals most iconic backdrops, including e Savoy hotel and Kings Cross St Pancras station, but the Hall has also become a star, playing MI5s base, gentlemens clubs and even Buckingham Palace. Its versatile nature and flexible, friendly management, as well as the unique and lavish interior and central London location, have made it a firm favourite over the past ten years, says Cooper.

In 2012 Film London launched a tiered membership scheme, of which Freemasons Hall is a Gold Member, but the relationship goes back much further. Cooper explains: Around seven years ago we got organisations, including the United Grand Lodge of England, to agree to work with Film London in promoting the city as a film-friendly destination.

e response has been tremendous with a notable rise in filming in London, where seventy-five per cent of the UK industry is now based, making it the third busiest production city behind New York and LA. So expect sightings of US soldiers and alien landings to become more common on Great Queen Street.

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TAKE FIVEese days youre almost as likely to see Robert Downey Jr in Freemasons Hall as another Freemason. Karen Haigh picks her top five films and TV shows at the Hall over the past ten years

1. GREEN ZONE (2010) The high-octane war thriller starring Matt Damon used the Hall as a bombed-out palace in Baghdad. For this role the building had a bit of a make-under, with debris everywhere and blown-out wires hanging from walls. It was a great example of how even when a huge Hollywood production is here, our first priority is that the Hall can function for its members, says Karen. So while Matt Damon was running around saving the world downstairs, there was a big provincial meeting going on upstairs.

Matt Damon in the dilapidated Hall

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JOHNNY ENGLISH WAS SUCH A FUN FILM. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I THOUGHT, THIS COULD

REALLY WORK Karen Haigh

2. SPOOKS (2002-2011) Freemasons Hall played MI5 headquarters Thames House in this clever and compelling spy drama, focusing on the undercover work of a team of super spies. It was amazing to have a starring role in such a groundbreaking TV show. It showcased the Hall in such a fabulous way, recalls Karen. The only downside of being so involved in the production of the show, she says, was that the traditional end-of-series cliffhanger never had quite the same impact for her.

4. SHERLOCK HOLMES (2009) Some of the exhilarating scenes of the first Sherlock Holmes movie, directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Robert Downey Jr, were filmed in the Hall. Guy Ritchie had been to the Grand Lodge before and really wanted to use it as a location, Karen reminisces. You could see during filming that it was going to be really good. Karen and her team built such a strong relationship with the film-makers during shooting that the star-studded press conference was held at the Hall on the day of the premiere.

3. JOHNNY ENGLISH (2003) Peter Howitts action comedy parodies the James Bond franchise, with Rowan Atkinson playing an inept spy. The opening credits take a veritable tour of the building. It was such a fun film and there was a lovely atmosphere. Rowan Atkinson is a British institution, and for many of our members he is the most exciting actor that we have had here, says Karen. I think it was the first time I thought, this could really work. Film London gave us lots of support, because they knew we had potential as a film location.

Matthew Macfadyen, Miranda Raison and Peter Firth on Great Queen Street

Robert Downey Jr on set as Holmes

Rowan Atkinson as Johnny English

5. THE HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (2005) Douglas Adams comedy tells the story of hapless Arthur Dent after aliens destroy Earth. The Grand Temple took on its first starring role, as the Nose, the base for John Malkovichs character. I carefully pick the films that shoot here, says Karen. This film is very tongue-in-cheek and seemed a wonderful way of saying that we can laugh at what people say about us. We built a great relationship with Disney, so they held the premiere party here.

John Malkovich inside the Grand Temple

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LODGE SUPPORT

In 2012, donations to charity in the UK fell by twenty per cent, with 1.7bn less being given by British people between 2011 and 2012. A report by the Charities Aid Foundation and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations suggests that small and medium sized charities are suffering most as voluntary donations rather than National Lottery or state fundingtend to make up a larger proportion of their total income. e report, which surveyed 3,000 people, says that charities in Britain now face a deeply worrying financial situation.

e Freemasons recognise the importance of supporting smaller charities. ese charities may be small, but their projects and services can provide lifelines for people meeting very specific needs that fulfil priorities often overlooked by the public sector and larger charities.

