April 2013

Tuesday 30 April 2013

Fire at the headquarters of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines


According to Subic Bay News, a fire struck the ground floor of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines building at San Marcelino St., Malate, Manila, particularly the York Rite office. Over 50 OSM officers & members, led by Supremo (MW) Avelino Razon, had to orderly move out of the building through smoke-filled halls and stairways.  MW Santiago T. Gabionza, Grand Master of Masons in the Philippines, was on hand along with several other officers, to oversee the successful fire-fighting efforts.


Wednesday 24 April 2013

Breaking MASONIC News from Paris, France: Past Grand Master François Stifani was kicked out of GLNF


According to a recent news issued today by the Masonic Press Agency: today, April 24, 2013, Grand Master Jean-Pierre Servel issued the 1584 Order through which Past Grand Master François Stifani was kicked out of GLNF. Therefore Stifani will not be able to attend GLNF's Masonic meetings. But what will he (F. Stifani) do?!


Tuesday 23 April 2013

Executive Secretary of the World Conference of Grand Lodges, PGS Thomas Jackson: Romania can become one of the biggest tourist attractions in Europe


The Masonic Press Agency informs that the Executive Secretary of the World Conference of Grand Lodges was interviewed by Cristian Unteanu for Adevărul Online where he talked about Romania's ability to become one of the biggest tourist attractions.


PGS Thomas Jackson said, speaking of Freemasonry that "our intention is to change the man, not the society." Also, Jackson also said that "I believe that Romania will become one of the biggest attractions on the continent when solving the problem of its infrastructure." Referring still to Romania and Romanian Freemasonry, the Executive Secretary said that in the past 15 years he saw a positive development.


Masonic Press Agency APMR: Policy statement by Grand Master Elect of Ghana, Most Worshipful Otwasuom Osae Nyampong VI


Very Worshipful, Worshipful and Brethren All, I will start by expressing by my profound gratitude to the Worshipful Master of this lodge, Progressive Lodge No. 9 for giving me this opportunity to deliver my policy statement address at this great lodge.


In three weeks I will be stepping into a position of awesome authority which I could never have dreamt of when my godfather Right Worshipful Bro. J.K Acheampong, who begat Bro. Patrick Acheampong introduced me to Right Worshipful W.E. Offei, a founding member of Akwapim Lodge, who proposed me and Right Worshipful Right Worshipful Patrick Offei who seconded the proposal.
Having come this far I cannot leave the scene without adding value to the fraternity which has given so much to me. Before I go on I would like all of us here to take a moment to think about this question 'What can we do to improve our Grand Lodge?' Distinguished Brethren, I am very certain that you all agree with me that the charge of improving our Grand Lodge is a collective responsibility. 

My administration will focus on three areas for improvement

• Masonic Education
• Public Engagements
• Finances


Masonic Education

Every mason deserves to be educated, informed, tutored and mentored to the level where he will be amply equipped to hold his forte in any discussion about Masonry.

Every brother should understand and be able to explain the rudiments of masonry. It is only then that he begins to appreciate and enjoy Masonry.

It is against this backdrop that my administration has chosen to focus on Masonic Education.

We need to enhance our mentoring. The tools for Masonic education are manifold.

Grand Lodge of Ghana will designate Grand Instructors whose duties will include teaching, examining and correcting ritual work within lodges. Details of this will be communicated in due course.


Public Engagement

My Esteemed brethren why do we shy away from public engagement? In early February, I had the honour of travelling in the company of the Worshipful Master of Progressive Lodge to South Africa for an installation. At a private dinner hosted by a potential candidate, we engaged in a lively discourse of businesses recognizing our brand goodwill factor.

We carried this further with a meeting in Ghana and the result is a company agreeing to support our charity work with US$70,000 this year alone. Brethren this is a laudable beginning and I trust it will continue far beyond my term of office.

You will also by now have heard of the public lecture arranged as part of the installation program. This lecture which will be delivered by Bro. Prof Yeboah of Hippocrates lodge will be chaired by Prof. Ernest Aryeetey vice chancellor of University of Ghana who is not a mason. 

My administration will urge strongly that every brother recruits one candidate within the next three years. 


Management of Temples

In erstwhile Home Grand Lodge constitutions, Masonic Temples belonged to subordinate lodges. In our special circumstances and bearing in mind our incapability of running economic ventures we should start a debate whether our temples should be left to subordinates lodges or be registered in the name of trustees of GLOG. We all know the difficult financial circumstances at every level of lodge administration.

We need to think seriously of means of generating funds to support lodge activities and especially Charity work which permeates all fraternal societies.


From examples it is now generally accepted that the various national pension and social security schemes are inadequate to cater for decent living in Ghana we should be thinking of dedicated craft pension scheme.

The more I speak the less I have to say 11th May. I will invite you all to come administration with your suggestions.


Saturday 20 April 2013

Friday 19 April 2013

Friday 12 April 2013

Vice President of the Masonic Library & Museum Association to attend the British Association for American Studies 58th Annual Conference


During 18-21 April 2013 a 4-day conference will be held at the University of Exeter. According to the official program, the three speakers will be: Paul Gilroy (Professor of American and English Literature, Department of English at King's College, London), Anders Stephanson (Andrew and Virginia Rudd Family Foundation Professor of History at Columbia University) and Becky Nicolaides (Research Scholar, Center for the Study of Women, UCLA).


The Masonic Library and Museum Association announced that its Vice President, Adam Kendall, is traveling to England tomorrow in order to present a paper at the 58th Annual Conference of the British Association for American Studies at Exeter University.


