white rose 44:white rose 43 - Masonic Province of Yorkshire, West ...

HOPE TO UNIVERSITY GRADUATESL Burland, Alexandru Carp, John K Clayton and Edward Lord OBEA LONG ANDINTERESTINGJOURNEY . . .AT the sumptuous Festive Board, R W BroWilliamson said:“It has always been my intention that theScheme should have participating lodgesnear all major Universities, and have apresence in the majority of Provinces. Youare the third Scheme Lodge in this Province,to connect with the University here inBradford. You join University Lodge,Sheffield, and Aurora Lodge in Leeds, and ifI may mention the other part of Yorkshire,North & East Riding, Alcuin Lodge in York.R W Bro Williamson, responding to aGrand Officers’ toast proposed by W BroMichael Depledge, thanked ProvincialGrand Master John K Clayton “for his keeninterest in the Scheme” and Past APGMStewart Carley for his guidance andGraham H Priestley, Roberto Espindola andDharvinder S Basra for their invaluableassistance.“Brethren, you are at the beginning ofwhat will be a long and interesting journey,requiring much continuing effort, which willbenefit the Scheme, but, as our experienceshows, will also add a new vitality to theLodge. The two most successful SchemeLodges are undoubtedly Apollo UniversityLodge in Oxford and Isaac NewtonUniversity Lodge in Cambridge. They havebeen successful in attractingundergraduates to join them over very manyyears, only because of their continuing andconstant efforts in endeavouring to attractsuitable candidates, and you, I hope, willfollow in their footsteps.”“Brethren, having recruited what we hopeare young men of quality, the greatchallenge, and not just for Scheme Lodges,but generally, is Retention. Mentoring is akey element in ensuring that new membersmake that ‘daily advancement’ and increaseboth in practical knowledge and in gaininga greater understanding of the deepermeanings of our Institution.“I am delighted to hear that this Provincehas launched its own Mentoring initiative,which I hope this Lodge will take on board.With more and more calls than ever on ayoung man’s time, particularly with thepressures and distractions of student anduniversity life generally, what is certain is thatif we do not retain interest and inspire thenew generation of Freemasons, then theymay lose interest and leave our numbers,and perhaps Freemasonry itself may notsurvive.“Brethren, the society of today lives in aFAST TRACK GRADUATE NOW A FREEMASON!ALEXANDRU CARP was raised in Galati, Romania where his parents still live. Hecame to Bradford in September 2007 to study Economics at Bradford University andquickly took up jobs at McDonalds, where he became a manager, to fund his livingand study costs.He attained a 2:1 Degree BSc in Economics with a first in his Dissertation, andbefore Graduation was offered a position on a fast track Graduate managementprogramme with a leading UK Bank, where he is already making good progress.Some members of the Lodge had the pleasure of meeting Alex's very proudparents, when they visited Bradford last year for his Graduation ceremony.His great grandfather was an academic and Freemason in Romania prior toCommunism, and Alex intends to research his Masonic Career. Assistant GrandMaster David Williamson has contacted the Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodgeof Romania, who was to introduce him to a Lodge in Romania.Initiated into Lodge No 302 in September 2010, Alex quickly demonstrated hisinterest and ability for ritual, and three months later delivered a perfect rendition of theFirst Degree Working Tools at the Installation, which drew spontaneous applausefrom the Brethren. And two months after his Passing, he gave a faultlesspresentation of the South East Corner Charge.seemingly increasing moral vacuum, aspace which Freemasonry, with its GrandPrinciples of Brotherly Love, Relief, andTruth, can fill, and to which young intelligentmen can look for inspiration, selfimprovementand fulfilment. In agreeing toparticipate in the Universities Scheme, youhave had the foresight to realise this byseeking to attract new members of quality,who, inspired by these principles, can makea real difference to the future of this Lodge,to universal Freemasonry, and to society ingeneral.“Worshipful Master could I congratulateyou and your Officers on an excellentceremony. I have been told by W Bro Prattthat it was no better than one could see inany Lodge in the Province, but I doubt it!That your excellent candidate should beyour first from the University was veryappropriate; I congratulate Brother Carp,and wish him every future enjoyment in hisMasonic life in this Lodge and inFreemasonry universal.”The R W Assistant Grand Master, in turn,proposed a toast to the Provincial GrandMaster. “With my Third Grand Principal’shat on, may I thank you as GrandSuperintendent for your support of the RoyalArch, particularly in relation to the 2013 Bi-Centenary appeal, and for the work goingon to help Royal Arch Representativesdevelop their roles in Lodges.“I see this as a vital adjunct to Mentoringand wish it every success. Thank you onceagain for your positive support of theUniversities Scheme, for your presence herethis evening, and for again welcoming meto your Province. Brethren, your ProvincialGrand Master and I have been friends formany years. I don’t need to tell you what afine job he is doing in leading this Province.”John K Clayton, in his response, said:“The Lodge of Hope is one of our oldestLodges. The members have lentthemselves to and are fully supportive of thisventure. Indeed, this is not the firstenterprising project in this Lodge. Many ofthe members have formed close friendshipswith members of Zum Hellen Licht LodgeNo 169 in Hamm, Germany, and indeedsome have held office in the Lodge.“Now, the Brethren of Lodge of Hope andothers have worked tremendously hardtowards forming links and associations withBradford University, an up and comingcosmopolitan centre of learning. We are allaware that we are an ageing population butit is encouraging that the age of Initiates inthis Province is decreasing, doubtless aidedby the Universities Scheme.“Increased membership is, however, buta fringe benefit. I can only hope that byadmitting younger men, the Craft willprosper and be the better for it.”27