the link issue 56

The Link January 2015 1

January 2015 Issue No. 56The LINK

• Travelling Gavel gets competitive• New Lodge Consecrated in Berkshire• Mastering Facebook • Other Masonic Orders News

100 visits for master Masters

2 The Link January 2015

Next Issue 57April 2015

Deadline 1st March 2015Next Link Xtra February 2015

Keep up to date with what is happening in the Province via the website

www.berkspgl.org.uk

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Editor Mike Swift

[email protected]

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A new Calendar system has been launched on the web site www.berkspgl.org.uk/calendar/ that is designed to make viewing lodge meetings and visiting other lodges as easy and seamless as possible. It is easily accessed from the web site home page by clicking Calendar on the menu bar. Based on Google Calendar a colour scheme makes it quick and easy to see what ceremony a lodge is performing. Each lodge meeting is called an ‘event’ and by default the Calendar displays all events on a month by month basis. All forthcoming Initiations, Passing, Raisings, Installations can also be viewed together with one click on the appropriate coloured tab. This will make it simple to identify meetings you are looking for. For example you may be looking for the next Initiation to take your newest member to. Additional meetings of groups and committees such as the Light and Dark Blues clubs and events such as Open Days

will be added as ‘special events’ in the coming weeks. The Calendar will also display the correct start time for the meeting and include a link to the lodge location via Google Maps in case you are visiting for the first time.Consideration was given to adding the summons for each lodge meeting to the calendar but as most lodges include the names and addresses of their members, and we didn’t want to protect access to the calendar via a login, this facility has not been enabled. If you have any questions about using the new Calendar please email [email protected] smartphone and tablet users, when you see a meeting you want to attend, you can add the event to your own Google calendar with a single click. On the subject of Smartphones and tablets the Berkspgl web site is being updated shortly to make it totally responsive to the needs of these users.

New Calendar System on the Web Site

Fig 1. Calendar – The standard one month view

Fig 2. Calendar - The caption box that displays by hovering over an event

Fig 3. Calendar – The full event details with option to save to Google Calendar

Fig 4. Calendar – Initiation tab selected


Since April 2013 The Travelling Gavel has covered the length and breadth of the Province of Berkshire. On the 18th December 2014 it returned home when its founding Lodge, Ingham Clark, reclaimed it from the Lodden Bridge Lodge at Sindlesham prior to a total re-launch of the scheme in January 2015.

The Travelling Gavel was created to promote inter-Lodge visiting and provide the opportunity to meet new friends, visit different Lodges and Centres and see different rituals. That has worked well but to add a new vibrancy to the scheme The Travelling Gavel is going to be re-launched in January in a totally different, more competitive, format for 2015.

The holding Lodge will place the Travelling Gavel in clear view in the Lodge and the proposed transfer will be an agenda item for that evening. The Summons for the meeting will be sent to all Lodges in Berkshire and the Gavel will be claimed by the visiting Lodge with the most members attending as a percentage of their membership. For example a Lodge of 20 members with 5 attending the meeting (25%), will win over a lodge of 50 members and 10 attending (20%).

To coincide with the re-launch there is new ritual for both handing over the Travelling Gavel and explaining both the Gavel itself and its purpose. Full rules and regulations are on the website

As the Gavel continues its travels in 2015 it will carry with it the hope and expectation that many more brethren across the Province of Berkshire will experience the pleasure of inter-Lodge visiting and the fulfi lment of meeting and sharing different experiences with new friends.

The Travelling Gavel Gets Competitive

Ray Hall, WM of Ingham Clark (right) receives the Travelling Gavel from Robert Priest, WM of Loddon Bridge at pedestal.

L-R Robert Priest, Ray Hall, Richard Jenkins, Robin Kent and Vince Spiller

For more information about the Travelling Gavel scheme please contact Jason Evans the coordinator at [email protected] or follow the Travelling Gavel on Twitter: @berksgavel and Facebook: Berkshire travelling gavel The holders of the Travelling Gavel should advise the Coordinator within 48 hours of receiving it that they now hold Travelling Gavel.


At every festive board you will hear at the reply to the visitors toast ‘visiting is the lifeblood of masonry’. Well this is the story of 2 newly installed Newbury Worshipful Masters and their quest for masonic domination of visiting Masters.

Our story starts when we first met when we were both JW’s of the Loyal Berkshire Lodge of Hope 574 and St Bartholomew’s 6307. One master towering in height and one not... We gelled immediately. The JW from St Bart’s (we will call him Fred) asked the JW from Hope (we will call him Barney) how’s the ritual learning going? “Quite Well” I said, “you?” “Well, I’ve got the First degree done learning the Second”. I’m in trouble I thought. I was right. Ritual envy had started and continues to this day...

