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e Official Journal of the United Grand Lodge of England Number 21 ~ Spring 2013 3.50

HEALTH

OF ANATIONSupporting cutting-edgeresearch at the RoyalCollege of Surgeons p42

UNITEDGRAND LODGE

ofENGLAND

Take an exclusive tour, p32 Funding worthy causes, p56 A place for older masons, p39

REMEMBERTHE SENIORFRATERNITY

A LIFELINEFOR LOCALCHARITIES

EXPLORINGLONDONSHIDDEN GEMS


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3freemasonrytoday.com

Ihave long been fascinated by the study

of the source and development of words,

and with this comes a realisation that a

word can be interpreted in several different

ways. I mention this in relation to the

challenge of explaining Freemasonry. is

is something that remains at the forefront ofmy mind with all our communications not

least the recent successful media tour.

Due to the fact that we are not prescriptive,

it is hard to explain Freemasonry while

avoiding jargon. is has led us to explain

our principles as kindness, honesty, fairness,

tolerance and integrity. ese words clearly

explain our essential nature.

As you know, we had an excellent reception

from local media and I have valued the

feedback and support from fellow members.

It is fair to say that some members were

surprised at some of the words I used in

interviews and this brings me back to my

earlier point on how people analyse words.

Most interviews were very short, with the

interviewer having researched Freemasonry

on a strange website. So I used words like

fun when describing Freemasonry. I would

not change the word in the context that it

was said, but what I meant was that I find

Freemasonry enjoyable and rewarding.

Another example of describing

Freemasonry comes from one of the pieces

from our ritual that ends with being happy

and communicating that. Happy is anotherword that can mean many things but I know

as Freemasons we can embrace it.

I hope you will find something to make you

feel happy among the features that make up

this issue. Worcester Cathedrals first female

stonemason apprentice reveals how masonic

support is helping her. As the Royal Arch

marks its two-hundredth anniversary in

2013, we look at how members and the

chapters are helping the Royal College of

Surgeons. And as smaller charities struggle

in this economic climate, we shine a light on

how Freemasons are helping swimming pools

stay open, challenging discrimination and

supporting air ambulances. ese are all

stories that show Freemasonry at its best.

Nigel Brown

Grand Secretary

GRANDSECRETARYS

COLUMN

Photography:D

avidWoolfall

WELCOME

THE CHALLENGE OFEXPLAINING FREEMASONRYREMAINS AT THE FOREFRONTOF MY MIND


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PEFC/16-33-444

CONTENTS


GRAND SECRETARY 3Nigel Brown welcomes you to the spring issue

NEWS AND VIEWS 6e latest masonic news from around the country

LOFTY AMBITIONS 18Tabby Kinder finds out how Freemason supporthas helped pave the way for Worcester Cathedralsfirst female stonemason

SENIOR INSIGHTS 25Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes explains whyFreemasonry must remember its history while

embracing the future

A HELPING HAND 26Luke Turton meets Les Hutchinson to find out abouthis work at the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys

SUITED AND BOOTED 31A report from the 2012 Lord Mayors Parade,where Freemasons marched in full regalia

AN EXCLUSIVE TOUR 32Philip Davies investigates the hidden interiors ofsome of Londons most interesting buildings

REACHING OUT 39Caitlin Davies looks into how a special new lodgeis keeping older Freemasons involved in the Craft

SUPPORT WHERE IT COUNTS 42Sophie Radice finds out how the Royal Arch hasbeen supporting the Royal College of Surgeonsin groundbreaking new research

ON LOCATION 48Ellie Fazan goes behind the scenes at FreemasonsHall to see how the venue balances its film careerwith the responsibilities of the Craft

COMMUNITY CHEST 56A look at how donations from Freemasons acrossthe UK are helping local charities continue their work

BACK WITH A BANG 62A few years ago the Allied Arts Lodge was on the

verge of folding. Tim Arnold explains how his brethrensurvived and how theyre planning for the future

CHARITIES UPDATE 67How Freemasons are helping out around the UK

LIBRARY AND MUSEUM 73Contribute to one of the most importantcompilations ever published about English lodges

LETTERS 75

Your opinions on the world of Freemasonry

REFLECTION 82John Hamill reflects on freedom and tolerance

The Board of GrandLodge PublicationsRay Reed, Robin Furber,Graham Rudd

Publishing DirectorNigel Brown

Editorial PanelKaren Haigh, John Hamill,Susan Henderson,John Jackson,Siobhan McCarthy

EditorLuke Turton

Consultant EditorMichael Baigent

Published byAugust Media Ltd forThe United Grand Lodgeof England, FreemasonsHall, Great Queen Street,London WC2B 5AZ

EditorialFreemasonry Today,Freemasons Hall,Great Queen Street,London WC2B [email protected]

Advertising contactFreemasonry Today,Madison Bell Ltd,20 Orange Street,London WC2 7EFWill HurrellTel: 020 7389 0848Email: [email protected]

Jerry HallTel: 07792 909 275Email: [email protected]

Circulation0844 879 [email protected]

Masonic [email protected] 7831 9811

Printed by Artisan Press

Grand LodgePublications Ltd 2013. Theopinions herein are thoseof the authors or personsinterviewed only and donot reect the views of

Grand Lodge PublicationsLtd, the United GrandLodge of England orAugust Media Ltd.

This magazine is printed on paperproduced from sustainablemanaged forests accreditedby the PEFC (Programmefor the Endorsement of ForestCertication schemes, pefc.org)

Cover image: Greg Funnell

This page: Jude Edgington,Greg Funnell, Derek Kendall,

The Advertising Archive,BBC Photo Library


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18

honouring tradition


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HONOURING TRADITION

freemasonrytoday.com 19

Emily Draper, twenty-six, is WorcesterCathedrals first female stonemasonapprentice. Tabby Kinder finds outhow Freemason support has helpedEmily to carve out a dream career

A CAREERSET IN STONE

Photography:JudeE

dgington


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HONOURING TRADITION

20

IVE GOT THE CHANCE TO DO

SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ONLY

PERSONALLY FULFILLING BUT ALSO

MAKES MY FAMILY PROUD. ITSA CAREER CLOSE TO MY HEART

P

erched on a dusty block of stone, Emily is

fresh-faced and buoyed from the mornings

assessment with her tutor from City of Bath

College. Its just a few degrees above

freezing in the drafty workshop that leans against

the south-east side of Worcester Cathedral, but

Emily doesnt seem to mind. Clasping a chisel in her

gloved hand, she absent-mindedly smudges dust

on her eece with the other. I didnt know whether

to dress up or not for the photos, she says, so I just

wore my normal work stuff.

Chatting to a colleague, a man about twenty

years her senior, Emily is charming and sincere. Her

youthful presence and the jovial atmosphere of

the workshop contrast with the dignied serenity

of the cathedral. Its my dream job, she enthuses

later, now in the warmth of the on-site ofce. Her

face ushes with the pride she has in her newfound

career; its her passion for the trade that won her

the position as Worcester Cathedrals rst female

stonemason apprentice.

THE RIGHT FITFunded by local Freemasons and the Grand

Charity, Emily currently splits her time between the

cathedral, where she is learning the intricacies

of sculpting stone under the tutorage of master

mason Darren Steele, and City of Bath College,

where she studies the theoretical methods of

stonemasonry two days a week. When asked

about her decision to pursue an apprenticeship

in stonemasonry, Emily says: I think it just arrived

in my consciousness one day. Ive always been

interested in history, and Worcester Cathedral has

always been in the back of my mind because I was

brought up near here.

Emilys professional journey began after she

completed a degree in Fine Art from The Arts

University College at Bournemouth. She enrolled in

the stonemasonry diploma at City of Bath College,

balancing work and college while driving the

seventy-ve miles between the two. It was a lot to

deal with, especially when you dont know whetheryoull end up with a job, she says. It was a risk, but

denitely a calculated risk. I hoped that if I worked

really hard it would make me employable.

The risk paid off when, in August last year,

Emily beat forty-ve other applicants to win the

apprenticeship at Worcester Cathedral. The head

of my course recommended I went for it, but I

didnt think Id hear back. It was nerve-wracking.

When I found out I had been shortlisted, I was overthe moon.

For Darren, Emily stood out as a strong candidate:

We had a tremendous amount of interest in

the apprenticeship, but Emily came out on top

as she showed the passion and enthusiasm in

stonemasonry as a career that I was looking for.

PRESERVING HISTORYAlthough Emilys grandfather died when she was

just twelve, she credits him as the main inuence in

her career path. He was a mechanical engineer

and an illustrator, so his trade was very hands-on

and creative but also industrious. Its clear I get

a lot of my passion for stonemasonry from him,

she says. Coincidentally, Emilys grandfather was

also a Freemason at a chapter in Devon.

