Tuesday 27th September 2011 was the second " BELL'S" night to happen at Lodge The Raleigh No 241 meeting at Fernmount, ( Bellingen) Northen N.S,W. On this night Bro. Gary John Bell was passed to the Fellowcraft Degree, two of his uncles and a cousin assisted in the ceremony. Cousin, WBro. Garry Bell from Bangalow (250 klm north), delivered the South East Charge. Uncle, RW.Bro.Richard Bell P.J.G.W. Lodge Enterprise No.400 Newcastle (380 klm. south.) delivered the working tools and RW.Bro. George Bruce Bell P.J.G.W. Lodge Enterprise No. 400 gave the Final Charge.
It should be noted that Lodge Enterprise No 400 was formed after the consolidation of Lodge Ferndale No 400, Loge Dugald Dobie No. 563 and Lodge Pegasus Roberts No. 870 on the 1st June 1994
Gary John Bell is the eldest son of the late WBro.John Rex Bell, P.M. Lodge Ferndale No.400, who was the youngest brother of Richard and Bruce. These two older brothers were both initiated together as Lewises in December 1949, with three other candidates. Richard was installed as Worshipal Master in November 1959, his first meeting was to initiate his brother John, also a Lewis.
The first " BELL'S " night for Lodge The Raleigh was 28 th June 2011, when Mr.Gary John Bell was initiated in the company of his relations. RWBro.Richard Bell gave the Mode of Preparation and the Final Charge by RWBro.Bruce Bell.The four Bell's hope to gather together in Febuary 2012 for Bro.Garry's Third Degree. We have allocated Garry --- Retrospect, Richard --- Raising, and Bruce --- Final Charge.
One cannot finish this report without adding Praise, Adoration, Amazement and Congratulations to the Organist VWBro.Brian Hayes, who is blind, not only for his wonderful harmony, but he presented the First Tools. Then on the 23rd August he explained the First Tracing Board and the Second Tracing Board in September. I am sure he will delight us again in February.
Pictured with the Worshipful Master of Lodge Sawtell Twilight WBro. Owen Purdon is Dr. Larry Yee
On 27th June 2011, Coffs Harbour Daylight Lodge, No 1016, held their monthly meeting. This was followed by a talk from the Worshipful Master's daughter, Andrea Polkinghorne. Andrea delivered an interesting talk on her Outrigger Paddling experiences in Coffs Harbour, Queensland and Hawaii. She also showed memorabilia allied to the sport of Outriggers. This was followed by the Worshipful Master VWBro. Owen Larsen, being presented with his 50 year Certificate and Jewel, by RWBro. Norm Standing.The ceremony was witnessed by Owen's Wife Julia and Daughter Andrea.
Had a great night in London last night at my Lodge Centenary, and on behalf of Lodge Lachlan Macquarie No. 1042, I presented the Travelling Gavel which went down extremely well and I must say a special thanks to the Worshipful Master WBro. Spencer Barnet and the Assistant Metropolitan Grand Master Dr. Paddy Johnson ( a real down to earth guy ) for receiving it with great interest. WBro. Spencer Barnet even wanted to keep it ( typical London Lodge, after something for nothing ). I will also be presenting it to the Cambridge Provincial Grand Master on the 22nd June. Also WBro. Brian Powell Assistant Grand Master East Kent is endeavoring to arrange a presentation in his province, whilst Bro. Les Leek, the gavel's donor is working to arrange a presentation as well. I will update as to further presentations.
Order In The House” is a dynamic presentation aimed at addressing the issues of falling membership and poor success in recruiting within Freemasonry. The presentation has been endorsed by the Grand Master, MW Bro. Dr. Greg Levenston. VW Bro Geoff Greenaway, DGIW District 53 arranged for RW Bro Greg Goding PAGM, UGL Qld to deliver his presentation to local Freemasons and their Ladies at the Coffs Harbour Masonic Centre on 2nd April, 2011.
RW Bro. Greg laid out a simple plan that is guaranteed to create a fertile environment for your Lodge to thrive.
1. Perfect Harmony
2. Streamline the Business
3. Excellent Ritual
4. Good Festive Boards
5. No Cringe Factor
6. Perfect Harmony
We have to be prepared to live by our teachings and put the Lodge ahead of our own feelings and needs. Disharmony is the single factor which stops Lodges from moving ahead. Without Harmony you will not get your officers to attend practices and they will not be determined to be at the meetings. Without Harmony there will not be the desire, drive and determination of the members to solve the next three areas.
Minutes should be circulated with the Lodge Notice. Secretaries must pre-plan and mark only the relevant parts of any correspondence with the exception of those letters marked “please read in full” and reports and recommendations from Grand Lodge. Use Management meetings prior to practice meetings to allow frank and open discussion on all correspondence and issues. Decide on who is going to Move and Second the motions so that time spent in the regular meeting is kept to a minimum.
