Freemasonry Network
England/West Norfolk RDA welcomes Freemasons to Magpie Centre after receiving generous grant
After being awarded a £10,000 grant from the Masonic Charitable Foundation, West Norfolk Riding for the Disabled Association, has welcomed a group of Norfolk Freemasons on a fact-finding visit. Stephen Allen, Head of Norfolk Freemasons, Robin Shaw, Provincial MCF representative and Michael Spalding, Norfolk Freemasons’ Provincial communications officer, visited the Magpie Centre, at Wallington Hall, South Runcton and met Mrs Bee Ford, West Norfolk RDA chairwoman and several trustees and volunteers. They also spoke to Aynsley Calvert and Michelle Alflatt, two of the Magpie Centre’s adult riders, and heard from them the difference that riding has made to… read more:
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BBC’s The Gold: Top Freemason hits back at brotherhood’s portrayal and lifts the lid on secret handshakes
One of the highest ranked Freemasons in Kent has hit out at the organisation’s portrayal in smash BBC drama The Gold. The six-part series, which concludes on Sunday, charts the tale of the Brink’s-Mat gold bullion robbery and the ensuing police investigation – much of which took place in the county. It depicts scenes which show police efforts hindered by Freemasons on the force looking to protect one of the key suspects, Kenneth Noye, who lived in West Kingsdown. Noye, portrayed by Jack Lowden, is shown as being a member of the same Freemason lodge as senior police figures and tipped off about the investigation. But Mark Estaugh, provincial grand master of the West Kent Freemasons, says it is simply perpetuating myths of the ‘brotherhood’ which is perceived as being cloaked in secrecy. Speaking to KentOnline, he explained… read more:
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Cornwall/England – Penhaligon’s Friends, Redruth gets £15k from Freemasons
A Redruth based charity offering focussed support for bereaved children has been given a grant of £15,000 by the Cornish Freemasons. Penhaligon’s Friends CEO Julie Parker, treasurer Ben Phillips, and business administrator Jo Woolard, of Penhaligon’s Friends in Redruth based in Redruth was presented with a certificate by the head of Freemasonary in Cornwall David Maskell. He was accompanied by his deputy David Leaity and one of his assistant’s Graham Bennett together with the… read more:
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Cumbria/England – Freemasons donate to Suicide Bereavement Support
Cumbria Freemasons have chosen to donate £1200 to a small, but important charity. This week, Freemasons from Cumbria made a wonderful donation to Suicide Bereavement Support Cumbria. Suicide Bereavement Support (SBS), Penrith, was established in 2019, and was built by people from all walks of life who have all been touched by suicide themselves, an experience which enables them to connect with others. Bela lodge (Milnthorpe) donated £1200 to help Suicide Bereavement Support run their volunteer-based service and achieve their aim to provide a platform for people to find support in whatever form works for them. Neil Dixon, from Cumbria Freemasons said… read more:
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Virginia/U.S. – Clifton Forge Masonic Lodge No. 166 welcomes Brother Meadows
Clifton Forge Masonic Lodge No. 166 welcomes new Master Mason to membership. Brother Benjamin Alan Meadows received the degree of Entered Apprentice, passed to the degree of Fellow craft, and Raised to Master Mason. Brother Meadows chose the path in his masonic journey to advance each degree with the memorization of the catechisms. Right Worshipful Gleen Jones was his mentor and coach. The master mason degree work and lecture were performed by RW Jones. RW Bill Parks presented a poem program on the three degrees and importance to masons, also read the charge. RW Glen Bryant presented a program on The Holy Bible as he presented to Brother Meadows and instructed him that all questions and answers to moral and spiritual living was in… read more:
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Cumbria/England – Freemasons provide £1.15 million in aid to Ukraine
This time last year the world watched on in disbelief as Russia invaded Ukraine. Women, children, and the elderly fled the country whilst men were ordered to stay and fight, however, they were not alone. Aid flooded in from all corners of the world in support of the Ukrainians defending their… read more:
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India – Lodge Cochin: ‘Secretive’ hub of Freemasons since 1921
Secretive societies have always captured the public imagination, with their presence in literature and films. Novels like Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code to films such as Prithviraj’s Lucifer have fuelled discussions and conspiracy theories on groups such as the Priory of Sion and the Illuminati, and their mysterious powers. It may come as a surprise that a ‘secretive’ – or misunderstood, rather – group known as the Freemasons has been active in Kochi for the past 100 years, with its meeting place at an old building near Nazareth beach – Lodge Cochin. According to the Freemasons, their history traces back to the Biblical figure Hiram Abiff, who was the chief architect… read more:
