NEWS
PGM's APPEAL
This year The RWPGM has chosen The Highland Food Bank (Part of Blythswood Care) for our Annual Appeal.
Highland Food Bank was launched in October 2005. They work in collaboration with around 50 partner agencies (both statutory and voluntary organisations) that refer to HFB to their clients who for various reasons are facing financial crisis and are unable to buy food for themselves. These clients are either given a voucher which they can bring to the Food Bank Centre in Inverness (open 12noon – 2pm Tuesday-Friday) to exchange for non-perishable food items, or else (if they live outwith Inverness or are facing a crisis on a day when the Centre is not open) are provided by the partner agency with an ‘Emergency Food Box’. The Food Bank Centre is in the Madras Street Mission Hall (kindly made available by the Free North Church) in what is statistically the most deprived area of Inverness.
It is obvious to us all then, that without food the project cannot succeed.
We must all therefore look in our cupboards (and the supermarket) for dry goods and tins
Please try to ferret out a tin or two of soup or packet of cup-a-soup, or if you feel you would like to give someone in need a special treat; tins of mince and Frey Bentos go down well!
BRING YOUR DONATIONS TO YOUR OWN REGULAR LODGE MEETINGS – You can be sure they will be very much appreciated! The appeal is on-going so keep donations coming in.
DISTRIBUTION TO BLYTHSWOOD :-
Once you have collected a sizeable amount of food you should make a note of what you have and then get the food to where its needed; at Blythswood. Brethren on the east coast should have little difficulty finding a local Blythswood shop, however if you encounter problems, liaise with a Lodge that is nearer a Blythswood shop and they can then deliver the goods with their own in due course.
Here are the staples as suggested for a shopping list by Blythswood :-
Breakfast Cereal
Rice/Pasta 1kg
Potatoes (Tinned or Instant)
Oatcakes/Crackers
Tinned Vegetables
Tinned Tomatoes
Tinned Fruit
Fruit Juice (Long Life or Dilute)
Tinned Soup
Tinned Creamed Soup
Cup-a-Soup
Tinned Ham/Corned Beef
Tinned Tuna/Salmon
Tinned Mince/Stew
Milk (UHT Whole Milk)
Tinned Custard/Rice Pudding
Tea Bags/Coffee
Sugar
CHRISTMAS CONCERT 2011
STATEMENT BY THE GRAND MASTER MASON REGARDING THE GRANDE LOGE NATIONALE FRANCAISE
The Grand Lodge of Scotland has noted with increasing concern the continued disharmony within the Grand Loge Nationale Francaise which has seen internal disputes develop into legal actions, including the French Courts having now appointed an Administrative Receiver over the legal entity of the Grand Loge Nationale Francaise.
Whilst the Grand Lodge of Scotland has no wish to interfere in the internal affairs of another Grand Lodge the public schism within the Grand Loge Nationale Francaise and the manner in which it is being reported in the media is against the basic tenets of the Craft and is adversely contaminating the reputation of other Grand Lodges.
A meeting of the Grand Loge Nationale Francaise scheduled for 27th June 2011, at which it was hoped a resolution to the present situation could have began, was cancelled and there is no indication that harmony will be restored in the near future.
The continuing state of affairs in the Grand Loge Nationale Francaise is liable to damage the International status of Freemasonry and it is therefore necessary that the reputation of the Grand Lodge of Scotland be protected.
Accordingly, with the specific authority granted to me by the Grand Lodge of Scotland, with immediate effect I regretfully suspend recognition of the Grand Loge Nationale Francaise by the Grand Lodge of Scotland.
Charles lain Robert Wolrige Gordon of Esslemont
Grand Master Mason
20th July 2011
In effect then :- Brethren will note that with immediate effect the Grand Lodge of Scotland has suspended recognition of the Grand Loge Nationale Francaise (GLNF). The effect of this action is as follows:-
• Brethren are not permitted to be received as visitors from the GLNF in any Lodge under the Scottish Constitution.
• Brethren of the Scottish Constitution are no longer permitted to visit any Lodge working under the GLNF.
• Brethren who are members of the GLNF are not permitted to be affiliated to a lodge under the Scottish Constitution
Reigning Masters Meeting, 17th September 2011.
A meeting of all* the Masters in the Province was held on a beautiful Saturday morning at Lodge Fingal. Much business was discussed and the meeting was both informative and productive for all in attendance. Each Master round the table gave a synopsis of their Lodge and ideas for the future of Freemasonry in the Province. Especial thanks to the "Ladies" who produced a remarkable selection of sandwiches and baking for our buffet lunch. Minutes in due course. *Apologies from those few not in attendance.
Quarterly Communication, The Province of Ross & Cromarty 24th August 2012
The first Quarterly Communication conducted by the RWPGM Bro. William Ross was held in Lodge Fingal 318, Dingwall on August 24th. The meeting was well attended and there were many news items of note announced and minuted; one of which is a Meeting of Reigning Masters which will also be held in Lodge Fingal on 17th September 2012 at 11am.
Installation of the new Provincial Grand Master 11th June 2012
The Installation of Bro William Ross as PGM took place in the Averon Centre, Alness on Saturday 11th June. See the Gallery page for more post-installation pictures.