Sir George Clark Memorial

Masonic Lodge No. 669 Freemasons' Hall Arthur Square, Belfast N. Ireland

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Bretheren in Grand Lodge Room after meeting


Saturday the 27th May 2023, over thirty brethren and friends of Sir George Clark Memorial Masonic lodge No.669 travelled together from Belfast to Grand Lodge Molesworth Street Dublin. The occasion was to confer a Master Mason degree to one of our members, Bro. Cameron Beggs.
For many travelling that day, this was their first visit to Grand Lodge.

On the train to Dublin, we held a raffle which raised £150 for our charity of the year, Friends of Harberton School.

Grand Lodge Room

Arriving in Dublin we made our way to the Grand Lodge in Molesworth Street, where we enjoyed a fantastic tour of the building, taking in the Grand Lodge room, Chapter room, Preceptory, and Prince Masons room, and the Museum. Our tour guide and later Tyler, W. Bro. Barry Fawcett was extremely knowledgeable and answered the many questions that were thrown at him.

Following the hall tour we held our meeting in the Grand Lodge room, the lodge was opened by our W. Master W. Bro. Nigel Millen. The meeting was all in good spirits and enjoyed by everyone present, the main business being to confer the degree of Master Mason for Brother Cameron Beggs, which was conferred by V.W. Bro. Mark Wilson ably assisted by Bro. Barry Cully and our own DOC W. Bro. Paul Francey. 

Brother Beggs received an excellent degree ceremony, and he was extremely pleased to be raised to Master Mason.

R.W. Bro Dennis Millen PPDGM, WM W.Bro Nigel Millen, W.Bro David Beggs PPGSD, Bro Cameron Beggs

The day was made extremely special as W.M W. Bro. Nigel Millen in the chair with his father R.W. Bro Dennis Millen PPDGM Antrim also present to see his son conducting a meeting in the Grand Lodge room.

Bro. Cameron Beggs father W. Bro. David Beggs PPGSD Antrim was also present to see his son receive the sublime degree. Both fathers were extremely happy to see their son’s progression in freemasonry.

After the meeting we enjoyed lunch and refreshments on the Grand Lodge Terrace, which was excellent.

On our way home on the Enterprise train we were upgraded to 1st class and enjoyed a carriage to ourselves, a thoroughly enjoyable day was had by all.
We look forward to a visit again next year.

Bro Abraham Cabidog, W.M W.Bro Nigel Millen, Bro Conceso Lelis Jr. , Bro Adrian Madrid
W.M W.Bro Nigel Millen, R.W. Bro Dennis Millen PPDGM
W.Bro David Beggs PPGSD, Bro Cameron Beggs

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Saturday 23rd April 2022 seen the installation of WB Brian McBride as Worshipful Master of Sir George Clark Memorial Lodge 669. After over 2 years as Worshipful Master WB Stevie Abrol’s time in the chair came to an end.

Our installation meeting was as ever held in Arthur square and was well attended by lodge members and also visiting Bretheren. With VWB Mal Ross in attendance WB Rennie McGrath installed our new Master in impeccable style, we were also very fortunate to have WB Tim Whiteside stand in as director of ceremonies and he made sure everything went according to plan.

After our meeting we had a thoroughly enjoyable dinner and were joined by more non-Masonic guests. WB McBride was piped in by 3 pipers to a round of applause from all the Bretheren and visitors.

With a master’s song delivered by WB McGrath & more musical entertainment from our pipers, speeches from RWB Mal Ross and out outgoing WM a thoroughly enjoyable evening was had by all.

After the last 2 years interruption to our regular meetings everyone agreed that it was great to be together again and we are all looking forward the year ahead under our new WM.

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As restrictions lift and the lodge has resumed its normal meeting schedule we were delighted to be able to present a cheque for £500 to Hope House Ireland which is based in Islandmagee. 

WB Getty PPI and staff from Hope House

Hope House Ireland provides free accommodation to cancer patients and their carers at any time during or on completion of their treatment, for a short time of quiet rest and recuperation.

Hope House recognise the importance of spending quality time together as a family and they seek to provide the opportunity to rest and relax away from the pressures of hospital treatments and appointments.

WB Stevie Abrol and the members of the lodge are extremely happy to be able to donate this money to help with the continuing vital work that this organisation continues to provide.

WB Brian Getty PPI and his wife, Elen, visited Hope House recently to present the cheque to the staff who were delighted to receive the donation.

WB Getty PPI and his wife with staff of Hope House

If you wish to learn more about Hope House and what they do please visit their website.

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Brethren all, 2020 has been terrible for everyone across the world,.
This video is just to remember some very happy times in the past enjoyed by our Lodge Brethren, visitors, families, friends and Lodge widows.


Let’s look ahead to the future and many happy times again at Sir George Clark Memorial Masonic Lodge 669. Irish constitution.
Hope to see you all soon in our Lodge room.


W. Bro. Stephen AbrolWorshipful Master

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These are uncertain times for everyone and we are all having to adapt and overcome in order to maintain some form of “new normal” everyone from government to us as individuals.

