Provincial News
- Written by: Michael Genner
On Tuesday 31st October 2017, Grand Masters representing over 120 Grand Lodges from across the globe joined together with The Most Worshipful Grand Master, His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, and other esteemed officers and members of the United Grand Lodge of England at the Royal Albert Hall to celebrate the Tercentenary of the Founding of the Premier Grand Lodge.
- Written by: Michael Genner
On the 27th of October there was a very special birthday celebrated at Sheaf Close with a Banner rededication in the presence of the Provincial Executive, led by the Provincial Grand Master RWBro Max Bayes and 130 Brethren. Kingsley Lodge celebrated its 125th Anniversary of its concentration and unbroken run of 1000 regular meeting, quite an achievement and in spite of the 1st and 2nd World Wars.
The Founders of the Kingsley Lodge were drawn mainly from Eleanor Cross Lodge and Pomfret Lodge and mostly lived on what was known as the Kingsley Park Estate, Northampton
The Warrant to form the Lodge was granted on 3 June 1892 and on Monday 24 October 1892, 131 brethren assembled at the Masonic Hall, Princess Street, Northampton when the Provincial Grand Master, the Rt. Hon. The Earl of Euston, proceeded with the ceremony of consecrating the new Lodge.
In the 125 years that have passed since the Consecration one could reasonably claim that Members of Kingsley Lodge had a profound effect on the trade, commerce, government and social life of Northampton.
Many industrialists were members as well as many Mayors of the Town. There cannot be many Lodges who can boast of having two Grand Treasurers, two Deputy Provincial Grand Masters, an Assistant Provincial Grand Master, two Provincial Grand Secretaries, a Grand Superintendent, a Member of Parliament and 14 Mayors. These are high honours of which Kingsley Lodge is justifiably proud. Kingsley Lodge remains in good heart with members who are committed to carrying the Lodge forward for the future.
- Written by: John Fergusson
The Companions of the Royal Arch Province will already be aware that on Saturday 4th November the first of three planned PSA Testing sessions was held in Northampton under the auspices of the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust. The ME Grand Superintendent has been pleased to promote this initiative in recognition of the wonderful support he has received throughout Province and the generous contributions made to the Royal Arch Provincial Charity over recent years.
No less than 125 Companions/ Brethren and their Guests were in attendance on the Saturday morning at Sheaf Close for our first Testing session with further initiatives planned for Peterborough and Kettering/Corby in the early part of 2018.
The ME Grand Superintendent was delighted with the response and the support shown at Northampton with participants from the Northampton, Daventry and Towcester areas and can confidently look forward to similar responses for any future Testing sessions to come. He expressed his grateful thanks to E Comp Mike Green, our Provincial Grand Charity Steward and E Comp David Smith, Provincial Grand Treasurer, for their tireless efforts in bringing our proposals to a very successful conclusion at Northampton. E Comp Mike has worked with the initiative for the last 12/18 months and deserves our special thanks.
Companions in other parts of the Province will be advised in due course as and when future tests are planned in their locality. We all hope that some form of re-assurance and a degree of comfort will be given to all participants who take advantage of the testing initiative and will help to point us all in the right direction should any further advice or guidance be required.
- Written by: Michael Genner
On Monday the 23rd of October 2017, WBro Jonathon Hibbins was Installed as Worshipful Master of the Richard Sandbach Lodge of Research No. 9600.
In keeping with the tradition of The Lodge, WBro Hibbins delivered his Installation lecture, which was entitled Was Sir Christopher Wren a Freemason?
WBro Hibbins giving his Installation lecture
WBro Hibbins spoke with a great deal of enthusiasm; it was clearly a subject he had researched in-depth.
Several distinguised brethren were present, including WBro Michael Branch PAGDC, the official representative of the Provincial Grand Master.
From left, WBro R Hibbins, WBro T Cole, WBro Dr CR Clark, WBro M Branch (official representative of the PGM), WBro J Hibbins, WBro D Sandbach, and WBro B Stokes
The Lodge of Research was founded in tribute to RWBro Richard Sandbach, a dedicated and well respected Masonic historian, writer and orator.
The Lodge aims to further Masonic education by delivering orations, presentations and displays to brethren at their meetings, both in Peterborough and elsewhere.
The next meeting of Richard Sandbach Lodge of Research will be at Corby Masonic Centre on the 15th of January 2018, when WBro Dickon Sandbach and his team will perform a demonstration and explanation of salient parts of the First Degree ceremony at Corby to the Joint Corby Lodges of Instruction.
The next annual Richard Sandbach Lecture, which will be entitled From Darkness into Light – A Personal Journey, will be presented by VWBro Wayne Williams on the 19th of March 2018 at Peterborough Masonic Centre.
There will be a more detailed article about the Richard Sandbach Lodge of Research in the Spring 2018 edition of Password.