For Emily, the fact that Freemasons are providing

the funding for her apprenticeship proves she

is on the right track: Ive got the chance to do

something that is not only personally fullling but

also makes my family proud. I only have memories

of my granddad from when I was a child, but my

work brings me very close to him as I feel like its

something that he would have liked me to do.

Its a career thats very close to my heart.

Restoring a cathedral as grand in size and

splendour as Worcester is an endless task. By

the time youve gone half way round, the bit

behind you has started falling apart again, says

Darren. The work being carried out is particularly

impressive because the conservation team at

Worcester Cathedral does not use power tools

at any stage of the restoration process. Even for

the stonemason industry, Emily says, this is rare:

Its sometimes frustrating, but very fullling creating

something that matters using your hands.

Over the past twenty-three years,the entire exterior of WorcesterCathedral, including the chapterhouse and cloisters, has beensystematically restored. e hugeproject, which began in 1988, firstfocused on strengthening the tower,then the cathedrals WorksDepartment moved in a clockwise

direction around the rest of thebuilding. e last major restorationproject finished in 1874, so the task

had to ensure the building could facethe next hundred years. A specialthanksgiving service was held inSeptember 2011 to commemoratethe completion of the work, whichcost 10m in total. More than 7mwas raised by public appeal andaround 3m was received in grantsfrom English Heritage, the Wolfson

Foundation, the Provincial GrandLodge of Worcester and othergrant-making bodies.

SECURING THE FUTURE OFTHE CATHEDRAL


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HONOURING TRADITION


Emily with the cathedrals master mason,Darren Steele, under whose tutorage sheis learning the craft of stonemasonry


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Using traditional techniques means that

achieving something as straightforward as a at

surface becomes an art form in itself for Emily and

her team. In order to actually work something

by hand and make something that is technically

perfect, you have to have respect for the building,

she says. Theres an argument that you can get

the same job done twice as fast by using power

tools, but I think its important to keep traditional

hand skills alive. In a building like this you benet

from having a hands-on approach as you respect

the stone more. You want to make it perfect.

LOFTY AMBITIONSIn 2010, Darren and his counterparts founded the

Cathedral Workshop Fellowship, a partnership of

eight Anglican cathedrals Worcester, Gloucester,

Lincoln, Canterbury, York Minster, Winchester,

Salisbury and Durham created to develop the

professional training of new and experienced

stonemasons. This unique community, of which

Prince Charles is patron, has developed a

qualication championing traditional hand crafts,

as well as an exchange programme to allow

apprentices to move between the countrys

cathedrals to try working on different types of

stone. Darren has arranged for Emily to spend a

fortnight at Salisbury Cathedral in the spring to hone

her carving, a skill in which she has shown promise.

For the past twenty years, the Provincial Grand

Lodge of Worcestershire has aimed to ensure that

Worcester Cathedral always has an apprentice

stonemason in training. Its a worthy ambition but

also costly 25,000 over ve years.

Provincial Grand Master of Worcestershire

Richard Goddard says: I think its very important

that we support our heritage and also our roots. We

have had a close relationship with the cathedral

for more than one hundred and fty years and its

something we should continue to support.

Emilys rst major contribution to the restoration

of the cathedral is a large restorative phase on the

library parapet wall. She took a sixteenth-century

weather-worn coping stone and reworked and

replaced it. Emilys still coming to terms with the

sheer scale of work her job entails, but the rewards

of contributing to a piece of history make it morethan worthwhile. I thrive on the pressure of working

with the knowledge that whatever I add could be

there for another thousand years.

MASONIC LEGACY

Freemasonry in Worcestershire has a long

connection with the cathedral, and themasons contributed greatly to the restorationin Victorian times. e west end of the northaisle of the cathedral is the home of a floor slabmonument commemorating Bishop ErnestHarold Pearce, a Freemason and the foundingMaster of St Werstan Lodge, No. 4004, in1919. He was appointed Grand Chaplain tothe United Grand Lodge of England in 1914.

e last window in the north wall before thenorth transept, dating back to 1862, shows threestained-glass figures. e figures representFides, Spes and Caritas, which translate as faith,

hope and charity the three principles that aresupported by Freemasonry. e lower panels ofthe window also contain masonic symbols.

Emily in the cathedralwith Richard Goddard,Provincial Grand Master ofWorcestershire (left), andher mentor Darren Steele

HONOURING TRADITION

22

YOU BENEFIT FROM

HAVING A HANDS-ON

APPROACH AS YOU

RESPECT THE STONE

MORE. YOU WANTTO MAKE IT PERFECT


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Photogra

phy:LaurieF

letcher

SENIOR INSIGHTS


Having finished the two yearly regionalconferences with Provincial GrandMasters, I can report that one consistenttheme was a determination to see our

numbers on the increase by 2017. Indeed, in one ortwo cases this has already started, which means thatperhaps we are getting some things right.

I have frequently said that we must not be lookingfor new candidates simply for the sake of increasingnumbers, but if we can start this increase with theright candidates there should be a knock-on effect.

Enthusing new members is of paramountimportance and we heard in the last issue from

Edward Lord and Julian Soper about the work of theUniversities Scheme. I have asked the UniversitiesScheme Committee to think about how we canbest implement some of the principles that werementioned across the whole Craft.

Recruiting and retaining young candidates is ourmost important task and I am confident that thosewho have made the Universities Scheme successfulcan help us with this important challenge. However,this is not just down to them and we must all pull ourweight in this respect.

ALTRUISTIC SOCIETY

At the end of last year, I visited my greatgrandfathers mother lodge in Hertfordshire anda splendid occasion it was, with a nearly faultless

Reflecting on the need to recruit new members,Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes explains why

Freemasonry should remember its history while

keeping an eye firmly on the future

STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

Second Degree ceremony being performed. I canalmost hear you all thinking that they would have

spent hours rehearsing. Not so, as they didnt knowthat I was coming.

e reason for mentioning this is that in the replyfor the visitors, the brother speaking referred to theCraft as an altruistic society. Altruism is one of thosewords that I have often heard used and possibly evenused myself without having been completely sure ofits meaning. e dictionary definition is regard forothers as a principle of action and its rather a gooddescription for a lot of what Freemasonry is about.

If we can instil this ethos into our candidates,we wont go far wrong. Of course, it is not all thatwe are about, but it is not a bad starting point as

it should naturally lead to a practice of brotherlylove, relief and truth, which in itself leads on to ourcharitable giving.

During the past year, the Festivals for our charitiesin our Provinces have raised a total of nearly 10m,of which Leicestershire and Rutland raised 1.7mfor the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution;Warwickshire raised 3.16m for the MasonicSamaritan Fund; Cambridgeshire raised 1.285m forthe Grand Charity; and Devonshire raised 3.836mfor the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys.

I hope that our membership, as a whole, is farmore familiar with the activities of our charities

than might have been the case twenty or so yearsago. e charities promotion of their activities isexcellent and the Freemasonry Cares campaignhas enlightened many people at home and abroadabout what support is available.

While three of our charities are masonic in theirgiving, the Grand Charity has a wide brief for givingto non-masonic bodies, provided that they are alsocharities. Not everyone appreciates this aspect,or how much money is involved, and we shouldbe quick to point it out.

We should be proud of our history, but it is ofparamount importance that we look forward and

ensure that we go from strength to strength in thefuture, in both numbers and our usefulness to thesociety in which we live.


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FIRST PERSON

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FIRST PERSON

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HOW DID YOU FIRST HEAR ABOUT THE RMTGB?In the 1980s the face of masonic charitable support forchildren underwent a major change. Previously therehad been two childrens charities a girls charityand a boys charity and they had come together toform the trust as we now know it. Having identified aneed for additional skills within the new organisation,a letter was sent to every masonic Province asking:

Do any of your members have a son or daughter whois educated to A-level standard, capable of completinga degree and interested in a career in accountancyor management? My father was an active Freemasonin Cheshire and North Wales and heard aboutthe vacancies. I applied and joined the trust asa management trainee in January 1988.

WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS?Until five years ago, the trust was based in officesopposite Freemasons Hall. When I first walked intothe building, with its polished walnut panelling andopen fireplaces, I felt like I had travelled back in time.

It all seemed so old-fashioned, but the constant rattleof typewriters and adding machines suggested that thetrust was a very active and focused organisation.

HOW DID YOU PROGRESS FROM TRAINEE?I spent my first few years learning the ropes withinthe finance, petitions and fundraising departments.At the end of my training I was drawn to petitions, asI enjoyed being at the heart of the charity, seeing first-hand the difference that our grants could make. A few

years later I became a team leader, then worked myway through the ranks, taking on more responsibility

as my career developed. All four masonic charities doa fantastic job, but my heart is with the trust. I wasdelighted to be appointed Chief Executive in 2008.