Forward on to Installation, some short 18 months later, of Fred and then Barney. We decided to pair up and visit as much of the Province as we could. Each Centre, each Lodge, then different Provinces, or anywhere that would take us. We met the fantastic W Bro Peter Sullivan, the godfather of ruling master visiting. His enthusiasm rubbed off on to us and triggered our quest to see how many we could visit. We also befriended our 2 Mentors of our year. The ProvSGW Iain Marnock and PPDepGDC Mike Warner, who out of sheer coincidence were acting at meetings we were also attending when we first started our mission. Keeping us in line to the best of their masonic abilities.

They did however embrace our enthusiasm and sense of fun but also our serious commitment to our masonic duties. We were starting to be known around the Province.

On one of our first visits a photo opportunity presented itself. With cameras on phones now and taking our inspiration from that year’s Oscar’s ceremony, the masonic selfie was born. We then decided we would try and document our visits and the characters that we would meet on our travels. With the modern age of social media like twitter and Facebook we thought this would be a great way of promoting Freemasonry. So far I think we may be right. However not everybody wanted to be part of our exploits and some senior officers became camera shy on numerous occasions. We tried not to give up but it was looking impossible, then on our last WM meeting together at St Bart’s Installation the task was complete. Thank you DPGM.

As we were getting out and about the Province with greater regularity the Provincial team started to recognise us more and more, so the more we visited the better we got to know everybody. On one occasion we were introduced by the PGM as “have you met the Flintstones” to a high ranking officer from another Province. On another occasion, on a visit out of Province we managed to get a selfie with the PGM, DPGM, APGM of Buckinghamshire, we even got a mention is his reply about being “photo’d by 2 Berkshire Masons”. The following day he resigned but I don’t think it was anything we did, I think…

We have even had a pic with RW Bro Digby Woods, PPGM, and most, if not

all, of the Provincial

team. It was born out of documenting our visits and injecting some fun into the occasion, in some cases people were disappointed if we didn’t photograph them. So we would happily take a photo or 2.

We have been very privileged to keep some excellent masonic company, especially W Bro Brian Sylvester who arranged an invite to Chelsea Lodge. At this time we had gathered quite a following visiting posse, so we took 12 Brethren to Grand Lodge to see W Bro Rick Wakeman perform a First degree. Out of our 12, we had members from Hope, St Bartholomew’s, Kennet, Mitre, and Goring Gap. We also witnessed an incredible joke off by Grand Officer Roger De Courcey. And yes we have the selfies!

We have been very lucky to attend the amount of lodges we have. Circumstances and family support have been a massive advantage (although now it’s wearing a bit thin being out 4 times a week). We have visited

How to Master Visiting


Grand Lodge on numerous occasions, loved every second and recommend it, especially the WM visit to Grand Lodge for the Quarterly Communications. We’ve been to Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Croydon, London, and the whole of Berkshire. We have opened and closed in all 3 degrees whilst having the privilege as acting as officers, and that was a surprise on more than one occasion particularly in Hampshire acting as JW and SW respectively.

A year goes very quickly. If you have been in the chair you will know how quickly it goes. If you’ve not been in the chair take my word for it, get that blue book out and get into it. Our year is up, our visits are coming to an end, or are they? Of course not, we’ve met lifelong friends, lodges we love to visit, from all over the Province, stories to tell, stories still to be made. I can’t express the fun we have had in our year. We’ve both done over 7 ceremonies in our mother lodges, attended over 97 meetings. We’ve taken the ritual seriously and acted appropriately, but we’ve had some fantastic fun in our lodges and on our visiting travels. We’re so lucky to have such superb lodges in our Province. Fantastic buildings and a warm welcome wherever you go. If you’ve not been to Wallingford, Wantage or Pangbourne look them up and go. You’re missing out.

So my advice for every SD, JW, SW is find a local opposite officer in a lodge at your masonic centre, organise a pint and plan your visits together. This is the tack to take because before you know it your enthusiasm will rub off and you will be joined by others on your visiting quest.

Both Fred and I found that we infected people with regard to visiting, we were joined by junior brethren from Hope and other Newbury lodges on our visits. Increasing visiting numbers and bringing an enjoyable atmosphere wherever we have gone. And then of course there was the raffle wars. We decided we would swap raffle tickets on all meetings, this created a craze among others swapping theirs. However Barney has been victorious to the tune of 22-4. Now that’s a lot of raffle prizes to have won...and good money raised.