Thursday 11 April 2013

Freemasons to attend Margaret Thatcher's funeral


The Iron Lady died Monday at the age of 87 after suffering a stroke. Britain’s first woman Prime Minister, Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS (née Roberts, 13 October 1925 – 8 April 2013) was the undisputed Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990.


Originally a research chemist before becoming a barrister, Thatcher was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Finchley in 1959, starting her political career. She was appointed Secretary of State for Education and Science in the 1970 UK Government and after that she become Leader of the Opposition, winning the 1979 general election.

According to the official list of guests attending her funeral there are many Freemasons, some of them holding the office of Grand Master. Just for the record (for all of you thinking again about a Masonic conspiracy), they are attending the event not as Brethren but as political leaders, Chiefs of State and Government, friends etc.


"Who's GOB's Grand Master" continues tomorrow with a new extraordinary session of the Masonic Electoral Tribunal


As rumors spread among members of the Grand Orient of Brazil regarding who will be their Grand Master General (official title of their Grand Master), and given that there is no answer, we were informed by the Secretariat of Communications Technology and Information (SeCTI) of the Masonic Press Agency that tomorrow GOB's Masonic Electoral Tribunal will open a new extraordinary session to continue validating votes from Tocantins and São Paulo. Until now APMR announced that according to the partial results, Marcos Jose da Silva, current MWGM leads with  51,5%, followed by Federal Senator of Roraima Mozarildo Cavalcanti with 39,9%.


Even though the results should have been announced until now, last weekend the extraordinary session was ended at the order of GOB's MET President. APMR announced yesterday that they will continue monitoring the session tomorrow starting with 18.30, Brasilia's local hour and will announce (if it will happen) the name of the winner. The elected Grand Master General will serve for 5 years as leader of the biggest Masonic Obedience in Latin America.

APMR update: Mozarildo Cavalcanti stated a few moments ago that "We want to clarify that we do not intend to make a new split in GOB, but rather to exercise the legal right to clarify all cases and procedures that do not seem JUST & PERFECT throughout the electoral process of choosing GOB's MWGM. After all we have to fight so that no doubts hover over all stages of the election (...)."



Sunday 7 April 2013

UPDATES: Elections for the office of Grand Master of the Grand Orient of Brazil. Will São Paulo decide the winner?


The Masonic Press Agency APMR informed us a few moments ago that there is a small change regarding the votes received by the two main candidates for the office of Grand Master in Brazil. If this morning Jose Marcos da Silva was leading with 54%, followed by Roraima's Senator Mozarildo Cavalcanti with 39,7%, is this moment scores are changing: Da Silva 53,5% and Cavalcanti 40,4%.


Votes from Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Santa Catarina and Tocantins could change the scores. For now it is clear that the third candidate will not have any chance to win the office of Grand Master. The battle will continue between Da Silva and Cavalcanti especially in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.


The Masonic Electoral Tribunal of the Grand Orient of Brazil will count votes from São Paulo today and announce the winner


Reaching the end of the story, the Grand Orient of Brazil will end the counting and validation process of all votes today. Also today we expect, as mentioned yesterday the Masonic Press Agency APMR to have the name of the winner. Of what we know is that in this moment there are many chances for Marcos Jose da Silva, current Grand Master, to win.


At the headquarters of the Grand Orient of Brazil in Brasilia, the Masonic Electoral Tribunal will end today counting São Paulo's votes. APMR reminds that in that state there are almost a third part of all GOB's members, around 21.000 Freemasons. On the other hand there are (according to Senator Cavalcanti) "too many votes canceled". GOB has a strict procedure regarding the electoral process and his statement may be acknowledge as errors produced within the Lodges and not necessarily at GOB's headquarters. 


Saturday 6 April 2013

Elections for the office of Grand Master of the Grand Orient of Brazil: updates regarding the counting process


According to the Masonic Press Agency APMR, votes are counted and the process will continue. APMR expects to announce the name of the elected Grand Master tomorrow. APMR stated a few moments ago that the Masonic Electoral Tribunal of the Grand Orient of Brazil ended the counting for Piaui, Parana, Pernambuco etc. In this moment they are counting votes from Rio de Janeiro (one of their biggest states).


Lack of transparency or just a delay in announcing who will lead the largest Masonic Obedience in Latin America?


It's been a month since the electoral campaign in the Grand Orient of Brazil. Of the three candidates, the score is shown to be tight between the current Grand Master Marecos Jose de Silva, who is also President of the Inter-American Masonic Confederation and Roraima's Federal Senator Mozarildo Cavalcanti.


However, until now we do not know what the situation is at the polls! A relative confidence regarding the transparency process has already begun to appear. This time, not just Brazilian Freemasons are watching the announcement of results, but also many members of the Craft from abroad. Will GOB go on a new path? Will GOB remain on the same? Hard to say at this point, but for many Freemasons accustomed to know the name of their leader no later than a few days, a month could make them suspicious.


Friday 5 April 2013

Tuesday 2 April 2013

Soon on CBS Sunday Morning: Freemasonry and the House of the Temple


Illustrious Brother S. Brent Morris will appear on CBS Sunday Morning talking about Freemasonry and the House of the Temple. He was interviewed by Mo Rocca at the House of the Temple in Washington DC.


S. Brent Morris is a Master Mason, a 33° Scottish Rite Mason, and editor of The Scottish Rite Journal, the official publication of the Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction. He served as Executive of the Cryptologic Mathematician Program at the National Security Agency and as U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in the area of computer security. He was the first American to be elected as the Worshipful Master of Quatuor Coronati Lodge.