Crayford Lodge News
September 2010 Volume 11 Issue 5
www.crayfordlodge.org.uk

Editorial

I regret to inform you of the death of W.Bro Eric White on 8th August after a long illness. He will be missed by his friends and brothers in Freemasonry

Not a lot happening masonically during the closed season. Social events are to the fore.

Father of the Lodge

Congratulations Michael. Ward
A mere youngster who this December will celebrate his 77th birthday Michael has been involved with football in some form or another since he was at least fourteen
Playing schoolboy football for his school team in Bexleyheath, then having trials for England at school-boy level, playing for Millwall and Welling youth sides, all before he reached his twentieth birthday.
During the early 50's Michael played for the R.A.F.Command Station team and still found time to pass numerous coaching and referee's badges, Michael was a man on a mission.
His football career continued, Playing for several local team's but being plagued by injury his thoughts turned to physiotherapy and as you would expect passed his exams with flying colours, He was appointed club physic at Tonbridge F.C. in 1972, ten years later also managing Tonbridge, Michael's association as the Gravesend Physio started and he loved it so much he did it twice, retuning once again in 1994.
Michael has had a long and successful career, both on and off the pitch and has been a great servant to football for many years.
He officially retired in 2008, but regularly attends games, watching his beloved Fleet, both home and away.
The Football Association for services to football recently honoured Michael, in particular under K.C.F.A. 
Congratulations Michael, Well deserved.  Stan.

Proposed programme for forthcoming season.
September 2nd Degree Bro. S Harrison
November 2nd Degree Bro. N. Massie plus a 1st Degree
January 3rd Degree Bro S.Harrison. This to be a Past Masters meeting followed
with White Table Festive Board.
March 3rd Degree Bro N Massie
May Installation


Social events



Visit to Edinburgh on Wednesday 27th October by Crayford Lodge

Itinery

Wednesday 07.00 Depart Gatwick. Arrive Edinburgh at 08.25.
Book in to Ramada Edinburgh Mount Royal Hotel
10.00 Grand Lodge of Scotland Tour escorted by Roger Bullard
Lunch. Free Time
19:00, Cannongate Kilwinning No.2 (MM Degree) (oldest continually used lodge building in the world)
Thursday. AM Rosslyn Tour. (Coach and Guide from Hotel)
14:00, GLoS Regular Communication
16:00, Lodge Sir Robert Moray No.1641 held in the premises of Marys Chapel No.1 
 19:45, Depart Edi Airport Arrive Gatwick 21:15

Proposed visit to United Service Lodge, Portland, Dorset. On Monday 15th
November 2010
Christmas Meal at The Bull, South Darenth Saturday 18th December
Carol and Lesson Service at St Paulinus Church on Sunday 19th December at
6.00pm. Joint venture with St Paulinus Lodge
Ladies Night 2011. Provisional booking has been made at Dartford Masonic Hall for Friday 25th March
Our January meeting on Wednesday the 28th will be a Past Masters meeting
with White Table after.
June 2011. Another Race Night. Details to be agreed













One hundred fifty years ago in the U.S., there were nearly 3,000 Masonic lodges that can be described as "Moon Lodges"; in 1972 there were fewer than 500, today fewer than 350. These lodges met on or near the day of the full moon for very practical reasons; the brethren had light to travel by at night.

Greek Night 2010



Pasted Graphic



Pasted Graphic 1 Pasted Graphic 2

This was at the Greek Taverna Dartford on Saturday 17th July





 
 

Here are the answers to last months Anagram Puzzle.
 
In no particular order.

 
  1) Arthur Balfour
  7) Neville Chamberlain
       2) Anthony Eden
       8) Harold Wilson
       3) Winston Churchill
       9) Ramsey Macdonald
       4) Tony Blair
      10) Clement Atlee
      11) James Callaghan
        6) Margaret Thatcher
      12) Harold MacMillan

 

If you enjoyed this or not, please let me know.

Cheers for now
Cliff Lee

A Puzzle for the United Benefice

Twelve 20th Century Prime Ministers
are hidden in the anagrams
can you find them?
 
 
01)     BARTHOUR FLAUR
02)     TANNED HONEY
03)     CHRONIC HULL TWINS
04)     NOT BY RAIL
05)     WE HAD THREAD
06)     THAT GREAY CHAMER
07)     CHAIRMAN BILL ELEVEN
08)     HOLLOW DRAINS
09)     MADLY DON MASCARA
10)     LET ME LACE TENT
11)     CLEAN GAL HAS JAM
12)     MAIN LOCH MALLARD  


BOAT TRIP on The Medway August 20th 





 
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Pasted Graphic 3



Malta Inn Allington Lock to Maidstone and return.