It’s good to visit, if only to realise how good your own ritual or lodge is, or is not, enabling you to improve if need be, you are always learning, taking note. If you can’t smile and enjoy yourself visiting another lodge you need to look Fred and Barney up, we’ll make you smile on your next visit.

However back to my title “How To Master Visiting”: you need to be involved, find a friend, pal up, make use of the other Masters in the Province. It’s no fun going on your own. Visit yes, but plan it, find out who’s going where and when. You are only in the chair for the first time once. The first time has got to be special, make the most of it. Embrace it, grab it by the neck and hang on tight.

So the next time you’re asked to join the parade out of lodge ‘as Masters of other Lodges’ enjoy it and feel proud, when asked for £2 for the swindle for the Master’s speech, dig deep, as shortly it will be all over and you’re an IPM, isn’t that right Fred...

Both pages, clockwise, starting top left: Fred and Barney with: Len Starling, Barney’s 100th visit to 4446 including Facebook comments, Len again! The legend that is Rick Wakeman, PGM Martin Peters, Selfie Kings, Roger De Courcey and Link Editor Mike Swift

Meet the Flintstones:

Fred is also known as Graham Reynolds of St Bartholomew’s No. 6307

Barney is also known as Duncan Taylor of Loyal Berkshire Lodge of Hope No. 574.

Follow the exploits of Fred and Barney on Twitter: @grahamareynolds and on Facebook: graham.reynolds.509


Sudlington Santa wows PantoThe Berkshire Freemasons treated hundreds of disabled and disadvantaged children from across Berkshire and beyond with a visit to Beauty and the Beast on the 10th December 2014.

We have made the lovely Theatre Royal in Windsor the home for this annual event, and their production of The Beauty and the Beast this year was again a triumph of fun and enjoyment for the children and their carers and families, with both regular and famous names in the cast. Around 500 children were invited from across numerous charities, including Pathway Special Needs school, Addington school, Daisy’s Dream, Family Friends Windsor, Variety Club, Dash (formerly East Berks Womens’ Aid), Alexander Devine, CLIC Sargent and so on. The number grows each year.

Father Christmas (aka Rodney Hing) was there to greet them, with numerous Masonic helpers from across the Province, some with their wives and all welcoming each child with a goody bag of games, toys, light sticks and silly reindeer antlers. Even the adults managed to join in and look silly in the antlers! The production received great press reviews, and no wonder with such a star studded cast. Rhydian (winner of the X-Factor) was the Prince and Beast, Sheila Ferguson (one of the Three Degrees) played Malifi cent, a wicked enchantress, Sally Geeson, star of many ‘Carry On’ fi lms was Benifi cent the Good Fairy with Postman Pat and Basil Brush playing themselves to make sure everything ran smoothly.

As always Steven Blakely was the dame, Dolly Do-It, struggling with her useless son Willy Do-It (Kevin Cruise) in some great antics.

We were delighted to have the support of the Grand Superintendent Kenneth Benford to welcome numerous civic dignitaries who came to enjoy the performance, including the Mayors of Slough and of Windsor and Maidenhead.

Plans are in place for the 2015 visit and we wait excitedly to fi nd out what it will be, but one thing’s for sure, it will be fun and will be remembered for a long time after the fi nal curtain has fallen by many children and their families as their letters of gratitude show.

Well done Freemasons of Berkshire.


As you enter Sindlesham Masonic Centre for a meeting or Class of Instruction, you will fi nd on the left hand side beneath the information screen, a box containing food items. This has been donated by fellow Freemasons for our ‘Food Bank Project’. This enterprise was fi rst raised a few months ago by W Bro Jimmy Edmundson, W Bro Lionel Voke and W Bro Don Scott with the intention of donating items to the community who required assistance.

The closest Food Bank local to our Masonic Centre is the Wokingham Food Bank which opened its doors to their fi rst client on September 2013. In their fi rst year of operation they have provided over 700 food parcels that have fed nearly 1700 local families who were in short term crisis of food poverty. Each of their clients need a referral from one of the 65 care agencies in Wokingham who hold food bank vouchers which are exchanged for food parcels from various distribution centres. In 2013/14 food banks fed 913,138 people nationwide of which 330,000 were children.

We are asking for assistance with this project from all the Freemasons of Berkshire to contribute one item per visit to their local Masonic Centre. A list of the items required to complete these parcel bags are items such as:- tinned meat,fi sh,beans,soup and all other edible items. Also required is washing up liquid, cleaning products, and any other hardware items. Other items requested are:- chocolate, children’s sweets or snacks plus any other items which are in date which will help those less fortunate than ourselves.

These items can be delivered to each of our Masonic Centres in Berkshire and will be collected by W Bro Jimmy, W Bro Don and W Bro Lionel on a regular basis and transported to the Food Bank main centre in their local area.

