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Applying Masonic lessons
Thank you for publishing the article ‘Wither
Directing Our Course’ by the Pro Grand
Master, Lord Northampton. For me, and
I am sure for many other brethren who came
to Freemasonry for instruction on the path
of self-development and enlightenment, the
article was both inspiring and encouraging.
The article made me realise that the
best way to promote our Craft is to live the
lessons of the Craft. If every Freemason were
to focus on applying the lessons from our
ritual to his own character, then all would
see the value of our order by example.
Martin Faulks,
Bungay, Suffolk
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Masonic Caravan Rally
The Masonic Caravan Club of England
and Wales will hold its First Annual Rally
from 24–27 August 2007, organised in
conjunction with the West Lancashire
Masonic Caravan Club. There will be
pitches for between 700 and 1,000 vans
at Hamilton House in beautiful St. Michael’s
on Wyre in North Lancashire.
This is very much a family event, with
children of all ages welcome. It will offer top
class entertainment, bar facilities and a
carnival atmosphere, stands for corporate
guests and associated Masonic Bodies such as
the Vintage Car Club and Clay Pigeon
Shoot. An extended stay between 23–28
August is also available.
Bookings will be available from early
2006 and interested members are advised to
make their booking early, as this is expected
to be a very popular event. All monies raised
will benefit Masonic charities.
For more information, visit www.masoniccaravanclubrally.comwww.masoniccaravanclubrally.com or contact Rally
organiser Bill Holden on 01942 818770
or email: bill.holden@btconnect.com
Bryan Allen,
Liverpool
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Getting involved
Regarding the Pro Grand Master’s speech
(MQ, Issue No 15), every Lodge or Chapter
secretary should calculate the average age
of the members and take careful note of age
distribution. If there are no new members,
and none leave, the average age will, of
course, rise by one year the following year
and so on.
Planning should bear in mind the need
to reduce the average age, if possible, by the
introduction of new and younger members,
rather than by the death or resignation of
older members.
If a Lodge of 30 members has an average
age of 60 and no members leave or die, the
average will be 61 the following year and
will only be reduced back to 60 if an Initiate
or Joiner is presented aged 30.
What is the likelihood? If the average age
of the Lodge or Chapter remains roughly the
same through deaths or resignations, then it
will simply cease to exist in the fullness of time!
I wonder if Grand Lodge has a cache of
sample Lodges which are regularly monitored
for demographic trends; if not, then, might
I humbly suggest they embark on this?
Retention of membership is as important
as the need to recruit young and enthusiastic
men. Are people kept on board through
the circulation of minutes (in our case, we
also circulate the committee minutes) and
are all members on email signed into an
email group?
Does the Lodge stick to a rigid pattern
of degree ceremonies? If so, then Initiates
will be restricted to one or two a year –
not high enough to sustain membership
levels with age distributions.
I am not suggesting ‘packing them in’,
but we do not learn if men will be suitable
by hanging them out to dry; they will simply
not wait around for a year or two for the
next invitation.
Recruit suitable candidates and nurture
them on the back benches or progress them
through work-sharing Lodges if they are
desperate to climb the officers’ ladder.
Give new members a role either as stewards,
organisers of the raffle, providing a welcome
at meetings, arranging the dining plan etc.
There are many roles that they can fulfil
which will help them feel involved.
John Hawley,
Ruislip, Middlesex
The Pro Grand Master’s article (MQ,
Issue No. 15) was a wonderfully succinct
statement, particularly in the last four
paragraphs summing up Freemasonry.
Having been an active Mason for 15
years, I still find it difficult to explain in
layman’s language what Freemasonry
is all about when asked – but no longer.
Gary Secker,
Norwich Norfolk
Bath Abbey symbols
I was interested in the picture on page 44 of
Issue No. 15 of the carvings on the tower of
Bath Abbey featuring Jacob’s Ladder. I, too,
am convinced of its Masonic significance.
This is because, on a recent visit, I also
observed that at the top of the tower is
engraved the square and compasses, while
on the neighbouring tower the engraving
at the top is of the Royal Arch symbol.
Unfortunately I did not have my camera
with me to record this happy coincidence,
but I am sure that there are many observant
Masons who will have noticed and
appreciated the significance of these carvings.
John D Frew,
Ipswich
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Copyright 2002-2007
MQ Magazine
Web site created by Mark Griffin
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