If you are interested in joining Freemasonry in Middlesex in general or North Harrow Lodge in particular, we have adopted the Middlesex Membership Charter, which sets out the time frames that we will adhere to when you decide to join.

To find out more about Joining Freemasonry, just go to the Contact Us page and ask for an enquiry form or apply through the Provincial Website

http://www.northharrowlodge.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Middlesex-Membership-Charter-2021.pdf

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I can’t believe it

Has been almost a year since my last post and can remember my daughter, who is a professional ‘blogger’ and SEO, saying that most blogs fail within 3 month as the initial novelty wears off.
Well this has not been the case as far as I am concerned as I started this blog over 8 years ago and had posted every month since and only due to other things going on in my life and time restraints that have made me a little remiss in posting any updates. But that’s enough of my feeble excuses.

So, here we go!

A lot has happened since my last post way back in the summer of last year. We have had the installation of a new Worshipful Master at our October meeting, where we had almost 40 attending, witnessing W.Bro Simon Thomas installed as Master. Followed by a Second Degree ceremony in January where we passed Bro George and on Friday the 8th March we had another great turnout with over 16 guests including the PProvGM of the Canary Islands in attendance and the pleasure of welcoming W.Bro Norman our Joining Member and initiating 2 great young guys into Freemasonry and North Harrow Lodge.

However, the best laid plans

Bro Matthew & W.Bro David

At most meetings, don’t always go without a hitch. W.Bro David Olive, who had proposed Matthew, the first of our initiates, wished to perform the entire ceremony for him. This meant that it would be a rather long meeting as Leon, our second candidate, would be initiated afterwards by our WM. However, at the last minute our WM was unable to attend the meeting due to business commitments. So David stepped up to the plate at the eleventh hour and not only initiated both candidates consecutively but also welcomed one of our new joining members.

What a star performance

Bro Leon & Bro Secretary

Many congratulations must go to W.Bro David and it goes to show the benefits of attending Lodge of Instructions on a regular basis because his ritual for all were superb.

Looking back we have been very fortunate in North Harrow Lodge over the last 8 years to have initiated over 22 sponsored and unsponsored candidates, many of whom have come through our website and Social Media at a time when we were struggling for members. With a membership of 20 at that time to one of 43 to date, we are now reaping the benefits of that initiative with a thriving, active membership, whilst achieving a 90% retention rate through our mentoring program and long may it continue.

What have we in store

For our next meeting. We have a 3rd Degree where we are honoured by the presence of our Assist. ProvGM. The start time is 4.30pm. It will be a spectacular performance

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As we look back on 2017

We again started on a high with another initiation at our January meeting . Our WM, Rimal, who incidentally was the first of our internet initiates in 2011, did a sterling job during his year having conducted all three Degrees during his mastership and as a plus during the Tercentennial year of United Grand Lodge we have been able to increase our membership to in excess of 40 whilst reducing the average membership age from 67 years in 2012 to 51 to date with a third aged under 45.

The March meeting

what another cracker with a second degree and another initiation with over ten lay brethren taking part and performing small pieces of ritual,  followed by a great festive board with over 38 attending.

North Harrow Lodge Ladies’ Night

Is the highlight of the Lodge’s Social calendar and was held at The Watford Hilton Hotel where about 90 members, partners and guests attended a wonderful evening of food, fun and fellowship and of course dancing… This year it is at the Runnymede Hotel at Egham on the 21st April and the ticket price is under £50 pp. Why not come along and join in the fun. The theme is ‘A night at the Opera’ Phantom?

The May meeting

was just as enjoyable with the 3rd Degree of one of our members at the tender age of 22 making him our youngest Master Mason. The ritual was superb with many of our young guys performing for the first time. It was a pleasure to behold.

