MONDAY 11th APRIL  Welcome to First Rising – the official newsletter for members of United Grand Lodge of England.

UKRAINE RELIEF CHEST APPEAL CHARITIES ANNOUNCED

The Relief Chest Appeal for Ukraine now stands at £564k and is rising. The response from members across the Constitution has been tremendous and will enable Freemasonry to respond to the crisis in a meaningful and impactful way. Five selected charities will each receive a grant of £100,000 each towards their work. They are:- UK for UNHCR – the UN Refugee agency  Key focus – Ukraine – EMERGENCY SHELTER AND PROTECTION UNICEF  Key focus – Ukraine – HEALTH AND EMERGENCY SUPPLIES Plan International UK Key focus – Border Countries – CHILD PROTECTION AND EDUCATION British Red Cross  Key focus – UK – REFUGEE SUPPORT AND RESETTLEMENT  The Refugee Council  Key Focus – UK – REFUGEE SUPPORT AND ADVICE

DONATE HERE

NORTH WALES FESTIVAL KICKS OFF FESTIVAL IN SPECTACULAR FASHION

To launch the North Wales Festival 2028 Appeal, John Charles Hoult, Provincial Grand Master, accompanied by his Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Assistant Provincial Grand Master and Provincial Grand Charity Steward rode the Velocity Zip Wire at Zip World.  The target is to raise £2.5million for the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF), the Freemasons’ charity. Provinces throughout England and Wales organise fundraising appeals known as Festivals. Festival appeals are a vital source of funding and generate the majority of donations made to the MCF.

WATCH THE VIDEO

SOLOMON LIVE: MEET THE ASSISTANT GRAND MASTER SIR DAVID WOOTTON

Meet the Assistant Grand Master Sir David Wootton on Solomon Live. Find out about Sir David’s life, from being Lord Mayor of London, leading the Universities Scheme, being a leading City lawyer and his life-long commitment to rowing! These stimulating webinars are hosted by W Bro Brody Swain, PCO of Worcestershire and are designed to give us our #DailyAdvancement. They will last approximately 45 minutes. We will cover popular masonic topics and offer the opportunity to ask questions. Book here to register for an interview with RW Bro Sir David Wootton, at 19.30 on Tuesday 19th April.

BOOK YOUR TICKET

FIRST RISING FEEDBACK AND AMENDING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS

Did you enjoy this edition of First Rising? We highly value your feedback! Please let us know by emailing: newsletter@ugle.org.uk You can change your First Rising contact email address by clicking here.

MONDAY 21st MARCH  Welcome to First Rising – the official newsletter for members of United Grand Lodge of England.

News from Grand Lodge

PRO GRAND MASTER PETER LOWNDES ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT

In case you missed it, at the recent Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge, MW Bro Peter Lowndes announced his retirement from his role as Pro Grand Master. RW Bro Jonathan Spence will be installed as his successor in September.

FIND OUT MORE

UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND/MASONIC CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, THE FREEMASONS’ CHARITY RESPONSE TO THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN UKRAINE

The United Grand Lodge of England is keenly aware of the events which are currently taking place in Ukraine. We are immensely encouraged by the quite exceptional and rapid response to the call for charitable donations to provide relief to those who have been, and are, suffering from events in Ukraine.  The joint UGLE/MCF appeal has raised £350,000 to date to help those who are being affected in the region. This sum has been raised in a shorter time than in any recent appeal, which indicates the strength of compassion felt by individual Brethren to those affected by the war.   At this time, we are maintaining communications with all our recognised Grand Lodges in the region to ensure we are providing an appropriate level of support where possible. In a world of disinformation and propaganda, we value the insight of those who are living through the current crisis. The United Grand Lodge of England has a strong history of supporting those who have lived through the trauma of active conflict. It is for good reason that so many of our Lodges and Chapters have had their Centenary celebrations in the last 5 years as many of these were founded to provide supportive networks for soldiers returning home after the First World War. We are still maintaining this supportive relationship 100 years on; most recently, His Royal Highness, the Duke of Kent signed the Armed Forces Covenant in a show of unerring support for members of our Armed Forces.  Freemasonry has always taken steps to avoid divisive discourse which can promote conflict in the Lodge. All three of the Home Grand Lodges have a long-standing policy of not expressing opinion on State or foreign policy either at home or abroad.  The aim of this policy is to foster a harmonious environment within an ever-turbulent wider world.  We hope that peace soon prevails.  In the meantime, our efforts towards supporting humanitarian aid will continue.