WHAT MAJOR CHALLENGES DOES THERMTGB CURRENTLY FACE?Whether they have experienced the death or disabilityof a parent, or encountered a family break-up, all thechildren we help have experienced a significant eventthat has led to financial distress. It concerns me whenI meet Freemasons or their families who hold deep-rooted misconceptions about our work. Often these

views prevent them from coming forward in their

hour of need or make them less likely to supportour work. One of our biggest challenges is to ensurethat people understand what we actually do.

A LIFE INTRUST

As the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls andBoys celebrates its two hundred and twenty-

fifth year, Chief Executive Les Hutchinsonexplains how the charity has evolved

Photogra

phy:GregFunnell


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FIRST PERSON

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WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES?In addition to the day-to-day management of thecharity and reviewing applications for support, animportant part of my role involves visiting lodgesand provincial meetings. Festival appeals are a majorsource of income and under the current system, eachProvince usually supports each of the four charities

once every forty years. I must ensure that we use thisperiod of fundraising to maximum effect. WhereverI go I am always astonished and very grateful for thewarmth and generosity shown towards the trust.

HAS THE TYPE OF SUPPORT YOU GIVECHANGED?During my twenty-five years with the trust, the focusof our work has evolved to meet the changing needs ofour masonic family, but there are those who think weexist simply to provide a posh education for posh kids.is is one misconception that we have to overcome.More than ninety per cent of the children we support

go to a state school and live at home. We have alsoworked hard to identify how we can more effectivelyhelp children of distressed Freemasons succeed in lifeand today many of our grants target specific items likecomputers and school trips. In some circumstances,we also support the grandchildren of Freemasons,something that is not widely known within the Craft.

HOW ARE FAMILIES ASSESSED?All our support is subject to a financial test. A familyhas to have a very low income less than 5,000 a

year to receive our maximum support and nothingthat we give replaces what the state should provide.Our welfare specialists help families look at whatstate benefits they can claim, and we review thecircumstances of every family that we support each

year. First and foremost we are a poverty charity.

IS THE RMTGB UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE?We are currently helping around two thousandchildren and young people and last year we receivedthe highest number of new applications since 1986.Applications arising from redundancy, bankruptcyand unemployment are all increasing, as they didduring previous recessions. Families often turn to us

only when they reach breaking point; we would alwaysprefer them to contact us as soon as possible. It istragic when we are alerted to children whose well-being has suffered because the family assumed wecould not help or they were too proud to contact us.

HOW DO THE FOUR MASONICCHARITIES WORK TOGETHER?In my view, the cooperation and understandingbetween the charities is closer now than it ever hasbeen. We are all fundraising within the same groupand supporting the same beneficiaries albeit atdifferent points in their lives. Sometimes there could

be two or three masonic charities supporting the samefamily, so it made sense for us to move closer together.Our relocation into offices in Freemasons Hall helpedwith this process, as has the use of a single applicationform. We are also far more proactive and consistentin our support for almoners and charity stewards.

WHATS NEXT FOR THE RMTGB?Two hundred and twenty-five years have passed sincethe establishment of the first charity for supportingchildren of Freemasons. When you look back at whatwe have achieved, the hundreds of thousands of youngpeople we have helped, you realise how important thetrusts work is. e needs of our masonic family willcontinue to change and, working ever closer with theother masonic charities, we must prepare ourselvesfor the challenges of the years ahead.

WE ARE CURRENTLY HELPINGAROUND TWO THOUSAND CHILDREN.LAST YEAR WE RECEIVED THE HIGHEST

NUMBER OF NEW APPLICATIONSSINCE THE TRUST WAS FORMED


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FIRST PERSON

TRUE TO ITS AIMS

The mission of the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls

and Boys (RMTGB) is: To relieve poverty and

advance the education of children of a masonic

family and, when funds permit, support other

children in need.This year, the charity celebrates its two hundred

and twenty-fth birthday and can reect on a

shifting social landscape that has nevertheless

seen the RMTGB stay true to its aims.

In 1788, Chevalier Bartholomew Ruspini and the

Duchess of Cumberland set up a school for the

daughters of distressed masons. A similar provision

for boys was established in 1798. As these charities

grew, nancial assistance was also provided to

support children living at home. Eventually these

grants constituted the main work of the charities

and a decision was made to move away from

running schools altogether. A combined grant-

making charity, now known as the RMTGB,

became active in 1986.

Today the RMTGB provides help to children

and young people by awarding nancial grants

to relieve poverty and help remove barriers to

education. In recent years, schemes such as

TalentAid and Choral Bursaries have been

established to support exceptionally gifted young

people. Initiatives such as Stepping Stones and

the ongoing support for Lifelites (Registered

Charity No. 1115655) demonstrate the RMTGBs

commitment to thousands of other disadvantaged

children without a masonic connection.

To nd out more about the Royal Masonic Trust

for Girls and Boys, visit www.rmtgb.org

Chevalier BartholomewRuspini leads a processionof orphaned girls intoGrand Lodge

Les Hutchinson wouldlike families to ask for

help before they reachbreaking point


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LORD MAYORS SHOW

31

Photography:RichardBaker/

InPictures/Corbis

T he inauguration of the Lord Mayor ofthe City of London and the associatedpublic parade, known as the LordMayors Show, is a keenly anticipatedannual event. In 2012, the six hundredand eighty-fifth Lord Mayor of London, AldermanRoger Gifford, took office on 9 November in theSilent Ceremony, before leaving the City of Londonthe following morning to travel to the Royal Courtsof Justice to swear loyalty to the Crown.

Its a procession that dates back to 1215 when KingJohn made the Mayor of London one of Englandsfirst elected offices. Every year the newly elected

mayor would have to present himself at court andswear loyalty, travelling up-river to the small townof Westminster to give his oath. e Lord Mayorhas made that journey almost every year since,despite plague, fire and wars, in order to pledgeloyalty to thirty-four kings and queens of England.

Freemasons have been part of the processionin the Lord Mayors Show for a number of years,but last year, for the first time since 1937, thebrethren marched in full regalia with their ownbanners as well as a group banner. Each sponsoringlodge had its name and number on its bannertogether with an area of need supported by masonic

charities in London. With a positive reception fromthe crowd and reasonably good weather forNovember, this was a day to remember for thosemarching and viewing.

At almost eight-hundredyears old, the LordMayors Show is a part

of Londons history. In2012, Freemasons joinedthe parade in full regalia

MASONSON PARADE

freemasonrytoday.com

Freemasons infull regalia receivea warm reception


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London Hidden Interiors author Philip Davies gives anexclusive tour around some of the capitals best conserved and

least known interiors including Freemasons Hall

ALDWYCH UNDERGROUNDSTATIONSTRAND, WC2R 1EPLISTED: GRADE II

Aldwych Underground Station opened as Strand

on 30 November 1907, rechristened Aldwych in

1915. An oddity from its inception, the Aldwych

branch operated a shuttle service between

Holborn and Strand; various extensions were

envisaged, so the station was built, but they never

came to fruition, leaving Aldwych as a dead end.Built on the site of the old Royal Strand Theatre,

the station was designed by Leslie Green using the

familiar ox-blood terracotta blocks. Three lift shafts

were completed in the expectation of expansion,

but only one was tted out with lifts, which still

survive. As early as 1917, the eastern tunnel and

platform were closed, and used as secure wartime

storage for pictures from The National Gallery. After

the First World War, passenger demand remained

low, and closure was mooted as early as 1933.

From 1940 to 1946 the station was used as an

air-raid shelter, and the tunnels for storing the

Elgin Marbles and other valuables from the British

Museum. The station nally closed on 3 October

1994. Today it is used for training and as a lm

location, with old tube stock permanently stationed

at the branch. It is reputedly haunted by an actress

from the theatre that once occupied the site.

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HERITAGE

LONDON BENEATHTHE COVERS

FROM 1940 TO 1946THE TUNNELS WEREUSED TO STORE

VALUABLES FROMTHE BRITISH MUSEUM

Aldwych Station, designed

by Leslie Green, was originallycalled Strand (top); the eerie,abandoned tunnels (bottom)


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HERITAGE


FREEMASONS HALL60 GREAT QUEEN STREET, WC2B 5AZLISTED: GRADE II*

Known as the Masonic Peace Memorial,

Freemasons Hall was built as a tribute to its 3,000

members killed in the First World War. Its design is the

result of an international architectural competition

launched in 1925, won by Henry Victor Ashley

and Francis Winton Newman, who had extensive

experience designing banks, factories, housing and

hospital extensions.The Grand Lodge of England had been based

in Great Queen Street since 1774, where Thomas

Sandby designed the rst purpose-built Masonic

Hall in the country in the form of a Roman Doric

temple embellished with masonic symbols.

