Letter from the Chairman
To all Brethren and Companions within the Federation
Dear Brother,
May I begin by wishing you and your family a Happy, healthy and prosperous 2022. To those who have suffered from the consequences of the pandemic I wish you a speedy return to full health.
It has been a difficult two years for all of us in freemasonry and has had a somewhat regressive effect on our Federation.
Kingswood School Lodge for example bravely went ahead and hosted our Festival in October and against all odds, having had to cancel the event in 2020, put on an enjoyable event albeit with an understandably lower than usual attendance. Now, as hopefully the pandemic recedes we look forward to rebuilding our Federation once more into a vibrant group, a happy band of brothers, eager to mix again and enjoy the very special advantages of old school freemasonry. So I want to tell you what we have in mind and to seek your help along the way. Primarily it is to raise our profile and to regain and improve our service to you, your masonic units and those around you.
Annual Festival
The 2022 Festival will be held on Saturday 3rd September at Bradford Grammar School under the banner of Bradfordians Lodge No. 9886. Our new President, Sir David Wootton, the Assistant Grand Master is a member and currently DC of the Lodge and will be presiding over the Annual Business Meeting. Plans are already well underway and details will be circulated in late Spring. It looks like being a very special event with plenty of interest to the ladies and I do hope as many as possible will come from far and wide and make a weekend of it. Don’t forget the Travelling Gavel will be up for grabs if your unit can raise the most number of Brethren in attendance.
This is the highlight of our year and I urge you to support it. Please put 3rd September in your new diaries.
Website and Publicity
Please take a look at our updated website at www.schoollodges.org.uk We hope to post items of interest to members from around the country. If your Lodge has a special event we would welcome photos and a write up for publication. We intend to appoint a Public Relations (Press) Officer who will be responsible for receiving news and photos from Lodges and Chapters with emphasis on encouraging the editors of the various masonic publications (FMT, Arena in London and the Provincial publications) to promote the Federation. Such material will also appear on the website.
Management Committee
Currently there are a few gaps in the disciplines on the committee to ensure we can deliver our programme. There is nothing too onerous, particularly as we now meet by Zoom and only twice each year.
We are looking for the following:
- a Public Relations (Press) Officer (details above)
- an Area Representative for South Wales to fill the void created by the untimely death of W Bro Fred Fox. In a nutshell the position includes the encouragement of units within the local area to foster inter visiting (on a pay as you go basis), the exchange of Summonses and information of importance including notable events, etc. Dewch ymlaen Cymru!
Remember, communication is a two way business! I would like to hear from anyone interested in helping out with these two very important positions to contact me as soon as possible on michaelbutton123@btinternet.com
In fine Brethren
A plea to Lodge Secretaries, Scribes E and Federation correspondents
· make sure any changes in position, address details, etc. are communicated to the Joint Secretaries without delay.
· kindly ensure notices and other information sent to you for the information of your members is passed on. The Festival and other events are for all to attend, not just you!
Once more a Happy New Year to all,
Sincerely and fraternally,
Michael