Archives for 2013

Meeting celebrating 75th Anniversary

October 3, 2013 By JT 6 Comments

Sir George Clark Memorial 75th Anniversary meeting on 26th October 2013 was honoured by the presence of Assistant Grand Master R.W. Bro. Rodney L McCurley, Provincial Assistant Grand Master of Antrim R.W.Bro. Kenneth Porter, RWBro. Dennis Millen, and our Inspector W. Bro. Foster Clyde.
After the meeting, held in Freemason’ Hall, Arthur Square, Belfast, the Brethren sat down to an excellent dinner to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Lodge.
Toasts to Grand Lodge & Provincial Grand Lodge were responded to by the Assistant Grand Master R.W. Bro. Rodney McCurley and Provincial Assistant Grand Master R.W. Bro. Kenneth Porter.
The W.Master toasted the Founder Members and Past Masters.
W.Bro. Brian McBride gave a short presentation on the history of the Lodge from its’ Constitution up to present date.
A Charity Collection was taken up and a raffle was held with the total proceeds going towards the W.M.s designated Charity.
W.Bro. Brian Getty delivered a toast to Absent Brethren and friends.
W.Bro. Pat Elliott delivered the Tylers’ Toast after which the Assistant Grand Master retired from the room.
A very enjoyable evening was had by all, and our thanks go especially to the Flo Gilmore and her team at Fernhill Catering for proving an excellent meal.
Smoked salmon with horseradish sauce, Roast Lamb with fresh vegetables, Cheesecake, and a Cheeseboard.
No Brother went home hungry that night!

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Installation 2013

January 31, 2013 By JT Leave a Comment

On Saturday 26th January 2013, our new W. Master was installed.

Attending the Installation was the R.W. Provincial Assistant Grand Master, R.W. Bro. Ken Porter. Coincidently, he was our W. Master’s headmaster at his primary school.

Visitors from many Lodges and other Masonic constitutions enjoyed the Installation meeting, and Festive board afterwards. Our two pipers W. Bros. William Cardwell, and David Beggs escorted the new WM into dinner, and gave us an excellent performance as usual.

The “Masters Song” was sung by our good friend W. Bro. Rennie McGrath, who also entertained us with local songs. An excellent dinner ensured a good time was had by all!

Demolay International

January 31, 2013 By JT Leave a Comment

Some of our new Brethren are from the Philippines, and grew up with Freemasonry as members of Demolay International (Junior Freemasons)

DeMolay International (also known as the Order of DeMolay), founded in Kansas City, Missouri in 1919, is an international youth fraternity for young men. DeMolay derives its name from Jacques DeMolay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar.

DeMolay is open for membership to young men between the ages of 12 to 21, and currently has about 36,000 members in the United States and Canada and several thousand more world wide. It uses a model of mentoring; adult men and women called advisors, often past DeMolay members or fathers and mothers of DeMolays, mentor the active Demolay members. An advisor is referred to as ‘Dad Smith’ instead of ‘Mr. Smith’, in respect of Frank Land and his fatherly role to the founding members. The mentoring focuses on the development of civic awareness, leadership skills and personal responsibility.

Founded by a Freemason, DeMolay is closely modelled after Freemasonry, and like Freemasonry, members are initiated into DeMolay through ritual and an allegorical program. However, it is not directly connected to Freemasonry. DeMolay is considered to be part of the Masonic Family along with other youth groups like Job’s Daughters, and the Rainbow Girls. Unlike in Job’s Daughters, a young man does not need to have a family tie or sponsor in a Masonic organization to join DeMolay.

DeMolay has seven Cardinal Virtues, which are the soul structure of what they follow. Those Cardinal Virtues are:

Love between a parent and child (Filial Love)
Reverence for sacred things
Courtesy
Comradeship
Fidelity
Cleanness
Patriotism
An aspiring member would be referred to as a “petitioner” or “Prospect”