“Whatever, therefore, you feel disposed to give, you will deposit with your local Masonic Centre, it will be thankfully received and faithfully applied.”

W Bro Jimmy Edmundson

Allan Miles, Gerry Hann and Lee Miles discuss technical matters before the race with the Maserati 250F in the Richmond Trophy race at Goodwood Revival 12-14th September 2014

Freemasons Food Bank Project

with your local Masonic Centre, it will be thankfully received and faithfully applied.”with your local Masonic Centre, it will be thankfully received and with your local Masonic Centre, it will be thankfully received and with your local Masonic Centre, it will be thankfully received and faithfully applied.”faithfully applied.”faithfully applied.”with your local Masonic Centre, it will be thankfully received and faithfully applied.”with your local Masonic Centre, it will be thankfully received and faithfully applied.”faithfully applied.”

The Goodwood Revival meeting, the annual motorsport event for lovers of racing cars of a bygone age, is for classic car lovers probably the premier event in the UK calendar. Assistant Provincial Grand Master W Bro Gerry Hann was there this September with his Maserati 250F Formula One car. At Goodwood everyone gets into the spirit of those halcyon days of the 1950s and 1960s by dressing in period attire which makes for a memorable and hugely enjoyable day.W Bro Gerry is a regular entrant at Goodwood and other events in the UK and abroad. He is a member of the Historic Grand Prix Cars Association which organises events in the UK and mainland Europe. Gerry started racing at the tender age of 17 and hasn’t stopped since! His current ‘stable’ includes the 250F (pictured) and a 1961 Cooper Climax F1 car he bought in 1972 and has raced extensively ever since. And hot on the heels of Goodwood, Gerry and the Maserati were off to Spain to compete in the Jerez Historic Festival.

Goodwood Revival

Allan Miles in the Maserati 250F, Richmond Trophy offi cial practice race at Goodwood Revival 12-14th September 2014

Engine of the Maserati 250F in the Richmond Trophy race at Goodwood Revival 12-14th September 2014

©Michael Huggan 2014


If you missed the Consecration of Combined Services Lodge No 9900 on Armistice Day, Tuesday 11th November 2014, I am truly sorry. You missed a real treat. It is doubtful if a Lodge could be Consecrated with such precision and yet sincerity as was this new Berkshire Lodge, Berkshire’s 96th and the third to join the Province in under two years. From the moment that RW Bro Martin Peters, the Provincial Grand Master entered the Temple to open a Lodge (note the “a”) to the moment we were all marched out by the new Lodge Director of Ceremonies, everything went like clockwork – as one would expect of a “Services” Lodge Well, almost everything went like clockwork. The one hiccup was caused by Grand Lodge, who, although Most Worshipful The Grand Master had authorised the Lodge and the date of its Consecration, the Warrant failed to arrive in time for the ceremony. To consecrate a Lodge one does not need to actually have the Warrant present, but it will be required before the new Lodge can hold its fi rst Regular meeting. But the Provincial Grand Secretary read a temporary document which lacked the resilience of a parchment document, which we all noticed!At the back of the Order of Procedure was a list of the Founding Members, each with a photograph of when he was in the Services and

summarising his Service background. I am sure that most of the 250 or so present examined each Lodge offi cer as he was invested by the Worshipful Master, W Bro Rodney Bancroft, and compared him with the photograph taken in more youthful times! At the conclusion of a most impressive ceremony, after the Provincial Consecrating Team had left the Temple, the Lodge was closed until June 2015. The Director of Ceremonies formed up the usual procession of Grand Offi cers and Visiting Masters, and yes, we were actually marched out. The DC managed to refrain from chanting to us , “Left right, left right” but having formed the procession, we were instructed in his best Sergeant’s voice to “Quick March”- and we did (or tried to!)The evening concluded with a fi rst class meal in the Flavell Suite. Toasts were brief, to the point and sincere. The fact that it was Armistice Day was remembered.It looks as if this new Lodge has a great future ahead, and all of us wish it every success. (But, not that I am biased, they do really need some Sailors to balance out the preponderance of Army and Royal Air Force Brethren!!)

John Owen, PGSwdB,Ex. Royal Naval Reserve and Merchant Navy

Combined Services Lodge No. 9900


Main picture: The Consecrating team with Lodge Founders and Officers with Honourary Members. Opposite page RW Bro Martin Peters, PGM and Consecrating Officer with Worshipful Master W Bro Rodney Bancroft, below Lodge DC and ADC Hamish Forbes-Forsyth (l) and Graham Reynolds (r). This page: The PGM and WM take wine at the Festive Board, the brass band, and brethren enjoying the festive board which was very well attended.


