Masonic Province of Yorkshire, West Riding

Masonic charitable activity has been operative in the Province of Yorkshire West Riding for over 150 years.

Its present governing body is West Riding Masonic Charities Limited. The elected board of Trustees are responsible for ensuring that the needs of distressed Freemasons and their dependents are met, to provide services to improve “the quality of life” of its more vulnerable members and more recently to provide grants for community projects and organisations.

As a guide, recent years have seen approximately £500,000 being distributed per annum to many diverse and worthy causes. This can only be achieved by the continued support of Freemasons within the Province of Yorkshire West Riding.

For which the Trustees wish to record their thanks and appreciation.

Use the link below to view the full West Riding Masonic Charities Booklet

View West Riding Masonic Charities Limited booklet online

Posted in Charity News on October 26th, 2011

To mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen the Province will be designating the PGM’s Fund Grants – “The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Masonic Grants”.    The Province was invited by the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid Roscoe to become involved in the activities to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.   It was thought that this would be an appropriate manner in which to mark the occasion, covering the whole of the Province.

Applications for grants, including the major grants, must have the support of a Lodge or Chapter in the Province, and will normally be for capital projects or to purchase equipment.    Eligibility for grants will be in line with the existing rules, consequently, applications will not be considered for revenue projects or to sponsor individuals.

The Provincial Grand Master in announcing the decision, said “It is fitting that an organisation such as the Freemasons, which instils a moral and ethical approach to life: and teaches and practices concern for people, care for the less fortunate and help for those in need, should mark the Diamond Jubilee of The Queen by making available these grants.   In the last 25 years the Province has given over £2.5M to support local non-Masonic causes”.

The Province will be holding an evening reception at the Royal Armouries in Leeds on 20 June 2012 when all those organisations who have received grants will be invited to attend and presented with a certificate, indicating that the Province has made the grant in recognition of the Diamond Jubilee and it will also bear the Diamond Jubilee logo.    The major grants will also be awarded at this event rather than at the Provincial meeting in May.   Brethren and their wives/partners will be invited to attend, and it is hoped the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid M Roscoe will be present, or represented.

The Assistant Provincial Grand Masters will be working with the local Deputy Lord Lieutenants who may identify suitable organisations for consideration of grants.   These will be channelled through local Lodges or Chapters.   However these will not be given priority and it is hoped that Lodges and Chapters will look for suitable applicants within their own locality.

Posted in Charity News on October 25th, 2011

For some years Studley Lodge has had an association with Swedish Masonry and ” Den Nordiska Forsta S:t  Johannis Logen” which roughly translates “The Nordic First St. John’s Lodge”

The association started I the early 1990’s when we had regular visits from Bro. Bengt Falk who at the time was working and living in England and was asociated in business with Bro. Murdoch Gillespie who became our WM in 1994.

Studley lodge  first visited Nordiska Forsta in 1999 under the Mastership of W. Bro. Malcolm Whiteley and this was followed by a return visit to England by the Swedish Lodge  in 2000. A further visit to Stockholm was made by a smaller number of Brethren in 2002 when Bro. Falk was installed as Master of his Lodge. Bro. Falk subsequently became Provincial Grand Master for the Svea Province, Stockholm and W. Bro. Andrew Johnson and myself were invited to view this spectacle.

Following his elevation to the Mastership of Den Nordiska, Bro. Falk was made an honorary member of Studley Lodge and in fact managed one visit to Studley when he was Provincial Grand Master.

The toast is given by the new IPM at Studley with the newly installed Master and is drunk with a Swedish Schnaps called St. John’s Wart. The photo shows W. Bro. Edward Cowen WM (left) and W. Bro. Martin Moorhouse IPM at this years Installation.

Article by Stuart Gledhill, Secretary, Studley Lodge No 6364

Posted in Uncategorized on October 20th, 2011

THE 44^th edition of White Rose Masonic News will be available to Brethren early in November and feature articles include:

• Visit to Bradford of Assistant Grand Master David Kenneth Williamson to promote the Universities Scheme
• Consecration of a new Lodge in Leeds
• Changes to Provincial Honours explained
• A look back to summer fun at the Great Yorkshire Show and at Connaught Court and pictures of local communities benefiting from  our Masonic charities
• Grand Superintendent’s Address to Provincial Grand Chapter and medical matters presented by Research Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons
• What it is like to be a Freemason’s wife!
• Flower power for Autumn and a new-look quiz and general knowledge page

Copies will be available free of charge at all Masonic halls via Lodge secretaries

Picture shows new Master W Bro Keith D Madeley and the Founders at the Consecration of The Leeds Lodge No 9867

Posted in White Rose Masonic news on October 20th, 2011

The presentation of the Duke of York Community Initiative Awards was held at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate earlier this week. The Province was represented by the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Martin Stray and the Provincial Secretary, John Rushworth. A private luncheon with HRH The Duke of York afforded them the opportunity to make him aware of the principles of Freemasonry and the work we do helping those less fortunate than ourselves.

This year the Province provided the framed certificates which the Duke of York presented to the award winners.

Amongst those receiving awards were the following groups from our Province:

Goole and District Community Transport Group –  Goole
Wombwell & District Amateur Operatic Society –  Barnsley
Cookstone Adventure Trust – Rotherham
Scuba Diving for All – Ripon
Middleton Railway Trust – Leeds
Friends of Abbeydale Picture House – Sheffield
The Beamsley Project – Skipton
Sheffield Volunteering – Sheffield
Selby Globe Community Cinema – Selby
Conisborough Community Association Ltd –  Conisborough
The Basement Recovery Project – Halifax
Leeds Jewish Welfare Board – Leeds
Barwick in Bloom – Leeds
DIAL, Leeds – Leeds
Denaby Junior Football Club – Denaby Main
Friends of Locke Park – Barnsley
OPAL – Leeds
Harrogate Hospital Radio – Harrogate
Society for the Blind of Dewsbury and Batley – Batley
Neighbourhood Elders Team – Leeds
Action for Stannington – Sheffield
HMYOI Raptor Project – Wetherby
Simon on the Street – Leeds

Posted in Charity News, Provincial News on October 13th, 2011

On page 11 of the current edition of Freemasonry Today there is an article headed “Guarding the Future of the Great Outdoors”.

The information contained in that article is incorrect and has not been supplied by the Province.   The grant of £20,000 was not from the Lodge of the Three Graces No 408, but from the Provincial Grand Master’s Fund to which all Brethren in the Province have contributed.

Freemasonry Today was provided with a press release detailing all the 2011 Major Grants, and the allocation of the £100,000 donated.   Naturally the inaccuracy has caused concern within the Province, and the Province has asked that the matter is corrected in the next edition of Freemasonry Today.

Posted in Provincial News on October 6th, 2011

The Province is once again supporting the Duke of York Community Initiative, which it has done since the first presentations in 1998.    This year’s awards will be presented at a ceremony in Harrogate next week.

HRH The Duke of York founded the initiative in 1997, primarily, and actively, encouraging the development of community spirit, individual leadership and initiatives in Yorkshire.

The initiative recognises projects through a dedicated award scheme and recognition of excellence.  Its principal aim is to foster and increase community spirit throughout the four Yorkshire counties and is only awarded to community schemes of outstanding merit, which meet the stringent assessment criteria.

The Provincial Grand Master, John Clayton said, “we are delighted to be supporting this commendable initiative, dedicated to recognising the contribution individuals and groups make in supporting community schemes.   These are values we encourage with our financial support to non-Masonic community causes within the Province”

Posted in Provincial News on October 4th, 2011