Since 1981 e Freemasons Grand Charity has donated more than 50 million to national charities, with grants going towards funding medical research, helping vulnerable people and supporting youth opportunities. It now sets aside 100,000 every year for small donations of between 500 and 5,000 to under-funded causes around the country, which often prove vital to their continued operation.

e charitys allocation for providing minor grants to small charities doubled from 50,000 to 100,000 in 2010 following a marked increase in the number of applications the charity was receiving from smaller organisations. It was clear that the increase in applications was a result of the economic climate,

with smaller charities finding themselves worse off, says Laura Chapman, Chief Executive of the Grand Charity, pleased by the decision to increase the grant budget. It meant we could reach out to more smaller charities, making a bigger impact during what has clearly been a difficult year.

Helping small and community-focused causes is not just the domain of the Grand Charity. Local Provinces and lodges donated a huge amount to charity in 2012, around 5 million of which was reported by local newspapers. Freemasons are community-minded and this is demonstrated by the local lodges that frequently donate to smaller charities, says Laura.

Neil Potter, Provincial Information Officer at the Provincial Grand Lodge of Nottinghamshire, believes that contributing to small causes is not only hugely beneficial to the community, but is also a way for Freemasons to show what they stand for.

Charitable giving is a great opportunity to break down the barriers that seem to have been put up over the years regarding the public and masonic relationship, and to let everyone know exactly what we do, says Neil. Our main concern is helping people who are less fortunate than us and it all comes from the members pockets. We make voluntary contributions, hold fundraising events and enjoy doing it.

Freemasonry Today spoke to four charities that have received invaluable financial support from Freemasons in 2012.

As smaller charities struggle in the current economic climate, Tabby Kinder finds out

how Freemasons on a local and national level are keeping community projects in business

CHARITY FOR ALL

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THE GRANT WE RECEIVED FROM THE FREEMASONS IS BEING USED IN THE REHABILITATION THROUGH SPORTS TRAINING PROGRAMMES Edwin Thomas

THE BRITISH EX-SERVICES WHEELCHAIR SPORTS ASSOCIATION FUNDED BY THE GRAND CHARITY

e British Ex-Services Wheelchair Sports Association (BEWSA) enables injured ex-service personnel to take part in sports, building friendship and camaraderie. BEWSA describes itself as not an organisation for the disabled, but of the disabled.

e Grand Charity has long supported charities that provide help and assistance to ex-members of the Armed Services, says the Grand Charitys Laura Chapman. It is a popular cause within Freemasonry. rough our minor grant funding we aim to support small charities that fulfil needs not easily accessible elsewhere, just like BEWSA.

In May last year, the Grand Charity donated 1,500 to the charity, enabling nationwide support to continue for active disabled veterans. e grant we received from the Freemasons is being used in the rehabilitation through sports training programmes, says Edwin omas, BEWSA chairman.

One weekend a month, the charity books the sport facilities at the Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering RAF centre in Cosford, West Midlands, and ex-service wheelchair users are invited to join in wheelchair sporting events. If they are comfortable in their chosen sport and wish to take training to the next level, then BEWSA is there to provide the encouragement, the training and the sports equipment required to participate, says omas.

JUSTDIFFERENTFUNDED BY THE GRAND CHARITY

JustDifferent is a perfect example of a small organisation carrying out big work, says Laura. Toby Hewson, who has cerebral palsy, founded the charity to change social attitudes towards disability. It runs workshops in schools that are delivered by disabled young adults employed by the charity.

Todays young people are tomorrows employers, policymakers and educators. JustDifferent believes that changing attitudes in the young is the best way to achieve long-term social change, says Laura.

Harassment, bullying and discrimination are all sadly part of our society, says Karen McLachlan, fundraiser at JustDifferent. e workshops give young people the capacity to challenge discrimination. Our work encourages and educates young people to be understanding and tolerant.

