NEWSLETTER 36 Repro - Masonic Province of Yorkshire, West Riding

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NEWSLETTER 36 Repro 11/5/07 11:45 AM Page 12 UNIQUE PRESENTATION ONE of Huddersfield’s best-loved Freemasons, W Bro Derek Lawrence Telford, received a unique honour earlier this year at a Regular meeting of his Lodge No 290. For there to make a special presentation on behalf of the Grand Lodge of Texas, USA, was Yorkshire West Riding Assistant Provincial Grand Master, W Bro Maurice Bendig. W Bro Bendig, resplendent in his Tricorn (three-cornered hat), which he is privileged to wear as honorary Past Master of the Sequin-Level Lodge No 140 in Newington, Connecticut, explained that Allen Lodge No 1435 in Waco, Collin County, USA, had petitioned to present a 50-year certificate to W Bro Telford. W Bro Telford has been a popular visitor to Allen Lodge No 1435 every year since the time his son Mark was a manager for Texas Instruments, just north of Dallas. And the American Brethren, who had conferred life membership on W Bro Derek were anxious to further mark his contribution to Freemasonry over very many years. W Bro Bendig explained that the presentation had proved possible only after correspondence between the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Texas and our own United Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Secretary. The Assistant PGM spoke of W Bro Telford’s achievements as a Liaison 10 Officer – "a gentleman and a Mason who saw only the best in others" and someone who had achieved Grand Rank in both Craft and the Royal Arch. W Bro Telford, Master this year of Huddersfield Lodge No 290 for the second time – he was previously in the Chair in 1969 – graciously responded to the presentation. • The Texas jubilee certificate is the third awarded to W Bro Telford, who received his first, along with his cousin, W Bro Bert Tompson, at his Mother Lodge, Constance No 2135, in the Province of Durham. W Bro Telford was subsequently presented with a 50-year certificate from the Province of Yorkshire, West Riding by Huddersfield Lodge liaison officer, the late W Bro Tom Grundy. BRIGGS & PARTNER LTD Established 1944 Plant Hire and Excavation Contractor covering Yorkshire and East Lancashire A Service of and Reliability to the Building Trade THE STORTH, HUDDERSFIELD ROAD, ELLAND HX5 9JR Tel: 01422 372515 Fax: 01422 311093 Mob: 07786232124 Congratulations . . . W Bro Bendig hands over the certificate to W Bro Telford HOLIDAY IN THE SUN on the Gulf of Mexico in Florida Luxury Condo in Madeira Beach, near Tampa, 2 En suite Bedrooms, both with TV one with Twin beds and one with King size bed Dine on the large balcony overlooking the beautiful Boca Ciega Bay Fully fitted modern kitchen, Dining area Large lounge with TV and entertainments system Family room with TV Air conditioning A few minutes to the Beach From £500 per week and special rates for longer bookings Please phone Andrew or Lynda Hatton on 01757 633792 For Everything Ford Sales, Service, Parts, Rapidfit, Accident repairs Over 80 years with FORD BurgessFord – Keighley Tel: 01535 667711 Fax: 01535 610355 Hanover Street Keighley BD21 3RA www.burgessford.co.uk
NEWSLETTER 36 Repro 11/5/07 11:45 AM Page 13 LONDON GRAND RANK An explanation by W Bro Peter Sutherland, Forest of Knaresborough Lodge No 7452 & Certa Cito Lodge No 8925 OUTSIDE the capital there is much misunderstanding about London Grand Rank, so I shall try and explain what it is, how it came about and why it has continued following the creation of the Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London. There are over 1700 London Lodges – all Lodges which meet within five miles of Freemasons’ Hall, are London Lodges – Rule 128 Book of Constitutions. In comparison, this Province has 209 Lodges. Until October 2003, London Lodges were administered directly from Grand Lodge, with no intermediate level such as a Province and, prior to 1908, Past Masters of London Lodges had no equivalent of Provincial Grand Rank. In 1907, the Grand Master ‘let it be known that it was his wish that there should be a distinction, designated ‘London Rank’ for Past Masters of London Lodges having ‘long and meritorious service’. The