Practice meetings should be fast and well conducted. Ritual must be of the highest standard. We all should be using the latest Rituals. We must cut the waffle. There is no need for it.
The Festive Board should take no longer than ONE HOUR at regular meetings and TWO HOURS at Installations. Get the Junior Wardens toast over and done with so that those that need to leave can do so and those that wish to stay on can stop and mingle. Keep speeches to a minimum.
The Cringe Factor presents itself in many ways. It is whatever makes you squirm in your seat or makes you pull at your collar or look at your feet while it is going on. That is the cringe factor and if it makes you cringe, imagine what it is doing to our inexperienced Brethren. IT IS DRIVING THEM AWAY. UNLESS THE 1ST & 5TH ARE IN PLACE 2, 3 & 4 CAN NEVER AND WILL NEVER BE ACHIEVED.
There is no one easy answer to the question “What is Freemasonry?” but there are many areas we can cover in order to answer the question in a meaningful way. Think about what Freemasonry means to you and then use that as your starting point. You will always sound far more convincing when you are speaking from a point of knowledge and passion. The person who is asking the question of you will soon see through a bluff if you are not 100% confident in your answer and so you can do yourself and the Craft more harm than good. However, just as they will see through a bluff they will identify passion and love just as readily and it is far easier for you. Just speak from the heart – speak of what Freemasonry means to you and just start talking. As you talk you will find that all these other points will start coming to mind and that difficult question will be answered without hesitation.
Remember when we are explaining what Freemasonry is, we can cover the history, the ceremonies, the spoken word or ritual, the offices, the business part, the suppers, the social side, the charitable side, the world-wide brotherhood and the fact that it is the ONLY organisation in this world to transcend all RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL PERSUASIONS, COLOUR AND CREEDS.
Lodge Corrective Services No 1039 held their Lodge Meeting at the Woolgoolga Masonic Centre
on Friday 25th March 2011 to raise Bro.Terry Thomson to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason.
WM. Lodge Woolgoolga. WBro. Colin Mackenzie, WM. Lodge Corrective Services. WBro. Bradley Lawless
Newly Raised Brother. Bro. Terry Thompson, DGIW. District 34. VWBro. Bob McCallum.
SD. WBro. Grant Singleton, Bro.Terry Thompson, (WM)WBro. Bradley Lawless, JD and Chaplain RWBro. Bruce Quirk,
Background. VWBro. Graham Dorrington.
On Monday 14th March 2011 at the Woolgoolga Rotary Club Meeting VWBro. Geoff Greenaway DGIW District 53, ably assisted by VWBro. Norm Standing, debunked the secret society label attached to Freemasonry. Apparently finding out about who you really are is the real secret of Freemasonry - it is all about teaching men to be good and teaching good men to be better. Many Lodges are struggling due to declining membership and this is reducing their ability to support worthwhile community charities. Recently Coffs Coast Freemasons Association (CCFA) donated $100,000 to set up the "CanDo" Cancer Trust to assist families of those stricken with cancer. The CCFA continue to support charities which include Aged Care, Emergency Services to Medical Research and Community Groups. You do not have to be a Christian to be a Mason, but you do have to believe in a Supreme Being: known in Freemasonry as "The Great Architect Of The Universe".
Brethren and Ladies of Coffs Harbour Daylight Lodge joined Lodge Sawtell Twilight for a combined "South" at the meeting on Wednesday the 16th February. VWBro. Owen Larsen organised the entertainment by Nga Maunga Wairua (Mountains of the Spirits) Maori Cultural Group.
Three Lodges from the Northern Rivers area, namely Lodge Lismore City United No. 77, Lodge Kyogle-Geneva United No. 245 and Lodge Urbenville-Bonalbo No. 354 combined to form a new lodge named The Northern Rivers Lodge No. 77. The consecration ceremony and the installation was carried out by the MW Grandmaster and his team of Grand Officers and took take place at the Lismore Masonic Centre on Saturday the 5th of February 2011 at 3.00 PM. A number of Brethren from surrounding Districts including District 53 attended the Consecration.
Pictured is The Grand Master MWBro. Dr. G. H. Levenson presenting the Installed Masters Certificate to the first
newly Installed Master of The Northern Rivers Lodge No 77 WBro. D J Cowan.
Australia Day 2011 was an exciting culmination to a very successful term of office as DGIW District 53 and Chairman of the Coffs Coast Freemasons Association (CCFA) for VW Bro. Norm Standing when he was nominated for the Volunteer Of The Year Award in Coffs Harbour. The CCFA was also nominated for Voluntary Organisation Award for Community Excellence. Under the leadership of VW Bro. Norm Standing, the CCFA raised $103,000 which was donated to the Coffs Coast and Clarence Can-Do Cancer Trust.
VW Bro. Norm Standing and current DGIW District 53 VW Bro. Geoff Greenaway attended the Australia Day Ceremony held at the Coffs Ex-Services Club and were presented with nomination certificates in the two categories.