WHITE ROSE 43 - Masonic Province of Yorkshire, West Riding

PGM’S PLEA TO CARE MSUCCESSFUL RE-LAUNCH FORWEBSITE – LODGES URGEDTO ACT ON FALLING NUMBERSTHE R W Provincial Grand Master, John K Clayton, has made animpassioned plea for Freemasons to care more for one another;announced a successful re-launch for the provincial website; pointedto both problems and positives in membership and issued a cautionaryword regarding expectations for honours.In his Address to the annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge, infront of around 1,200 Brethren at the delightful Royal Hall, Harrogate,R W Bro Clayton warmly congratulated Brethren receiving a firstappointment, or promotion.He said: whilst this may be the one and only honour some of youreceive, I urge you to look towards the future and continue to work foryour Lodge and the Province in anticipation of recognition for that workbut much more important, self satisfaction.“ I would caution about working simply to obtain an honour.Freemasonry has only three principles in Brotherly Love, Relief andTruth. Honours are not mentioned anywhere in our ritual.R W Bro Clayton referred to a net loss of 206 members Provincewide. “The optimists amongst us would say that is only, on average,one member per Lodge. But how I wish that it were 206 gains.”75 YEARS AT THE ROYAL HALLPROVINCE is to celebrate a 75-year association with the splendidRoyal Hall next year.R W Bro Clayton announced that a substantial charitable donationwill be made to the Royal Hall Restoration Trust for the developmentof the Heritage Lounge.“This Lounge will house, amongst other items, a permanentexhibition on Freemasonry, with particular emphasis on the Masonicassociation with the Hall, Harrogate and Yorkshire. It will be the onlypermanent exhibition on Freemasonry outside London open to thegeneral public,“ he saidThe PGM urged Lodges to bealive to falling membership. “If theyare, and report the same toProvince, then maybe help wouldbe at hand and disaster avoided.Don’t wait until the 11th hour whenrescue would doubtless beimpossible.“ Bro Andrew Brown has beenappointed, for want of a betterword, Provincial Organiser of‘open evenings’ and already over20 such evenings are on his bookspreparing for such a night. Don’tleave it too late. Be alive to what ishappening in your Lodge.“On the subject of membership,it isn’t all doom and gloom, since73.6% of Initiates were under theage of 50, with 39.7% fallingbetween 21 and 40 years. TheseThe R W Provincial Grand MasteBrethren need to be recognised asthe lifeblood of Freemasonry. Lodges need to keep their interest butbeware not to give all the work to the youngsters. Don’t cast the PastMasters aside entirely. Both ends of the age and “seniority” spectrumhave an important part to play.”R W Bro Clayton highlighted a growing concern when he said:Brethren, I have become all too well aware that whilst we are very goodin caring for the needs of non masons, and that of course is part ofour culture, we are not always as good as we ought to be at lookingafter one another.“Recently, I received a letter from a Brother about his Provincialhonours. He said, and I quote:‘I recognise that my attendance at my Lodge over recent years hasbeen negligible, however, I have had both personal and businessproblems, and no one in the Lodge has ever contacted me to find outwhy I was not attending . . . in the true spirit of Masonry I find it hard tobelieve that this has happened.’“Brethren, I am both saddened and angry that this is still happeningin my Province. I pose this question to you all - when did you lastcontact a Brother who didn’t come to the Lodge?“I think it is most opportune that I am launching a new initiative‘Freemasons Care - for One Another’. This, of course, is on the backJudith Hardaker, daughter of the late W Bro HarryLupton, and Terry Wise, representing RiponCommunity Hospital, pictured with the PGMHelen Linsell and Duncan Bedson, of Dance UnitedTHE R W Provincial Grand Master proudlyannounced the fourth year of major grants fromthe PGM’s Fund, totalling £100,000 each year.Designed for larger projects and to supplementquarterly grants, R W Bro Clayton expressed hisgratitude to Brethren for donating so generously.“My heartfelt thanks for your support, you canbe rightly proud that since the PGM’s Fundbegan in 1987, over £2m has been given toworthy causes. This included £240,000 from myFund last year.“Not a penny came from the general public, itwas all down to you, your family and friends anddespite the current economic climate yourdonations to charity last year were well over£400,000,” said the PGM.THIS year’s recipients were:Goole Gymnastics Club - £10,000: formedin 1983 and occupying its current premises in thecentre of Goole since 1998, the club acceptsmembers from the age of three, and currently hassix dedicated coaches. Its reputation attractsmembers not only from Goole but surroundingcommunities, both able bodied and disabledgymnasts.The money will help purchase a new tumblingLOCAL COMMUNI£100,000 GOES TOtrack as they currently lease such a track fromanother local club. Application supported by Aireand Calder Lodge, No 458.Denby Dale Centre - £10,000: this is a localcommunity and charity organisation, thatoperates a centre called the HUB for communityactivities in rural South Kirklees, particularly thedevelopment of much-needed social support forlocal people.The Centre recently purchased the oldSalvation Army Hall, which they had previouslyleased, and the building needs a new centralheating system. Application supported by BrookeLodge, No 3608.Ripon Community Hospital - £15,000: thisis a Cottage type hospital providing a range ofinpatient and outpatient services for the localcommunity. Trinity Ward within the Hospital is a15-bed facility for palliative care, rehabilitation,24Pictures by David Wright. Go to his website: www.thewrightphoto.co.uk or em