Their quest is to raise £1000 by visiting Lodges in the Province. They will sing and play, at an agreed time during their festive board, without disrupting normal proceedings, providing 10 – 15 minutes entertainment, and hope the Brethren will join in and pass around the hat. Every penny will go to the appeal. Thanks to the generosity of the Lodges already visited, they are already well on the way to hit their target, with collections over £600.

Should any Lodge be interested in a bit of free entertainment, at no cost to the Lodge whatsoever, the Secretary can contact Jim on 0121 559 4670 to book JJ Buskers.

Saturday 18th September 10.30 am - 4.00 pm.

Following last year's success, Malvern's Freemasons will be enthusiastically taking part in the Heritage Open Days project, which is co-ordinated by English Heritage, on Saturday 18th September between 10.30 am and 4.00 pm at Malvern Masonic Hall. Malvern's Freemasons will be joining other organisation, whose premises are of cultural or architectural interest and are not normally open to the public, by opening their meeting place and welcoming non-Masonic visitors. This will be a rare opportunity to tour the fascinating Masonic premises on Belle Vue Terrace in the centre of Great Malvern.

The first Masonic Lodge in Malvern was established in 1867 and Malvern's Freemasons took over their current premises in 1911. Interesting historical material, including a special exhibition of photographs of Malvern 150 years ago, together with Masonic regalia and artefacts, will be on show and refreshments will be available. Visitors will also be able to meet local Freemasons and members of their families to see for themselves that far from being a "secret society", Freemasonry is an open and dynamic organisation with members from every walk of life.

Location: Masonic Hall, 42 Belle Vue Terrace, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 4PZ

For more information about Freemasonry in Malvern, please see:

http://www.malvern-masonic-hall.org.uk/

We look forward to meeting you!

The Library and Museum at Rainbow Hill, Worcester will be open to visitors between 10am and about 4.30pm

Other Halls due to open include Tenbury Wells on Saturday, and Evesham on Saturday and Sunday from 10.30a.m. to 4.30p.m..  Stourport will be open on Sunday from 10.00 - 4.00p.m..

We will again be opening Moseley Masonic Hall, Alcester Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, for the day on Saturday 11^th September between 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m when members of the general public will be invited in to the Hall for:-

• A conducted Tour of the Building, including the Lodge Rooms;
• A short illustrated talk on Freemasonry;
• A DVD presentation on Freemasonry;
• A display borrowed from the Worcestershire Library and Museum;
• A display of photographs of activities involving Freemasonry and the Community;
• The provision of Tea, Coffee and Biscuits for the Visitors.

We will need some assistance from everyone who meets at Kings Heath:-

First of all, we would welcome a few volunteers to help us on the day with stewarding and guiding people; providing refreshments; and, of course the general supervision and security of our building and exhibits.

Secondly, if you have neighbours, friends or family who would be interested in having a look around the Lodge rooms, please do bring them along on the day. Whether it is a curious friend or relative or a potential candidate, they are sure to find a quick visit to the Masonic Hall of interest and it would be good way to boost visitor numbers and raise our profile.

e-mail: derek@dwowen.com

A total of £36,000 has also recently been approved for eleven national charities, they are the latest awards through The Freemasons' Grand Charity Minor Grants Scheme which provides support for smaller charities active in the areas of youth opportunities, vulnerable people and medical research.

The Worcestershire Provincial Stewards Grand Lodge celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.Consecrated in 1985, the Lodge has emerged to focus on supporting and educating lodges in the Province, as well as in other Provinces too.

However, latterly the Lodge hadn't had many social occasions, so when John Ling, who is also our Provincial DC, realised he was going to be Master in the anniversary year, he decided it was time for something special.

So, together with his partner Enda, he organised a Sunday summer lunch for the Lodge members together with their friends and families, at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham, which took place on Sunday 15th August.

To make the event extra special, thanks to the kind support of Redcliffe Catering at the Gardens, John and Enda were able to not only choose a customised menu for the meal, but were able to lend a hand to prepare and cook it. Both were in the kitchens for the whole day on the Saturday, and John also on the morning of the event, busy cutting, chopping, sealing, arranging and pureeing under the tutelage of the Head Chef of the Gardens, Stuart Penfold.

