Sunday 3 December 2006

A new title for our Provincial magazine

Following much discussion and consultation, a new title for the Province's magazine (the Guildford Gazette) has been chosen. The Provincial Executive, in its recent meeting at Port Talbot decided that the new title would be:

Y DALAITH - The Province
with the byline
O FRAWD I FRAWD - From Brother to Brother



The Welsh and English Language versions of the title will be shown but with prominence given to the Welsh.

The new title and byline are distinctive and reflective of the nature of both the Province and the composition of the magazine. Unlike the old title, the new one does not have special significance to any locale within the Province. The old title referred to the street address of the Cardiff Masonic Hall, where the Provincial Office was located until March 2006. When the office moved to Newport Road, the reason for the title - which was always quite obscure to those not "in the know" - became redundant.

The first edition under the banner "Y Dalaith" is going to press shortly and should "hit the streets" early in January - with 32 pages it will be the largest ever issue.

This is the start of a new chapter in the ongoing evolution of the Provincial magazine - which will remain true to the values and qualities it has always had - and will no doubt continue to go from strength to strength.

Y Dalaith will no doubt be warmly welcomed by all the Brethren of the Province of South Wales, Eastern Division and their famlies.

Watch out for it

Thursday 30 November 2006

Grand Charity | Hospice Grants 2006


The Freemasons Grand Charity has announced £1/2 million of support for Hospices across England and Wales. The latest round of grants brings support for the sector to over £6 million since 1984.

Of that total, £25,026 is destined for Hospices in Wales, including £12,013 for those in the Province of South Wales Eastern Division. The Hospices in Wales benefiting from the 2006 grants are shown below.

South Wales, Eastern Division (£12,013)
£1,000 - George Thomas Hospice Care
£4,758 - Marie Curie Holme Tower Centre
£2,503 - Sandville Court Self Help Centre
£500 - The Bracken Trust
£2,252 - Ty Hafan Children's Hospice
£1,000 - Usk House Day Hospice

North Wales (£6,758)
£1,000 - Gwynedd Hospice at Home
£2,504 - Nightingale House
£1,752 - St David's Hospice Ltd
£1,502 - St Kentigern Hospice

Monmouthshire (£3,503)
£1,000 - Hospice of the Valleys
£1,002 - St Anne's Hospice
£1,501 - St David's Foundation Hospice Care

South Wales, Western Division (£2,752)
£1,000 - Paul Sartori Foundation
£1,752 - Ty Bryngwyn Hospice

Sunday 22 October 2006

5th Annual Provincial Church Service a great success


Over three hundred Freemasons and their families from all over South-East Wales descended on Brecon on Sunday 22nd October 2006.

The occasion was the 5th Annual Provincial Church Service which was held in the town's Cathedral. The services have been held on a three year cycle at Llandaff, Gorseinon and Brecon. Like the first visit to Brecon in 2003, the weather was grey and damp but, as usual, the warmth of the welcome and the chance to renew old friendships - and make new ones - made that seem unimportant.

The Cathedral's regular Evensong attendance was swelled beyond recognition with Brethren, and their families, of many faiths coming together in this act of of collective worship.

Provincial Grand Master, Hywel Davies, who has lived in the town and worshipped at the Cathedral for over three decades was delighted with the level of support. Speaking after the service he said

'It is heartwarming to see such a large number of people making what, for most of them, will have been a long journey north to join together in a tangible and public demonstration of the spiritual dimension of Freemasonry. Belief in a Supreme Being, by whatever name is appropriate to the individual's religion, is a prerequisite to membership of our fraternity.

'This is a fine example of the enduring legacy of our Freemasonry in the Community initiative by which our members are encouraged to proudly say, "here we are, these are our values, this is what we stand for". I look forward to our next service in a year's time, in the west of the Province, when we can unite in this wonderful way yet again. Other Provinces have longer traditions of such services, but our geography has been an obstacle with more than 80 miles separating the far north and the extreme south of our area. We seem to be have been able to overcome that difficulty in recent years and long may this continue.'

Thursday 6 April 2006

Landmark Court Ruling upholds the integrity of Freemasonry

There have been very few cases under English Law which have directly considered the place of Freemasonry and Freemasons in public life.

Conspiracy theorists and an ill-informed media (and Freemasonry itself must take some responsibility for the latter) have often questioned the partiality of Masons and, indeed, the alleged effect of movement itself in public affairs.

However, the case of Regina (Port Regis School Ltd) -v- North Dorset District Council [2006] EWHC 742 (Admin) directly addressed not just the particular case, but the whole subject in principle. Mr Justice Newman's full written judgment can be viewed here.

This ruling sets out once and for all the true nature of Freemasonry and its effect upon public life. Mr Justice Newman (who is not a Freemason) acknowledged and accepted that:

'Everyone who enters Freemasonry is, at the outset, strictly forbidden to countenance any act which may have a tendency to subvert the peace and good order of society; he must pay due obedience to the law of any state in which he resides or which may afford him protection, and he must never be remiss in the allegiance due to the Sovereign of his native land'.

He considered that a fair minded appraisal had to be made of (amongst others) the following:

1. The Masonic principles of mutual defence and mutual support did not suggest unquestioning support under any circumstances. For instances, a mason 'must not engage in offences contrary to the laws of God and the ordinances of the realm'.

2. The information and guidance given to Masons includes advice on the need for declarations of interest to be made including, where appropriate, membership of Freemasonry.

3. The councillors in question were required by law and by their Freemasonry to adhere to the legal obligations imposed on them by the Local Government Act.

4. Freemasonry does not require a Freemason in local government to be partial to any other Freemason. Freemasonry underpins the requirements of impartiality and fairness set by the law.

5. Lord Bingham in Locabail (UK) Ltd v. Bayfield Properties Ltd [2000] 1 All ER 65 considered that ordinarily, Masonic associations would not require a judge to recuse himself. Also, Lord Irvine, former Lord Chancellor, did not accept that the oaths of mutual assistance were incompatible with the judicial oath.

In the circumstances, Mr Justice Newman concluded in the circumstances of the particular case that the Freemasonry of the members in question did not give rise to apparent bias in the decision of the full Council to grant the planning consent it did.

Port Regis is significant for us since it addresses directly the issue of Freemasonry in local government decision-making (and, one would hope, beyond). We would, however, always advise our members to proudly declare their membership, especially where there may be a perception of bias. Any such incorrect perceptions should then be challenged - exactly as was done in this case.