Originally Ashley and Newman intended to retain

Sandbys hall, but it was demolished in March 1932

after serious defects were found. The gigantic new

complex was faced in Portland stone and designed

on an heroic scale. No expense was spared on

the sumptuous interior, which is nished in neo-

Grecian style in marble, bronze, mosaic and

stained glass imbued with masonic symbolism.

Set on a diagonal axis, the ground oor

comprises the grand entrance hall and museum,

and a marble staircase lit by full-height stained-

glass windows leads to a huge marble-lined

vestibule. Facing west is the war memorial window

and Roll of Honour, which is housed in a bronze

casket by Walter Gilbert, who designed most of the

metalwork in the building.

The awe-inspiring Grand Temple entered

through bronze doors each weighing 1.25 tons

is crowned by a celestial canopy surrounded by

a mosaic cornice, which depicts allegorical gures

with different orders of classical architecture.

Elsewhere, the Boardroom is panelled in hardwood

and lit with stained glass, while Lodge Room No. 10

has huge arched bays carrying a domed roof.

NO EXPENSE WAS

SPARED ON THESUMPTUOUS INTERIOR,WITH BRONZE,MOSAIC AND STAINEDGLASS IMBUED WITHMASONIC SYMBOLISM

The sumptuous interiors ofFreemasons Hall, which

is faced in Portland stone(top and middle); theGrand Temple (bottom)

Photography:DerekKendalland

Ian

Bell


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HERITAGE


VICTORIA HOUSESOUTHAMPTON ROW, WC1B 4DALISTED: GRADE II

Some of the worst poverty in London was previously

to be found yards from the site of Freemasons

Hall. The shocking mortality rates of Victorian Britain

prompted the less fortunate to form burial clubs, so

they could afford a decent funeral for their loved

ones as an alternative to the paupers grave.

The early societies were unregulated. Many

collapsed from mismanagement or fraud, but a

number of reputable societies emerged, one of

which was the Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society.

Formed as a burial society in 1843, its business was

based on penny policies collected door-to-door.

Like several other societies, Liverpool Victoria grew

into a huge nancial institution, the sheer opulence

of its building rivalling those of the great banks.

Victoria House, the headquarters of Liverpool

Victoria, involved the clearance of an entire

street block of Georgian houses on the east

side of Bloomsbury Square, making way for the

huge Grecian-style, Beaux Arts palace. Designed

by Charles W Long and erected over thirteen

years between 1921 and 1934, it exuded the twin

values of dignity and security, as expected of the

headquarters of the great nancial institutions.

Beneath the heroic marble entrance hall is

a large basement ballroom, tted out in Art Deco

style with chrome, silver leaf and mauve-coloured

lighting a sharp contrast to the chaste Greek

classicism of the upper oors. A suite of mahogany-

panelled Grecian-style boardrooms are found on

the third oor, some of which have eighteenth-

century marble chimney pieces salvaged from

the houses that once stood on the site.

Shortlisted in 1998 as a potential new City Hall

for the Mayor of London, it was refurbished by

Will Alsop, retaining the historic interiors.

IT EXUDED THE TWINVALUES OF DIGNITYAND SECURITY, ASEXPECTED OF THEHEADQUARTERS OF

THE GREAT FINANCIALINSTITUTIONS

The Grecian-style exteriorand marble entrance hall

of Victoria House (top andmiddle); the Art Deco-styleballroom (bottom)


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HERITAGE

36

SUTCLIFFES LEGACYIS A COLLECTION OFMORE THAN EIGHTEENTHOUSAND ITEMS A FASCINATINGJUXTAPOSITION

OF OLD AND NEWOBJECTS

THE BRITISH OPTICALASSOCIATION MUSEUM41-42 CRAVEN STREET, WC2N 5NGLISTED: GRADE II

Founded in 1901 by the optician J H Sutcliffe, the

British Optical Association Museum is now hosted

by the College of Optometrists, after a peripatetic

existence over the past one hundred years. It was

rst opened to the public in 1914 at Cliffords Inn

Hall, prompted by Sutcliffes desire to establish An

Optical House Beautiful in line with the fashionable

concepts of the Aesthetic Movement. Later it

moved to Brook Street and then to Earls Courtbefore arriving at its current location in 1997, a ne

early-Georgian house built c1730, with a replica

extension erected in 1988.

Sutcliffes legacy is a quirky collection of

more than eighteen thousand items relating to

ophthalmic optics, the human eye and visual aids,

as well as archival material, paintings and prints.

The museum display is a fascinating juxtaposition

of old and new objects, including the spectacles

of famous personalities from Dr Johnson to Ronnie

Corbett, and the sides of Dr Crippens glasses, the

lenses missing after he tried to use them to cut his

own throat in prison in a failed suicide attempt.The cabinets house an extensive collection of

porcelain eyebaths, binoculars, spyglasses and

jealousy glasses with sideways mirrors to allow

the owner to discreetly eye up potential suitors.

Look for the dark adaptation goggles with red

lenses used by Second World War pilots to

adjust their night vision prior to take off, and the

early revolving self-service cabinet of spectacles

made by the Automatic Sight Testing and Optical

Supply Co Ltd in 1889.

The museum is full ofophthalmic curios, fromcelebrities spectacles to

early night-vision goggles(top); the Georgianfacade (bottom)


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HERITAGE


JAMES SMITH & SONS53 NEW OXFORD STREET, WC1A 1BLLISTED: GRADE II

In 1830, James Smith established this famous

rm of umbrella makers in Fouberts Place, off

Regent Street. In 1857, his son opened a shop at

53 New Oxford Street, followed rapidly by six other

businesses elsewhere in London, including a hatter

and barbershop. From their branch in the tinypassageway at Savile Row they sold umbrellas to

many of the leading gures of their day, including

Lord Curzon and Bonar Law.

The company was one of the rst to use the

famous Fox steel frames, named after Samuel Fox,

who created the rst steel umbrella frame in 1848.

In addition to umbrellas, Smiths has specialised in

making canes and military swagger sticks, as well

as bespoke items such as ceremonial maces for

tribal chiefs in South Africa, Nigeria and elsewhere.

The superb shopfront and interior is a beautifully

preserved example of a high-class Victorian West

End shop, with cast-iron cresting to the faceted

gilt and glass fascias, inscribed brass sills, elaborate

black and gilt lettering to the upper panels of

the windows and a splendid traditional box sign.

Inside, the original mahogany counters and display

cases are stocked with an array of canes, sticks

and umbrellas, most of which are still manufactured

in the basement. James Smith & Sons is the

largest and oldest umbrella shop in Europe, and

its shopfront and interior one of the landmarks of

central London.

London Hidden Interiors by Philip Davies is an

English Heritage book published by Atlantic

Publishing, 40, available from booksellers

everywhere. All pictures courtesy of English

Heritage. www.londonhiddeninteriors.co.uk

THE SUPERB SHOPFRONTAND INTERIOR IS ABEAUTIFULLY PRESERVEDEXAMPLE OF A HIGH-CLASS VICTORIAN WESTEND SHOP

The shop is stocked withan array of canes, sticksand umbrellas (top); the

beautifully preservedVictorian exterior (bottom)


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LODGE PROFILE


As the Universities

Scheme recruits youngermembers, Caitlin Daviesreports on how olderFreemasons are stayinginvolved in the Craft

Three years ago, Steward Philip Hadlow

heard some interesting news. Plans were

afoot for a new lodge in Bedfordshire, one

that would be geared towards keeping

elderly Freemasons involved in the Craft.

The Provincial Grand Master, Michael Sawyer,

and the provincial team realised we were not doing

enough for our more elderly brethren, he explains.

Many have mobility problems, which means its

difcult getting to meetings. We were looking after

them when they were ill, supporting their family, but

there was a need for something more proactive.

In recent years Freemasonry has been keen to

recruit younger members, but that doesnt mean

elders should be forgotten. And so Bedfordshires

youngest lodge, the Michael Sawyer Lodge of

Reunion, No. 9848, was born. Philip became

involved because he thought it a fantastic idea.

The lodge began in 2009 and meets twice a year

on a Saturday lunchtime, as some people are not

keen to eat late or to go out at night at all. Philip

doesnt know of any similar scheme, and theres

been interest in the project from other Provinces.

While some members were already being

picked up and taken to meetings by younger

members, the lodge wanted to do more. So

people were identied, sent invitations and

offered travel arrangements in some cases for

a fty-mile round trip.

THE SENIORFRATERNITY

Photography:RengimMutevellioglu/GettyImages.Imageusedforillustrationpurposesonly


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LODGE PROFILE

40

The lodge doesnt do masonic work meetings

open with a welcome, then a lecture and the

Festive Board. One of the annual meetings is held

in Luton, the other in another Bedfordshire centre.

