£30,000 emergency aid for Haitian earthquake relief

Following the devastating earthquake which took place in Haiti on Tuesday 12th January 2010, the President of The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has approved two emergency grants totalling £30,000. The funds have been issued to the British Red Cross and Plan.

The 7.3-magnitude quake, Haiti's worst in two centuries, struck at 1653 local time (2153 GMT) on Tuesday. The epicentre was within 10 miles of the centre of the densely-populated capital, where around one million people live, more than 50,000 people are feared dead.

The British Red Cross has been awarded £20,000 to assist with their relief efforts. Red Cross volunteers in Haiti are currently assisting the injured and supporting hospitals who do not have enough capacity to deal with this emergency. The most urgent needs at this time are search and rescue, field hospitals, emergency health, water purification, emergency shelter, logistics and telecommunications.

Plan has also been granted £10,000 in support of their efforts in dealingwith the immediate aftermath of the disaster. Plan’s priorities are assisting children and their families and getting people into safe accommodation wherever possible, as well as working with survivors to help ease their psychological trauma.

Visit The Freemasons’
Grand Charity website at www.grandcharity.org

2008 Provincial Church Service

The Annual Provincial Church Service for 2008 was held at Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff, on Saturday 25 October.

Provincial Grand Master, Captain Sir Norman Lloyd Edwards, KCVO, GCStJ, RD*, RNR, expressed his gratitude to all those who attended, and particularly those who devised and took part in an impressive and inspiring Act of Collective Worship.

The service is held different venues around the Province each year.

The collection at this year's event raised £550 which will be donated to the Cathedral Organ Appeal, along with whatever can be reclaimed from the Exchequer in Gift Aid.

Our new Provincial Grand Master is Installed

Hundreds of South Wales Freemasons turned up at Barry's Memorial Hall on 24 June 2008 to witness the Installation of Captain Sir Norman Lloyd-Edwards, KCVO, GCStJ, RD*, RNR, as their new Provincial Grand Master.

Appointed in succession to Hywel Davies, who retired from the position on 30 June, Captain Sir Norman is only the seventeenth holder of the office since the Province was formed 281 years ago! He had retired as HM Lord Lieutenant for South Glamorgan after 17 years in the position a little over a month before.

The Ceremony was presided over by Peter G. Lowndes, Deputy Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, and was attended by scores of honoured guests from United Grand Lodge and other Provinces. In his address to the gathering, the new Provincial Grand Master set out the theme for his tenure in office, which would be recruitment and retention. He was pleased to confirm the re-appointment of the Provincial Executive and all officers appointed by his predecessor.

The ceremony was followed by a splendid luncheon at Cowbridge Leisure Centre.

Freemasons help for Smaller Charities

The latest grants announced by The Freemasons’ Grand Charity focus on helping smaller charities. In total £34,000 is being given towards the important activities of eighteen charities working in the areas of youth opportunities, vulnerable people and medical research.

More information can be obtained by clicking: HERE

Freemasons provide aid for victims of Kenyan unrest

Following civil unrest in parts of Kenya, The President of the Freemasons’ Grand Charity has approved a grant of £10,000 to the District Grand Lodge of East Africa’s Grand Charity, complementing local relief efforts.

Violent clashes and rioting following the results of the Kenyan Presidential election left hundreds dead and tens of thousands have been forced to flee their homes. Many families are now living in makeshift camps and are desperately in need of essential supplies like food, clean water and basic household items.

The District Grand Charity has already made 1 million Kenyan Shillings (approximately £8,500) available through its own Fund for Internally Displaced People, supporting the immediate relief efforts of the Kenya Red Cross Society and Lodges in some of the areas most affected by the events. As part of this assistance, the Chairman of the District Grand Charity recently visited Jamhuri Camp in Nairobi to donate milk, bread, rice, beans and drinking water to 3,000 displaced people including children. The grant from The Freemasons’ Grand Charity will be used to increase the current support for Masons, their dependants and other needy individuals from the wider community.

Visit The Freemasons’ Grand Charity website at www.grandcharity.org

£600,000 in grants to Hospices in England & Wales

Hospices across England and Wales are set for a funding boost as The Freemasons’ Grand Charity distributes £600,000 towards the operating costs of the widely respected services. Although children’s and adults Hospices have always been supported through the annual grant giving scheme, this year for the very first time a sum was set aside specifically to benefit the growing number of services dedicated to children.

The money from The Freemasons’ Grand Charity will be shared between 220 hospices, with over half of the children’s services receiving more than £3,000 and each adult service receiving an average of over £2,600. A full list of the individual grants may be viewed at
http://www.grandcharity.org/data/files/hospices/Hospice_grants_list_2007.pdf

The newly announced grants will take The Freemasons’ Grand Charity’s support for the sector to over £7 million since 1984. The Freemasons' Grand Charity is the principal Masonic Charity involved in donations to non-Masonic causes as well as providing assistance to needy Freemasons and their dependents.

