|
|
|
|
Ritual on CD?
The various articles on rituals (MQ,
Issue No. 10) were very interesting from an historic point
of view, but I have been looking for rituals (Emulation and Aldersgate)
in a more modern form, i.e., CD-Rom, which would complement the
paper versions.
I would be interested to hear from
anyone who might know if they are
available. I have not seen them listed by the
usual regalia suppliers, but perhaps they are
contemplating a CD-Rom version. If they
were of comparable price to the paper
copies I am sure there would be a demand.
Many of us have computers and would
welcome the opportunity of printing
specific items of Lodge work rather than
reading the ritual itself, where the print
seems to get smaller as one gets older!
I realise there is the matter of copyright,
but for personal use one would hope that
copying for one's own use would not be
regarded as illegal.
John Skeldon, York
Bath invitation
Since you kindly published the article I put together on the history
of the Bath Masonic Hall in Issue
No 10 (July 2004), I have received a number of requests to
visit the beautiful and historic Temple.
We can offer group visits on Saturdays,
which include a tour, a visit to the museum
and a talk on the history of the building,
followed by lunch. We welcome ladies and
non-Masons on these occasions.
Social secretaries charged with the task
of arranging an interesting day or weekend
event may wish to consider a visit to Roman
Bath, to include one of the oldest Masonic
halls in the country.
Reservations and enquiries should be
made to W. Bro. J. Harris, Hall Manager,
T. 01225 427677.
Reg Simmonds,
Chairman, Bath Masonic Hall Trust
Bath and Royal Sussex Lodge
The acquisition of the Bath Masonic hall (MQ,
Issue No. 10) in Orchard Street was undertaken by Bro. Stothert
of Royal Sussex Lodge No. 53. He was later to become part of the
world-famous Stothert & Pitt crane engineers of Bath.
On page 59 of the history of Royal
Sussex Lodge it states: "The new Masonic
hall was consecrated by Bro. Rev. C. R.
Davy, WM of the Royal Sussex Lodge
with full Masonic ceremony."
On page 61 in a minute from 4 January
1869 it states that the Royal Cumberland
Lodge and Chapter were sub-tenants of
Royal Sussex Lodge.
D J Bishop, Tiverton
Tides and ritual
Having sailed as an Engineer in the P&O and Elders & Fyffe
lines for several years, I can confirm that the Masonic ritual
is quite correct (Letters, MQ,
Issue No. 11).
There are indeed two high tides and two
low tides per 24 hours. In fact Southampton
Water has a mini-high tide in between
because of a counter-flow caused by the
flow of the tide around the Isle of Wight.
For example, the tide chart for Dover on
4 October 2004 stated that the morning
high tide was 01.52am and the afternoon
high was 14.02pm.
A. W. Drage,
Kettering
Liverpool tides
In Liverpool our forbears knew a bit about
tides, and as a result a number of our Lodges
use a form of ritual which overcomes the
problem troubling D R Radford (MQ, Issue
No. 11). Rather than specifying "24 hours",
we say: "where the tide regularly ebbs and
flows twice in the course of a natural day."
Besides being more accurate, this is much
more euphonious.
Peter Papworth,
Blundellsands, Liverpool
First Degree is correct
The letter by D R Radford (MQ,
Issue No. 11) caught my attention as being inaccurate and
I am perplexed as to how the universal twice daily ebb and flow
of the tides has escaped his notice!
Whilst the science of tides is complex,
in simple terms, centrifugal force, caused
by the earth's rotation, the attraction
of the moon and, to a lesser extent, that
of the sun, combine to cause two high
waters and two low waters everywhere
in coastal regions.
Land masses and irregular coastlines
modify tidal behaviour but, the piece in the
First Degree referred to is indisputably correct.
Don Elsden
Somme and Ypres visit
A fund-raising guided trip is being organised
on behalf of the Heritage Masonic Fund
to the Somme and Ypres battlefields 2730
May 2005. It is also intended to visit the
graves of Masons who were awarded the
Victoria Cross during the Great War.
The trip is open to non-Masons, and
visits can be arranged to requested cemeteries
via the organisers for anyone who had a
relative killed during this conflict. Travel
is by coach, cross-channel ferry on a half-
board basis, with commentary around
the battlefields.
We are hoping to make a substantial
donation to the Fund. Further details can
be obtained from Alex Bulloch (0121 459
9008) or David Paterson (0121 777 9374).
Cost £280 plus £15 insurance.
David Paterson,
Hall Green, Birmingham
Mauritius memories
I was intrigued to read about Freemasonry in Mauritius (MQ,
Issue No. 11). I was fortunate enough to live there from 1969
to 1972 and became a joining member of Friendship Lodge No. 1696
EC.
During my stay I never heard anyone
refer to other Lodges on the island,
including brethren who were permanent
residents. We met at the Masonic
Hall in Phoenix and enjoyed the best
catering I have experienced in 45 years
as a Mason.
We had superb four-course meals
prepared by the senior chef from the
wardroom of HMS Mauritius. A bottle
of wine per two diners was included
all for the equivalent in today's money
of 62.5 pence.
We had English, French, Australian,
New Zealand, Pakistani and Indian
members. It was a truly wonderful
experience and I shall remember it
for as long as I live.
Jim Queen,
Plymouth
|
|
Copyright 2002-2007
MQ Magazine
Web site created by Mark Griffin
|
|
Next Page