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 A Lodge wedding took place on the 29th August and was a special day for one of our members , for it was the day when our IPM , W.Bro Vaughan Coleridge-Matthews decided to get married to Susan.

The ceremony was conducted at the Manor House in Sherborne where a large contingent of our Lodge members gathered to witness the wonderful occasion after travelled to the lovely town in Dorset. The bride was given away by her son, Joseph, ( 2 sheep and 4 goats were mentioned, I personally thought it wasn’t enough) whilst Vaughan’s two sons attended to the safe keeping of the rings and the photography. Susan’s sister gave one of the readings, whilst I had the pleasure of delivering the second, which I thought was appropriate (only just) 

A reception was held at the Grange at Oborne, a country hotel that offered great accommodation, service and food and able to put on a wonderful spread with copious bottles of champagne. I can truthfully say that we didn’t go short. Many stayed for extra days to take advantage of the bank holiday weekend. Those members and their partners who did were able to have a lovely dinner with the happy couple on the following night before making their respective ways home.

We wish the couple many years of health, wealth and happiness for many years to come as long as Vaughan continues working…

I know many masonic members will have attended Freedom ‘ceremonies’ but for those that haven’t, I thought I’d tell you about my experience of this on 30^th July.

If you wish to proceed within a Livery Company, you need to be admitted a Freeman of the City of London, mine is one of the most ancient, the Worshipful Company of Butchers, the seventh oldest City Livery Company, dating back to about 1314 a.d.  

Once you have received the Freedom of the Company, you need to obtain the Freedom of the City of London.  This involves two visits to the Chamberlain’s Court in Guildhall about a month apart, the first of which is an application for the freedom in which you present your livery freedom document, birth certificate, marriage certificate and a cheque for £100.   Once your application is approved by the Court of Aldermen you get a letter inviting you to book the second appointment, which is for your ceremony of freedom admission.

I booked mine in for Noon on a Thursday because I wanted to have a celebration lunch afterwards with my wife and one of my daughters. On the day we arrived early as requested and spent a delightful half hour in the office next to the Chamberlain’s court talking to the Beadle, reading the declarations, looking at the artefacts on show and taking pictures with the sheep sculptures (yes, mention the Freedom to people and you’ll always be asked if that means you can drive sheep across London Bridge. The origin of this half-myth is that the12th Century stone London Bridge was paid for by a tax on wool and as a freeman gained exemption from tolls he would have this right)

We were then called in to meet Murray Craig, Clerk to the Chamberlain’s Court and he ran us through what was to happen – basically you read aloud a declaration and sign the Declaration book and are then offered the ‘right hand of fellowship’ by him. The ceremony dates back to medieval times and the original craft guilds which trained the young and looked after the old – and later became liveries. Murray was very entertaining and

told us some interesting stories about previous freemen (including Morgan Freeman, Bob Geldorf, Fiona Bruce and some ordinary people with fascinating stories).

As well as my splendidly framed certificate I was given  a red book called ‘The rules for life’ which includes 36 of them – most about  doing your duty, doing good works, living by the right principles  and letting your light shine, which chime well with the Worshipful Company of Butchers values!  We had a chance to look at many more wonderful articles on display and read all about the origins of the ceremony and then it was time for the next person to be called so we headed off to CafeBelow, based in the atmospheric thousand year old crypt of St Mary le Bow in the City, it is a family business offering simple, high quality cooking throughout the day and just right for a great meal and a glass of champagne and a toast (Official Toast ‘to the Youngest Freeman’ – meaning newest) .  Another myth you will be told about is the right of a freeman to be ‘drunk and disorderly in the City without fear of arrest’ but we did not try this out either!

However, I have booked my place to drive sheep over London Bridge later in the year.

A news update on the Twitter Pins….. £2000 donated to the RMTGB

The objective to raise the awareness of Freemasonry through Social Media has been achieved, thanks to the Twitter Pin

http://rmtgb.org/news/newshome/246-little-lapel-pins-make-a-huge-difference

North Harrow Lodge continue to support our Brother Masons

On the 24th May 2015, a contingency of members and their partners from North Harrow Lodge no. 6557 (Middlesex) and Gradation Lodge no. 6368 (MetGL) will travel on Eurostar to Paris and subsequently to Versailles, just outside Paris, for a meeting scheduled on the 26th May at Tara Lodge 1541 GLNF for a Twinning ceremony of Gradation 6368 UGLE and Tara 1541 GLNF.

Gradation Lodge 6368 has had a long relationship with masons in France and about 3 are members of the Lodge, so it was only right that following the re-establishment of connections with GLNF that a Twinning of the two lodges take place.

I had the pleasure of meeting with W.Bro Guy Bruandet of Tara Lodge and a Grand Inspector of GLNF over lunch only a few weeks ago during a visit to Paris, after which this subsequent visit has been arranged.

It is hoped that the connection between the French Lodge and Gradation 6368 UGLE will enable the Lodge to maybe source French members living and working in London to join them.

Any French Mason wishing to join Gradation Lodge is invited to contact the Gradation Lodge Secretary for further details

The 145th ANNUAL MEETING OF MIDDX PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE will be held at Freemasons’ Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ on Tuesday, 12th May 2015 at which the attendance of the Provincial Grand Officers, together with Masters, Past Masters and Wardens of the Lodges of the Province is required.     Download the Booking Form Here

The Provincial Grand Master R.W.Bro. H.R.H Prince Michael of Kent CGVO will preside over the meeting.

Other members of Lodges in the Province, being Master Masons, are cordially invited to attend the Meeting but they may neither vote nor take part in the business, unless they are Past Masters of Lodges under the English Constitution and have retained their qualification as Members of Grand Lodge. Visitors, being Master Masons, may attend if they are properly introduced. The Provincial Grand Master cordially invites Fellow Craft and Entered Apprentices to attend the Banquet only.

The Provincial Grand Lodge will open at 3.45 p.m. (Doors open at 2.45 p.m.). Please be seated by 3.15 p.m.

Brethren must complete and sign the Attendance Register before entering the Temple.

Active Provincial Grand Officers designate must collect their Active Rank Jewel and Rank Card from the Active Officers’ Registration Desk outside the Grand Temple before the meeting.

Dinner in the Grand Connaught Rooms will be at 7.00 p.m. Applications to Provincial Office on the form attached.