Facebook BasicsFacebook is a social networking website that makes it easy for you to connect and share with your family and friends online. Have you ever wondered why people like using Facebook? After all, there are already lots of other ways to communicate online, such as email, instant messaging, and so on. What makes Facebook unique is the ability to connect and share with the people you care about at the same time.In this Issue we’ll take you through setting up an account as well as looking at the appropriate privacy settings you may want to set-up. This is in no way a comprehensive guide on how to use Facebook, but should at the very least get you started. The rest will come through time and practice.

Before we get startedIf you’re new to Facebook, there may be lots of terms and expressions that seem a little confusing at first, so have a look at the list below which will explain the most commonly used terms. This will help you get a better understanding of how Facebook works and what to expect.

If you entered your email address, Facebook will suggest friends for you based on your email contacts. Click Add Friend for anyone you want to add as a friend, then click Save & Continue.

Now, you’ll have the chance to find your first Facebook Friends. To find friends using your email contacts, enter your email address and click Find Friends. This will give Facebook permission to access your email contacts list, so you may be required to sign in to your email account. You can also click Skip this step to add friends later.

FriendYou can add people you know as Friends on Facebook. Your friends will see the things you share, such as status updates or photos. Friends will also be able to view your profile information and share things on your Timeline.

Status UpdateOne of the most common things people share on Facebook are Status Updates—short, text-based posts that your friends can see and comment on.You can also post other things, like photos, videos, links, and more. Your friends will be able to see your posts on their News feeds, and the things you share will also be posted to your Timeline.

NotificationYou’ll receive a notification in an email message and on your Home page whenever someone interacts with you on Facebook.For example, you’ll be notified when someone adds you as a friend, likes or comments on something you’ve shared, or sends you a private message.

CommentWhenever your friends share on Facebook, you can leave a comment about their posts.

TagFriends can tag you in photos and posts they share on Facebook. Posts you’re tagged in will appear on your Timeline.

LikeWhenever your friends share something on Facebook, you can choose to like the post. This is just a simple way of showing your friends that you enjoyed what they shared.You can also like the Facebook Page for certain businesses and organizations to receive updates about them in your News Feed.

Creating a Facebook accountGo to www.facebook.com in your web browser. Creating a Facebook account is free. All you need to get started is an email address and a few minutes of your time.Under the words Sign Up, enter your personal information and desired password and then click Sign Up.


If you want, you can now add information about your high school, college, location, and employer. Click Save & Continue when finished. Click Skip if you want to add this information later.If you entered education and employment information, Facebook will suggest more friends. Click Add Friend for anyone you want to add as a friend and then click Save & Continue.

If desired, you can now add a profile picture. Click Upload a Photo to select a file from your computer, or Take a Photo to take a new photo with your webcam. Click Skip if you’re not ready to add a profile photo.Once you’re satisfied with your profile picture, click Save & Continue.The Welcome to Facebook page will appear.

If desired, you can now choose to like some of the most popular Facebook pages. Anything you like will automatically appear in your News Feed and on your Timeline. Click Save & Continue when finished. Click Skip if you prefer not to follow anything at this time

Before you can access all of Facebook’s features, you’ll need to confirm your email address. To do this, sign in to your email account, open the confirmation message from Facebook, and click Confirm Your Account.

We would recommend taking a tour of the Privacy settings at this point so that you can familiarise yourself with privacy policies and set up the privacy on your account the way you want it. You will always be able to change your privacy settings by using either the Privacy Shortcuts (right) or by going through the Settings Tools, located at the top-right corner of your Facebook page.

To Access the settings tools:Click the drop-down arrow on the Toolbar, then select Settings.

The Settings page will appear. Next, select Privacy. The Privacy Settings and Tools page will appear, and you can change the settings from here.

Closing thoughtsFacebook can be a great way to connect, share and stay in touch with your loved ones. However, it is important to realise that there is such a thing as ‘Facebook addiction’ where people aimlessly spend countless hours on Facebook; so be aware of how much you use this service. Also, don’t forget, that even with full privacy set-up, it is not recommended to post anything that may be compromising or overly personal that you may not want others to know about. Some fall into the trap of using Facebook as a venting mechanism. Classic example: Employee has a bad day at work and seriously bad mouths his boss. His privacy settings allow any of his posts to be viewed by the public. His boss reads the post and, well, you can imagine the rest….. For this reason, we also recommend that you keep your circles of friends close online, and don’t just add anyone to your network who wouldn’t want to connect and share personal information with. Facebook can be a lot of fun, and can help you stay in touch with friends and family online. You can share pictures, videos, news, website links and other media through this interactive service. So, get online and start building your digital social network!