The menu chosen was meant to be a taste treat, but light enough for a lunch. It included Thai Fish cakes, Lemon Sorbet, Chicken stuffed with mushroom and truffle oil mousseline, and Eton Mess.

Enda also debuted her new range of petit fours which included vodka truffles, and her particular show pieces being chocolates made in the moulds of square and compasses. At the end of the event, there was not even one left on any of the plates, so we have to assume they were a success. If you'd like masonic chocolates for your celebration, let us know.

The weather was particularly kind, and what helped make the day even more memorable was that we were lucky enough to have four of our founders present for the lunch.

WM John Ling (centre) with four founders, W Bro Frank Head,

V W Bro Robert Vaughan, W Bro Ray Rooke and W Bro David Charlton

The next event on the Lodge calendar is the regular meeting on Friday September 10th. The evening will preview a new, Craft-friendly Mark Degree lecture given by Ian Thorpe. If any Brother would like to attend, please email John at john@john-ling.co.uk, or Ed Baker the secretary at ed@ed-baker.com

1^st Prize A new Peugeot 107 car or £7500

W Bro John Edwards (Lodge No 4004)

2^nd Prize £1000

Mr Matthew Boylin (Lodge No 8596)

3^rd Prize £500

W Bro Ron Morris (Lodge No 8007)

4^th Prize £250

W Bro Chris Holt (Lodge No 1874)

5^th Prize £250

Mr Andrew Lowther (Lodge No 9365)

As soon as the PGL meeting had finished, the 2011 Appeal Chairman, W Bro Howard Wilson was quickly onto the telephone in order to pass on the good news to the five lucky winners, only to find that none of them were at home!

After 24 hours of trying to make contact, four of the winners had been notified but W Bro John Edwards of St Werstan Lodge had still not answered his phone and was not aware of his good fortune in winning the first prize until two days later when he returned from holiday. Despite the assurance from W Bro Wilson that it was not a joke, W Bro Edwards insisted on calling the Appeal Chairman back so as to authenticate the call. Being now fully convinced, he went on to explain that as fate would have it, his wife was looking to change her car and had set her heart on buying a used Nissan Pixo that she had seen at a local garage, and use her existing car as a part exchange.

Later that afternoon, he phoned back to say that he had done a deal with the garage and ordered a NEW Nissan Pixo, and paid for it using the Grand Draw prize of £7500 and adding only a further £50 out of his own pocket (plus £5 for the ticket!). Mrs Brenda Edwards loves her new car and thinks that it is the best £55 that her husband has ever spent on her. Their grandson was happy too, as he was given his “grandma's” old car as a present!

Congratulations to all of the winners and thanks to all of our members who bought and sold tickets. The Grand Draw generated a magnificent profit of £9150 for the benefit of Appeal 2011.

How about a "Masonic" tea towel?!

Loosely based on the aprons worn at Lodge meetings, the Irish linen tea towel designed and produced by the Ladies of the Province might encourage their menfolk to help with the washing up!

It is available for £5.00 from the Rulers or their wives, the PGL office at Bromsgrove or by post from Helena Goddard with a 75p postage and packing charge.(Cheques payable to P.G.L. of Worcestershire) All profits will go to Appeal 2011

Tuesday 30th November 2010

BOXING NIGHT

in aid of Appeal 2011

at

Kingswinford Country Club

Wall Heath, Kingswinford

Tickets @ £35 from W Bro Vic Southan

Meets at Halesowen Masonic Hall

Three times a year on the fourth Thursday in

January, May (AGM) and October

The meetings start at 730pm and normally conclude by 9pm.

The bar is open before and afterwards to continue the discussions!

Membership is open to all Master Masons and the subscription is only £2 per year.

(Those below the degree of a Master Mason can attend meetings suitable to their level!)

All meetings are very informal and dress is casual – we meet in the dining room not the temple.

The next meeting is on Thursday May 27^th and the talk is entitled Wilkes – The Libertine Libertarian.

All welcome.

Please contact Ed Baker at ed@ed-baker.com or on 01564 205988 for further details.