Toogood to be true?

This case of Masonic books is going under the hammer at Toogood and May auctioneers in Hampshire. The estimate is just £10-20.

Grand Master portrait for sale

This portrait is being sold by Jim Railton in Northumberland and depicts David Liddell-Grainger.

The catalogue description reads: "Segla Yenu, oil on board, waist portrait of David Liddell-Grainger in masonic regalia, signed & framed. (18in x 25in) "

The estimate is £30-40.

The subject is the former Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland.

Mason fights off burglars

Hero Mason fights off three burglars 

This from the Daily Mail...

Imagine what he'd have done if he'd had a heavy maul at hand!

This is the moment a great-grandfather came face-to-face with three armed raiders at his home – and fought them off.

Smartly dressed after a night out, Andrew Adamson, 59, had just returned home with his wife Liz, 58, when he discovered their front door had been forced open.

Moments later, one of the thugs emerged and battered him with a 2ft crowbar, swinging so hard ‘sparks were flying off it when he hit the wall’, followed by his accomplices.

Scroll down for video 

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Andrew Adamson, 59, returned home to find three burglars inside his house and bravely fought them off

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The three masked intruders forced entry to his property in Kettering, Northamptonshire, in December 2010

But the raiders were not counting on Mr Adamson’s remarkable pluck.

Instead of backing down, the businessman tackled the gang head-on, eventually forcing them to retreat.

So bold were his actions that later, in court, even one of his own attackers praised Mr Adamson’s courage.

But the clock and watch repairer, who is 5ft 8in tall and weighs 19 stone, insisted: ‘I was not going to stand by and let them ransack my house – I did what any good husband would do.

‘I wanted to protect my home and my wife. They say an Englishman’s home is his castle but I acted on instinct.’

The CCTV footage from the entrance to the house in Kettering, Northamptonshire – which also shows the thugs breaking in before the couple arrive – led to one being identified and handed a lengthy jail term. Another has been jailed after he was arrested for a separate offence and DNA was matched to a balaclava Mr Adamson snatched off him in the fight.

 

The gang got away with £400 cash and the briefcase Mr Adamson had been carrying.

Mr Adamson, who has three children, four grandchildren and a great-grandchild, told of the moment he arrived home.

He said: ‘The next thing we know the chap comes out with the iron bar. Sparks were flying off it when he hit the wall, he was really trying to whack me. I was trying to force him off.

‘I followed them out onto the street and I got hold of the other fella but the taller assailant came back for him and pulled a razor out, so I decided that was the time to let go.

Great grandad in tuxedo ejects three thugs from his house

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Mr Adamson returned home from a social event dressed in his dinner suit and carrying a briefcase when he noticed the door of his home had been forced open. CCTV footage captured the struggle which followed

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The father-of-three didn't let the fact the intruders were armed with crowbars stop him from trying to fight them

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At one point one of the intruders even pulled out a razor blade, but Mr Adamson fought them until they ran off

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Mr Adamson tried to protect himself from the crowbar wielding intruders (left) before fighting them off (right)

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Liz Adamson (left) was also caught up in the incident but fled to get help when she realised they were being attacked. She had been the first to enter the property but it was her husband who defended them from danger

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Brave Mr Adamson managed to take on all three of the intruders one-by-one until they fled the property

‘I got hit several times over the side of the head and had to have seven stitches. I was bleeding like a stuck pig.

‘If my wife had been on her own that night I dread to think what would have happened.’ The 87-second clip from December 18, 2010, enabled police to identify Duncan Berry, from Kettering, now 23.

He admitted aggravated burglary at Northampton Crown Court and was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in 2011. This year a DNA check linked David Jarvie, 53, to a balaclava at Mr Adamson’s home.

Jarvie, also of Kettering, admitted aggravated burglary and actual bodily harm and was jailed for five-and-a-half years on August 28.

Jarvie’s defence barrister William Fanshaw, told the court that even his client was amazed at Mr Adamson’s courage: ‘He says himself that the victim was a very brave man to stand up to a whole group of men, some of whom were armed.’

Mrs Adamson, who raced to get help during the raid, said: ‘I didn’t find out until I watched the CCTV what Andy had done. I am very proud of him.’

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: ‘He’s a very polite man – not the sort you expect to take on three yobs. What he did was amazing.’

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Grandfather-of-four and father-of-three Mr Adamson said: 'I was not just going to let them stand by and ransack my house - I did what any good husband would do. I wanted to protect my home and protect my wife'

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The masked men forced their way into the Adamson's house in Kettering, Northamptonshire, before the ruckus

Optical illusion

This optical illusion is going under the hammer at Christies in London on September 3 with an estimate of £600-800.

The catalogue description reads:

A MASONIC LODGE CANVAS WALL-HANGING LATE 20TH CENTURY
Of rectangular form, with white and black chequering within a red and blue triangular border, together with a grey storage tube with type-written labels 'SUB URBAN CHAPTER OF INSTRUCTION'
121 ¾ in. x 62 in. (309 x 158 cm.)

Masonic Canadian folk needlework from 1899

This interesting item is going under the hammer at James D Julia inc in Maine US, and is an example of Canadian folk needlework. The estimate is $10,000-15,000.

