The Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) is Freemasonry’s national grant making Charity.
Supported entirely by donations from Freemasons and their families, it supports a wide range of Charities, Organisations, Individuals and other good causes.
The Charity has just released its 2021/22 impact report detailing it’s work across a wide range of sectors.
Every year a masonic Lodge chooses a new member to act as the Worshipful Master for the ensuing year. On Tuesday 4th October 2022 South Molton’s Loyal Lodge of Industry No 421 held it’s annual “Installation” meeting at Freemasons Hall in New Road, South Molton.
The new man in the “Hot seat” for 2022/3 is 76 year old, retired clinician Ray McIntosh. Hailing originally from Perthshire in Scotland, Ray now lives in Tiverton
He joined Scottish Freemasonry in 1967, on the recommendation of his Brother Malcolm who is also a mason. He joined The Loyal Lodge of Industry in 2015. Since then Ray has held a variety of Lodge Offices and being a trained singer, regularly leads the singing of traditional masonic songs during proceedings.
Ray McIntosh with AsstProvGM Craig Cox
The Lodge was delighted to welcome, as Presiding Officer for the evening Worshipful Brother Craig Cox Assistant Provincial Grand Master in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Devonshire. WBro Cox was accompanied by the Provincial Junior Grand Warden WBro Kevin Jones and a deputation of Active Provincial Officers.
The new Worshipful Master was installed into the chair of the Lodge by his predecessor WBro Mike Latham whose fluent and confident delivery of the ceremonial was much enjoyed by all.
Many Lodge members made contributions to the ceremony as it proceeded, but perhaps the most satisfying was the word perfect delivery of the 1st Degree Working tools by Fellowcraft Bro. Damien Dempsey. Damien only joined the Lodge a few months ago but his faultless and measured delivery belied his inexperience.
As is usual on these occasions WBro Cox received 2 substantial Donations from the Lodge in support of the Devonshire 2023 Festival and the Provincial Benevolent Fund.
Having been placed in the Chair, our new Worshipful Master then proceeded to appoint and invest his new team of Officers.
Following the formal part of the proceedings Lodge Members and visitors repaired to the dining room for a sumptuous 4 course dinner, followed by the usual series of toasts and speeches.
Craig Cox addresses the meeting
Replying to the Toast to the Provincial Grand Officers, Craig Cox delivered the Congratulations of the Provincial Grand Master RWBro Ian Kingsbury, who wished the new Worshipful Master a very happy and successful year in office. He also congratulated the Lodge on their very successful implementation of the “Member’s Pathway”, a national initiative designed to promote masonic membership.
At the end of an unforgettable evening, Ray said…
“I am so proud to have been elected as the 187th Worshipful Master of such a traditional and historic Lodge. The friendliness of its members and the support they have given me over the years has been wonderful. I look forward to serving them for the next 12 months”
Ray McIntosh WM.
To discover more about Freemasonry in South Molton…
Following a surge in membership applications over the last year, the Freemasons in South Molton, North Devon have recently launched a new, updated website. It is designed specifically to assist those wanting to know more about how to join what is one of the largest charitable organisations in the UK.
The site contains information about the history of Freemasonry in South Molton, the origins of the Order and explains the basic values by which Freemasons seek to help people in need.
Many people assume quite wrongly, that Freemasons are all male. There are in fact, thousands of women Freemasons meeting in Lodges across the UK. The new website has links to both of the Women’s Grand Lodges currently operating in England and Wales.
Thankfully these days, most of the ill informed prejudices and old fashioned attitudes towards Freemasonry are no longer current or believed by the majority of people. However this new website tackles those issues head on, to present a balanced and accurate picture of what 21st Century Freemasonry is all about.
We have been awarded accreditation under the “Charter Mark” scheme run by the United Grand Lodge of England as a trusted and accurate source of information regarding modern Freemasonry.
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