The Square and Compasses. A newsletter for the Grand Lodge of South Africa. No. 38 April 2015

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Ursula Reed
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It is most interesting to observe that this is the one central philosophy that is promoted in all religions.

1 The Square and Compasses. A newsletter for the Grand Lodge of South Africa. No. 38 April 2015 Most Worshipful Brother Geoff Edwards OSM. The Golden Rule! When we made our obligation as an apprentice, Brethren, we all swore to observe the commandment Do unto others as you would they do unto you. It is most interesting to observe that this is the one central philosophy that is promoted in all religions. There are numerous examples and these include Buddhism, which instructs it s followers to "Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." Confucianism, "Do not unto others what you would not have them do unto you." Taoism, Regard your neighbour's gain as your own gain, and your neighbour's loss as your own loss." Zoroastrianism "That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good for itself." Judaism "What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man." Christianity "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." Islam "No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself." Brahmanism "Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you". This magnificent principle, which our new Brethren promise to adhere to at the outset of their Masonic journey, is clearly subscribed to in the teachings of many of history s wisest and most learned men. It is so sound and, indeed, such obviously relevant common sense, that you have to ask why it needs to be taught at all. Surely all men must realise that if we do nothing else but treat others as we wish to be treated ourselves, everything must fall into place. It must be the recipe for an ideal world. The problem is that, in reality, life is not that simple. Sadly, man, by his very nature, is all too often selfish and uncaring and can be insensitive to the feelings of those around him. While it is easy to exhort the application of the principle of treating others as we would be treated when we are in need or are the victim of circumstances, it tends to get forgotten when we are not. And yet, that is precisely when applying this beautiful philosophy is at its most important. It is when our lives are going well or when we are in a position of influence that we really need to consider how we would want others to treat us if our circumstances were similar to theirs. It is during the good times that we need to examine ourselves and identify and implement changes to our behaviour that could enrich our contribution to those around us. I would like to suggest that this, indeed, is what this philosophy may really be all about. As Freemasons, Brethren, our Order provides us with so many opportunities to promote the grand principles of Truth, Morality and Brotherly Love. We are instructed in ways of improving ourselves as human beings and try to surround ourselves with fellow men who share our aims. And yet, all too often I am drawn into situations where Lodges are torn apart by internal conflict; where Brethren are deeply offended by the manner in which they are treated or spoken to. In far too many cases, they decide to rather leave the Order than continue to put up with the type of behaviour to which they are being subjected. Clearly, Brethren, this cannot be okay. It is your Masonic duty to make your Brethren feel as good about themselves and their Masonic experiences as you would like to feel about yours to Do unto others as you would they do unto you. Each and every one of us really needs to examine our approach to those around us. We need to consider our actions and how they affect others and to think about what we say and how we say it. We need to be constructive and positive and must never be destructive or negative. Brethren, if we simply live by the promise that we made and follow the Golden Rule I have no doubt whatsoever that our Grand Lodge will prosper and grow in line with our plans and dreams. MW Bro Geoff Edwards Grand Master Wor Bro Nuno Calvet awarded Rare Honour At the Grand Lodge of Madagascar s AGM on 7 March, Wor Bro Nuno Calvet (Star of the West) was awarded the equivalent of an OSM for his long and dedicated service to their Grand Lodge. Nuno has now moved to South Africa on a full-time basis and we much look forward to benefiting from his experience.

Assisting at the Cape Argus Cycle Tour As part of their benevolence initiatives, PGL Southern Division provide some financial support to widows in need.

Marshalling at the Argus Cycle tour was one such opportunity and, under the dedicated control of Wor Bro Andre Engelbrecht, a group of our Brethren gathered at 5h45 am on Sunday 8 th March to assist

All the money raised was allocated to the PGL Benevolent fund, while the participants much enjoyed the camaraderie that went along with just being involved.

Southern Division s Annual Awards Each year, at the Masters and Wardens meeting, the PGM of Southern Division hands out trophies to the Lodges who have most impressed during the previous 12 months.

congratulations, this is the 3 rd year running that Westerford have been Lodge of the Year and this really is a quite exceptional performance.