JustDifferent has received acclaim for its techniques and schoolchildren engage with the workshop presenters with open-minded enthusiasm. Katie, a Year Six pupil, told the workshop presenter: At first I felt sorry for you, but by the end of the workshop I felt more confident to talk to people like you. It changed my attitude towards disabled people.

A grant of 5,000 made to the charity in May has helped the workshop reach 1,388 children. To teach young people that disabled people can achieve, participate and lead is the ultimate goal of JustDifferent and this is something the Grand Charity is very happy to support, says Laura.

LODGE SUPPORT

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WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAVING RESTRAINTS ON THEIR BUDGETS, OUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY IS MORE IMPORTANT Neil Potter

GREAT NORTH AIR AMBULANCE SERVICEFUNDED BY THE PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DURHAM

Durham Freemasons have provided regular funding for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) over the years. While GNAAS has become a leading healthcare charity, its funding relies entirely on voluntary donations. We receive no lottery or government funding, but were proud to say that when we receive donations, one hundred per cent goes towards providing the life-saving service, says Mandy Drake, deputy director of public liaison at the charity.

Michael Graham, Provincial Information Officer at Durham, believes support for the charity comes from a personal feeling within the Province: With many lodges in rural areas, a lot of our members have first-hand experience of, or have witnessed, the amazing job that air ambulances do, he says. Our members are always very keen to support GNAAS.

Michael estimates that the Durham Province has donated more than 25,000 to GNAAS. We purchased two rapid response vehicles at around 12,000 each, and the Mark Degree bought another, so there are three units that are totally funded by the Freemasons, he says proudly.

Funding air ambulance charities is a very popular cause with Freemasons, demonstrated by the Grand Charitys air ambulance grant programme, which is strongly supported throughout the Provinces.

THE LENTON CENTREFUNDED BY THE PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

Around twenty per cent of the charities supported by the Nottinghamshire Province in 2012 had lost council funding. is was true of e Lenton Centre, a swimming pool and community leisure facility that Nottingham City Council decided to close down due to budget cuts, despite strong local opposition.

Following a campaign, e Lenton Community Association took over the centre, with funding from private donors and charitable organisations. e centre is run as a social enterprise and last year received 20,000 from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Nottinghamshire to fund a multi-use childrens area.

Its a charity that we consider is doing a lot to help local people, says Neil Potter, Provincial Information Officer in the Province. With local authorities having such restraints on their budgets, they find it increasingly difficult to support local charities, so our involvement in the community is becoming more important each month.

Nicci Robinson, project manager of the children and young peoples team based at the centre, says the donation will help create a games area that can be used for sports such as football and cricket. Its a substantial chunk of what we need. e money has helped get a long-held dream off the ground. It has kept us going through a very difficult time, while also aiding development and keeping our other activities for young people going.

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RECRUITMENT

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OURLODGENEEDS

After some lean years, the Allied Arts Lodge is now regrouping with a diverse membership. Tim Arnold explains how his lodge has survived by embracing the fundamental tenets of Freemasonry

Started just after the Second World War by theatre technicians, the Allied Arts Lodge, No. 6269, is the lodge that refused to die. A decade ago, the group was at risk of

folding. Like many London lodges, its membership had been declining for a variety of reasons deaths and resignations, for example and the regular Lodge of Instruction had fallen into disuse, not least because of the logistical difficulties in getting members from all over London and the Home Counties to attend every week.

Many people would have bowed to the apparent reality of the situation, but a hard core of members, including Treasurer Chris Fogarty and his life-long friend Secretary Paul Ostwind, refused to give up. They believed that attracting more guests was part of the answer.

Most of the ceremonies were arranged on a scratch basis, so were not as polished as they might have liked. The committee therefore invited some hard-core ritualists from other lodges to become honorary members. One of them was John Stonely, who in turn offered to take younger members under his wing at the Lodge of Instruction he organised for the Logic Ritual Association. Festive Boards were held at Trattoria Verdi, a walk away from Great Queen Street, where Dining Secretary Richard Limebear managed to negotiate a bulk-buy deal of 30 per head a considerable discount.

