Flying the flag for Mowbray Lodge and Durham Freemasons

 Our Worshipful Master Odin Taylor and WBro Martin Lawson attended the September 2024 Quarterly Communication of the United Grand Lodge of England. This was the first occasion in which Master Masons were allowed to attend other than only Masters and Wardens. To mark the occasion the Provincial Grand Master of Durham invited as many Durham Masons as were able to attend and we did him proud in that 103 Masons from the Province heeded his call including Sunderland Masons. The Mowbray Brethren were joined by Brethren from Civic Lodge and it was a great opportunity to make new friends and to bond.

The main highlight of the QC was a talk by our own Provincial Grand Master John Thompson on the Armed Forces Covenant. He talked about how we can support our Veterans in the here and now as individuals, as a Province and, looking to the future, nationally. A stirring presentation appreciated by all present.

The Pro Grand Master then gave his address and talked about future venues for Quarterly Communications to be held around the country to make it accessible to all Masons and that in future, the March and September QC’s will run on the same format as the current meeting. He also informed us of the establishment of the Council for Freemasonry for England and Wales following a groundbreaking joint statement issued in June by both the Women’s Orders of Freemasonry and the United Grand Lodge of England confirming the continued co-operation and co-ordination on matters of common interest but emphasising neither we nor they wished this to extend to our work within our Lodges.I am sure I do not need to repeat what has already been said, but I will for absolute clarity for all our members, this development does not and will not mean that our Lodges will merge or do joint working, quite the contrary. He finished by saying

"Brethren, you have often heard me speak of the importance of the fundamental and shared ideals of liberty, tolerance, a meritocratic society and constitutional government which underpin Freemasonry, which remarkably came to prominence during the 18th Century, a time of uncertainty, strife, turmoil and numerous wars, so much for progress Brethren! In our own time, there are clear tensions within societies throughout the world, economic and social challenges,  as well as geopolitical conflicts and wars. These ideals remain as relevant today, if not more so than they were in the 18th Century, although they are under constant attack from some. 

Events in this country over the summer emphasise the need for us to be firm in demonstrating our values of Integrity, Respect, Friendship and Service, in what we do as individual Freemasons, as well as collectively as members of our Lodges or Chapters, when engaging in service in our own communities. It is essential we display our values by our actions all the time so we demonstrate the contribution of Freemasons and Freemasonry to the society in which we live and of which we are an integral part, as evidenced by the vast majority of Provinces having entered into the Armed Forces covenant of which we heard earlier from RW Bro John Thompson."

The Brethren then retired to a Festive Board in the Connaught Rooms after which came the customary visit to the George and the Shakespeare’s Head for after dinner drinks. Well done all for supporting the QC.