Mike Martin

Why not have a chat with the guys (Crest Regalia) who host this forum, they manufacture regalia so may well be able to repair too. The phone number is 01709 531572

From an era where video reporting was not as copious as today here's a look at what our brethren of the 1930s were up to. Full title reads: "Brighton. With Impressive Masonic Ceremonial. Major R L Thornton Provincial Grand Master of Sussex lays foundation stone of the new Sussex Eye Hospital." Have some of this: https://www.britishpathe.com/video/with-impressive-masonic-ceremonial

Yes there is a form of words to do so. Hence my comment earlier the problem is the OP gives no context so not possible to address.

Very hard to give you a proper answer because you haven't explained what the problem is.

But didn't it used to be after the Chair?

No your writing is fine and I had a pretty good idea but what I'm saying is that is not really a good motivation for joining a Lodge. You need to do it because you want to do it for you and the membership of a relative doesn't really give you that motivation. Your difficulty is that we are in the middle of the Covid19 thing and it is going to be difficult (at best) for you to get the interaction with Freemasons (in the real world) that you will need to find out about Freemasonry and whether it is for you. The only way to really get it is by going and meeting with members of a Lodge and having a long talk.

Hi again, You shouldn't need to join a Lodge just to find out about what he was involved in and to be honest that isn't a great motivation to do so. Most Grand Lodges are able to share membership details with relatives of deceased Freemasons and a letter to it including his full details (full names, date of birth and address) and an explanation of why you're trying to find out should get you the info. The same is true of Scottish Rite and the Shrine which are separate organisations.

Hi there and welcome to the Forum. That ring will have definitely been "special" to your Granddad because it was "his" Scottish Rite ring and to you for the same reason but I'm afraid that special factor doesn't really carry on into the wider world. This type of ring is or has been quite popular in the States and for that reason examples turn up frequently on Ebay and you are right to baulk at a $4k price tag for reinstating the diamond as they are often listed for around a $1000 - $1,500. As to what you do with it that is really a decision for you but don't get hung-up on honoring this piece of jewellery as it is just an outer show of our membership of a fraternity that has internal ideals of brotherly love, relief and truth. Some of us wear masonic jewellery because we are proud to be a part of such a tradition but it is not an essential item, his regalia would have been that part. If you want to find out about what he was a part of you should google up the Grand Lodge of the where you live, as you're in the US that will be a State Grand Lodge.

Snippet: Crude' suspect bomb found at Penryn Masonic lodge Full Article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-52909306 Another: https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/freemasons-respond-after-crude-bomb-4189652

Snippet: An Inverness project providing vital food supplies for vulnerable people has been given an £800 funding boost. Inverness Foodstuff received the donation from Inverness’s Lodge St Columba. Full story: https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/lodge-gives-support-to-city-food-project-during-coronavirus-crisis-201129/

Quite a nice video introduction to these guys:

A video from Grand Lodge just giving a taster of some of the things that English and Welsh Freemasons are getting involved with to help.

As mentioned above, good communication from Relief Chest Reps (Lodge and/or Provincial) would ensure that all members are already aware of the fact that they can donate direct to a (the Lodge's, the Province's or any other) Relief Chest here: https://mcf.org.uk/donate/ More info on all Relief Chests here: https://mcf.org.uk/reliefchest/

I've not come across these devices in a Lodge setting but it's worth remembering that there are plenty of cashless options available for Lodges to use without having to buy them. The last few Lodges that I visited before the lock-down meals I pre-paid using direct credits through my on-line banking, the details having helpfully been supplied along with the menu by the Lodge Secretaries. All my costs for Mersey are paid in Subs by direct debit with any late visitors that I bring being settled up on the day or next day by direct credit to the Lodge's bank account. Drinks at the bar are the province of the establishment having card readers. The only Lodge Officers whose "takings" should really suffer from this is going to be the Almoner and Charity Steward who rely more on-the-spur of the moment or last minute contributions although with a bit of work and communication it can be arranged for members to make regular donations online too. When I go to a Lodge meeting nowadays I only tend to take a note for the Relief Chest (aka Gift Aid) envelope.

Replacement url:

It's been a few years so I feel no guilt, up to the top

It does bring a smile:

This Looks interesting

I've just stumbled upon the story of Steve Blake a young brother in a horrible situation and thought I need to share in case it could help his fund raising efforts for the Brain Tumour Research charity to other Freemasons. It is important to me not just because he is a brother but I also I lost my uncle to malignant brain tumours 3 years ago. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/war-hero-discovers-hes-months-13048720 Please have look and if you're interested you can buy a badge and make a at a cost of £8 which include P&P here: https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/masonictwitterbadges?

To be honest you're not actually missing much, it was a very "needy" piece with no real content.

Hi Luigi, Welcome to the forum and I hope things are well with you in Italy.

Warning you can only read the whole article if you're a subscriber. Snippet: The freemasons, a centuries-old network of fraternal lodges, have long provided fodder for thriller writers and folk with overactive imaginations. Suggestions of conspiracy range from the outlandish to the banal. Steve White, a former chairman of the Police Federation, a cops’ union, claimed they blocked reforms to the service. Masons roll their eyes at such claims. Link: https://amp.economist.com/britain/2020/04/25/the-freemasons-want-to-be-known-for-hand-wash-not-handshakes

Hi there and welcome aboard. Unusual forum name I'm sure we'd be happy to answer your questions depending what they are. BTW,have you read the Forum rules?

By Brother Dan Weatherington, from the Masonic e-mail journal CINOSAM Not one person ever joined Masonry because George Washington was a Mason. Not one person ever joined Masonry because Harry Truman was a Mason. Not one person ever joined because of any of our great Masonic heroes. Joining doesn't make you any of those people. Not one person ever joined in order to give a million dollars a day to charity, or homes, or crippled children. You don't have to be a member to give money. Not one person ever joined because our ritual is outstanding, or our minutes are accurate, or a hundred other things we worry about. They don't know about our ritual. They joined because someone they knew and admired was a Mason. It could have been a father, a friend, a man down the street, or someone a thousand miles away. Who, it didn't matter. They admired him and wanted to do the things he did, and they did it by the millions. Want to help our growth? Be the kind of man someone admires. Someone will notice.

Interesting: https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101393970-grand-connaught-rooms-holborn-and-covent-garden-ward#.XntBiIj7SUk