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RECRUITMENT

The lodges Festive Boards held anonymous charity collections, rather than a public raffle, so visitors would not feel pressured into spending more than they could afford in the evening. An Allied Arts Charities Association was also set up to encourage members to make regular donations, boosted through Gift Aid to ensure the lodge continued to look after deserving causes.

Through masonic networking, the lodge gradually started to grow. It was explained to joining members that London masonry could be an enjoyable adjunct to provincial work, in a similar way to chapter being an extension of Craft a way to increase ones horizons, experiences and social network.

I was invited to become Senior Warden and I gave a talk, shamelessly stolen from Clifford Drake, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Buckinghamshire, about how to use recruitment to turn around failing lodges. Space does not allow me to go into all the points, but the key message is: draw up a list of decent people who are in your circle of friends, family and workmates, and talk to them about the benefits that you get from the Craft. If they are not interested, then you have at least explained to them Freemasonrys core values of friendship, decency and charity. If they are interested, then perhaps a couple of years on you will have a waiting list of new members.

Currently, Allied Arts Lodge is doing double ceremonies and emergency meetings, not least thanks to a particularly enthusiastic initiate, Paul Hogan, who has willingly recruited his friends and family to join. We are also starting to attract members from the City of London, reflecting the regions different communities. Allied Arts now boasts Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, Jews, blacks and whites, and our youngest member is in his early twenties.

Its not been easy. But in a few years time, we will have a strong group of initiates, ready to progress through the Masters chair. We are organising Lodges of Instruction closer to where people live, meeting on Sunday mornings when the M25 traffic is more manageable and it is possible to get space in otherwise busy masonic centres. In the meantime, we could still do with a handful of members in our middle-batting order. So, if you want to sample London masonry, get in touch at [email protected].

Peter Sellers was a member of Chelsea, one of the lodges in which Allied Arts history is grounded

ITS NOT BEEN EASY. BUT IN A FEW YEARS TIME, WE WILL HAVE A STRONG GROUP OF INITIATES READY TO PROGRESS

Allied Arts Lodge was consecrated on 22 July 1946. It was started by members of one of Londons thespian lodges, Vaudeville, ostensibly to celebrate the work of theatre technicians whose work was allied to the entertainment world. The lodge has a long-standing relationship with the Vaudeville Chapter.

Allied Arts profited from a significant growth in Freemasonry after the Second World War, possibly because men wanted to keep up the camaraderie they had enjoyed while serving in the armed forces. It was common for a daughter lodge to be set up in order to accommodate a large backlog of new members, who might otherwise have had to wait for a decade or more to advance to the chair.

Vaudeville Lodge, No. 5592, is in turn descended from the world-famous Chelsea Lodge, No. 3098, through Proscenium Lodge, No. 3435. Chelsea is known as the entertainers lodge, with members including actors Peter Sellers and Bernard Bresslaw, the broadcaster and author Keith Skues, and the magician Eugene Matthias.

Chelseas mother lodge, Drury Lane, No. 2127, also has strong theatrical connections. The latters founders included the actor Charles Warner and Londons Gaiety Theatre manager, Charles Harris. Drury Lanes membership also attracted establishment figures, including Field Marshal Earl Kitchener, perhaps best known today as the face of Great War recruitment posters, featuring the legend: Your country needs you!

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freemasonrytoday.com

e Freemasons Grand Charity

67

CHARITIES UPDATE

60 Great Queen StreetLondon WC2B 5AZTel: 020 7395 9261Fax: 020 7395 [email protected]

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The Jubilee Sailing Trust received 25,000 to fund a bursary scheme to enable severely disabled people to participate in voyages aboard their two tall ships

Through supporting Dogs for the Disabled, the Grand Charity is helping people like Josh Walker, pictured here with Miri

With the help of Freemasons around the country, the Grand Charity provides an invaluable service to those in need.

