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PERTINENT POINTSFROM THE WIFEOF A FREEMASONBy Dr Elizabeth M BinnsWHAT is it like being aFreemason’s wife? Well, Iwould suggest that it alldepends on the masonhimself. This observation isfounded on the manyconversations I have hadduring the last four and ahalf decades with othermasonic wives.However, my associationwith Freemasonry goesback even further than thatas my father was a memberof both Craft and Chapter.I am immensely proud that he gavehonourable service to both; as not onlydid he arrange for all the printing of themenu cards, song sheets andsummonses, including their distribution,but he absorbed the cost himself for over40 years.In those days all of the masons in hisLodge worked in the local community,where they lived with their families; and Iremember growing up being surroundedby people who were supportive, reliable,honest, trustworthy and friendly – thecommunity was a safe place to live, too.This has left an everlasting impression onme of how Freemasonry is supposed toworkI remember too that the annual Ladies’Evening was always an extremelyglamorous occasion; when the men woreproper white bow-ties and darktailcoats,and the ladies were adorned inthe most exquisite long dresses, longevening gloves and fur stoles.There is no doubt that this event was,and still is, a great attraction to the wife ofa mason; as it provides a rare opportunityto attend a masonic function with herhusband and enjoy a meal together – yes,we ladies like a meal cooked for us too!!“To be included,” is the theme of mostof my conversations with other masonicwives; and relates primarily to wanting tobe with our husband and to share his lifeand enthusiasms.There is also a need for a recognitionthat, through joint bank accounts, manywives and partners contribute tosubscriptions, raffles, donations to charity,and the handing over of cheques atInstallation meetings.A little acknowledgement, and a “thankyou” at masonic events, would providesome of that recognition.Today, the masonic movement needs toconsider being much more inclusive, andlook towards meeting the needs andexpectations of masons and their wivesand partners in the 21st century.My mother, and other masonic wives ofher time, might have accepted that ladieswere only ever allowed intoLodge rooms once a year,and that such was their lotin life; but today’s ladiesand their expectations arequite, quite different.If the organisationwishes to attract youngermen, then it needs to thinkseriously about making itattractive and inclusiveequally to their partners.I do hope that, in thisnew millennium, the Craftwill aim to do just that andcelebrate the partnership of two people.If the perennial advice that “wife andfamily come first” is to have any meaningat all, then the masonic movement mustendeavour to recognise that a work-lifebalance has to be attained.Today’s young men are finding thisbalance ever harder to achieve due tolonger working hours and travellinggreater distances to and from work; andtheir family life and social time is muchmore restricted than in years gone by.In truth, and from a wife’s point of view,Freemasonry needs an imaginative andfar-reaching management andcommercial review, and a sound businessplan too, to put it on a sustainable footingfor the future.The past cannot be altered, but thefuture is ours to shape and design. Is itpossible that we can all assist in this?100 YEARS YOUNG!DAVID SMITHIES and his wife, Susan,are pictured delivering a gift and thevery best wishes of all the Brethren andfamilies of De-Warren Lodge No 1302to Elsie Garside (nee Earnshaw) on theoccasion of her 100th birthday.Mrs Garside started work in 1923 atthe age of 12, sewing for 2 shillings andsix pence per week (25p in today’smoney). She later took a job atModerna earning £3 per week andwhere she continued to work until shemet her husband- to- be DonaldGarside, whom she married in 1934.They had a daughter, Susan, born in1935 and a son John in 1939.W Bro Donald Garside, as hebecame, was Initiated into De-WarrenLodge in 1949 and took the chair in1960 following his father (John ThomasGarside). who had been Initiated in1921 and was in the chair in 1938.He also followed into the familybusiness, becoming the thirdgeneration member of the firm whichstill trades in Halifax under the nameJames Garside and Sons Limited.Donald passed away in 1977 and theLodge has stayed in close contact withMrs Garside ever since.We offer the bestsolutions forautomative,commercial,industrial& wood refinishingPaint Solutions Barnsley (PSB) has been trading in Barnsley since1992. We supply refinishing products to all sectors of industryincluding bodyshops & car repair, truck repair, wood refinishers,coach builders and industrial painters. We take pride in the fact thatwe provide quality products at sensible prices.Telephone: 01226 779 773 Fax: 01226 770 637www.paintbarnsley.co.ukUnit 26 Grange Lane Industrial Estate, Carwood Road, Barnsley S71 5AS10