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Would you like to join Freemasonry?
North Wales Freemasons are proud of their Masonic traditions, and support the move by the United Grand Lodge of England to promote the many benefits of Freemasonry.
Freemasonry is an institution devoted to exhorting its members to live their lives according to the highest standards of integrity, probity and virtue, to practice charity to all, to act honourably on every occasion, and to enjoy the social fellowship of men of like mind.
Every Freemason has undertaken to do his best to live up to these Principles.
From its earliest days Freemasonry has been involved in charitable activities, and since its inception it has provided support for many widows and dependants of Freemasons, as well as members of the Craft who need either short or long-term financial assistance.
Funds have always been made available for other charitable purposes, especially when assistance is urgently required for events such as natural disasters including earthquakes, tsunamis and bushfires.
Annual Convocation of Provincial
Grand Chapter of North Wales
Grand Superintendent's Address
Companions, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you here this morning and indeed to see so many of you present. To have the company of our distinguished guest adds to the joy of the day. It is good to see so many of them present.
Companions let me begin on a happy note and tell you that we have an increase of 14 in the Chapter membership. It is not a massive increase but let us hope that it is the beginning of a trend. The past 12 months have seen a significant increase in the number of re-joining members and a 30% reduction in the number of resignations when compared with the previous 7 year average. Unfortunately we had 10% decrease in Exaltations compared with the last 7 year average.
That is not really very clear is it? But what it really means is that Chapter Representatives in Lodges will have to gird their loins. To assist them a new Mentoring Scheme is being set up. I am very grateful to my Deputy and Companions Gerald Edwards and the Provincial Mentor and team and also Companions Melvyn Hill and Brian Goldsmith for their work in preparing the scheme and other useful documents for Chapters. Let us hope that next year I can say there are gains in all our statistics.
I am pleased to be able to congratulate the following Companions on being appointed Officers of Supreme Grand Chapter:- E.Comp. Gwynfor Williams, PGStB, E.Comp. John Ernest Terence Williams, PGStB and E.Comp.Allan Edgar Powell who has been promoted to PGSwdB and E.Comp. John Henry Farrall who was promoted to PAGSoj.
At the Convocation of the Supreme Grand Chapter on Wednesday, 10th November 2010, the Royal Arch Masons' 2013 Bicentenary Appeal was officially launched by the Second Grand Principal, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support of the Appeal so far, which is for the benefit of the Royal College of Surgeons. A donation form/appeal leaflet was distributed to every Companion in the Provinces in January 2011 through the Freemasonry Today magazine. I am well aware in the current economic climate of the financial constraints on Companions pockets I am also aware of the fact that the Province is currently in Festival.
As a Province we have decided to pay a lump sum to the Festival to prevent any pressure on Chapters and Companions. We respect the efforts you are making and feel that there must be some relief for you all. However, if any Companions or Chapters wish to make a donation then it will be gratefully received and faithfully applied.
During the coming 12 months we will see a new Masonic Hall built at Bangor, work has already commenced and I am to lay the foundation stone on the 16 November. The Building will be fully completed and ready for occupation next summer.
I am pleased to announce that on Sunday 1 April 2012 the Chelsea Lodge of Entertainers in association with Twrcelyn Lodge No 6944, will stage a Variety Spectacular Evening at Venue Cymru Theatre in aid of the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys. Tickets have gone on sale today and are available from the Theatre box office; further information is available on the stand just outside this Arena. Companions I urge you all to please support this event which has a line up of 10 well known "A list" stars, the Brethren / Companions concerned are all giving their time voluntarily and the proceeds are going to a very worthy Masonic Charity as part of our effort for the 2017 Festival.
Companions I am certain that we have every reason to feel positive towards out future. My Deputy and Two Principals and I will make every effort to visit more of you during the current year.
My final and grateful duty is to thank all who have worked to prepare this Venue today, all who have visited Chapters on my behalf and especially the Provincial team that visited Chapters with me. I thank the Provincial Scribe Ezra and his excellent office staff. They have worked unbelievably hard. Thank you all for your support throughout the year and for your attendance today.
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The earliest recorded 'making of a Freemason' in England occurred in 1646.
Organised Freemasonry officially began with the founding of the Grand Lodge of England in 1717. These early lodges were generally held in hostelries from which they tended to take their names.
Early ceremonies were based on custom and practice, rather than a written ritual as is the case today.
The whole atmosphere would have been far less formal as the 'lodge room' would have been candle-lit, with much eating and drinking taking place. In subsequent years other lodges were formed.
During these early years before trains and cars, it must have been very difficult for Masons from the far-flung parts of the Province to attend lodges.
Journeys on horseback from some of the remoter parts of the Province would have been arduous, and indeed dangerous.
Some brethren travelled great distances only to find too few members attending for the lodge to be held. Imagine their frustration!