John Cathrine, Provincial Information Ofcer, is a

founder member of the Michael Sawyer Lodge and

last years Worshipful Master. Its such a great idea.

Its something that was missing from our Province.

People get to the stage where they cant drive to

meetings and they drift away from masonry.

NOT FORGOTTEN, NEVER SIDELINEDJohn cites a past Deputy Provincial Grand Master,

Vic Lawrence, who lives at Prince Michael of Kent

Court, a Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution care

home. He came to the previous meeting and he

wanted to make a speech at the Festive Board.

He said it was really great to be invited and see old

friends, all of whom he said looked older than him!

Freemasonry in Bedfordshire traces its history

back to at least 1841, when the Bedfordshire Lodge

of St John the Baptist was consecrated in Luton.

By the time the Province celebrated its centenary,

there were forty-ve lodges; there are now fty-ve.

At the last meeting of the Lodge of Reunion

there were sixty people, including twenty honoured

guests. It takes time to get something like this off

the ground, says Philip, who was Chief Steward for

two years, but its getting bigger every meeting.

Lodge members pay annual dues to cover being

a member and having two guests. Its funded until

the honoured guests outnumber us two to one. It

means we can treat them well. You see them sitting

there opposite their friends, and theyre having a

whale of a time. When they come out with a smile

on their face and say, Thank you so much, Ive

had a wonderful time, thats what its all about.

John is delighted by the letters of thanks that the

lodge receives. One brother is ninety-ve and not

able to get out much. Well invite him to the next

meeting for a nice day out. The letters we get say

the principles and ethos of the lodge are exactlyin line with what we should be doing taking care

of those who could be sidelined and forgotten.

WHEN THEY COMEOUT WITH A SMILE ONTHEIR FACE AND SAY,

THANK YOU SO MUCH,IVE HAD A WONDERFULTIME, THATS WHATITS ALL ABOUTPhilip Hadlow

Photography:AnnaBryukhanova/GettyImages.Imageusedf

orillustrationpurposesonly


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ROYAL ARCH SUPPORT

42

As the Royal Arch marks its two-hundredthanniversary in 2013, Sophie Radice looksat how members and the chapters have beensupporting the Royal College of Surgeons

in groundbreaking medical research

A MATTER

OF PATIENTSPho

tography:GregFunnell


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ROYAL ARCH SUPPORT



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ROYAL ARCH SUPPORT


SCHEMES SUCHAS THE SURGICALRESEARCH FELLOWSHIP

ARE INVALUABLE FORSURGEONSWilliam Dawes

William Dawes is workingon vital medical researchat the Blizard Institutein London, thanks tofunding from the RoyalArch Masons

and bleed. The younger and smaller the baby,

the higher the risk. Our research will look at ways

of making the cells that survive the bleed perform

better so that the damage will be minimised.

PROVIDING CRUCIAL SUPPORTDawes trained in Leeds and then Liverpool before

moving to London, and is now at the Blizard Institute,

Barts and the London School of Medicine doing

a PhD. I knew very little about Freemasons until I

discovered how much money they give to surgical

research. I have since given presentations to

chapters and have found the Freemasons Ive met

to be so supportive. It has been a real pleasure to

speak to them about what we are trying to do we

are extremely grateful for their generosity, he says.

The Royal College of Surgeons launched the

surgical research fellowships scheme to enable

the brightest and best surgeons of each generationto explore treatments for conditions and injuries

that affect millions of people worldwide. The

scheme relies completely on voluntary donations

from individuals, trusts and legacies, and needs

more funding to continue the number of worthy

research projects supported.

George Francis, Second Grand Principal of the

Royal Arch Masons and Chairman of the appeal,

explains: In 1966, the Eleventh Earl of Scarbrough,

as Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of

England, launched an appeal to mark the two

hundred and ftieth anniversary of the founding

of the Grand Lodge in 1717. The income from theappeal was given to the Royal College of Surgeons.

We are so proud of our contribution to surgical

research that it seemed natural that our 2013

Bicentenary Appeal should go into funding more

research. We hope to raise well over 1,000,000.

Professor Derek Alderson, Chairman of the

Academic and Research Board at the Royal

College of Surgeons, adds: We feel it important

that donors should understand exactly what is being

done with their money, so in the past twelve months

research fellows, supported by ofcers of the

College, have made more than forty presentations

to a variety of masonic bodies. We never have anyproblems nding young surgeons to talk about their

research, but I suspect that this says more about

masonic hospitality than anything else.

At the Blizard Institute of Cell and

Molecular Science in London, WilliamDawes is trying to nd out how to

lessen the damage done to premature

newborn babies who have suffered a stroke. Part

of the surgical research fellowships scheme run by

the Royal College of Surgeons, Dawes is just one

of the medical pioneers in the UK whose work has

been funded by Freemasons.

From investigating how to prevent acute

kidney injury during major heart surgery through to

exploring how to decrease mortality rates following

traumatic brain injury, the fellowships scheme will

be benetting from nancial support given by the

Royal Arch Masons 2013 Bicentenary Appeal. Thefundraising exercise aims to provide a permanent

reminder of the Supreme Grand Chapters full

emergence two hundred years ago by its future

relationship with the Royal College of Surgeons.

Schemes such as the surgical research

fellowship are invaluable for surgeons, says

Dawes, who is also being supported by Sparks,

the childrens medical charity. The research we

have been funded for will look at ways of lessening

the damage done to the brains of premature

newborns who have bleeding into the ventricles

of the brain. Our focus is a collection of tiny, fragile

blood vessels in the germinal matrix, which is thearea of brain adjacent to the wall of the ventricles.

These blood vessels are vulnerable to uctuations

in blood ow, which can cause them to rupture


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Angelos Kolias, picturedabove, is looking intowhether the blockageof large veins inside the

head contributes to brainswelling after head injuries

ROYAL ARCH SUPPORT

46

Like William Dawes,Nishith Patel andAngelos Kolias have

made presentations tochapters throughoutthe UK to discuss their

vital research work

NISHITH PATELRESEARCH TITLE: ACUTE KIDNEY INJURYFOLLOWING HEART SURGERYLOCATION: BRISTOL HEART INSTITUTE,BRISTOL ROYAL INFIRMARY

I rst heard about the fellowship from the Royal

College of Surgeons and I jumped at the chance

to apply. It is very competitive, with a four-part

application process, because so many surgeons

want the chance to kick-start vital research in

their surgical area.

We are looking at the way two different methods

can prevent acute kidney injury during major heart

surgery. The rst method is a drug trial and the

second is to put the blood through an automated

washer during surgery to prevent organ injury. We

looked at the blood used in blood transfusions and

found that some of it had gone off because it hadbeen stored too long. Putting blood through an

automated washer to remove toxins could be very

useful for all those who need blood transfusions and

so that has become part of our research too.

I was surprised that the Freemasons funded these

fellowships because I knew very little about them.

I have since given presentations to small groups

of Freemasons and found that they not only

asked very detailed and intelligent questions

but that they also seem to really appreciate and

understand our work when we explain it to them.

I have found the Freemasons to be very decent

and down-to-earth people who are open tohearing complex medical explanations, which is

very refreshing. I so appreciate the opportunity

they have given me.

ANGELOS KOLIASRESEARCH TITLE:TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY:

THE ROLE OF VEINSLOCATION: ADDENBROOKES HOSPITALAND UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

I heard about the fellowship from my supervisor,

Peter Hutchinson, who was himself supported

by a Freemasons fellowship during his PhD.

Peter is now a reader and honorary consultant

in neurosurgery at the University of Cambridge

and Addenbrookes Hospital.

Head injuries still claim the highest toll in terms

of lost lives and disability for those under the age of

forty. The aim of my research project is to examine

whether blockage of the large veins inside thehead is contributing to the brain swelling after head

injuries. Research in patients suffering from another

condition that leads to high pressure inside the

head has shown that quite a few of these patients

have blockage of the veins. A novel way of dealing

with this problem is the insertion of a stent, which

is an articial tube, inside the blocked vein. As a

result of this, the pressure inside the head is reduced

and the patient gets better. This treatment was

developed in Cambridge about ten years ago.

Essentially, my research project aims to nd out

whether a similar mechanism applies to patients

with severe head injuries. So far we have some

promising results showing that about one-third of

those who have a severe head injury and skull

fracture develop blockage of the veins. Without the

help of the Freemasons, we would not have been

able to undertake this kind of research we are

very grateful for all their help and support.