Like father, like son(s)Steve Jeffries, Les Jeffries and Martin Jeffries

The Principals and Offi cers of Windsor Castle Chapter, No. 771, carried out an exaltation ceremony at their convocation in late November……it was extra special because the candidate happened to be the elder son of the Chapter Scribe Ezra, Excellent Companion Les Jeffries and the older brother of Companion Steve Jeffries.

W Bro Martin Jeffries, a past master of Theodore White Temperance Lodge No. 3795, followed his brother, Companion Steve Jeffries, also a past master of Theodore White, into the Chapter. There are now three members of the Jeffries family in Windsor Castle Chapter which must be quite unique in Berkshire Royal Arch Masonry.

The First Principal, Excellent Companion Phillip Witney conducted the ceremony and he was ably assisted by Companion Chris Cunningham and Excellent Companion Richard Orton who were the principal and fi rst assistant sojourners, respectively. Excellent Companion Peter York gave the Historical Lecture and Excellent Companion Roger Chandler gave the whole of the Mystical Lecture in a fi rst class manner befi tting the special occasion.

At the end of the ceremony, Companion Martin was presented with the offi cial Royal Arch tie by his blood Brother and welcomed into The Royal Arch Province of Berkshire by the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, Excellent Companion Ken Benford.

The Companions then enjoyed a splendid festive board at the Castle Hotel where the usual Loyal and Royal Arch toasts were honoured.

Knights Templar

ROYAL ARCH NEWSBerkshire Chapters Ladies‛ Supper 2015

The Flavell SuiteSindlesham Court, SindleshamFriday, 27th February 20156.30pm for 7.15pm - Carriages at 11pmTickets £35.00 per person, inclusive of table wine/fruit cup and entertainment

Duck and orange pâté with Melba toast and red onion chutneyButterfl y chicken breast with a leek and Stilton cheese cream sauce

orVegetarian Option – Cannelloni fi lled with spinach, ricotta and peppers on a bed of sweet potato mash

Fruit Pavlova with vanilla ice creamCheese and biscuits

Coffee or tea and mints

Application forms from your Chapter Scribe E, or from our website:www.berkshireprovincialgrandchapter.org.uk

To be sent with your cheque payable to “Berkshire Chapters Ladies‛ Supper” to: Paul Wilding, ‘Thorpe Cloud,‛ Shepherds Mount, Compton, NEWBURY RG20 6QZEmail: [email protected]

Note: Confi rmation will be sent via email in lieu of a ticket. Tickets will only be issued to those who do not have access to email if requested. Closing date for receipt of booking is Friday 13th February 2015.Tables will be arranged in groups of ten or twelve.To avoid disappointment please book your places as early as possible.Dress: Black Tie

Berkshire Chapters Ladies’ Supper 2015

The Flavell Suite Sindlesham Court

Sindlesham

Friday, 27th February 2015 6.30pm for 7.15pm - Carriages at 11pm

Tickets £35.00 per person, inclusive of table wine/fruit cup and entertainment

Duck and orange pâté with Melba toast and red onion chutney

Butterfly chicken breast with a leek and Stilton cheese cream sauce

or Vegetarian Option – Cannelloni filled with spinach, ricotta and peppers on a bed

of sweet potato mash

Fruit Pavlova with vanilla ice cream

Cheese and biscuits

Coffee or tea and mints

Application forms from your Chapter Scribe E, or from our website: www.berkshireprovincialgrandchapter.org.uk

To be sent with your cheque payable to “Berkshire Chapters Ladies’ Supper” to: Paul Wilding, ‘Thorpe Cloud,’ Shepherds Mount, Compton,

NEWBURY RG20 6QZ Email: [email protected]

Note: Confirmation will be sent via email in lieu of a ticket. Tickets will only be issued to those who do not have access to email if requested. Closing date for

receipt of booking is Friday 13th February 2015. Tables will be arranged in groups of ten or twelve.

To avoid disappointment please book your places as early as possible.

Dress: Black Tie

This Christian Order originates from a wide variety of ritual forms that were at fi rst worked under the warrants of Royal Arch Chapters in the British Isles in and around the 1760’s. The present day Templar ritual was introduced in the 1850’s.

The name also encapsulates the rich and fascinating history of the original order, dating back to 1118 when Hugues de Payens got together a small band of men to help and protect the pilgrims who came from all of Christendom to the Sepulchre of Christ.

In the Provincial Priory of Oxfordshire,

Berkshire & Buckinghamshire we presently have 16 Preceptories and over 500 members. We are a happy and friendly Order and it is often said amongst members that this is their favourite order.