This Province is currently heavily engaged in raising funds for the 2010 Festival in support of the Freemasons' Grand Charity. This donation is an example of the fine work done by that organisation and an illustration of why it is important that we all give our full support to the Festival.

Caerphilly & Bargoed Masons distribute £6,500

Last evening, Freemasons of the Caerphilly and Bargoed Lodges presented almost £6,500 to local charities at the Masonic Hall in Princes Avenue, Caerphilly. The donations were made in the presence of W.Bro. Geoffrey W. Thomas, PSGD, Assistant Provincial Grand Master.

The event is the culmination of the 2006-2007 fund-raising by Freemasons in the Caerphilly and Bargoed areas to raise funds which are distributed to Masonic and local non-Masonic charities.

Amongst the Charities supported in 2007 from individual lodge efforts (Ladies Nights etc) and the Annual Summer Ball are:

All Saints Boxing Club, Llanbradach

Caerphilly Miners’ Hospital

Caerphilly First Responders

Cancer Care Cymru

CHAD - Care, Help and Aid for the Disabled

C.L.U.R.V. Cancer Support

Disabled Childrens’ Christmas Party

Home Tower Marie Currie

The Joshua Foundation

Macmillan Cancer Support

Muscular Dystrophy

Myasthenia Gravis (Rag Doll Syndrome)

NSPCC

Royal Gwent Hospital

Salvation Army, Senghenydd

Trinity Fields School

Velindre Hospital

Press representatives were invited to be present to speak to local Freemasons and the charities that they are supporting this year. There was also an opportunity to view the Temple.

There are 7 Freemasons’ lodges meeting in the Masonic Hall in Caerphilly and two in the Masonic Centre in Bargoed

This is a continuation of the Freemasonry in the Community (FitC) initiative; which was a programme of events intended to illustrate the true nature of Freemasonry, and to restore it (in the perception of the general public) to its rightful position as a part of the community rather than apart from the community.

The concept was devised by the Marquess of Northampton who is the Pro Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England. The national programme was concentrated on the week 26th June to 3rd July 2002. In the Province of South Wales - Eastern Division, FitC events began in the Autumn of 2001 and are still continuing in many areas not - least Caerphilly and Bargoed!

Since 2002, a number of local charities and organisations have been supported by around £30,000 from Caerphilly and Bargoed Freemasons.

A warm welcome at The Cardiff Sikh Gurdwara

A sunny Saturday Morning saw a party of around a hundred Masons, their wives and families attending a Special Service at Cardiff's Sikh Gurdwara in the city's Roath district.

This was the first organised visit to a Sikh service by Masons in this Province. The party was led by Provincial Grand Master Hywel Davies accompanied by Mrs Davies.

Every effort had been made by the organisers at Gurdwara to ensure that the visitors were kept informed of the meanings of the Prayers and Hymns from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. A laptop and projector were kept very busy and the information displayed was welcome indeed as far as the first timers were concerned.

One recurring passage; "No one is my enemy. No one is a stranger. I will get along with everyone", an expression of universal goodwill, surely struck a chord with every Mason.

The President of the Gurdwara warmly welcomed all to the service, pointing out that visitors are always welcome at Sikh services and that while in the Gurdwara all are Sikhs! Balwant Singh Bhogal then added to the welcome and drew attention of some of the ways that the Sikh faith and Freemasonry were particularly compatible.

Provincial Grand Chaplain Rev Alistair Swinford then quoted from Chapter 13 of St Paul's Letters to the Corinthians as the basis for a sermon on the subject of Love.

Provincial Grand Master Hywel Davies thanked the Gurdwara for agreeing to the visit and all those who had organised it and provided such a warm welcome. He was presented with a copy of the Adi Granth (or Sri Guru Granth Sahib) the Sikh Holy Book which is considered to be the living ruler of Sikhism.

The service concluded with Smapti of Diwan and was then followed by Langar, a vegetarian meal provided for all at the end of every meeting.

More information on the Sikh faith and way of life may be found here.

£100,000 in grants for Flood Relief efforts in Britain

As torrential rain and flooding continues to affect large areas of Britain, the President of the Freemasons' Grand Charity has responded to The British Red Cross UK Floods Appeal with an emergency grant of £65,000. A sum of £35,000 has already been made available to boost Provincial Grand Lodge donations to various charitable funds. Separately, Masonic applicants will be considered for urgent financial assistance by the Masonic Relief Grants Committee.

Approximately 1 million people have been affected by the worst flooding to hit the UK in over 40 years and many have been left without access to drinking water or power. As well as supporting the work of the emergency services in the immediate aftermath of the downpours, the British Red Cross will be providing assistance as the floods begin to recede. The £65,000 grant will help support communities and individuals as people are finally able to begin returning to homes ruined by flood-waters.