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Missouri/U.S. – Masonic Lodge, Grimco donate $4,500 to School Lunch Relief Fund
The Owensville Masonic Lodge and local businesses joined together on Feb. 24 to donate $4,500 to Owensville Middle School’s (OMS) Lunch Relief Program to pay off overdue lunch accounts. Family/school liaisons Sam Mangrum and Liz Bruemmer accepted the donation from Mason members Cletus Rademacher and John Behrens and Grimco employees Shaun Christopher and Daniel Kleinheider on behalf of OMS. “This is going to school lunches, to pay off overdue balances,” Mangrum said. “It is needed in the community.” Mangrum said they will probably wait until May to distribute the funds into accounts. “We monitor all of it and make sure it is a family who needs it,” Mangrum explained. “This is my favorite kind of donation and it helps a lot of families.” Many families are struggling to return to paying for… read more:
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Shropshire/England – Charity at the heart of Freemasonry
With roots going back to the medieval period and the traditions of the craftsmen who built the era’s castles, cathedrals and other centres of worship, Freemasonry stands as one of the world’s oldest social organisations. Part of a global society built around the guiding principles of integrity, friendship, respect and charity, members of Masonic lodges across the UK band together in a spirit of fellowship, self-improvement and outreach. Charitable work is a cornerstone of what it means to be a Freemason, with the organisation working proudly to support worthy causes on an international, national and local level. And in Shropshire, said… read more:
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Florida/U.S – Freemasons keep serving community in various ways
On February 25, the Brothers of Orange Lodge No. 36, Apopka’s Masonic Lodge, joined with Apopka Serves to help beautify Apopka High School. Apopka Serves does various service projects within the… read more:
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North Carolina/U.S. – First African American Masonic Lodge could receive local landmark designation
Giblem Lodge No. 2, the first African American Masonic Lodge, is set to be reviewed by the Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission on Thursday for a recommendation to give it a local landmark designation. Three stories high and located on 19 N. 8th Street, the lodge was first built in 1871. Isabelle Shepherd with the Historic Wilmington Foundation says the lodge was a symbol of Black culture before the 1898 massacre. She says after the coup, it lost members and funding, and it later was used as the city’s Black library during Jim Crow. It fell into disrepair in the mid-1900s, but efforts are ongoing to rehabilitate the building. Masons still hold meetings at the historic building. “Giblem Lodge stands today as a symbol of… read more:
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Oklahoma/U.S. – Elgin Masonic Lodge hosts annual Cowboys and Hippies charity event
The Masonic Lodge of Elgin held their 4th annual hippies and cowboy’s fundraiser in support of local charities on Saturday. This year, they started the night with $14,000 dollars and hoped to raise at least $25,000 more. Attendees were able to participate in a live auction and a hula-hoop contest. A band also played for guests to dance and be entertained while they enjoyed their choice of a chicken or… read more:
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South Australia – Mitchell Freemasons in pursuit of new members
The Mitchell Masonic Lodge is excited to host a public open night on Wednesday, April 26, hoping to inspire new memberships and involvement in freemasonry. The occasion will mark the first of its kind in nearly 17 years since the merger of Broadford Masonic Lodge 174, and Kilmore Masonic Lodge 32, which formed Mitchell Lodge 929, in 2006. The Freemasons often participate in charitable works, with their ‘three great principles’ being brotherly love, relief, and truth. The mission and vision of the foundation includes investing in programs and initiatives that are ‘expected to provide stronger and healthier communities’, and ‘supporting individuals through access to education’. Freemasons Foundation Victoria, FFV, gave $5000 in December to charity Love in Action to assist those in need in the district with food packages during the Christmas season. Members are expected to participate in a ceremony and rehearsals each month at the lodge. Though often regarded as… read more:
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Minnesota/U.S. – The history and mystery of Marshall’s Old Masonic Temple