WITHOUT THE HELP OF THEFREEMASONS, WE WOULD NOTHAVE BEEN ABLE TO UNDERTAKETHIS KIND OF RESEARCHAngelos Kolias

BODIESOF WORK


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48

FILMING AT FREEMASONS HALL

Photography:BBCPhotoLibrary

Freemasons Hall starredas the MI5 headquartersin TV spy drama Spooks


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HALLOFFAMEFrom e HitchhikersGuide to the Galaxyto Spooks, the stunningcorridors, Grand Templeand distinctive exteriors

of Freemasons Hallhave played a crucialsupporting role onscreen. Ellie Fazangoes behind the scenes


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ITS UNIQUE AND LAVISH INTERIORAND CENTRAL LONDON LOCATION

HAVE MADE FREEMASONS HALLA FIRM FAVOURITE Jenny Cooper

In 2009 a member of the public, concerned bythe presence of American soldiers loiteringon the steps of Freemasons Hall, phoned thepolice in panic. Had the relationship between

the UK and US broken down? Were the soldiers aboutto declare the Hall a forward operations base?

We were filming with Matt Damon for Green Zone,remembers Karen Haigh, Head of Events, who hasoverseen the film career of Freemasons Hall thus far.

While things can get surreal, her first priority is toensure filming does not obstruct the Halls primaryfunction. So while Matt Damon was saving the worlddownstairs, meetings were going on upstairs as usual.

Karen has been working with Jenny Cooper fromFilm London to promote Freemasons Hall as alocation. Funded by the Mayor of London and eNational Lottery through the British Film Institute,and supported by the Arts Council England andCreative Skillset, Film London operates as the citysfilm agency. It works to promote London as a majorinternational production centre, attracting investmentfrom Hollywood and beyond.

e agency looks after the capitals most iconicbackdrops, including e Savoy hotel and KingsCross St Pancras station, but the Hall has also becomea star, playing MI5s base, gentlemens clubs and evenBuckingham Palace. Its versatile nature and flexible,friendly management, as well as the unique and lavishinterior and central London location, have made ita firm favourite over the past ten years, says Cooper.

In 2012 Film London launched a tieredmembership scheme, of which Freemasons Hall isa Gold Member, but the relationship goes back muchfurther. Cooper explains: Around seven years ago wegot organisations, including the United Grand Lodge

of England, to agree to work with Film London inpromoting the city as a film-friendly destination.

e response has been tremendous with a notablerise in filming in London, where seventy-five per centof the UK industry is now based, making it the thirdbusiest production city behind New York and LA.So expect sightings of US soldiers and alien landingsto become more common on Great Queen Street.

Photography:UniversalPictures/TheKobalCollectio

n

TAKE FIVEese days youre almost as

likely to see Robert Downey Jr

in Freemasons Hall as another

Freemason. Karen Haigh picks

her top five films and TV showsat the Hall over the past ten years

1. GREEN ZONE (2010)The high-octane war thriller starring Matt Damon

used the Hall as a bombed-out palace in Baghdad.

For this role the building had a bit of a make-under,

with debris everywhere and blown-out wires hanging

from walls. It was a great example of how even

when a huge Hollywood production is here, our rst

priority is that the Hall can function for its members,

says Karen. So while Matt Damon was runningaround saving the world downstairs, there was

a big provincial meeting going on upstair s.

Matt Damon in thedilapidated Hall


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52


JOHNNY ENGLISH WAS SUCH A FUN FILM.IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I THOUGHT, THIS COULD

REALLY WORK Karen Haigh

2. SPOOKS (2002-2011)Freemasons Hall played MI5 headquarters

Thames House in this clever and compelling spy

drama, focusing on theundercover work of a

team of super spies. It was amazing to have a

starring role in such a groundbreaking TV show.

Itshowcased the Hal l in such a fabulous way,

recalls Karen. The only downside of being so

involved in the production of the show, she says,

was that the traditional end-of-series cliffhanger

never had quite the same impact for her.

4. SHERLOCK HOLMES (2009)Some of the exhilarating scenes of the rst Sherlock

Holmes movie, directed by Guy Ritchie and starring

Robert Downey Jr, were lmed in the Hall. Guy Ritchie

had been to the Grand Lodge before and really

wanted to use it as a location, Karen reminisces.

You could see during f lming that it was going

to be really good. Karen and her team built such

a strong relationshipwith the lm-makers during

shooting that the star-studded press conference

was held at the Hall on the day of the premiere.

3. JOHNNY ENGLISH (2003)Peter Howitts action comedy parodies the James

Bond franchise, with Rowan Atkinson playing an inept

spy. The opening creditstake a veritable tour of the

building. It was such a fun lm and there was a lovely

atmosphere. Rowan Atkinson is a British institution,

and for many of our members he is the most exciting

actor that we have had here, says Karen. I think

it was the rst time I thought, this could really work.

Film London gave us lots of support, because

they knew we had potential as a flm location.

Matthew Macfadyen, Miranda Raisonand Peter Firth on Great Queen Street

Robert Downey Jron set as Holmes

Rowan Atkinson asJohnny English

5. THE HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TOTHE GALAXY (2005)Douglas Adams comedy tells the story of hapless

Arthur Dent after aliens destroy Earth. The Grand

Temple took on its rst starring role, as the Nose,

the base forJohn Malkovichs character. I carefully

pick the flms that shoot here, says Karen. This flm

is very tongue-in-cheek and seemed a wonderful

way of saying that we can laugh at what people

say about us. We built a great relationship with

Disney, so they held the premiere party here.

John Malkovich insidethe Grand Temple

Photograph

y:BBCPhotoLibrary,SilverPictures/TheKobalColle

ction,MovieStoreCollection,CapitalPictures


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56

LODGE SUPPORT

In 2012, donations to charity in the UK fell bytwenty per cent, with 1.7bn less being givenby British people between 2011 and 2012.A report by the Charities Aid Foundation and

the National Council for Voluntary Organisationssuggests that small and medium sized charities aresuffering most as voluntary donations rather thanNational Lottery or state funding tend to makeup a larger proportion of their total income. ereport, which surveyed 3,000 people, says thatcharities in Britain now face a deeply worryingfinancial situation.

e Freemasons recognise the importance ofsupporting smaller charities. ese charities maybe small, but their projects and services can providelifelines for people meeting very specific needsthat fulfil priorities often overlooked by the public

sector and larger charities.Since 1981 e Freemasons Grand Charity hasdonated more than 50 million to national charities,with grants going towards funding medical research,helping vulnerable people and supporting youthopportunities. It now sets aside 100,000 every yearfor small donations of between 500 and 5,000 tounder-funded causes around the country, whichoften prove vital to their continued operation.

e charitys allocation for providing minor grantsto small charities doubled from 50,000 to 100,000in 2010 following a marked increase in the numberof applications the charity was receiving fromsmaller organisations. It was clear that the increasein applications was a result of the economic climate,

with smaller charities finding themselves worse off,says Laura Chapman, Chief Executive of the GrandCharity, pleased by the decision to increase the grantbudget. It meant we could reach out to more smaller

charities, making a bigger impact during whathas clearly been a difficult year.Helping small and community-focused causes

is not just the domain of the Grand Charity. LocalProvinces and lodges donated a huge amount tocharity in 2012, around 5 million of which wasreported by local newspapers. Freemasons arecommunity-minded and this is demonstrated bythe local lodges that frequently donate to smallercharities, says Laura.

Neil Potter, Provincial Information Officer atthe Provincial Grand Lodge of Nottinghamshire,believes that contributing to small causes is not

only hugely beneficial to the community, but is alsoa way for Freemasons to show what they stand for.Charitable giving is a great opportunity to break

down the barriers that seem to have been put upover the years regarding the public and masonicrelationship, and to let everyone know exactly whatwe do, says Neil. Our main concern is helpingpeople who are less fortunate than us and it allcomes from the members pockets. We make

voluntary contributions, hold fundraising eventsand enjoy doing it.

Freemasonry Today spoke to four charities that

have received invaluable nancial support fromFreemasons in 2012.

As smaller charities struggle in the current

economic climate, Tabby Kinder finds outhow Freemasons on a local and national levelare keeping community projects in business

CHARITYFOR ALL

Pho

tography:CatherineLane/GettyImages,PhotoYomL

am/Alamy


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LODGE SUPPORT

57freemasonrytoday.co.uk


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LODGE SUPPORT

59freemasonrytoday.co.uk

THE GRANT WE RECEIVED FROM THE FREEMASONSIS BEING USED IN THE REHABILITATION THROUGHSPORTS TRAINING PROGRAMMES Edwin Thomas

THE BRITISH EX-SERVICESWHEELCHAIR SPORTS ASSOCIATIONFUNDED BY THE GRAND CHARITY

e British Ex-Services Wheelchair SportsAssociation (BEWSA) enables injured ex-servicepersonnel to take part in sports, building friendshipand camaraderie. BEWSA describes itself as not anorganisation for the disabled, but of the disabled.

e Grand Charity has long supported charitiesthat provide help and assistance to ex-members ofthe Armed Services, says the Grand Charitys Laura

Chapman. It is a popular cause within Freemasonry.rough our minor grant funding we aim to supportsmall charities that fulfil needs not easily accessibleelsewhere, just like BEWSA.