A major cornerstone of Freemasonry is charity and during these times it has been reassuring that we as a lodge and an organization as a whole have been remembering this principle.

While we have been unable to meet as a Lodge because of lockdown restrictions we have not been inactive, over the last number of months lead by our Almoner, WB David Beggs, the Brethren of Lodge 669, Sir George Clark Memorial, have been ensuring that we remember the most venerable in our society and try in some way to provide help where possible. To date we have provided the following;

  • Donated £500 to the Hosford Homeless Project
  • Delivered 31 ‘SOS bags’ to our Masonic widows & isolated Brethren
  • Provided 2 children with special needs some toys to help to alleviate the boredom of lockdown
  • Delivered 6 bunches of flowers to the wives of Brethren working on the frontline in the NHS
Hosford Homeless Services
Donating £500 to Hosford House homeless services, Pictured Left to right: WB Brian McBride, WB David Beggs, Arlene Megaw (Hosford House) and WB Stephen Abrol
‘SOS Bags’ ready to be delivered to our isolated and vulnerable Brethren and widows
Flowers delivered to the wives of Brethren working on the frontline in the NHS

As ever WB David Beggs has gone the extra mile and ensured the delivery of this project and continues to plan for what’s next and how we can provide additional help and assistance where needed.

In addition to ensuring his duties as an Almoner have been fulfilled WB Beggs enlisted the help of his son Cameron and they have been bringing musical entertainment to many isolated Bretheren and their families by playing their bagpipes for them and this has been very well received, they have become quite the hit on social media.

As we hopefully come towards the end of this uncertain and worrying period we can reflect that as ever the Freemasons have continued to shine a light in dark times, so while times & circumstances have changed Freemasonry has not.

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The Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) initiative provides unique cuddly bears to Accident & Emergency departments for medical staff to give at their discretion to young children. The bears are used to calm children down, reward them for being brave or to demonstrate procedures. Often the bears distract children so nurses and doctors can get their jobs done quickly and efficiently. The TLC teddy has become an invaluable tool for medical professionals and a real comfort for children.

The work of TLC is funded through the generous donations of Freemasons, their families and supporters of the programme. Many Freemasons also volunteer hundreds of hours each year to manage the scheme, deliver bears to hospitals, campaign to raise funds and increase awareness through events and talks.

As you will be able to see from the short video below, they are still being distributed and providing comfort to children in these difficult times. This footage was shown on last nights news (21stApril 2020) and is taken at the Ulster Hospital, you will notice a nurse carrying the bears at the end of the clip.

For more information on the TLC appeal please visit the TLC website by clicking here

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Easter delivery of SOS bags for our senior brethren and widows are ready to go and have been delivered by WB Beggs, as ever all who received them were incredibly thankful. One recipient contacted the lodge to say;

“Thank you David, thank you W. Master and Brethren of 669.
The food and flowers are wonderful, and the bonus is David, a smiling face and cheeky chat.”

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Sir George Clarke Memorial Masonic Lodge 669 are gearing up to distribute the second of our range of SOS bags, which contain essentials including foods and some treats in the form of a box of chocolates, to our vulnerable members & widows.

As ever this is being co-ordinated by our incredibly committed almoner WB David Beggs aided by generous contributions  from our Lodge Brethren.

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Pictured, left to right: WB Brian McBride, WB David Beggs, Arlene Megaw (Hosford Homelessness Services) and WB Steven Abrol (Worshipful Master Lodge 669)

Sir George Clark Memorial Masonic Lodge 669 supporting Hosford Homeless Services. £500 donation presented by our W. Master today.

“Given the current situation in regards to Covid-19  Hosford Homelessness Services are facing additional pressures as we strive to keep our residents, clients and staff safe. This means we are facing additional costs for deep cleaning, additional staffing costs for the hostel; and emergency food and cleaning supplies for those who are most vulnerable in our hostel and who are using our tenancy support services”.

Could you help us during this difficult time by donating towards these additional costs by donation here or via the link below?

Just £5 could buy hand soaps to keep clients safe; £10 could buy cleaning supplies for a deep clean in our hostel; £25 could purchase an emergency food hamper for someone in need.

Any support you can offer at this difficult time is hugely appreciated!

If you need to contact us regarding any of our service’s please call us on 028 9045 8560 or email [email protected]

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/displayCharityCampaignPage.action?campaignId=11515&charityId=1015547

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In accordance with the below statement from Grand Lodge of Ireland all our stated communications will be suspended until September 2020.

Grand Lodge of Ireland Statement
In view of the latest Government advice on the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic and taking cognisance of the age profile of the organisation all Masonic meetings and gatherings (all Branches of the Order) are suspended until 31st August 2020 throughout the island of Ireland.
We are in extraordinary times and the health of our members is of paramount importance. We will keep the situation under constant review and keep you advised via the Grand Lodge of Ireland website www.freemason.ie
Philip A.J. Daley
Grand Secretary