Organised by the Hesketh Park Bowling Club. http://www.heskethparkbowlingclub.org.uk

























The West Kent Lodge of Charity 9610
Invite you to participate in the Inter-Centre
2010 Raft Race
In aid of the 2015 Festival for the Masonic Samaritan Fund
To be held at Greenhithe Riverfront
Adjacent to the Pier Hotel
Race starts at 3.30pm Saturday 11th September 2010
Each Centre will need to provide: -
A team to design and build their raft – barrels will be supplied
4 “crew members” to row the raft around the course (duration
approximately 30 minutes)
Supporters to cheer and wave the raft on!!
A Great Day fun out for the whole family;
*Bouncy Castle *
*Raffle*
*Outside Bar*
“Come along for a great day out”
Contact W.Bro Dave Huntley for full rules and information
20 Berens Way, Chislehurst, Kent, BR7 6RJ.
Email David@lminstallations.co.uk

Mobile 07951 016677

Dear Lodge Secretary
 
Further to the recent circulation of papers relating to the forthcoming AGM and EGM of the Masonic Samaritan Fund it has been suggested that the full impact of the proposed changes to the governance of the Charity, notably the proposed changes to the voting rights of existing Members, have not been explained. You are therefore asked to forward this briefing note to all Lodge members for their information.
 
To date, individual Freemasons who have made the appropriate qualifying donation have been able to attend, and vote on certain matters at any General Meeting of the Masonic Samaritan Fund.  Such meetings have been held annually since the Fund was established in 1990.  In practice attendance of Members declined to the point that only six attended the last meeting held in London (2002).  In a deliberate attempt to make meetings more accessible all subsequent AGMs have been held within Festival Provinces.  Attendance has been encouraged from anyone interested in the work of the Fund.  Every venue has been full to capacity as the formal business of the meeting has been followed by a briefing about the work of the Fund and an opportunity for attendees to present questions to Trustees and staff of the Charity.
 
It remains the intention to hold meetings at least once each year at venues around the country and all interested parties will be encouraged to attend.  The date and location of the meetings will be widely publicised.  
 
However, whilst in the past those individual Freemasons who have made the appropriate qualifying donation have been entitled to vote on the appointment of a London member of the Board, the election of the Treasurer, the appointment of auditors and resolutions proposed by the Board and to consider the Report of the Board and the annual accounts, in practice a vote has often not been required (for example, because only one candidate has been put forward to fill a vacancy) or votes have been passed unanimously at the proposal of the Board (for example, the reappointment of auditors). 
 
To ease the administrative burden on the Charity and the cost involved in having such a large number of formal voting members, it is proposed that formal membership of the Charity going forward be reduced in number. However, the Board is keen to ensure that the views of Freemasons across the country remain properly represented and their views are heard. 
 
Therefore, following discussion with the Deputy Grand Master it is proposed that each Province will elect two members and Metropolitan Grand Lodge will elect six members to represent all subscribing Freemasons from their respective areas. It will be these elected members, and not those who have previously qualified through the appropriate donation, who will be entitled to vote at General Meetings (together with the Trustees, the Grand President, Deputy Grand President and the Grand Vice Presidents (who will also be members)). It is hoped that this structure will retain an effective role for the wider Masonic membership within the formal governance of the Charity. 
 
Any questions relating to the above should be directed to Richard Douglas (Chief Executive MSF), either by phone (020 7404 1550) or by email (richard@msfund.org.uk). There will also be an opportunity to discuss this at the AGM which will be held at 11:00am on Thursday 16th September at Castlegate House, Castlegate, York YO1 9RP.”


 
Richard Douglas
Chief Executive
 

From GFN Facebook page

Grandpa's Wooden Chest

 I hated to hear the lawyer say
The things my grandpa gave away.
Like his old truck to Dad and Mom
And world war medals to Uncle John


My name was called
And something was said
About an old wooden box
Underneath his bed.


Just a worn out chest
With a rusty hinge
But I knew Grandpa kept
Something special within.


When I opened the lid
All I could see
Were some unused tools
And a letter to me.


A large fancy cloth
With two long strings
A small wooden hammer
Among other things


He wrote a man's job
Is to be a good husband father and a friend.
I built my life as best I could
By the tools laid here within.


He said the compasses remind me that life has boundaries
So live your life within
The square proves true and so should you
When dealing with all your friends.


Be an honorable man and walk uprightly
According to the plumb.
The level teaches us treat all men equal
Instead of only some.


And now it's your turn
To start your journey for knowledge, love and faith
So live your life by the Square and Compasses
And tools of your trade


Many years have passed by since I first opened
Grandpa's wooden chest
The tools he gave me, the words he wrote
The challenge to be my best.


Today I'll visit Grandpa
At the place where he was laid
To let him know he can be proud
I'm a Master Mason

Our condolences to Graham on the recent loss of his mother after a long illness



Doris Capper
A large contingent from Crayford Lodge attended Eltham Crematorium on 16th August for the Funeral. 
Doris was the Wife of Terry, Treasurer of our Daughter Lodge, St Paulinus.