DONATE HERE

BOOK YOUR TICKET FOR THE BELMONT ENSEMBLE & TRAFALGAR SINFONIA AT FREEMASONS’ HALL

Freemasons’ Hall is proud to partner with the Belmont Ensemble and Trafalgar Sinfonia for a series of concerts in 2022. The Belmont Ensemble of London was founded by its Musical Director, Peter Dyson in 1991, winning instant critical acclaim. It is now one of the busiest and finest chamber orchestras in the capital.

BOOK YOUR TICKET

SOLOMON LIVE: MEET THE ASSISTANT GRAND MASTER SIR DAVID WOOTTON

Meet the Assistant Grand Master Sir David Wootton on Solomon Live. Find out about Sir David’s life, from being Lord Mayor of London, leading the Universities Scheme, being a leading City lawyer and his life-long commitment to rowing! These stimulating webinars are hosted by W Bro Brody Swain, PCO of Worcestershire and are designed to give us our #DailyAdvancement. They will last approximately 45 minutes. We will cover popular masonic topics and offer the opportunity to ask questions. Book here to register for an interview with RW Bro Sir David Wootton, at 19.30 on Tuesday 19th April.

BOOK YOUR TICKET

FIRST RISING FEEDBACK AND AMENDING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS

Looking for Volunteers!We are looking for ambassadors to join us to support The Mobile Information or “outreach Team” on behalf of the Province of Middlesex.The Team will promote Freemasonry, provide information to the public and attract potential new members.Volunteer ambassadors may be invited to attend up to three events, for the day or part. These events are normally weekends, with the majority in the summer.We are also looking for volunteers to spare a couple of hours on a Saturday, or Sunday to tow the provincial information trailer from Cole Court to one of the venues within Middlesex and at the end of the event, to collect the trailer to return to Cole Court. So if you would like to join the team please reply to keith.gregory@pglm.org.uk adding your contact details and numbers and confirm whether you would like to just become an Ambassador at the events or if you are able to also the support the team and tow the Trailer.

Please see the attached letter below dated 14th September 2021

To All Members and Visiting Officer

Further to a meeting earlier today (Thursday 2 September) between myself, Garo and Barry Cramer Deputy Provincial Grand Master I am writing to confirm that we have been formally instructed by Barry Cramer that we cannot hold our lodge meeting on Saturday 11 September 2021.

Unfortunately Province is holding the Lodge to the Dalhousie Lodge 865 By-Laws meeting dates and until such time as the by-laws can be formalised as Dalhousie and Call Sign 865 we are not allowed to hold a meeting unless it is on a weekday which was the Dalhousie lodge dates Or arrange a dispensation 28 days from a Dalhousie meeting date..

It is unfortunate that we find ourselves in this situation as I know we were all looking forward to meeting again after such a long break due to C-19.

By means of this email I would ask that Brian Cole would put the above message on our web page.

In the meantime if there are any questions you wish to raise please feel free to either telephone myself or Garo. I look forward to seeing you all virtually this coming Monday within our Jitsi meeting commencing at 8pm.

Regards, Ian Clabon

A letter of thanks 

No images? Click here

“Our family is grateful for your kindness.”

In March last year, Rachel and David’s son, Cole, was diagnosed with acute leukemia – days before the country went into lockdown. Rachel has since sent in a thank you letter for the support her family received.

“Dear Freemasons, I am writing to you to sincerely thank you for your support over the last year. You made a very difficult situation a lot easier.”Read Rachel’s thank you letter

Record-breaking exams

Students receiving their A-level and GCSE results have been rewarded for their hard work through lockdown, with record-breaking grades!

This year, 44.8 per cent of A Level students achieved A* or A grades, whilst those attaining a pass (grade C or above) rose to 771 per cent.

Congratulations to all those who have received their A/AS level, BTec and GCSE results – whatever they may be.

Did you know? We can support the children and grandchildren of Freemasons with their education Find out if your family is eligible

Shelf care 

We’ve been gathering together book recommendations from charities supported by Freemasonry! Reflecting their work in some way, charities submitted their top reads especially to share with you.What’s on the list?

What did you think of Better Lives?

Over 75,000 copies of Better Lives magazine have now been delivered through letter boxes across England and Wales!

Have you read yours yet? Let us know what you think of this issue by tweeting us, messaging us on Facebook or Instagram, or sending us an email.

Email us

Freemasonry in the news

New life-saving equipment has been added to The Lizard, Britain’s most southerly village, after a tragic incident prompted the community to rally.