In view of the severity of the situation, a sum of £35,000 has been set aside in addition to the grant to the British Red Cross to match Provincial donations to charitable organisations involved in the flood response. Nearly half the money has already been earmarked and The Freemasons’ Grand Charity aims to distribute the remaining funds over the forthcoming weeks.

In parallel with support for wider relief efforts, The Freemasons’ Grand Charity will be assisting individual Masons affected by events, and their dependants, through Masonic Relief Grants which are given to relieve hardship.

Speaking about the response, Grahame Elliott, President of the Grand Charity said “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this terrible weather which has destroyed homes and left many people in dire need of assistance. The Freemasons’ Grand Charity was established to support people in need and we hope these grants will help people cope with the impact of the floods and begin to get back on their feet.”

Visit The Freemasons’ Grand Charity website at www.grandcharity.org

Another blow against anti-Masonic bigotry

The European Court of Human Rights today published a judgement which found against a body discriminating against Freemasons in Italy. The judgement will have effect in all the States making up the ECHR - including the United Kingdom.

The Court held by six votes to one that there had been a violation of Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) of the European Convention on Human Rights taken in conjunction with Article 11 (freedom of assembly and association).

As far as damages were concerned, under Article 41 (just satisfaction) of the Convention, the Court held, unanimously, that the finding of a violation constituted in itself sufficient just satisfaction for the non-pecuniary damage and awarded the applicant association 5,000 euros for costs and expenses.

The full judgement is available only in French, but a quite comprehensive English Language Press Release may be found by clicking the following link.

http://tinyurl.com/3d2qhl

Freemasons boost Noah's Ark Appeal by more than £100,000

The Noah's Ark Appeal is a charity dedicated to the establishment and future wellbeing of Wales' first Children's hospital. The appeal has been spectacularly successful and after just five years, the first phase was officially opened on St David's day (1st March) in 2005.

At the second anniversary event in 2007, it was revealed that Masonic sources had contributed in excess of £100,000 to the appeal. The event was held in the learning Room which has recently been equipped with a glittering array of IT equipment courtesy of the Lifelites charity which is closely associated with the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys.

Provincial Grand Master R. W. Bro. Hywel Davies and V. W. Bro. Peter Frost, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master were in attendance at the celebratory event at the University Hospital of Wales complex in Heath Park Cardiff.

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

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.

Bigotry reigns as Assembly caves in to the inevitable!

At about twenty past four on the afternoon of Wednesday 20 April 2005, the National Assembly of Wales brought an end to its shameful discrimination against Freemasons.

The Standing Order that was abolished required Assembly Members who were Freemasons to register that fact or face sanctions under the Criminal Law! No other UK legislature or assembly had seen fit to take such powers for itself; and furthermore, no other organisation was proscribed in that way - not even the Ku Klux Klan ...... or Al Quaeda.

The old requirement was something so eminently worthy of Nazi Germany - where Freemasons were also persecuted - that it was perhaps grimly ironic that that this iniquitous rule was overturned on Adolf Hitler's birthday!

Freemasons will still be required to register (and we have never suggested that that they shouldn't) but so will members of a large range of other organisations. Our objection has been to being singled out for discrimination.

The amendments mean that:

1. All references to Freemasonry are to be removed from the Standing Orders.
   
2. It would be replaced by a requirement for Assembly Members (AMs) to register membership of all organisations where a candidate for membership (who otherwise meets the entry requirements) can be vetoed by existing members or by a selection committee.
   
3. Where an AM fails to register the fact that s/he is a Freemason (or a member of one of the newly defined organisations), s/he would no longer be de-facto guilty of a criminal act. S/he would instead be subject to internal NAW sanction and resulting public opprobrium.
   

Many of the contributions to the debate could be described as spiteful and grudging - even from some of those who subsequently voted in favour of the motion. It was clear that in many cases, support for the amendment was motivated only by the prospect of almost certain defeat at the European Court of Human Rights.

Some members displayed what can only be described as breathtaking ignorance of, and antipathy towards, Freemasonry. Such ignorance really cannot be excused because for over four years we have repeatedly offered each AM the facility of having their questions answered - and/or to visit a Masonic premises. The antipathy could therefore be said to fuelled by willful ignorance.

Freemasonry does not involve itself in politics - except when Freemasony itself is the subject. It is to be hoped, therefore, that this is the last that the National Assembly for Wales will see of us.

However, there was some suggestion during the debate that the new Standing Order might be applied selectively. We will be keeping a keen eye on its application; being particularly alert for disparity in any penalties imposed by the Standards Committee.

David Melding AM, made a very appropriate contribution when he said that sanctions imposed by the Standards Committee should be determined by the motives or reasons for any breach.
We would add that the nature of the organisation must have no bearing on the Committee's deliberations.

The European Court of Human Rights awaits.