2 Assisting at the Cape Argus Cycle Tour As part of their benevolence initiatives, PGL Southern Division provide some financial support to widows in need. The related funds need a significant boost and the Brethren have been identifying new ways of raising capital. Marshalling at the Argus Cycle tour was one such opportunity and, under the dedicated control of Wor Bro Andre Engelbrecht, a group of our Brethren gathered at 5h45 am on Sunday 8 th March to assist as race Marshalls, for which they were paid an hourly rate. All the money raised was allocated to the PGL Benevolent fund, while the participants much enjoyed the camaraderie that went along with just being involved. Due to the recent fires the race was reduced from 109kms to 47kms, but it s still a long day! Bro Dan Korn Wor Bro Andre Engelbrecht barking out instructions! Southern Division s Annual Awards Each year, at the Masters and Wardens meeting, the PGM of Southern Division hands out trophies to the Lodges who have most impressed during the previous 12 months. This year s winners were: Lodge of the Year Best Ritual Lodge Best Charity Lodge Emerging Lodge Westerford de Goede Hoop & Westerford Jacob de Mist Mutual While all of the winners deserve our hearty congratulations, this is the 3 rd year running that Westerford have been Lodge of the Year and this really is a quite exceptional performance. Lodges de Goede Hoop and Westerford both excel in their ritual work and deservedly shared this award; Lodge Jacob de Mist has set a very high standard in their various fund-raising activities and Lodge Mutual is making steady progress in their quest to regain the high position that they used to enjoy. Wor Bro Evangelos Doucas (de Goede Hoop), RW Bro Avron Jacobson, Wor Bro Tommy Hardiman (Westerford) Grand Master attends Installations in Madagascar and Mauritius In early March I had the privilege of attending the installations of the new Grand Masters of the Grand Lodges of Madagascar and Mauritius. Together with the Grand Secretary, RW Bro Sakkie Heyneke, we were also able to participate in the Conference of African Grand Masters and Secretaries. We started our venture in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. While Madagascar is very run down, the people are friendly and their Freemasonry is most impressive. They have 317 Brethren spread over 11 Lodges and they increased by 14% over the past year. Every Lodge has at least 3 Apprentices and there were 375 people at the Installation Banquet. During our time there, Sakkie and I were treated really well and we much enjoyed the Installation and banquet and the next day s visit to the new headquarters which they had built themselves. There were 7 Grand Lodges present and 5 Grand Masters and with the GM of France and I had the privilege of investing the newly installed Grand Master with his chain of office. The picture on the left is at their headquarters. I am with new Grand Master, MW Bro Hasina Rakotobarison and Past GM, MW Bro Alain Somoudronga. On our spare day, MW Bros Nuno Calvet and Jeanne-Pierre Marechal looked after us and gave us a day that we ll always remember fondly. We then flew to Mauritius where, once again, we were treated royally. Sakkie and I were joined by RW Bro Alf Brönner and Wor Bro Frans Appelgryn from Central Division and, as a group, we attended

the opening cocktail party, the Installation and the supporting banquet attended by 675 people.

There were 17 Grand Lodges in attendance and 9 Grand Masters and I was honoured by being asked to read the exhortation to the new Grand Master, MW Bro

It is a movement that has grown into a worldwide event and whilst it is intended to raise awareness and funds, it is based on having fun in a spirit of

The Brethren of Lodge First United supported it with enthusiasm and posted pictures of Colin, Hedley and Tobie sporting their hairy appendages.

These included the Grand Masters of France, South Africa, India, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Togo, Madagascar, Mauritius and Niger.

African Grand Lodges and enjoyed the opportunity to interact with the senior Brethren representing the other African Grand Lodges.

3 the opening cocktail party, the Installation and the supporting banquet attended by 675 people. All events were well organised and, despite our inability to talk French, we were extremely well received and made a number of new Masonic friends. There were 17 Grand Lodges in attendance and 9 Grand Masters and I was honoured by being asked to read the exhortation to the new Grand Master, MW Bro Bruno Dumazel, and was also made an honorary member of Mauritius. such as depression, prostate cancer and other male cancers. It is a movement that has grown into a worldwide event and whilst it is intended to raise awareness and funds, it is based on having fun in a spirit of friendly rivalry. The Brethren of Lodge First United supported it with enthusiasm and posted pictures of Colin, Hedley and Tobie sporting their hairy appendages. With the heads of the various delegations. These included the Grand Masters of France, South Africa, India, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Togo, Madagascar, Mauritius and Niger. RW Bro Sakkie Heyneke, RW Bro Alf Bronner, Wor Bro Fans Appelgryn, MW Bro Geoff Edwards OSM On the Friday, Sakkie and I attended the Conference of African Grand Lodges and enjoyed the opportunity to interact with the senior Brethren representing the other African Grand Lodges. Despite having a hectic schedule, we still had a little time to explore and have some fun and Alf and Frans took full advantage of this while Sakkie and I were at labour. Friday evening saw us attending a very relaxing beach party with all our new Frans Appelgryn, Sakkie friends before flying Heyneke and Alf Brönner home the next day. Lodge First United support Movember Movember (a portmanteau of the Australian- English diminutive word for moustache, "mo", and "November") is an annual event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of male health issues, Silent Fire The recipients of the funds raised, Billy and Lynn, sincerely thanked the members of Lodge First United for making their Christmas such a very festive affair. Charity to be fruitful must cost us. To love, it is necessary to give: to give it is necessary to be free from selfishness. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Masonic Benevolence At every regular Lodge meeting we remember our Masonic Charities. The benevolence donations made by the Members must be applied to benevolence and never used to finance the administration of the Lodge.