The catalogue description reads:


Late 19th century Canada. Signed by Mrs. W. Horton, Carlton Place, May 1st 1899. Featuring on one side a commemorative scene ""God Save the Queen, Memory of William III 1690"" with finely crafted needlework picture in wool yarn on wool panel with a large picture of William of Orange on horseback in full regalia and other figures having appliqued banners featuring contemporary military slogans. The reverse side is decorated with the slogan ""Slow to take offense, offering none"". Featuring the central portrait of T.L. Hackett, surrounded by religious and masonic iconography. Along bottom lower left, beaver, ""Ellisville L.O.L. #485"", lower right has maple leaf, all elements are needle work. Ellisville, possibly Ellisville, Ontario. Surrounded by wool fringe with wood and forged iron hanging rod at top. SIZE: 72"" x 82"" CONDITION: Commensurate with age. Losses, moth damage and repairs. Overall very good. 9-93221

The Craft makes it in a Private Eye cartoon

100 not out

Thanks to Durham Masons for this yarn!

Monday 11th August 2014 was an important night in the history of Derwent Lodge, which meets in Chopwell, special for one man in particular and indeed for anyone lucky enough to be present on this marvelous occasion.

At the end of January 2014 the Lodge Secretary made representation to the Provincial Grand Master, that they were desirous of holding an emergency meeting in August 2014. They had a very good reason for wishing to hold such a meeting. The Lodge’s oldest and longest serving member

Harold Rutter, reached his 100^th birthday on Sunday 10^th August 2014 and the Lodge wished to celebrate this outstanding achievement. The Provincial GrandMaster was delighted to accede to this request and so granted the dispensation. The Brethren of Derwent Lodge sent out their summons, advertising this emergency meeting, and were delighted when about 70 brethren indicated their desire to join together to celebrate Harold’s centenary. Among the Brethren present were the Provincial Grand Master, Norman Eric Heaviside, and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, George Clark, who had visited Derwent Lodge as recently as Monday 23^rdDecember 2013, when he presented Harold with a certificate congratulating him on 60 years continuous service to Derwent Lodge.

After the Worshipful Master had opened the Lodge and the Secretary had read the dispensation for the meeting, the Director of Ceremonies asked the ‘Guard of Honour’ consisting of Harold’s good friends, Colin Urwin, Ronnie Noble, Winston Ridley and Edwin Stanger to retire. After a few moments the Brethren were re-admitted accompanying the man of the moment and guest of honour, Harold Rutter to a thunderous standing ovation by the Brethren present. The Director of Ceremonies then walked the floor of the Lodge to collect Harold and present him to the Worshipful Master, informing the Brethren that Harold was the Director of Ceremonies, when he was initiated into the Lodge, in 1981, and he was scared of Harold at that time, to which Harold quipped back that he knew the feeling as he was scared of the DC now!

Harold was presented to the Master, who congratulated him on his milestone anniversary, informing him that he would be honoured if Harold would take the chair of Derwent Lodge once again. Harold graciously accepted this honour and the Director of Ceremonies called on the Brethren to offer suitable salutation to the centenarian, to which Harold thanked them for the warmth of their welcome.

After calling upon the Brethrens generosity in the way of a collection in aid of Masonic Charity, Harold closed the Lodge in true Director of Ceremonies fashion, not missing a beat or a word!

The Brethren were once again asked to be upstanding, in order to receive the other special guest of the evening, Harold’s daughter Margaret Rutter, there to share in her father’s extra special evening. After photographs the Brethren and Margaret adjourned downstairs to the Festive Board.

After occupying the Chair of the Lodge, Harold also added a first, as he became the first official user of the new stair lift that had been installed by the Lodge in Chopwell Masonic Hall, so that members who found stairs a challenge were able to get from the ground floor to the Lodge room on the first floor and to the Banquet room and bar on the lower ground floor. It is hoped that this chair lift will aid brethren who are infirm attend their Lodge meetings. Also in recognition of this auspicious anniversary the new toilets on the ground floor were named after Harold. They would be known as the “Harold Rutter Centenary Restrooms” for the foreseeable future.

65 brethren joined Harold and his daughter, Margaret, for an excellent Festive Board of Harold’s favourites. These dishes were thoroughly enjoyed by all the Brethren present. On the completion of the meal the Immediate Past Master of Derwent Lodge, Dr. Paul Mundell, stood to deliver the toast to the special guest, by outlining his life and achievements, both personal and Masonically. To read the toast in full click here. Paul also read an email from Peter Kipps, President of the River Lodges Association. In the email he wishes Harold a Happy Birthday and informed him that the greeting was also posted to their Twitter account reaching 18,500 followers.

At the completion of the toasts and being a Birthday Party after all, the birthday boy received his presents and a fabulous birthday cake on behalf of the 

Lodge and his many friends, before being visibly moved as the Brethren stood and sang Happy Birthday to him. In his reply Harold thanked everyone for coming, but felt overwhelmed by the turnout. He thanked the Brethren of Derwent Lodge for their friendship over the years and Margaret, well just for being there!

At 10pm Harold and his daughter took their leave, mentioning that even at the age of 100 years old he still needed his beauty sleep! He left to a standing ovation!

All of the Brethren present on this magnificent occasion had spent the evening in the company of a very special man and Mason and a true gentleman in every sense of the word!