If you are a member of the Royal Arch and can sign a declaration that you are a Christian then you are eligible to experience the extremely interesting, and at times dramatic, ‘installation’ ceremony.

Please contact us via our Vice-Chancellor by email at [email protected] or visit our Website at www.oxonberksbuckskt.org.uk


Thoughts from the DGM It is now two years since I was installed as District Master of the Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire District. The ceremony was conducted at the Slough Masonic Centre by the Most Illustrious Grand Master, J. Alan Wright. He was on fine form and the day was enjoyed not only by myself but also by all the members present. The ceremony takes a very similar form to that used by the Craft Grand Lodge when installing a new Provincial Grand Master. Our own Grand Master has an amazing ability to combine humour with the dignity of the occasion.

He had visited Berkshire earlier that year, as a guest speaker at the Berkshire Masters Lodge. This had been arranged by the Master, W Bro Raymond Head, in conjunction with my predecessor, Len Starling. On that occasion he spoke at length about the Order of Royal and Select Masters and how it provides significant additions to the masonic knowledge we all gain from our Craft, Mark and Royal Arch masonry.

There are four degrees in the Order, two of which add to the ceremonies we are all familiar with, connected with the building of the Temple and its associated structures. The third degree deals with the completion and dedication of the Temple, while the fourth provides a link between that event and the scenario in which the Royal Arch ceremony of Exaltation is played out. If, as you witness the Craft, Royal Arch and Mark ceremonies, you wonder how certain people and things came to be where they are, our degrees provide the answers.

We now have two further degrees in the Order, which are only conferred on Past Masters. One shows us how King Solomon was placed in the situation in which we all see him, while the other deals with the background to one of the key players in the Royal Arch ceremony.

ROYAL AND SELECT MASTERS

Nick Murzell

In the Autumn edition of the Link, I set out the basis of what a Candidate should know prior to making application to join this wonderful Order and I will now endeavour to provide such further insight, that I hope will whet your appetite.

The degrees beyond the Craft are many and varied. Whilst there are ways of classifying and grouping them together, there are those referred to as Christian Orders, in that they restrict their membership to those avowing the Christian faith. These include the Knights Templar, the Red Cross of Constantine, Knight Templar Priests and the Royal Order of Scotland. Perhaps the most well known is the Ancient and Accepted Rite of 33 Degrees working under the Supreme Council 33º, based at 10, Duke Street, St. James, London. It is the 18º, ‘Knight of the Pelican and Eagle and Sovereign Prince Rose Croix’, or simply Rose Croix, which is the most spoken of and while Masons outside the Order may know little else of it, they appreciate that it is highly prized.

Whilst we are always seeking suitable Candidates for this Order, I would ask you to exercise caution before rushing into the 18º or claiming to be a Trinitarian Christian, if you do not fully understand that doctrine.

The Rose Croix is not a badge to be collected, nor indeed are any such Orders. Rose Croix Chapters select their Candidates with great care. The ceremony demands real thought and Christian understanding before undertaking it, thus for good reason, membership of our Order should ideally be by invitation. However, rank in the Craft or other degrees should also have no bearing; a Mason’s self-awareness and Christian faith is not measured by the size or ornamentation of his apron.

The qualification for becoming a member of this Order, apart from that stated above, is that of being a Master Mason for a minimum period of one year and the usual requirement of having two sponsors.

The Order is governed by The Supreme Council, which is the equivalent of Grand Lodge, although on a much smaller scale, consisting of nine members of the 33 Degree, headed by the Sovereign Grand Commander.

They issue a Rule Book and Year Book, which covers the 52 Districts in England and Wales and 13 Commonwealth countries.

We have the same boundaries as the Craft Province and currently nine

Chapters meeting in this District, with approximately 360 members. On average each Chapter meets three times per year, except for the Higher Degrees Chapter, which is equivalent to an Installed Masters Lodge and this meets twice per year.

I currently have the honour of being Inspector General for the District of Berkshire and the District Recorder is Ill Bro John Stocker 31º.

The Order holds an Annual Family Lunch at Sindlesham in May and an Annual Church Service at Wokingham in November.

If you are interested in joining our Order, please contact either myself or John and we’ll be pleased to provide any further information you require. Our e-mail addresses are: [email protected] and [email protected]

We look forward to hearing from you.

VIII. Roy Stone, 33º Inspector General for the District of Berkshire

The Ancient & Accepted Rite - Rose Croix


Andy Cathcart Provincial Junior Grand Warden

Andy was Initiated in March 1976 in to Vale of White Horse Lodge No. 1770 which meets in Faringdon, and Worshipful Master in 1986. He has previously served as Provincial Grand Pursuivant and Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works before being appointed Provincial Junior Grand Warden in September 2014.