In May last year, the Grand Charity donated1,500 to the charity, enabling nationwide support tocontinue for active disabled veterans. e grant wereceived from the Freemasons is being used in therehabilitation through sports training programmes,says Edwin omas, BEWSA chairman.

One weekend a month, the charity booksthe sport facilities at the Defence College ofAeronautical Engineering RAF centre in Cosford,

West Midlands, and ex-service wheelchair usersare invited to join in wheelchair sporting events.If they are comfortable in their chosen sport andwish to take training to the next level, then BEWSAis there to provide the encouragement, the trainingand the sports equipment required to participate,says omas.

JUSTDIFFERENTFUNDED BY THE GRAND CHARITY

JustDifferent is a perfect example of a small

organisation carrying out big work, says Laura. TobyHewson, who has cerebral palsy, founded the charityto change social attitudes towards disability. It runsworkshops in schools that are delivered by disabled

young adults employed by the charity.Todays young people are tomorrows employers,

policymakers and educators. JustDifferent believesthat changing attitudes in the young is the best wayto achieve long-term social change, says Laura.

Harassment, bullying and discrimination are allsadly part of our society, says Karen McLachlan,fundraiser at JustDifferent. e workshopsgive young people the capacity to challenge

discrimination. Our work encourages and educatesyoung people to be understanding and tolerant.

JustDifferent has received acclaim for itstechniques and schoolchildren engage with theworkshop presenters with open-minded enthusiasm.Katie, a Year Six pupil, told the workshop presenter:At first I felt sorry for you, but by the end of theworkshop I felt more confident to talk to people like

you. It changed my attitude towards disabled people.A grant of 5,000 made to the charity in May

has helped the workshop reach 1,388 children.To teach young people that disabled people canachieve, participate and lead is the ultimate goal

of JustDifferent and this is something the GrandCharity is very happy to support, says Laura.


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LODGE SUPPORT

60

WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAVING RESTRAINTS

ON THEIR BUDGETS, OUR INVOLVEMENT IN THECOMMUNITY IS MORE IMPORTANT Neil Potter

GREAT NORTH AIRAMBULANCE SERVICEFUNDED BY THE PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE

OF DURHAM

Durham Freemasons have provided regularfunding for the Great North Air Ambulance Service(GNAAS) over the years. While GNAAS has becomea leading healthcare charity, its funding relies entirelyon voluntary donations. We receive no lottery orgovernment funding, but were proud to say thatwhen we receive donations, one hundred per centgoes towards providing the life-saving service,says Mandy Drake, deputy director of public liaisonat the charity.

Michael Graham, Provincial Information Officer atDurham, believes support for the charity comes froma personal feeling within the Province: With manylodges in rural areas, a lot of our members have first-hand experience of, or have witnessed, the amazing

job that air ambulances do, he says. Our membersare always very keen to support GNAAS.

Michael estimates that the Durham Provincehas donated more than 25,000 to GNAAS. Wepurchased two rapid response vehicles at around12,000 each, and the Mark Degree bought another,so there are three units that are totally fundedby the Freemasons, he says proudly.

Funding air ambulance charities is a very popularcause with Freemasons, demonstrated by the GrandCharitys air ambulance grant programme, which isstrongly supported throughout the Provinces.

THE LENTON CENTREFUNDED BY THE PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE

OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

Around twenty per cent of the charities supportedby the Nottinghamshire Province in 2012 had lostcouncil funding. is was true of e Lenton Centre,a swimming pool and community leisure facility thatNottingham City Council decided to close down dueto budget cuts, despite strong local opposition.

Following a campaign, e Lenton CommunityAssociation took over the centre, with funding fromprivate donors and charitable organisations. ecentre is run as a social enterprise and last yearreceived 20,000 from the Provincial Grand Lodge ofNottinghamshire to fund a multi-use childrens area.

Its a charity that we consider is doing a lot to helplocal people, says Neil Potter, Provincial InformationOfficer in the Province. With local authoritieshaving such restraints on their budgets, they findit increasingly difficult to support local charities,so our involvement in the community is becomingmore important each month.

Nicci Robinson, project manager of the childrenand young peoples team based at the centre, saysthe donation will help create a games area thatcan be used for sports such as football and cricket.Its a substantial chunk of what we need. e moneyhas helped get a long-held dream off the ground.It has kept us going through a very difficult time,while also aiding development and keeping ourother activities for young people going.


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RECRUITMENT

The commanding image ofField Marshal Earl Kitchener,used on recruitment postersin the Great War Ph

otograp

hy:TheAdvertisingArchive


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RECRUITMENT

63

OURLODGENEEDS

After some lean years,the Allied Arts Lodgeis now regrouping witha diverse membership.Tim Arnold explainshow his lodge has

survived by embracingthe fundamental tenetsof Freemasonry

Started just after the Second World War by

theatre technicians, the Allied Arts Lodge,No. 6269, is the lodge that refused to die.

A decade ago, the group was at risk of

folding. Like many London lodges, its membership

had been declining for a variety of reasons

deaths and resignations, for example and the

regular Lodge of Instruction had fallen into disuse,

not least because of the logistical difculties in

getting members from all over London and the

Home Counties to attend every week.

Many people would have bowed to the

apparent reality of the situation, but a hard core

of members, including Treasurer Chris Fogarty and

his life-long friend Secretary Paul Ostwind, refusedto give up. They believed that attracting more

guests was part of the answer.

Most of the ceremonies were arranged on

a scratch basis, so were not as polished as they

might have liked. The committee therefore invited

some hard-core ritualists from other lodges to

become honorary members. One of them was

John Stonely, who in turn offered to take younger

members under his wing at the Lodge of

Instruction he organised for the Logic Ritual

Association. Festive Boards were held at Trattoria

Verdi, a walk away from Great Queen Street,

where Dining Secretary Richard Limebearmanaged to negotiate a bulk-buy deal of 30

per head a considerable discount.

YOU!


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RECRUITMENT

The lodges Festive Boards held anonymous

charity collections, rather than a public rafe,

so visitors would not feel pressured into spending

more than they could afford in the evening.

An Allied Arts Charities Association was also

set up to encourage members to make regular

donations, boosted through Gift Aid to ensure the

lodge continued to look after deserving causes.

Through masonic networking, the lodge

gradually started to grow. It was explained to

joining members that London masonry could be

an enjoyable adjunct to provincial work, in a

similar way to chapter being an extension of Craft

a way to increase ones horizons, experiences

and social network.

I was invited to become Senior Warden and

I gave a talk, shamelessly stolen from Clifford

Drake, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of

Buckinghamshire, about how to use recruitment to

turn around failing lodges. Space does not allow

me to go into all the points, but the key message

is: draw up a list of decent people who are in your

circle of friends, family and workmates, and talk

to them about the benets that you get from the

Craft. If they are not interested, then you have

at least explained to them Freemasonrys core

values of friendship, decency and charity. If they

are interested, then perhaps a couple of years on

you will have a waiting list of new members.

Currently, Allied Arts Lodge is doing double

ceremonies and emergency meetings, not least

thanks to a particularly enthusiastic initiate, Paul

Hogan, who has willingly recruited his friends and

family to join. We are also starting to attract

members from the City of London, reecting the

regions different communities. Allied Arts now

boasts Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, Jews,

blacks and whites, and our youngest member

is in his early twenties.

Its not been easy. But in a few years time,

we will have a strong group of initiates, ready

to progress through the Masters chair. We are

organising Lodges of Instruction closer to where

people live, meeting on Sunday mornings when

the M25 trafc is more manageable and it is

possible to get space in otherwise busy masonic

centres. In the meantime, we could still do witha handful of members in our middle-batting order.

So, if you want to sample London masonry,

get in touch at [email protected].

Peter Sellers was amember of Chelsea,one of the lodges inwhich Allied Artshistory is grounded

ITS NOT BEEN EASY.BUT IN A FEW YEARSTIME, WE WILL HAVEA STRONG GROUP

OF INITIATES READYTO PROGRESS

Allied Arts Lodge was consecrated on 22 July

1946. It was started by members of one of

Londons thespian lodges, Vaudeville, ostensibly

to celebrate the work of theatre technicians whose

work was allied to the entertainment world. The

lodge has a long-standing relationship with the

Vaudeville Chapter.

Allied Arts proted from a signicant growth

in Freemasonry after the Second World War,

possibly because men wanted to keep up the

camaraderie they had enjoyed while serving in

the armed forces. It was common for a daughter

lodge to be set up in order to accommodate

a large backlog of new members, who might

otherwise have had to wait for a decade or

more to advance to the chair.