There are many worthy causes in our society and the selection of which to support is fraught with opportunity.

4 But how many of us take an interest in the deployment of these scarce and precious funds? We suspect that all Members are proud of the donation of their Lodge to the Provincial Grand Lodge, made at their Festival of Installation, and never ask as to what these fund are applied. There are many worthy causes in our society and the selection of which to support is fraught with opportunity. In most cases we do not have much to offer as an individual, but collectively as an Order, the numbers are vast. Much good work can be done with these funds in servicing charities that are facing ever decreasing support from the Central Government. Some of the Charities that most need to be supported are those that provide emotional help and care to the sick and aged. It is likely that most of us have used or will use at some stage the services of a Hospice. These are run by volunteers who specialise in providing end-of-life care by attending to the patient s physical, psychological and spiritual needs. They endeavour to provide an environment of peace, comfort and dignity in those final days and hours. We believe that every Mason can identify with this goal and so we ask you to consider the application of your benevolence funds. We have recently received a fund-raising flyer from St Luke s Hospice which merits consideration. A copy of the entry details follows this Newsletter. Annual General Meeting of Eastern Division. The above meeting will take place in Durban on 16 th May 2015 and will be followed by a most attractive fund raising event. A cynical thought from the Author of the book The internet will crash. If you hear an expert talking about the Internet and saying it [does] this, or it will do that, you should treat it with the same scepticism that you might treat the comments of an economist about the economy or a weatherman about the weather." Danny Hillis Almoner s Corner. Sadly, we have lost to the Grand Lodge above, Wor Bro Cecil Levitt (ex Lodge Bergvliet) and Wor Bro Robert McCree (Lodge de Goede Hoep). We extend our deepest condolences to the families of these fine Brethren. MW Bro Ben Lindeque OSM has been admitted to ICU to address problems arising from a minor stroke. Please keep him in your prayers. Our best wishes for a speedy recovery from their suffering go to VW Bro Johan Haasbroek (Losie Jacob de Mist), Wor Bro Gert Ackerman (Lodge Orange) and Wor Bro Marco Sanders (Lodge Helderberg), who have all spent time in Hospital recently. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. The wives of Wor Bro Louis van der Linde (Losie Jacob de Mist) and RW Bro Vic Muhlenbeck (Lodge Isandlwana) have been hospitalised recently and we wish them both a speedy return to good health. Grand Almoner Brethren, the Grand Almoner is only as effective as the information he receives. Please, if anything is known about a Brother in distress, be sure to phone RW Bro Neville Klein OSM at or send him an to: kleinneville@gmail.com A Destiny There is a destiny that makes us Brothers; None goes his way alone; All that we send into the lives of others Come back to our own. I care not what his temple or creeds, One thing holds firm and fast, That into his fateful heap of days and deeds The soul of man is cast. Bro Edwin Markham GRAND LODGE REGALIA ITEMS Wear them with pride. The following items of regalia of the Grand Lodge of South Africa are currently available from the Grand Lodge Office. The price of the tie is R100. The cufflinks cost R140. Both of these items are only available whilst the current stocks last.

Bro Dick Harry, I appoint you Almoner of the lodge and now invest you with the jewel of your office which is a scrip purse upon which is a heart.

Bro Dick Harry, I appoint you Almoner of the lodge and now invest you with the jewel of your office which is a scrip purse upon which is a heart. VICTORIA LODGE 2196 ER. The Charity Steward. Context. WM and brethren, the Lodge s activities over the recent past and the current activity surrounding our 2013 fundraising event has highlighted the need