He was exalted into the Vale of White Horse Holy Royal

Arch Chapter No. 1770 in 1987 and was MEZ in 1994. Andy has served as Assistant, Deputy and Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies from 2003-2008, and currently holds the rank of Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in Supreme Grand Chapter.

Andy is a member of a number of other orders including Charles Wilkinson Mark Lodge No. 1657 where he was WM in 2011 and 2012; Knights Templar Corinium Preceptory (Gloucester and Hereford), Ancient and Accepted Right Sindun Chapter No. 548 and Royal and Select Masters Wantage Council No. 282.

Paul Ackland-SnowProvincial Senior Grand Warden

Paul was initiated into Staines Lodge No. 2536 in Middlesex in November 1970 at the age of 21. He served as WM in 1981 and 1982 and has held the office of Secretary, Treasurer and Charity Steward amongst others. He was appointed PPAGSuptWks in Middlesex in 1988 and through a series of promotions to PPJGW in 2003. Paul is a Founder of Gordon Bourne Lodge No.9388 in Middlesex, where he served as

WM in 2004, and also a Founder of both Scriveners Lodge No. 9588 and Scriveners Chapter No.9588.

He was exalted into Votary Chapter No.7126 in Middlesex in May 1980 and served as MEZ in 1990 and 1993. Paul was appointed PPrAGSoj in 1995 and promoted in 2005 to PPrGReg.

In 1998 Paul joined Saint John’s Lodge No.795, one of only two Taylor’s Lodges in Berkshire, where he served as WM in 1999 and 2000 and as Secretary for 6 years ‘retiring’ last year. He also joined St. John’s Chapter in 1998 and served as MEZ in 1999 and 2000 and was promoted to PPrGSN in Berkshire in 2014. Paul is also a member of Berries Lodge No. 2928 meeting at Cookham, Berkshire Masters Lodge and also Berkshire First Principals Chapter. He also served as a member of the Management Committee of the Berkshire Masonic Charity for six years.

Paul says that ‘It came as a complete surprise to be appointed a Provincial Deputy GDC in 2007 and I have to say it lived up to stories I had heard about it being one of the best jobs in Freemasonry’ and he was appointed as Provincial Senior Grand warden in September 2014.

There are a number of other orders that Paul is a member of: He was perfected into Gauntlet Rose Croix in Middlesex in February 1989 and was MWS in1999, gaining his 30th Degree in 2000, and he is also a member of Thames & Chilterns Chapter in Berkshire. He was advanced into the Mark degree in Pangbourne Mark in September 2000, becoming WM in 2009 and 2010. He also joined Caduceus Mark Lodge in 2008 and is currently Secretary. Paul is Provincial AGDC in Mark. He was Elevated into Jersey Royal Ark Mariners in June 2001 and is currently Worshipful Commander. Last but by no means least Paul joined Bearwood Royal and Select Masters in March 2002 and became TIM in 2009. He is also a member of Wantage and Unity Councils, was appointed District Recorder for Oxon, Berks, and Bucks in 2012 and Royal and Select Masters Grand Rank as PAGDC in 2013.

Paul has been married to his “understanding and supportive wife Shelley for over 41 years”, they have two married sons and are blessed with five beautiful granddaughters. In any spare time from Freemasonry (is there any given this CV? Ed.) Paul says “We like nothing better than hitching up our caravan and getting away from it all, even if only for the weekend”.

The Hungerford Lodge of Freemasons has donated £500 to Great Bedwyn School to fund the school’s plan to replace its outdoor climbing frames.

Gilbert Mills, Chairman of the Hungerford Lodge Benevolent Association said, “Many people are not aware that the Freemasons nationally are the second largest donors to charity, donating many millions of pounds each year to worthy causes. Our own Lodge has donated in excess of £25,000 over last five years to local organisations and needy individuals. We hope to add to the sum we have given to Great Bedwyn School in the near future.”

Kim Spencer, Head of Great Bedwyn School said, “We are delighted to receive this donation. Our existing outdoor equipment is coming to the end of its life and will need replacing soon. School funding is increasingly coming under pressure, so every little helps. We are still some way off our target, but hope to be able to erect the new frame within the next two years. At our recent summer fete, our PTA managed to raise over £9,000 towards our fund but we still need to raise thousands of pounds to cover its cost. Once we have reached our target sum, our children will have a say in what type of playground equipment they would like to have”.

Freemasons Early Christmas Present To Great Bedwyn School


Peter [email protected]

www.peteryork-mc.co.uk01264 335405

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