An additional public access defibrillator has now been bought for The Lizard, which has been located at The Lizard RNLI Lifeboat Station, with donations made from Penhellis Lodge, the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall, and the Masonic Charitable Foundation.Read more

 Share Tweet Share Forward

Masonic Charitable Foundation, Freemasons’ Hall, London, WC2B 5AZ info@mcf.org.uk 020 3146 3333 mcf.org.uk

MONDAY 23rd AUGUST Welcome to the First Rising – the official newsletter for members of United Grand Lodge of England. We aim to give you the latest news from UGLE and keep you informed with our plans for the future. During these uncertain times, it is more important than ever that we communicate regularly with you – our members. Stay safe Brethren. NEWS FROM GRAND LODGE The Shop at Freemasons’ Hall website now live We are delighted to announce that the Shop at Freemasons’ Hall website is now live! The new website features 500 additional products and members can purchase regalia, suits and much, much more. For users of the previous website, please note that you will need to create a new account as due to data protection rules, we were unable to export customer data from the previous website. VISIT THE NEW WEBSITE FATHER’S DAY CELEBRATIONS HIGHLIGHT THE POSITIVE RESPONSE OF THE DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF BARBADOS & THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN TO LIVING UNDER RESTRICTIONS The last 18 months have not been great for any Districts around the world. However when the DGL of Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean realised that they could not re-open for meetings for the ongoing future they decided to arrange special gatherings with flare, style and music. FIND OUT MORE Take a look at the graphic below to find out more information on the District Grand Lodge of Barbados & the Eastern Caribbean. SOLOMON LIVE – A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE PRO GRAND MASTER Register for our revealing interview with the Pro Grand Master Most Worshipful Brother Peter Lowndes. We’ll discover what the role involves, his journey within Freemasonry, his view on the state of Freemasonry and his vision for our future. Most of all, we’ll get to know a bit more about what makes him tick! These stimulating webinars are hosted by W Bro Brody Swain, PCO of Worcestershire and are designed to give us our #DailyAdvancement and will last approximately 45 minutes. We will cover popular masonic topics and offer the opportunity to ask questions. 🎟️ Book below for “A Day in the Life of the Pro Grand Master” an interview with Most Worshipful Brother Peter Lowndes, at 19.30 on Tuesday 28th September. BOOK NOW £100,000 DONATED BY FREEMASONS TO THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH MEMORIAL FUND The Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF, the Freemasons’ charity) would like to say a huge thank you to all those who have donated to The Duke of Edinburgh Memorial Fund. An incredible £100,000 has been raised and will go on to support over 30,000 children with disabilities to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. FIND OUT MORE INDIAN INFLUENCE Our latest moment to share is called Honour and Pride, and tells the story of DP Cama and the Parsi experience of Freemasonry. Cama was the first Indian-born Grand Officer having been voted to serve as Grand Treasurer in 1886. Coming from a family of influence, Cama’s story is one of ground-breaking achievement both in Freemasonry and beyond. READ MORE IN MEMORIAM (CORRECT AS OF 18/08/2021) Whilst we all know of individuals and families affected by COVID, many people are wondering how the Craft as a whole is faring. We know of 390 Brethren who have been called to the Grand Lodge Above by this terrible disease. Rest eternal grant unto them, and let light perpetual shine upon them. FIRST RISING FEEDBACK AND AMENDING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS Did you enjoy this edition of First Rising? We highly value your feedback! Please let us know by emailing: newsletter@ugle.org.uk You can change your First Rising contact email address by clicking here. Facebook Twitter Website Instagram Copyright   2021 United Grand Lodge of England You are receiving this because you are a Freemason under the United Grand Lodge of England. Our mailing address is: United Grand Lodge of England Freemasons’ Hall 60 Great Queen Street London, Eng WC2B 5AZ United Kingdom Add us to your address book Update preferences here or unsubscribe here The United Grand Lodge of England, Freemasons’ Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ. For more information about The United Grand Lodge of England, please visit our website http://www.ugle.org.uk/. CAUTION: This email is confidential and may be privileged or otherwise protected by law from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, please telephone +44 (0)20 7831 9811 or email the sender immediately and delete this message and any attachments from your system. If you are not the intended recipient you must not copy this message or attachments or disclose the message or attachments to any other person. This email and any attachments have been scanned for viruses prior to delivery. The United Grand Lodge of England accepts no liability for any loss or damage which may be caused by viruses or any other malicious code and you are responsible for carrying out your own virus checks before opening the email and any attachment. Where this email is unrelated to the business of UGLE, the opinions expressed in this email are the opinions of the sender and do not necessarily constitute the opinions of UGLE.

You should be made aware that you are being watched……

On the ‘News‘ page of the website there is now a visitors counter. These are very impressive numbers as the web site has only been active since 2016 however, we would like to see these numbers rise so please promote free masonry and point people to www.dcs865.org.uk. But, be careful it’s a secret.