For many people 2012 will be a year to remember, from visions of bunting and the Queens Jubilee to the sporting excellence of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Yet many people struggled due to financial problems, illness or other difficult circumstances. The Grand Charity exists to help these people in need Freemasons, their families or the wider community and 2012 was no exception.

Masonic reliefThe Freemasons Grand Charity received over two thousand applications for financial assistance and approved support of more than 5million. The charity noted a continued increase in applications from younger members facing redundancy and business difficulties due to the economic crisis.

Support for the wider communityThe charity provided 2.5 million in funding for non-masonic charitable causes. This included continued support for research into age-related deafness; support for ex-Armed Service personnel with grants for Help for Heroes and Combat Stress; and support for projects that tackle youth unemployment, which grew to 20.5 per cent in 2012.

Air Ambulances2012 saw the Grand Charity celebrate more than 1million in grants to the Air Ambulances and equivalent services since 2007. These grants provide funding for what is considered to be the countrys busiest voluntary emergency service. In 2012, each Provincial and Metropolitan Grand Lodge presented a share of 192,000 to its local service.

Hospice servicesIn 2012, 600,000 was distributed amongst two hundred and thirty-nine hospice services, bringing the total given since 1984 to 9.9million.

We hope it is clear how valuable the work of The Freemasons Grand Charity is. The impact achieved through its funding might be difficult to measure, but it is immense. It is only thanks to the support of the Freemasons and their families that the charity is able to make such a contribution to peoples lives.

The grants listed right are only a small selection of charitable causes that have been assisted by Freemasons through the Grand Charity in 2012; a full list is available to view at www.grandcharity.org. Enclosed within this issue of Freemasonry Today you will find the Grand Charitys Annual Review 2012 we hope you enjoy reading it.

A YEAR TO REMEMBER

68

CHARITIES UPDATE

Masonic Samaritan Fund


With depression affecting one in five older people, the Masonic Samaritan Fund has launched a new service: the MSF Counselling Careline a free, confidential helpline operated by trained counsellors who will listen and offer professional guidance.

Most of us manage our physical health far better than our emotional well-being, leaving unresolved issues that may cause real harm. Concerns can start as a simple worry but can grow into a panic where life events feel like a never-ending staircase of new challenges. It often helps to talk to loved ones, but there may be times when your family and friends dont have the expertise to help.

HELPING PEOPLE IN DISTRESSIt can be difficult to see a friend or relative suffering, but it is also a chance to express your love and support as you help them take their first steps towards addressing their feelings. Often symptoms are an intense form

of a natural emotion, so they may feel you are being overly dramatic by suggesting a support service. Try to encourage them to call the free MSF Counselling Careline; its counsellors are skilled at helping someone see the benefit of support. Reassure them that counselling starts with an informal discussion and there is no obligation to undergo further treatment. When they are ready, give them the privacy to speak confidentially with a professional.

Feelings of depression, anxiety and stress are very common and can affect anybody for all kinds of reasons, such as bereavement, redundancy, family breakdown or illness. The cause could be a mixture of events or there could be no obvious reason at all; you may just be feeling a little low right now.

The good news is that help is available. The first step is to talk to someone, and a single phone call to the MSF is all that is required to access the MSF Counselling Careline. More than two hundred and eighty thousand people in the UK use services similar to the Careline each year.

Freemasons, their wives, widows, partners and dependent children can call the MSF Counselling Careline. It is free, confidential and operated by trained counsellors waiting to help.

Call the Fund on 020 7404 1550 to access the service

MSF COUNSELLING CARELINE

Men are less likely to seek support for mental health problems than women


CHARITIES UPDATE

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution


Prince George Duke of Kent Court care home has benefitted from improvements

WEDDING JOY FOR RMBI RESIDENTLast October, eighty-six-year-old George Hoggett, a resident of Ecclesholme, RMBIs care home in Manchester, proudly walked his daughter Sandra down the aisle and gave her away at her wedding to local Freemason John Hesketh.