Vaudeville Lodge, No. 5592, is in turn descended

from the world-famous Chelsea Lodge, No. 3098,

through Proscenium Lodge, No. 3435. Chelsea is

known as the entertainers lodge, with members

including actors Peter Sellers and Bernard

Bresslaw, the broadcaster and author Keith

Skues, and the magician Eugene Matthias.

Chelseas mother lodge, Drury Lane, No. 2127,

also has strong theatrical connections. The latters

founders included the actor Charles Warner

and Londons Gaiety Theatre manager, Charles

Harris. Drury Lanes membership also attracted

establishment gures, including Field Marshal EarlKitchener, perhaps best known today as the face

of Great War recruitment posters, featuring the

legend: Your country needs you!

ROOTS OF ALLIEDARTS LODGE

Photography:Stringer/HultonArchive/GettyImages


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freemasonrytoday.com

e Freemasons Grand Charity

67

CHARITIES UPDATE

60 Great Queen StreetLondon WC2B 5AZTel: 020 7395 9261

Fax: 020 7395 [email protected]

Find us on Facebookandfollow us on Twitter

The Jubilee Sailing Trust received 25,000 to fund abursary scheme to enable severely disabled peopleto participate in voyages aboard their two tall ships

Through supporting Dogs for the Disabled, the Grand Charity is helpingpeople like Josh Walker, pictured here with Miri

With the help of Freemasons around thecountry, the Grand Charity provides aninvaluable service to those in need.

For many people 2012 will be a year to remember,from visions of bunting and the Queens Jubilee

to the sporting excellence of the Olympic andParalympic Games. Yet many people struggleddue to financial problems, illness or other difficultcircumstances. The Grand Charity exists to helpthese people in need Freemasons, their families orthe wider community and 2012 was no exception.

Masonic relief

The Freemasons Grand Charity received over twothousand applications for financial assistance andapproved support of more than 5 million. Thecharity noted a continued increase in applicationsfrom younger members facing redundancy andbusiness difficulties due to the economic crisis.

Support for the wider community

The charity provided 2.5 million in funding fornon-masonic charitable causes. This includedcontinued support for research into age-relateddeafness; support for ex-Armed Service personnelwith grants for Help for Heroes and CombatStress; and support for projects that tackle youthunemployment, which grew to 20.5 per cent in 2012.

Air Ambulances

2012 saw the Grand Charity celebrate more than1 mil lion in g rants to t he Ai r Ambulances andequivalent services since 2007. These grants providefunding for what is considered to be the countrysbusiest voluntary emergency service. In 2012,each Provincial and Metropolitan Grand Lodgepresented a share of 192,000 to its local service.

Hospice services

In 2012, 600,000 was distributed amongst twohundred and thirt y-nine hospice services, bringingthe total given since 1984 to 9.9 million.

We hope it is clear how valuable the work of TheFreemasons Grand Charity is. The impact achieved

through its funding might be dif ficult to measure,but it is immense. It is only than ks to the support ofthe Freemasons and their families that the charity isable to make such a contribution to peoples lives.

The grants listed right

are only a small

selection of charitable

causes that have been

assisted by Freemasons

through the Grand

Charity in 2012; a full list

is available to view at

www.grandcharity.org.

Enclosed within this

issue of Freemasonry

Today you will nd theGrand Charitys Annual

Review 2012 we hope

you enjoy reading it.

A YEAR TOREMEMBER


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CHARITIES UPDATE

Masonic Samaritan Fund

60 Great Queen StreetLondon WC2B 5AZTel: 020 7404 1550Fax: 020 7404 [email protected]

With depression affecting one in ve

older people, the Masonic Samaritan

Fund has launched a new service:

the MSF Counselling Careline a free,

condential helpline operated by

trained counsellors who will listen

and offer professional guidance.

Most of us manage our physical health far betterthan our emotional well-being, leaving unresolved

issues that may cause real harm. Concerns can

start as a simple worry but can grow into a panic

where life events feel like a never-ending staircase

of new challenges. It often helps to talk to loved

ones, but there may be times when your family

and friends dont have the expertise to help.

HELPING PEOPLEIN DISTRESS

It can be difficult to see a friend or relative

suffering, but it is also a chance to expressyour love and support as you help them taketheir first steps towards addressing theirfeelings. Often symptoms are an intense form

of a natural emotion, so they may feel you arebeing overly dramatic by suggesting a supportservice. Try to encourage them to call the freeMSF Counselling Careline; its counsellors areskilled at helping someone see the benefit ofsupport. Reassure them that counselling

starts with an informal discussion and thereis no obligation to undergo further treatment.When they are ready, give them the privacyto speak confidentially with a professional.

Feelings of depression, anxiety and stress are very

common and can affect anybody for all kinds of

reasons, such as bereavement, redundancy, family

breakdown or illness. The cause could be a mixture

of events or there could be no obvious reason at all;

you may just be feeling a little low right now.

The good news is that help is available. The

rst step is to talk to someone, and a single phone

call to the MSF is all that is required to access

the MSF Counselling Careline. More than two

hundred and eighty thousand people in the UKuse services similar to the Careline each year.

Freemasons, their wives, widows, partners and

dependent children can call the MSF Counselling

Careline. It is free, condential and operated by

trained counsellors waiting to help.

Call the Fund on 020 7404 1550 to access the service

MSF COUNSELLING

CARELINE

Men are less likely to seek support formental health problems than women


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CHARITIES UPDATE

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution

60 Great Queen StreetLondon WC2B 5AZTel: 020 7596 2400Fax: 020 7404 [email protected]

Prince George Duke of Kent Court care home has benetted from improvements

WEDDING JOY FORRMBI RESIDENTLast October, eighty-six-year-old George Hoggett,

a resident of Ecclesholme, RMBIs care home in

Manchester, proudly walked his daughter Sandra

down the aisle and gave her away at her wedding

to local Freemason John Hesketh.

Ecclesholme care support team kitted George

out in a top hat and tails and helped ensure he was

looking his best for the big day. He was picked up by

the wedding car and taken to St Michaels Church in

Aughton, near Ormskirk, Lancashire, for the service.

Wedding guests were asked to give donations to

Ecclesholme in place of wedding presents, and

cheques were received to the value of 500. The

money will be used to purchase two glass-fronted

refrigerators for the homes communal dining areas.

George was living in sheltered accommodation

prior to a fall and subsequent hospital stay.

Fortunately, Ecclesholme had a room available

for George to move in. Sandra says, Dad settled in

straight away thanks to the wonderful staff and lovely

environment. We particularly appreciate the way the

staff show respect to dad. Their t raining is rst rate.

A new addition to the nursing facility wasofficially opened at RMBIs care home inChislehurst, Prince George Duke of KentCourt, by Metropolitan Grand MasterRussell Race.

e Hinton Lounge and new diningroom followed a generous 70,000

donation to the Home from St PaulsColumn Lodge, No. 7197, which meets inLondon. e donation had been left inlegacy by Brenda Hinton, the widow oflocal Freemason Roy Hinton.

Roy was initiated into St Pauls ColumnLodge in March 1977, becoming theAssistant Secretary in April 1979. As wellas being a passionate Freemason, Royworked for more than thirty years ateTimes and was greatly respected by bothcolleagues and brethren. Sadly, Roy diedin October 1981, aged just fif ty-four.

Brenda kept in close contact with thelodge and on her own death in 2010, lefta substantial gift to be used as deemedappropriate by the Master, Wardens andbrethren. On further discussion betweenthe lodge and the Grand CharitySteward, it was agreed that some of thedonation should be used to supportimprovements at Prince George Duke ofKent Court. e new lounge and dining

room were named in lasting memoryof the Hinton family.

e opening ceremony was attendedby representatives of the MetropolitanGrand Lodge, St Pauls Column Lodge,the Province of West Kent, the RMBIand the local Association of Friends.

Following a welcome by RMBI PresidentWillie Shackell, a formal presentationof the 70,000 cheque was made byWarren omas, Master of St PaulsColumn Lodge, and the brethren wereappropriately thanked. Russell Racethen unveiled the plaque for the HintonLounge and cut the ribbon.

Prince George Duke of Kent Court waspurpose built in 1968 and is situated ina popular part of Kent. e home canaccommodate seventy-four residents forboth residential and nursing care and,like all RMBI homes, can cater for peoplewith dementia. e home benefitsfrom individual rooms and attractivecommunal areas, as well as wheelchair-accessible gardens, a fully stocked libraryand a hairdressing and pamper salon.eres also a full programme ofentertainment, social events, outings,gentle exercise classes and creative,cultural and intellectual activities.

LEGACY BOOSTSKENT CARE HOMEA legacy donation to an RMBI care home has expandedfacilities for residents, with t

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