Then along came the summer

over 35 enjoyed a Barby at Bro Secy’s Home, a visit to Guild Hall L3116 at Mansion House to witness the installation of the Lord Mayor of London as WM, a visit to Tara L1541 in Paris for a Lodge  twinning , we wallowed through the mud at Hatfield House Game Fair, got drenched on a 40′ Yacht during our usual sailing weekend on the Solent, scorched whilst watching Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards and thoroughly enjoyed  lunch at the East India Club and at Lord’s Cricket Ground, the Boar’s Head Ceremony lunch at Pewterers’ Hall and afterwards at Mansion House and of course the Tercentenary Meeting at the Royal Albert Hall was a treat.

Before we knew it

at our October Installation meeting, we said well done and farewell to Rimal and welcome to Maurice our new joining member and of course,  Leonardo, our new Worshipful Master and the start of a new Masonic year. The first degree working tools delivered by our Paolo in Italian was sublime

What have we in store for 2018

well, you will have to wait and see. An initiation is scheduled for January, followed by maybe a double initiation and a second in March and a third in May, yet again giving our WM a chance to perform all three ceremonies during his year, if he so wishes.

Well that’s all for 2017

a busy but a most enjoyable year was had by all  . Onward and upward in 2018 as we drink to the health of our WM

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The Tercentenary Celebrations of United Grand Lodge

were held at the Royal Albert Hall on Tuesday 31st October. 2017 and was a feast for the senses. The whole event was being streamed live and is available to watch as a catchup at  RAH300.org was superbly organised and ran smoothly despite the Piccadilly Line’s attempts to make me miss it by its glacial approach to mass transfer.

What a glorious occasion with some 4,500 Freemasons including 136 Grand Masters from around the world seated in one of London’s premier entertainment venues, enjoying a spectacular theatrical presentation, led by Sir Derek Jacobi, profiling the progress of Freemasonry over 300 years.

The Diversity of our Lodges

Images were also displayed on overhead screens of the diversity of many modern day Lodges, using social activities which have used to attain and retain its membership, we were pleased to have been one of those selected by Grand Lodge of the Annual North Harrow Lodge Sailing Trip.

The Masonic Charitable Foundation

The MCF highlighted the support it has given to various Masonic and Non Masonic Charities over the years  and have regularly supported air ambulance and rescue service charities, donating a total of around £1.5 million to 22 rescue services since 2007. Every air ambulance charity in England and Wales has received funding, and grants are made to equivalent services in areas where they do not operate.. and In recent years, over £2.5 million has been given to support emergency aid and  resources such as the 2015 earthquake in Nepal and major flooding in the UK during 2014 and 2015

Masonic Music

Music from Gilbert and Sullivan (the Mikado) and from Mozart (the Magic Flute) combined with extracts from the ceremonial delivered with Shakespearean panache……and throughout the celebration meeting I was alternately moved and informed by the display of both history and the aims & ideals that survive today. Sir Derek Jacoby gave a bravura performance and the ladies who played Faith, Hope & Charity were exemplary. There was even a tribute act to Cab Calloway with “Mini the Moocher”. To watch a Grand Officer singing “Hi dee hi dee hi – hoo de hoo de hoo” was priceless. “I Vow to Thee my Country”, “Jerusalem” and the National Anthem (two verses) were ‘sung’ with gusto and enthusiasm with mixed results but it filled many an eye – mine included.

A replacement Ark was inaugurated to replace the one that was lost to fire in the nineteenth century (I think) and will be on display in the main temple in future. The original contained the original articles of association drawn up at the ‘Goose & Gridiron’ and the new one contains copies of those articles and the original three great lights from the one of the four lodges that made up the Premier Grand Lodge of 1717.

The Grand Master

Letters of congratulations were receive from Her Majesty  the Queen  and a Tribute was paid to the Grand Master ‘by a considerable margin, the longest serving Grand Master in the history of English Freemasonry’

The Battersea Evolution

was the venue for what was a sumptuous affair with about 2,000 brothers being fed royally on a superb meal of treacle-roasted beef fillet and the red wine, which was just fabulous. Great chance to catch up with old friends and make some new ones.

Brethren, do make an effort to make the 400th – I know I will !

Acknowledgements : My grateful thanks to W.Bro David Russell for his initial review and Images:  courtesy of United Grand Lodge and various Twitter Lodges and Members. Thanks guys !! e&oe