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The Past Grand Master of Bulgaria, MW
Bro Borislav Sarandev, is an energetic and
enthusiastic Freemason. During his term
of office as Grand Master he was a leading
light in the process that saw the two Grand
Lodges in his country combine to become
the United Grand Lodge of Bulgaria and
achieve recognition from the United
Grand Lodge of England.
Bro Sarandev has also started the process
of introducing the Royal Arch into Bulgaria
and, through his efforts, suitably qualified
Bulgarian brethren are being exalted into
the Treaty of Uxbridge Chapter No 8379.
There are many Freemasons within the
United Grand Lodge of Bulgaria who are
anxious to learn more about Freemasonry
and especially how it is practised in England.
To facilitate this, Bro Sarandev asked the
Grand Secretary of England if he would
arrange for a team to demonstrate Emulation
working to Bulgarian brethren in Sofia.
So it was that in the middle of July a party
of Freemasons from Hertfordshire, lead
by the Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro
Colin Harris, arrived in Sofia to demonstrate
the three Degrees and the Installation
ceremony in Emulation working.
In front of more than 100 Bulgarian
Freemasons ranging from Past Grand
Masters to the newest Entered Apprentices,
the Hertfordshire demonstration team
opened a Lodge in the First Degree and
proceeded to demonstrate that degree.
This was followed by the Charge and then
the team moved seamlessly into opening the
Lodge in the Second Degree and passing the
“candidate” who had just been initiated,
together with a full explanation of the
Second Degree tracing board.
The following morning, in the same hotel
conference room in Sofia, the team opened the
Lodge in all three Degrees, resumed in the First
Degree and proceeded to approve the minutes
of the previous evening’s proceedings, as
would take place in a normal Lodge meeting.
The Lodge was then resumed in the Third
Degree and the ceremony of raising was
demonstrated. After lunch, the team then
proceeded to install the Master-Elect, with
the RW Provincial Grand Master acting as
Installing Master and the Deputy Provincial
Grand Master, VW Bro Allan Atkinson,
acting as Master-Elect.
The hospitality provided by our Bulgarian
hosts was unsurpassed and the timetable had
been arranged so as to allow us to visit some
historic parts of Bulgaria before departing
homewards.
That weekend has proved to be the hors
d’oeuvre. Many of the Bulgarian brethren
wish to found a Lodge under the United Grand
Lodge of Bulgaria to work Emulation in
English. This will be the first Lodge in Bulgaria
to work any form of English ceremonial.
The consecration of this proposed new
Lodge, which will be called Hiram, is
scheduled to take place in Sofia on 8 April
2006. Our Bulgarian brethren have asked
if RW Bro Colin Harris will undertake this
task and the Grand Secretary of the United
Grand Lodge of Bulgaria has asked the Grand
Secretary if the United Grand Lodge of
England will agree. Permission has been
granted and planning for the event is now
in full swing. Bro Harris will consecrate
the Lodge and Bro Atkinson will install
the first Master.
Chris Radmore is Masonic Assistant to the
Grand Secretary and Grand Scribe E
The demonstration team: Front Row (l to r)
W Bro John Sharp, W Bro James Young,
VW Bro Allan Atkinson, RW Bro Colin Harris,
W Bro Geoffrey Goodman,
W Bro Paul Ostwind, W Bro Ted Long
Back row (l to r) W Bro Chris Radmore,
W Bro Jordan Giddings, W Bro Marc Long,
W Bro Ali Osman, W Bro Stephen Taylor
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Copyright 2002-2007
MQ Magazine
Web site created by Mark Griffin
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