Ecclesholme care support team kitted George out in a top hat and tails and helped ensure he was looking his best for the big day. He was picked up by the wedding car and taken to St Michaels Church in Aughton, near Ormskirk, Lancashire, for the service.

Wedding guests were asked to give donations to Ecclesholme in place of wedding presents, and cheques were received to the value of 500. The money will be used to purchase two glass-fronted refrigerators for the homes communal dining areas.

George was living in sheltered accommodation prior to a fall and subsequent hospital stay. Fortunately, Ecclesholme had a room available for George to move in. Sandra says, Dad settled in straight away thanks to the wonderful staff and lovely environment. We particularly appreciate the way the staff show respect to dad. Their training is first rate.

A new addition to the nursing facility was officially opened at RMBIs care home in Chislehurst, Prince George Duke of Kent Court, by Metropolitan Grand Master Russell Race.

e Hinton Lounge and new dining room followed a generous 70,000 donation to the Home from St Pauls Column Lodge, No. 7197, which meets in London. e donation had been left in legacy by Brenda Hinton, the widow of local Freemason Roy Hinton.

Roy was initiated into St Pauls Column Lodge in March 1977, becoming the Assistant Secretary in April 1979. As well as being a passionate Freemason, Roy worked for more than thirty years at e Times and was greatly respected by both colleagues and brethren. Sadly, Roy died in October 1981, aged just fifty-four.

Brenda kept in close contact with the lodge and on her own death in 2010, left a substantial gift to be used as deemed appropriate by the Master, Wardens and brethren. On further discussion between the lodge and the Grand Charity Steward, it was agreed that some of the donation should be used to support improvements at Prince George Duke of Kent Court. e new lounge and dining

room were named in lasting memory of the Hinton family.

e opening ceremony was attended by representatives of the Metropolitan Grand Lodge, St Pauls Column Lodge, the Province of West Kent, the RMBI and the local Association of Friends. Following a welcome by RMBI President Willie Shackell, a formal presentation of the 70,000 cheque was made by Warren omas, Master of St Pauls Column Lodge, and the brethren were appropriately thanked. Russell Race then unveiled the plaque for the Hinton Lounge and cut the ribbon.

Prince George Duke of Kent Court was purpose built in 1968 and is situated in a popular part of Kent. e home can accommodate seventy-four residents for both residential and nursing care and, like all RMBI homes, can cater for people with dementia. e home benefits from individual rooms and attractive communal areas, as well as wheelchair-accessible gardens, a fully stocked library and a hairdressing and pamper salon. eres also a full programme of entertainment, social events, outings, gentle exercise classes and creative, cultural and intellectual activities.

LEGACY BOOSTS KENT CARE HOMEA legacy donation to an RMBI care home has expanded facilities for residents, with the opening of a new lounge and dining room.

George Hoggett proudly takes his daughters arm

CHARITIES UPDATE

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Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys

60 Great Queen Street,London WC2B 5AZTel: 020 7405 2644Fax: 020 7831 [email protected]

All of the young people supported by the RMTGB have experienced tragedy and hardship. Rosanna is just one of them and tells her story here.

ROSANNAS THANKS TO FREEMASONS

A NEW RECORD IN RELIEVING POVERTY

In 2012, the RMTGB accepted the highest number of new applications for support in its long history, with grants being approved for four hundred and sixteen additional children and young people. These latest grants push the total number of masonic children and grandchildren to have benefitted from support during the last year to almost two thousand.

The grants are designed to help relieve the effects of poverty following a distress that has led to financial hardship. Last years record increase is primarily a consequence of the difficult economic conditions, which continue to have an impact on families throughout the country. In addition, the number of children supported as a result of the death, disability or desertion of a parent has also increased.

Currently, eighty-five per cent of the children and young people being supported attend their local state school, college or university and most receive help in the form of regular maintenance grants or scholarships to meet some of their basic costs.

