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(by Brandon Mawson, The Whitehaven News, 1st July 2024)

 

Cumbria Freemasons have paid tribute to fell running legend Joss Naylor. Mr Naylor has been respected for decades for his dedication to fell running in Cumbria. Sadly, Joss Naylor passed away this week at the age of 88. He had been a Freemason for many years and masons across Cumbria have bid their farewells to him. In a post on social media, Cumbria Freemasons wrote: “A farmer, an amazing fell runner and a freemason. “Bro Joss Naylor MBE (king of the fells), sadly passed away at the age of 88. In… read more:

 

 

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(by editorial board, The Telegraph, 29 June 2024)

 

The Freemasons have appointed two women to head a newly launched leadership council in a move designed to counter accusations of misogyny. England’s Freemasons say the appointment is ”an unprecedented and historic move” which it is hoped will dismiss the mistaken belief that the organisation is exclusively male. It comes after Freemasons of both sexes rejected suggestions they follow the recent moves by London’s Garrick Club by forcing the men’s masonic lodges to accept women members and vice versa. The Garrick’s all-male membership recently voted to admit women for the first time in its 190-year history. England’s largest masonic lodges have made it clear that… read more:

 

 

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(by Toby Oliver, Hampshire Chronicle, 30th June 2024)

 

A Hampshire Freemason lodge has donated a defibrillator to a Romsey retirement home. The Brook House Lodge 8606, based in Botley, handed over the new equipment to Homemead House, in Middlebridge Street, Romsey. The donation was proposed by freemason Keith Morgan whose father-in-law has lived there for five years. The home has also recently come under new ownership, with a group of residents forming a company to manage it. The defibrillator cost £1,200 with £600 coming from the lodge and £600 from a personal donation from Mr Morgan and… read more:

 

 

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(by Brandon Mawson, The Whitehaven News, 28th June 2024)

 

Cumbria Freemasons have created a wildlife garden at Cleator Moor. The open garden can be accessed by the public on Saturday, June 29 between 10am and 4pm and Sunday, June 30, between 11am and 3pm. In a post on social media, Cumbria Freemasons wrote: “Why not come to visit our small wildlife garden in Parkside, near Cleator Moor? “As well as looking at the garden you can have a walk around the pond, see how a bee hive works, do the treasure hunt along the cycle track, buy some local produce, and plants, and enjoy a cup of tea and… read more:

 

 

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(by editorial board, Bloemfontein Courant, June 28, 2024)

 

The Freemasons Rising Star Lodge 1022 hosted their first meeting in Bloemfontein on 31 May 1864. This year they celebrated their 160th birthday with a meeting where they were about 37 people in attendance. According to one of the members of the lodge, this is still relevant because many members of the Bloemfontein community, such as General Dan Pienaar, Mr Ivan Haarburger, and Sir George Grey, were also part of the lodge. This is one of the oldest societies within the City of Roses. Bloemfontein Courant previously reported on the Freemasons, visit… read more:

 

 

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(by Brandon Mawson, News&Star, 27th June 2024)

 

Cumbria Freemasons recently made a donation of £1000 to North Cumbria Food Bank. The money will be used to help provide food bags for children eligible for free school meals during the summer holidays when the schools are closed, approximately 2200 bags will be distributed. The money will be used to buy food to make food bags to supply families with children during the school holidays. The presentation was at The North Lakes Foodbank Distribution Centre in Cockermouth, which supplies outlets in… read more:

 

 

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(by Andy Jones, Dorset Echo, 26th June 2024)

 

More than 500 blind and visually impaired people in Dorset will receive essential support and services thanks to a grant from Dorset Freemasons. The grant of £36,000 has been given to the Dorset Blind Association charity and will fund social and activity clubs for older blind people, who very often have difficulty maintaining an active social life. Dorset Blind Association provides over 20 social clubs and activity groups where people can… read more:

 

 

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(by editorial board, Muddy River News, June 25. 2024)

 

QUINCY — The Valley of Quincy, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in conjunction with the Grand Lodge of Illinois of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons recently awarded 41 new and renewal scholarships to local college students totaling more than $82,000. Statewide, more than 456 scholarships were awarded totaling more than $935,000. The new scholarship awardees from the Quincy area are… read more:

 

 

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(by Alex Whilding, Rhyl, Prestatyn & Abergele Journal, 24th June 2024)

 

The North Wales Freemasons have made a huge donation to a charity which helps families impacted by childhood cancers. The Freemasons recently donated £4,000 to The Joshua Tree after Rich Driffield, the CEO delivered a presentation to the members. Mr Driffield explained the work of The Joshua Tree, which involves providing support programmes aimed at improving emotional wellbeing and mental health for families affected by childhood cancer. He said: “I first met members of North Wales Freemasons in August 2022, when they visited to present a… read more:

 

 

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(by Christopher Hodapp, Freemasons for Dummies, June 23, 2024)

 

The Great Smoky Mountains Masonic Marker at Black Camp Gap in North Carolina was recently vandalized, according to an article on the WLOS-TV13 website. The Marker, located along the Blue Ridge Parkway, is a stone monument that was constructed in the 1930s by area Freemasons, and it contains stones from all 50 states, many of which are inscribed with their origins. Attendees at the annual Great Smoky Mountains York Rite Festival held in Maggie Valley each July make a pilgrimage to the Marker. It was dedicated July 11, 1938 and… read more:

 

 

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(by editorial board, Rochdale Online, 20 June 2024)

 

The ‘Eastern Area Team’ hosted an engaging open evening at the Rochdale Masonic Hall, inviting guests to delve into the world of Freemasonry. The event featured an informative presentation, a guided tour of the historic building, and a Q&A session to shed light on the traditions and activities of Freemasons. Attendees also had the opportunity to learn about the three local charities supported by the organisation – Springhill Hospice, Jolly Josh, and Rochdale Children’s Moorland Home. The event at Rochdale Masonic Hall opened with assistant provincial grand master John Curry explaining the fundamentals of Freemasonry, its rich history, organisational structure, and charitable endeavours. A segment on ladies’ Masonry followed, highlighting their similar traditions and ceremonies. Representatives from three local charities also took to the stage. Springhill Hospice described their care for patients with life-limiting illnesses. Jolly Josh detailed their nurturing environment for children and… read more:

 

 

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(by Katie Heyes, Dorset Echo, 19th June 2024)

 

An organisation which has provided funding to charities across the county has announced a new head. Stephen A. James has been installed as the provincial grand master and grand superintendent of Dorset Freemasons. An official ceremony was conducted by David Medlock and held at the Hamworthy Club in Bournemouth. A team of grand officers also attended from the United Grand Lodge of England – the governing masonic lodge for the majority of freemasons in England. Dorset Freemasons has held fundraising events to support charities across the county. This includes raising £1,372 for… read more:

 

 

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(by Katie Heyes, Kent Life, 20th June 2024)

 

Freemasonry has existed for more than 300 years, welcomes men from all weeks of life and supports many charities – yet the myths persist. Kent Life finds out why. Dogged by more conspiracy theories than possibly any other organisation and with an abiding ‘secret society’ image, the Freemasons have had enough. They’d like the public to wake up to what they really do, rather than automatically reach for the clichés of ‘funny handshakes’ and rolled-up trouser legs. So when the invitation came for myself and my photographer to spend a morning with the East Kent Freemasons in Maidstone to ‘bust some of the myths about freemasonry’, I not only jumped at the chance, but came away feeling humbled – and enlightened. Freemasonry is the oldest and the largest of the secular fraternal societies, developed from the stonemasons who built the great cathedrals and castles of the Middle Ages. Inevitably for such an historic organisation, it is steeped in tradition and from that many of the myths and prejudices have built up over the years. This is what I learnt during my visit to… read more:

 

 

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(by Matthew Diaz, CubaHeadlines, June 18, 2024)

 

The Cuban government’s reinstatement of Mario Alberto Urquía Carreño as Grand Master of the Supreme Council and the Grand Lodge has ignited a wave of discontent among Cuban Freemasons. Urquía Carreño was reinstated by the Ministry of Justice’s Directorate of Associations (MINJUS), bypassing the majority’s decision to reject him following accusations of embezzling $19,000 from his office earlier this year and other actions deemed “high treason” by the Masonic community. “The Freemasons do not accept Urquía; many lodges will decide not to recognize him and will notify the MINJUS Register of Associations,” a Masonic source who wished to remain anonymous told the independent outlet Cubanet. The same source added that there is “a lot of confusion but unanimous feeling of rejection.” The Freemasons appear determined to step down from their positions if the Grand Master does not resign. Others plan to gather in large numbers at the Grand Lodge building to protest and demand Urquía’s removal, according to Cubanet. One such individual is Master Karel Miralles Sánchez, who staged a sit-in at the Grand Lodge of Cuba as… read more:

 

 

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(by Georgia Revell, Daily Echo, June 18, 2024)

 

The town mayor, Cllr George Farquhar, attended the Freemasonry where representatives of the charities explained what they did. Cllr Farquhar received a cheque for one of his chosen charities, Every Paw Matters, which supports vulnerable pets and their owners across the conurbation. Other recipients at the proceedings included cancer groups, Macmillan Caring Locally, Project Planet Earth, food banks and… read more:

 

 

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(by Steve Bird, The Telegraph, 15 June 2024 )

 

Joint statement made following controversy over claims Garrick Club was sexist, paving the way for London establishment to let females join. The Freemasons will remain a single-sex organisation, its leaders have declared in defiance of claims the fraternity is misogynistic… read more:

 

 

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(by Theodoros Benakis, European Interest, June 16, 2024)

 

The risk of a far-right government in France after President Emmanuel Macron called for snap elections mobilised progressive France. The French Freemasons of five organisations, under the initiative of the Grand Orient of France (GODF), issued a statement calling brothers and sisters to engage against the rise of Marine Le Pen‘s party. The Grand Masters of GODF, the French Federation of the International Mixed Masonic Order Droit Humaine, Universal Mixed Grand Lodge, Grand Mixed Lodge of France and Mixed Grand Lodge of Memphis-Misraïm warn the French society that “the most reactionary forces seek to come to an understanding, with the sole ambition of calling into question all the fundamentals of the philosophy of the Enlightenment, sources of progress”. (…) On June 9, after President Macron called for shock elections, the Grand Orient of France immediately reacted. Guillaume Trichard, Grand Master of the GODF, issued a statement assuring that the organisation was at the front of the fight against the far-right and for the defence of the universalist and fraternal Republic. “This evening, France has entered a very worrying phase in its history, with the imminent return of the far right to power. More than ever, the humanist principles of liberty, equality, fraternity, principles that Freemasons have always served and defended, are in danger,” stated Trichard. “The Grand Orient of France will take, in the days to come, all the initiatives it deems useful, in consultation with friendly Masonic Obediences, to defend the universalist and fraternal Republic that we cherish,” he concluded. On June 13, the five organisations gathered at the GODF headquarters to launch… read more:

 

 

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(by David Dupont, BG Independent News, June 14, 2024)

 

Wood County Masonic Lodge #112, North Baltimore Masonic Lodge #561, and Pemberville Masonic Lodge #516 are combining efforts to collect donations to help the victims of the apartment fire that displaced numerous residents on Wednesday. Items that will be accepted include: Non-perishable food items Clothing, all sizes Toiletries Shoes (no specified size) Reading glasses (no specified strength) Protein-based snacks Water Regular and sugar-free Gatorade Walmart gift cards. Items will be… read more:

 

 

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(by Sophie Skyring, Wisbech Standard, 14th Jnune 2024)

 

Two dedicated Cambridgeshire Freemasons have recently completed an 84-mile bike ride between six Masonic Centres to raise money for children’s charity, Teddies for Loving Care (TLC). Freemasons David Broker and Bob Hammett undertook this challenging journey which connected various Masonic Centres and offered picturesque views along the way. The ride demonstrated the men’s commitment to Freemasonry values of charity, friendship and… read more:

 

 

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(by editorial board, The Columbia Valley Pioneer, June 12, 2024)

 

The student council at Windermere Elementary (WES) is being commended for having a positive impact on school culture. In fact, the students’ dedication has been rewarded with a $200 bursary from Masonic Lodge #38, which was presented recently by Freemason Don Tegart. School principal Keri Gust explained that the student council (Grade 6 and 7 pupils) meet weekly to create, organize and facilitate opportunities for staff and students to participate in… read more:

 

 

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