Association of Atholl Lodges

Contacts | Links | Terms

Antient Writings - 1st Edition 2010

Resultant of the AGM and the redistribution of the various offices and responsibilities, this is the first edition of Antient Writings to be circulated this year 2010/11. The format and objectives of the Broadsheet remain much the same, a legacy of the excellent endeavours of W/Bro Paul Gardner across the preceding 10 years.

The AGM of the Association held 14th July 2010 held at Great Queen Street.

Chairman's Report

The Chairman gave a verbal report reviewing a satisfactory year of events and progress, mentioning the visit to Chelmsford and the Lodge of Success No 5486 (a granddaughter lodge of the Atholl Lineage) where the Association was able to put on a Historical Vignette of Laurence Dermott.

On the 14 July there was the Question Time event held at Great Queen Street organized by the Association in conjunction with Kent Lodge No 15. This proved to be a highly enjoyable and informative evening. The VIP panel were fielded a wide-ranging series of questions, Masonic, esoteric and general. Afterwards the organizers received many verbal and written congratulations upon organizing such a successful large-scale event. In November due to excessive work pressures both commercial and Masonic and a further health scare Bro Paul Gardner our Secretary of the past 10 years had to bring forward his planned retirement. At the resultant emergency meeting The Executive Meeting formally accepted Paul’s resignation while at the same time recommending that he be elected an Honorary Member of the Association as a mark of recognition of the huge workload he had carried for so many years.
In June the Association visited Salopian Lodge of Charity No 117 at Shrewsbury on the occasion of the celebration of their Bicentenary, where our delegation dressed in Antients costume of ruffs and tricorne hats had the honour and pleasure to parade in our banner before the splendid assembly. We presented the Lodge with two gavels, one for the SW and the other for the JW. The WM already being in receipt of a gavel from when he visited an Atholl occasion some years ago.

A truly excellent occasion both in the Temple and at the after proceeding providing the opportunity to refresh old contacts with other Atholl Lodges in attendance. To see our unique Atholl ties so much in evidence was a delight.

Other businesses - The election of the Executive Officers for the ensuing year:

Chairman - Geoffrey Abraham.
Committee Secretary - Denis Mahoney.
Treasurer - Nick Letherby.
Liaison - Clive Moore.

Election of Officers for the ensuing year:

Events. Clive Moore – Ancient Writings Don Roberts.
Web Master. Neil Gardner. Membership Terry Mahoney.
Standard Bearer. Tony Shields – Chaplain Colin Hodges.
Liasion. Clive Moore – Historian Ray Sheppard.
Director of Ceremonies. (3) Ted Hiscox – Dave Evans – Alan Peters.
Examiners (3) Lancelot Stimson – Christopher Webster.
Sales Dave Evans.

Pursuant to Notice of motion. The election of W.Bro Jonathan Winpenny as Vice President and Paul Gardner as Honorary Member are confirmed.


Membership Secretary’s Appeal

Fees for 2010 are due. Fees have remained steady at £10 for all categories and £5 for individuals. Terry says he will be pleased to receive payment early. He can be contacted, Post: St. Matthews Drive, St. Leonard’s on Sea, East Sussex, TN38 0TR.

Email: terrymahoney@btinternet.com


Merchandise

Ties/ Bow Ties/ Lapel Pins are available via David Evans who deals with sales on 01424732671. They are £12.50 and £2.50, respectively. You are permitted to wear Association ties at Atholl lodge meetings. The book on the Antients and life of Laurence Dermott is also available at £6 incl. UK postage.


Website Organisation And Contact

Contact should be made via website and webmaster.

Web Site – www.antients.co.uk and webmaster@antients.co.uk and secretary@antients.co.uk

Version of ‘your’ Lodge history can be easily added to the web site and the Webmaster, Neil Gardner, will be pleased to hear from you. He will also post any other relevant ‘Atholl’ information or advertisements.


New For Old - Rscue A Lodge!

The Secretary is aware of a group of Atholl enthusiasts who are willing to rescue an Antient’s lodge rather than let it’s Warrant be surrendered. The plan would be to enrich its membership and move the lodge to Sindlesham, Berkshire where it would have a secure home and future. Any Atholl lodge in such dire straits should be made aware and make contact with the Association before it’s too late!

Curiously, this is not a move so out of character as one might imagine. In 1799 on the introduction of the Secret Societies Act, Masonry was not allowed to make new lodges which was particularly damaging for the Antients whose lodge membership was strongly represented in the Army and Navy, they therefore found it more difficult to maintain a quorum. To circumvent this restriction lodges going defunct would return their warrant to the then Antient’s Grand Lodge, to be reissued to a new viable body under the old number, therefore, technically not creating any new lodges.


Visits & Historical Talks

We have from within our ranks several members who are up for and willing to visit a Lodge and give a talk on the historical significance and background of the Antients, also the possibility of a group forming a delegation to attend any appropriate celebratory meeting. This on the strict understanding that we are responsible for our own expenses and within the length of our cable tow. Atholl heritage is a very important legacy that needs not just to be protected but also promoted. It does not have to be an anniversary meeting, we would be very pleased just to come along to say a few words about the Association and answer any questions you may have.

Clive Moore would be pleased to hear from you.


Congratulations to Loges Celebrating the 200th Anniversary of their Warrant

Robert Burns Lodge No 25 10 July - Gihon Lodge No 49 26 November - Lodge of Prosperity No 65 6 June - Royal Jubilee Lodge No 72 15 October - Vitruvian Lodge No 87 18 May - Philanthropic Lodge No 107 22 March - Royal Cambrian Lodge No 110 20 June - Salopian Lodge of Charity No 117 22 March - Ionic Lodge No 227 25 April - Lodge of Fidelity No 230 10 August - Loyalty Lodge No 243 18 August


Planned Overseas Visits

Visits to New York and Jamaica are still open pending mutual arrangements which at our end are in the hands of overseas liaison officer Clive Moore.


Regional Hubs

To promote the regional hubs idea where-by lodges in close proximity might like to make contact with other Atholl Lodges in the near vicinity, I have enclosed a complete list of Atholl Lodges together with their districts. Should anyone want to pursue this theme please contact the liaison officer Clive Moore and he can supply the relevant secretaries details.


Appeal From Editor

We are all interested in the stories, opinions and concerns of our close family whether it be from way back when or of more recent times. We would like to hear from you either with an article, letter or comment and we will do our best to include it in the next writings. Opinions, ideas and shared information help us to enjoy our Masonry.

We now have a LETTERS & CORRESPONDENCE page on the website where you can read some of the interesting mail we receive from brethren around the world. I will also include some of these within the issues of Antient Writings (see download copy).


Bicentennial Meetings In 2010 To Note

Loyal Cambrian Lodge No 117 September
Vitruvian Lodge No 87 September
Ghion Santa Lodge No 49 November
Lodge of Prosperity No 65 Awaiting approval from Grand Lodge


Would Secretaries and Representatives print and distribute, or link to this page as widely as possible

© 2010 Association of Atholl Lodges