Please visit www.rmtgb.org to find out more

The RMTGB enabled Rosanna to realise her dream of studying at university

Ellie and Louis young lives supported by the RMTGB

History is my true love. It completely captivates me and it would be hard to imagine not being an historian. My dream of studying history at university was threatened, however, when my father a Freemason in the Province of Essex had a brain haemorrhage and became unable to work. Immediately my life changed. Would I be able to afford to go to university? Or live away from home? Who would support my mother and brother while I was away?

As it turned out, I would have the most amazing support from a silent yet ever-present source. is support has encouraged me to be the best I can be. It has proved to me that no challenge is impossible and no dream is unachievable. What is this brilliant support? And where can it be found? Well, its you, dear reader.

My family were lucky enough to be visited by Guy Charrison, a wonderful Case Almoner for the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys. He proved to be an invaluable lifeline for me, arranging support and financial help when I needed it most. e grant I received meant that I could go to university and pay for the essentials that I needed, such as books and other materials.

At the time of my graduation one of my proudest achievements I still felt academically unfinished and I wanted

another challenge. My tutor suggested I apply for a Masters degree. I thought about the competitive job market and knew that this would make my applications stand out, but could I justify another year of study and the cost? Again, the RMTGB stepped in and I was delighted that they were able to support my tuition and, having moved back home

to be with my family, the additional cost of my travel to and from university. is year I achieved my final mark: a distinction.

I recently met up with Guy and it was lovely to catch-up and for him to see how I had grown since our last meeting. I would like to thank everyone who made all this possible. I have achieved goals beyond my wildest dreams that would not have been realised without the support from Guy, the RMTGB and the generosity of Freemasonry.

Rosanna is now training to be a history teacher at the Institute of Education and is on a path to a happy and fulfilled future. Sadly, her father died on 7 October 2012, aged fifty-seven

SUPPORT FROM THE RMTGB HAS PROVED TO ME THAT NO CHALLENGE IS IMPOSSIBLE AND NO DREAM IS UNACHIEVABLE

LIBRARY AND MUSEUM


JUST FOR THE RECORD

Library and Museum of Freemasonry Freemasons Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ. Tel: 020 7395 9257Email: libmus@freemasonry.london.museumwww.freemasonry.london.museumShop: www.letchworthshop.co.uk

In 1886, the historian John Lane published his Masonic Records a listing of the dates, numbers and locations of all lodges established by the English Grand Lodges, from the foundation of the very first in 1717. Lane drew his information not only from the Grand Lodges own records but from all quarters of the world. The book was later revised to include information up to 1894.

Working with the Humanities Research Institute at the University of Sheffield, Lanes original printed book was transferred into an electronic format and the Library and Museum has been adding information about lodges formed after 1894.

The entry for each lodge formed since then, including lodges subsequently erased, features the warrant date, number and meeting places. Soon, the Library and Museum will start to update the entries for lodges formed before 1894.

Now is your chance to help with this project as the Director of the Library and Museum, Diane Clements, explains: We have used all the resources we can find here at Freemasons Hall in London, including the Grand Lodges own records and yearbooks. If every lodge could check its own records and let us know of any discrepancies that would be really helpful.

For lodges formed before 1894, a list (with dates) of where they have since met would help us complete this valuable research tool more quickly. You can contact us on [email protected]. The web address for Lanes Masonic Records is www.hrionline.ac.uk/lane

The Library and Museum website boasts a version of one of the most important compilations ever published about English lodges and now you can contribute to its growth

The first masonic building in Natal (South Africa) c1878

John Lane put together lodge records

Masonic Hall interior at Roodepoort (Transvaal, South Africa) in 1899

Masonic Hall exterior at Heidelberg, Transvaal c1900

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Write to: The Editor, Freemasonry Today, Freemasons Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ Email: [email protected] Letters emailed to the editor should not be sent as attachments. Please include a home address and telephone number. An S.A.E. shou

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