first awards were made in 1908.There was no formal Investiture, (presumably because no-one could decide on an appropriate body to do it). The number of recipients was one per Lodge for that inaugural year only – I’d bet there were some interesting Lodge committee meetings trying to decide which one, of all their Past Masters, would receive this new, prestigious award! For subsequent years, the number was limited to 150 a year – this increased over the years and is now fixed at 800; fewer than one per two Lodges, so it must be earned. The first official Investiture was held in 1933 under the banner of the Grand Stewards’ Lodge (this un-numbered Lodge stands first on the Register of Grand Lodge and nobody was going to argue with them!) In 1939, the designation was changed to ‘London Grand Rank’ (LGR). Senior London Grand Rank (SLGR) was introduced in 1979 and is the only promotion within the London Grand Rank structure. The Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London was inaugurated on 1 October 2003, taking responsibility for the HEELEY INSTALLATIONS FOUNDED 1970 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS & CONTRACTORS Specialists in Industrial and Boiler Plant Installations REGISTERED CORGI GAS INSTALLER National Inspection Council Electrical Installation Contracting APPROVED CONTRACTOR 202 Whitehall Road, Drighlington, Bradford, Yorkshire BD11 1AU Tel: 0113 285 2679 Fax: 0113 285 2762 Mobile: 0836 522957 ON SITE HOSE REPLACEMENT 24 HRS A DAY H Y D R A U L I C S HYDRAULIC HOSES, ADAPTORS QUICK RELEASE COUPLINGS GAUGES, RAM REPAIRS OIL 32, 46 & ENGINE Tel: 01709 839871 London Lodges. It could, of course, have been called a ‘Province’ and this would have saved 31 pages of amendments to the Book of Constitutions, for wherever it used to say ‘Provincial or District’ it now says ‘Metropolitan, Provincial or District’. ‘Province’ was not considered appropriate for a body representing 20% of all Masons under the UGLE, far larger than any Province – and, of course, had it been a Province it would have become the most junior and, for an organisation stemming from the origins of formal English Freemasonry that would never do! The Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London has a full range of Acting Officers, as in Provincial Grand Lodges. There was, however, a choice as to whether those not in Acting Office should receive the equivalent of Past Provincial Ranks, or to retain the awards of LGR and SLGR. An overwhelming majority were in favour of retaining LGR – of course, many of those in favour were already holders of LGR and they were not going to vote themselves into history! But LGR is different and the ‘one size fits all’ structure avoids many causes of discontent! Some very astute Masons revised the Book of Constitutions to keep LGR. First it allows for more than one Metropolitan Area and continues – ‘A Metropolitan Grand Master may confer Metropolitan Grand Rank – designated by reference to the name of his Metropolitan Area – eg London Grand Rank’ (Rules 60 & 61) Those appointed to Acting Office in Metropolitan Grand Lodge resume as LGR or SLGR, as appropriate, at the end of their tenure but wear a distinctive Collar Jewel (Rule 98) instead of the LGR or SLGR jewel. There are NO Past Ranks. • References: A Reference Book for Freemasons, Frederick Smyth, pp 171- 173 Understanding Freemasonry, Roy A Wells, pp 205-212. Amendments to BoC March 12, 2003 WE’RE GOING BACK! THE annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge will be held on Tuesday, 6 May 2008 at the newly refurbished Royal Hall at Harrogate, commencing at 3.30pm. Master Masons are invited to attend the highlight of the Provincial calendar. maes MALTBY AUTO ELECTRICAL SERVICES LTD AUTO ELECTRICAL SERVICE CAR - COMMERCIAL - PLANT EARTHMOVING - COACHES ALTERNATORS, STARTERS, BATTERIES MULTIMEDIA SYSTEMS, SEALEY TOOLS, CCTV & REVERSING CAMERAS Tel: 01709 365032 COMPREHENSIVE ELECTRICAL & HYDRAULIC SERVICE E-mail: office@maes-group.co.uk HOPE STREET, ROTHERHAM S60 1LH 11
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NEWSLETTER 36 Repro - Masonic Province of Yorkshire, West Riding

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