A tremendous turnout for the inaugural open evening at Kyrle Street on Wednesday 9 July. Taurus Chapter attended with their motorcycles outside, and twenty-one potential members were in attendance together with members of the Provincial Team and many other members of the Province.
The potential candidates were taken through an overview of Freemasonry in Herefordshire before having a tour of the Temple and many stayed behind to ask further questions. Des Watkins, the Provincial Grand Membership Officer, is now following up on to see how many we can put forward to Lodges as candidates for the next season.
Thank you to all who made this a highly successful evening.
Vitruvian Lodge turned out in force to help maintain the churchyard at St Mary’s Church in Ross on Wye.
This is a regular monthly event during the summer which the Lodge has been supporting. All the Lodges and other orders from Ross on Wye continue to support the Ross Community Food Larder with monthly donations of supplies.
The May Lodge night of St Peter’s Lodge marked a very proud moment for the Taurus Chapter, and one they won’t forget anytime soon.
With the kind permission of the Provincial Grand Master, they were honoured to be able to wear their cuts for some photos to be taken in the Lodge room after the meeting. Billy Russell of Taurus Chapter said:
“Being able to stand proudly in the Lodge room for photos, in our cuts, wasn’t about making a statement, it was about raising awareness of who we are, what we do, and showing that although we’re bikers… we are Freemasons first.
The Worshipful Master announced that the raffle proceeds from the night would be donated to our nominated charity, West Mercia Women’s Aid. A sum of £230 was raised, which is fantastic. Thank you to St Peter’s Lodge, the Provincial Grand Master, and all the Brethren who made us feel so welcome”.
Nineteen members of the Province attended an Emergency Meeting of Lodge Sine Nominee No 10000 on May 30th in the Grand Temple at Freemasons’ Hall in London’s Covent Garden. The meeting was opened in the Grand Temple and Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master Jonathan Spence was received followed by a series of presentations on the Strategy Pillars and a video on the Royal Arch.
Although the prize for the best dressed Brother at the Sine Nominee meeting goes to W Bro Billy Russell here sporting his Lodge 10K blazer.
What a couple of days for VW Bro J Stuart Jones and W Bro Andrew Moore who received their Grand Ranks at the Craft Investiture on Wednesday 30th April, and Andrew was also invested with his Chapter Grand Rank on Thursday 1st May.
The Grand Temple at Freemasons’ Hall was full on Wednesday for the Craft Investitures with guests of both Brethren, together with the Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro Michael Holland, and Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master, VW Bro Graham King, in attendance. It was great to see so many people there, with additional Grand Ranks awarded to Provinces that that had performed well against their Membership Challenge.
Stuart Jones received his Past Grand Sword Bearer Rank and Andrew Moore his Past Assistant Grand Standard Bearer rank, with the collars being presented by the Pro Grand Master MW Bro Jonathan Spence.
For Supreme Grand Chapter on the Thursday, Andrew was invested as Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies. His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, First Grand Principal, presided and was welcomed with rapturous applause.
Did you know?
When the Grand Master is a member of the Royal Family, he may appoint a Pro Grand Master to be his principal adviser and to act for him on occasions when, due to Royal engagements, he is unable to be present.
Gloucestershire and Herefordshire’ Deputy Provincial Grand Superintendent, E Comp Mark Smith, commented:
“A full to capacity meeting of Supreme Grand Chapter is always a very personal and special occasion for those being appointed to, or promoted in, Grand Rank. It is also a wonderful day out for all those who attend the meeting, not just from the Provinces across England and Wales, but often from many of the Districts from overseas. However, the meeting held on Thursday 1st May 2025 will long remain impressed on the hearts and minds of those who attended for a unique reason. This meeting was to be presided over by His Royal Highness, The Duke of Kent, First Grand Principal as the head of Pure and Ancient Freemasonry which encompasses four ceremonies, three in the Craft and one in the Royal Arch.
After the entry of the Grand Officers and distinguished guests, the Pro First Grand Principal, Jonathan Spence, assisted by the Second and Third Grand Principals, Sir David Wootton and Gareth Jones, proceeded to open Supreme Grand Chapter. After opening and taking their seats, a deputation was formed to escort the First Grand Principal, HRH The Duke of Kent, into Supreme Grand Chapter.
As the Companions were called to order, around 2000 members assembled and, dressed in their beautifully colourful regalia of crimson and blue, then broke out into spontaneous applause which continued until the First Grand Principal reached the dais and took his seat to preside over the meeting. At this point the applause would usually stop but this time all the Companions continued with an increased and sustained enthusiasm. It was quite a moment, one we have never experienced before and doubt we ever will again. The level of applause clearly demonstrated the love and affection held for the First Grand Principal and the sincere and heartfelt thanks of all the members present for his 58 years of service to Freemasonry, without a single word being spoken.
It was an honour and a privilege to witness and to be a part of such a significant and spontaneous moment. “May brotherly love and affection ever distinguish us as men and as Masons.”