The other day while lunching in Marshall I noticed an unusual insignia on an old building in the middle of downtown. I recognized the emblem as the square and compasses, a symbol often used by the Freemasons, surrounded by snakes and wings. With its unusual tapered windows and masterful brickwork, I surmised that the structure may have been constructed by Freemasons or used by them as a temple. I know that several of the nation’s founding fathers were Freemasons, including George Washington, Ben Franklin, and Paul Revere, but I never heard of any Freemasons in Marshall. It turns out that my hunch was correct and that Marshall has a former Masonic temple in its midst. The “Old Masonic Temple” is located at Third Street and West Main Street. It today houses HealthSource Chiropractic and the Marshall Chamber of Commerce, but in its past was the site of multiple businesses, including a barbershop, offices, and several women’s clothing stores. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is almost as old as the town itself. Masonic Delta Lodge no. 119 was… read more:
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Texas/U.S. – Laredo Masonic Lodge distributes Lamar Medals on Awards Night
Eleven high school students were recognized with Lamar Medals by the Laredo Masonic Lodge #547 during its annual Awards Night on Saturday. The Lamar Medals are given in honor of Mirabeau B. Lamar, the second elected president (1838-41) of the Republic of Texas, following Sam Houston. Lamar is considered the Father of Texas Education. During his administration, he convinced the Congress to set aside three leagues of land for each county for equipping schools. An additional 50 leagues of land were set aside for the support of two universities, Texas A&M University and the University of Texas. Although nothing was implemented during his term, these actions set the foundation for a Texas-wide public… read more:
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Virginia/U.S. – Clifton Forge Masonic Lodge #166 recognizes Past Masters
Clifton Forge Masonic Lodge #166 recognizes Past Masters with a delicious meal was severed with desserts to honor the past masters for their service to Free Masonry and man kind in particular. Past Master David Dew was the presiding master of… read more:
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London/England – Freemasons pledge £3m to London Air Ambulance appeal
The London Air Ambulance charity is making largest ever appeal, ‘Up Against Time’, to raise £15 million by autumn 2024 to replace its helicopter fleet. With its existing aircraft becoming harder to maintain, the charity needs to buy and deploy two new Airbus H-135s and the Freemasons’ pledge – the single largest donation – will cover a fifth of… read more:
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Yorkshire/England – Freemasons make donation to Next Steps Ryedale’s Men in Sheds project
A donation of £1,600 has been made to Next Steps Ryedale to help men at risk of social isolation. Helmsley Lodge made a £750 donation to Next Steps Ryedale for the charity’s Men in Sheds service, which was increased by a £500 contribution from the Freemasons Charity Yorkshire North and East Ridings CIO and a further £350 grant from the Masonic Charitable Foundation. Next Steps has been providing support for people experiencing mental health issues for over 22 years, based around a ‘Drop-In Centre’ and cafe in Norton and small satellite services in Pickering, Kirkbymoorside and read more:
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Australia – Freemasons display colourful regalia for the first time in 43 years during combined church service
A Christian congregation and the Freemasons united in Kalgoorlie-Boulder on Sunday morning, marking the first public display of Masonic regalia during a combined church service in the town for 43 years. About 30 Freemasons representing four masonic lodges attended the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Uniting Church’s service and donned their colourful regalia for the occasion. A procession was held down Egan Street from the Kalgoorlie Masonic Temple to the church led by piper Stuart Wilson. They were joined by grand master Mason Ramsay McGhee and grand secretary William Semble, who travelled to Kalgoorlie-Boulder from Scotland last week. Local district Freemasons were given approval from Mr McGhee to wear their regalia in public during the church service on Sunday. Masonic regalia had not… read more:
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Cumbria/England – Roger Mallinson MBE celebrated his 50th year with Freemasons
Last night, Thursday February 23, the Assistant Provincial Grand Master of the Cumbria Freemasons, Keith Beaumont visited Ambleside Lodge, to celebrate Roger Mallinson MBE spend his 50th year in freemasonry. Roger joined the Masonic lodge at Windermere, on February 8, 1973, at the age of 35 years old. Roger started off as an apprentice at Vickers in Barrow-in-Furness, and has been obsessed with machinery ever since. Roger has lived an amazing life, in 1973, he was working in a submarine in the sea, 150 miles off the coast of Ireland, when… read more:
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