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Fresh approach
I found the sentiments expressed by Craig
Adkins (Issue 21) a most refreshing change
to those usually espoused by senior brethren,
many of whom seem to equate the
popularity of Freemasonry with its ability
to change and reflect modern life.
Just as we would not dream of judging
the merit of any society purely by the scale
of its membership, surely we should be
cautious about rushing to modernise just
to attract new brethren.
For many of my generation (I am 44)
the mystique and perceived exclusivity of
Freemasonry was in itself a major motivation
for wanting to find out more. Where the
mystique is lost and the special made
common, we surely lose our ‘USP’ and
raison d’être as a worthy brotherhood.
If I want to spend my leisure time in
a fund-raising organisation, I attend my
Rotary club. For spiritual communion
I go to church, but I go to my Lodge because
it is different.
It is a unique and set-apart place where
history itself is alive and the past respected
and honoured, rather than discarded as
something irrelevant to the modern
generation.
Symbolism, language, discipline, ritual –
all so hard to find in other places – must
remain at the heart of our institution if we
are to progress on sure foundations, and
differentiate what we have to offer from
the cyber café culture of so many other
organisations today.
Andrew Gilliland
Otley, West Yorkshire
I read with interest in MQ, Issue 2, the
article on Bridgegate Ladies Circle and wish
to tell you about “The Ladies” Club which
was formed by 8 ladies on 8 January 1948,
we have one remaining founder member
still alive now reaching 93.
The club grew attracting ladies from
other lodges, in the early years, one was
always vetted and today a new lady must
be proposed and seconded. In 1987 when
I joined we had a membership of 85 plus a
list of ladies waiting to join – I had to wait
3 years to get in, unfortunately this has now
dropped to 60. We have a committee made
up of 4 officers, President (elected annually),
Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer plus
4 others. Hold monthly meetings, a lot
at South West Surrey Masonic Centre,
Guildford, with a dinner and a speaker
and we too have raised a large amount of
money for various charities. In 2008, our
60th anniversary we are hoping to have
a Thanksgiving Service in Guildford
Cathedral.
This is very short and I trust not too
muddling.
Any interest at all?
Estelle Pearse
Secretary,
“The Ladies” Club
Breeches Bibles
Regarding my article on Breeches Bibles
(MQ, Issue No. 20), it has created quite an
interest. I would like to thank the following
who have been in direct contact with me:
Roger Jenkins, Royal Gloucester Lodge
No. 130 (Breeches Bible 1599), Alan Hakin,
Universal 181 (15?8), Alan Jones, Walton
Walker 3847 (1610) and Martin Barrett,
Lodge of Benevolence 336 (1597).
It just goes to show the interesting items
that can be found in our lockers. Happy
Hunting!
Peter Coward
Macclesfield, Cheshire
Same difference
I refer to the letter (MQ, Issue 21) by Alan
Simpson and must confess that I and my
colleagues are unsure of the rationale for
the statement that the English initiation
is a ‘walk in the park’ compared with that
in South Africa.
I hold District Grand rank in South
Africa and, as such, have attended many
initation ceremonies in that country and
in the UK. As far as we are aware, the
ceremonies are identical – if that was the
point of the letter.
Graham Partington
London
Masonic nursing reunion
I am planning a reunion for anyone
who trained at The Royal Masonic
and Roehampton School of Nursing
set 79/2. I can be contacted at
karyna.gibbons@hotmail.co.uk or 23
Elstow Avenue, Caversham Park Village,
Reading, rg4 6rx. Telephone:
01189543120 (evenings).
Karyna Gibbons(nee White)
Complete ritual available
The new Complete Working Royal Arch
ritual is now available. It has been updated
by Hale Chapter of Improvement to
incorporate the necessary amendments
and additions following the convocation
of Supreme Grand Chapter on 10
November 2004.
It has been approved by members of
Supreme Grand Chapter, and includes both
the mandatory changes to the Address after
Exaltation and the Historical Lecture, plus
the new ‘permissive alternative’ versions
of the Symbolical and Mystical Lectures
alongside the traditional versions. The
revised Sixth Edition has been completely
revised and all errors and omissions in the
previous edition corrected.
Copies, £15 each, are available from
www.lewismasonic.com.
Martin Faulks
Marketing Manager, Lewis Masonic
Morning dress at night
I agree with D E Cheaney (MQ, Issue
No. 21) that dress code is a triviality. I have
been a Mason for 30 years and I am still
waiting for an explanation as to why,
when Lodges usually meet in the evenings,
the high echelons of Masonry insist upon
wearing morning dress!
J S Wain
Torquay
Sudlow’s background
I was very interested in the article (MQ,
Issue No. 21), about Henry Solomon
Wellcome. However, the spelling of the
name of my namesake is Robert Clay
Sudlow, not Sadlow.
Sudlow was born in Liverpool about
1845 and moved south with his parents
when he was very young, and played a very
important part in 19th and early 20th
century Freemasonry.
His legacy of the silver match box
survives to this day, and is presented for
excellent work in the Lodge of Emulation.
I am not related to Robert Clay Sudlow,
but I came across his details when carrying
out a genealogical study of my own family.
Incidentally, both my paternal grandfather
and his brother were Liverpool Masons.
J F T Sudlow
Rochester, Kent
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Copyright 2002-2007
MQ Magazine
Web site created by Mark Griffin
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