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Armistice Day 2022

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This year’s Armistice Day wreath laying ceremony in South Molton, was supported by the Masters of all three of the town’s masonic Lodges.

At 11:00am on Friday 11th November 2022, the people of South Molton came together to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their Country.

Low grey cloud and a keen south westerly wind formed a sombre backdrop to the Service of Remembrance, led by the Rev. Jane Lucas the Chaplain of the South Molton Branch of the
Royal British Legion.

The salute was taken by
Colonel (Ret’d) Paddy King-Fretts

The names of those South Molton residents killed in both World Wars and more recently in Afghanistan, were read out by Branch President Sir Richard Peek to be followed by a minute’s silence.

The lone bugler, Jane Toms then played a moving rendition of
The Last Post.

Wreaths were laid by The Royal British Legion, The Town Council, South Molton Police, South Molton Freemasons and local schools.

Philip Carr, David Stanbury and Ray McIntosh represented the town’s 3 masonic Lodges

For the first time in many years, the current Masters of each of South Molton’s three masonic Lodges were all in attendance. The Loyal Lodge of Industry No 421 was represented by its Worshipful Master, Ray McIntosh.

Fortescue Lodge of Mark Master Masons No.9 by its Worshipful Master, David Stanbury and Fortescue Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners No 9, by its Worshipful Commander Philip Carr.

Commenting on the ceremony Ray McIntosh said…

“We are proud to be supporting this year’s Remembrance activities. Supporting our community is a very important part of what Freemasonry is all about. Freemasons have played a part in South Molton life for almost 200 years and we are delighted to continue that tradition.”

WBro Ray McIntosh.

To see more photos of the Wreath Laying Service

Click Here

For more information on the work of the Royal British Legion or to make a donation,
click on the image below

For more information on Freemasonry in
South Molton

Click Here
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History Update

1723 Book of Constitutions

In January 2023 a very rare event will take place at Freemasons’ Hall in London when an “especial” meeting of the United Grand Lodge of England will take place. The Reason: to celebrate the publication in 1723 of the first “Book of Constitutions”

Freemasons Hall

Authored by Dr. James Anderson, the Book of Constitutions eventually became, after many republications over the centuries, the rulebook by which Freemasonry is governed throughout the world.

Published in a time of political upheaval (the Jacobite Rebellion having only been put down a few years earlier), the importance of this book lies in it’s promotion of enlightenment principles such as religious tolerance, the promotion of education and science, meritocracy; and a world described by rational observation rather than religious dogma. It also espoused constitutional government and democratic accountability.

Those principles still reverberate to this day as they form the bedrock of the policies of modern liberal and democratic governments throughout the world.

As well as the “Especial” meeting there will be a new Exhibition at the Museum of Freemasonry in London called “Inventing the Future”, a three day conference at Queen’s College, Cambridge from the 22/24the September 2023; and a new book by Ric Berman also called ‘Inventing the Future’ which is available at The Shop at Freemasons’ Hall and online at Amazon.

Much more detailed information is available on
the new 1723 Constitutions website.


To visit…

Click here
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Charity News Update

Charity Update

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.

To read the report

click here

The graphic below highlights the work undertaken by the MCF in Devonshire.

In total… over half a million pounds
in a single year!

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Update

New Worshipful Master

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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…

click here
Categories
Update

Freemasons launch new Website

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.

To discover more visit… https://moltonmasons.org.uk