Many congratulations to Lodge of Amity 137 in Poole, Dorset, which celebrates its 250th anniversary on April 1. No joking!
Wednesday 18 March 2015
Vanuatu aid
From Grand Lodge...
THE FREEMASONS' GRAND CHARITY HAS DONATED £20,000 IN EMERGENCY AID FOLLOWING THE SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE WHICH HIT VANUATU IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC ON SATURDAY, VIA THE RED CROSS
The cyclone has cause widespread destruction to one of the world's least developed countries. President Baldwin Lonsdale has appealed for immediate help, saying the storm has 'wiped out' all development of recent years and his country would have to rebuild 'everything'.
According to national statistics, 50% of the population are children, and therefore are more vulnerable to diseases.
There has been significant impact on livelihoods, with 13% of people already living below the basic poverty line. Over 80% of the population depend on agriculture for their livelihood.
The Freemasons' Grand Charity donation is being used towards delivering emergency assistance in Water/Sanitation, Health and Shelter.
Tuesday 10 March 2015
1828 ticket for sale
This ticket is going under the hammer at Chiswick auctions with an estimate of £60-80.
The catalogue description reads:
Masonic rare printed ticket for the commemorative dinner held at Freemason's Hall on June 18th 1828 celebrating the abolition of the Test Act - which required all holders of civil and military offices and places of trust under the Crown to take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy and receive the Anglican sacrament. Freemasons had been to the fore in promoting the abolition. The Duke of Sussex chaired the dinner assisted by William Smith MP as Deputy Chairman. This ticket has been signed by Smith. An inside page contains an extensive list of stewards at the dinner with their places of residence. Rare.
Friday 6 March 2015
Masons pledge half the money for new air ambulance
From the BBC
London Air Ambulance: Freemasons pledge £2m for new helicopter
The charity wants to buy a second helicopter by the end of the summer
Half of the money needed to buy a second air ambulance for London has been pledged by the city's Freemasons.
London's Air Ambulance has £2.35m left to raise after the society said it would offer £2m.
The public has also raised £50,000 after a campaign to raise £4.4m was launched last month.
The Your London Your Helicopter scheme aims to pay for a second helicopter by the end of the summer.
The charity said a second aircraft would provide rapid trauma care for the capital, treating an additional 400 patients annually.
Graham Hodgkin, chief executive of London's Air Ambulance, said: "We have now crossed the halfway mark for the "Your London, Your Helicopter" campaign, thank you to all those who have helped us get there.
Last year the capital's only air ambulance was unavailable for 55 days because of maintenance work
"We still have a way to go but I am confident that, with over 10 million people who are passionate about London being the greatest city, we can cross the finish line."
The charity currently has one helicopter but when unavailable there is no other provision.
It flies its current aircraft during daylight hours but last year it was unavailable for 55 days because of maintenance work.
The London Freemasons has appealed to its 40,000 members to fundraise towards its pledge target, £250,000 of which has already been presented to the air ambulance charity.
On the group's website, freemasonry is described as a society of like-minded men who meet regularly in a fraternal and social environment and share a desire to give charitable support to the community.
The group say freemasonry is non religious and non political and is concerned with moral and spiritual values.
- Founded in 1989, it has treated more than 30,000 critically injured people
- It serves the 10 million people who live, work and holiday within the M25
- It operates in partnership with Barts Health NHS Trust and London Ambulance Service
- In 2014 it treated 1,806 patients: 33% from road traffic incidents, 27% from falls and 24% from penetrating trauma including stabbings and shootings
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