This is what Freemasons do best. Our last Ladies’ Night in 2014, under the mastership of W.Bro Vaughan Coleridge-Matthews was remarkable in a couple of ways. We had a fantastic turnout of near to 110 attending at the Runnymede Hotel, Egham and with his inspired efforts, we were able to raise just under £2,000 on the evening in support of the RAF Benevolent Fund and The Help for Heroes appeal.

So, at our Lodge meeting on Friday 13th March 2015 , it was lucky for some, because it gave us great pleasure in carrying out our promise in presenting cheques totalling £2,000 the two Charities we agreed to support during last year. A cheque for £1,000 to RAFBF and £1,000 to Help for Heroes

Our next Meeting is on Friday 8th May, ( A Double Initiation) Why not come and visit us , Dining £25. Book in with the Secretary

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If someone said three years ago it would be the norm to have between 45 and 50 attending our lodge meetings, I would have said they were living in cloud cuckoo land.

However, it seems as though this is now true….. From normal meetings in 2012 with attendance of 16 to 22 to a staggering (for us that is) 42-48 on a regular basis.  This has been achieved primarily by successful recruitment through our Website (View the progression sheet here) (heehee) but secondly by the hard work, commitment and enthusiasm of our members, who have worked tirelessly to involve and enthuse our new recruits.

At our last meeting on Friday 16th January, 47 attended the meeting including 20 visitors, we conducted a 3rd Degree Ceremony to a credible standard…. All work except for two short pieces were performed by the light blues who occupy all offices from our IPM down to the 10 stewards and most importantly the father of the candidate had the pleasure of witnessing the second of his two sons raised to the degree of a Master Mason.

The Festive board was a hoot. Our SW proposed the toast to the visitors to include a read through of the “East End” gangster workings of opening of the lodge, which brought tears to our eyes and was aptly responded to by one of our regular visitors from the badlands of Essex to the acclaim of all present.

The raffle ( offering prizes, the quality of which are unsurpassed) and Charity box raised just under £400, another record. 

I am sure that those who attended the last meeting will be queuing up to witness a Second Degree Ceremony at our next on Friday 13th March, unlucky for some, but I trust not for us as we are also balloting for another TWO candidates, who will be

initiated in a double ceremony at our 8th May meeting.

Dont forget to book in early as our mentors are busy assigning Ten lay brethren to perform ritual at the meeting.

Onward and Upward ………..

[tribulant_slideshow gallery_id=”4″] Over the years, Christmas seems to start earlier and earlier,  with decorations and trees appearing in stores and garden centres almost whilst some of us are still on our summer holidays.  But as far as North Harrow Lodge is concerned, Christmas  starts with our annual visit to The Goring Hotel for a champagne reception  ( historically know as “the opening of Nigel’s wallet” ) which lasts an hour or so, and tends to lubricate the vocal chords. This is followed by a stroll past Buckingham Palace to The Guards’ Chapel for the Household Division’s Carol Service. The Chapel is always packed to the gunnels and along with the traditional recitals, the service also includes carols from when I was a lad and to which everyone seemed to know all the words, even after a few glasses of Champagne. Exactly what was needed to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. Then its back to The Goring for evening tea and sandwiches, what a lovely way to spend a Sunday evening..and long may it continue   .. Christmas is definitely here.

One of the great advantages of being a Freemason is having the opportunity of visiting other Lodges that meet in venues you wouldn’t ordinarily be able to gain access and of course making new friends. Last week was one of those occasions, I have for many months looked into the possibility of becoming a Freeman of the City of London and join one of the 7th oldest City Livery Companies.

So, I was delighted when the Secretary of Taurus Lodge 3981, the private Lodge of the Worshipful Company of Butchers, invited me along to their installation meeting. Their normal venue was at Butchers’ Hall, however, as they have leased the building to the construction consultants of St. Barts Hospital, it has been agreed to meet on the other side of Smithfield market at The Charterhouse. What a magnificent building it is too. The site upon which Sutton’s Hospital in Charterhouse stands was acquired in the middle of the fourteenth century as a burial ground for the victims of the Black Death. As not all the space was used, a Carthusian Monastery was established here in 1371 by Sir Walter de Mauny (Manny), one of Edward III’s senior advisers. A prior and twenty-four monks were accommodated in two-storey houses arranged round a characteristically large cloister, and the church, built alongside the burial ground, became the priory church. Thomas More, ’A man for all seasons’, friend of Erasmus and later Henry VIII’s Chancellor, frequently visited Charterhouse as a young student, as it was an important centre of ecclesiastical learning. Continue reading “The Joys of Visiting other Lodges” →

In temperatures nearing 30*c , it wouldn’t be one’s choice to stand all day in front of a flaming Barbeque in a south facing and sweltering marquee.

But we’re tough in NHL :)) and now somewhat slimmer !!!

However, it’s what North Harrow members do in the name of charity if needs be and this is what we did on Sunday the 20th July at the annual Middlesex Grand Family Fete, which was held at the Royal Masonic School for Girls in Rickmansworth.

North Harrow Lodge have run the BBQ stall at the Fete for in the region of 20 years, selling burgers, bacon butties, Jumbo dogs and kebabs in their hundreds, which has culminated in us being able to donate many thousands of pounds to the various charities to which the Fete has supported over this time. This year was no exception, where our efforts enabled us to hand over £600. A little down on last year, possibly due to being relocated away from the beer tent, as most like a burger and a pint, but never the less a worthwhile amount.

The Fete was well attended with about 40 Middlesex Lodges being represented and has this year raised in excess of £14,000 to date.

And, as an added bonus, We met up with a few of the Twitterati and managed to add another £25  to our total collected for The RMTGB through donations for Twitter Pins.

Roll on next year………