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OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF JAMAICA AND THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
VOLUME XXI I
JULY 2013
NO.2
SOLOMONIC VISIT TO
DISTRICT GRAND CHAPTER
T
he Special Guest at the
Convocation of the District Grand Holy Royal
Arch (HRA) Chapter of Jamaica
and the Cayman Islands on Saturday July 27, 2013 will be W. Bro.
James Moss-Solomon B.A., J.P.,
C.D., former Executive Chairman, Corporate Affairs at Grace
Kennedy and Company, Past
Grand Superintendent of Irish
Royal Arch Masonry and Past
Provincial Grand Master of Jamaica and Bahamas.
Professionally, W.Bro. MossSolomon joined Grace Kennedy
& Co. as a Management Trainee
in 1971. His father’s investmenthas made him a major shareholder in the company. Over the
years he was Executive Chairman
of Hi Lo and Mede-Grace Ltd.
Having retired from active executive responsibility in 2007, W.
Bro. Moss-Solomon was appointed Executive-in-Residence
at the Mona School of Business
and Management at the University of the West Indies in 2012. As
a Founder and Director of the
Grace Kennedy Foundation, he
was also the featured Lecturer in
the Annual Grace Kennedy Lecture Series last year which saw
him comparing “Jamaica and
Grace Kennedy….Dreams Converging, Roads Diverging,” over
the Past 90 years. In the Private
Sector, W. Bro. Moss-Solomon has
been twice President of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce
(JCC)and the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce
(CAIC) and a Vice-President of the
Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ).
Having studied at Priory, Jamaica
College- where he was Head Boy
in 1969, and McMaster University,
W.Bro. Moss-Solomon has been
Chairman of the Board of Governors of Jamaica College and is now
a Director of its Foundation.
W. Bro. James Moss-Solomon, B.A., J.P., C.D. Former Executive
Chairman, Corporate Affairs Grace Kennedy and Co.; Past Grand
Superintendent Irish Royal Arch Masonry and Past Provincial
Grand Master, Jamaica and Bahamas.
Masonically,
W.Bro.
MossSolomon was initiated in the Western Shamrock Lodge No. 889
under the Irish Constitution in
1989, becoming W. Master in
1991. In 1994 he was appointed the
first Provincial Grand Master at the
young age of 43 years, and Grand
Superintendent of Irish Royal Arch
Masonry in Jamaica and Bahamas.
As a talented musician and sportsman W. Bro. Moss-Solomon plays
the keyboard, guitar and bass and
is a member of the “50/50 Band”.
As a sportsman he represented Jamaica at the Commonwealth and
CAC Games in swimming and
water polo and held the national
record in the 100 and 200 metres
‘Butterfly’ from 1966-1970.
He is also a member of several
English Chapters.
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NEWLY INSTALLED MASTERS
The Editor,
January 2013 – July 2013
NAME
LODGE
INSTALLATION DATE
W. Bro. Joseph Lewis
Kingston 1933
February 6th 2013
W. Bro. Dr.Milton Arthurs
University 7128
February 8th 2013
W. Bro. Victor Spence
Friendly 239
February 12h 2013
W. Bro. Roy Warburton
Ewing 3258
February 23rd 2013
W. Bro. Everett Bonnick
Portland 7740
March 9th 2013
W. Bro. David Lee
Jamaica College 7254
March 11th 2013
W. Bro. Keith Smith
Phoenix 914
March 19th 2013
W. Bro. Paul Elliot
Adair 8146
April 13th 2013
W. Bro Leslie Madden
Harmony 3603
April 13th 2013
W. Bro Michael Williams
Hamilton 1440
May 2nd 2013
W.Bro. Stephen Bell
Royal 207
May 6th 2013
W. Bro. John Levy
W.Bro. Hevard Smith
Collegium Fabrorum 1836
The Brac 9470
June 13th 2013
June 14th 2013
WELCOME! - NEW MASTER MASONS
January 2013 – July 2013
NAME
CRAFT LODGE
Don Gittens
Sussex 354
Colin Roberts
Phoenix 914
Michael Dunn
Phoenix 914
Andrew Sturridge
Hamilton 1440
Douglas Arnold
Hope Lodge 2813
Nigel Myrie
Hope Lodge 2813
Oraine Nelson
Jamaica College 7254
Karl Angell
Kingston College 9469
OBITUARIES
January 2013 – July 20133
NAME
W Bro Fitz Harrack
W Bro Paul Desnoes
W. Bro Stanlie Parkins
W.Bro Dr. Orrin Barrow
W.Bro Volney Bramwell
W.Bro Jackie Scott
W.Bro Alti Spence
CRAFT LODGE
Royal 207
Phoenix 914
St.Thomas 4338
University 7128
Portland 7740
Kingston 1933
Friendly 383
APPOINTMENTS
Craft
W Bro Melvin Carey - First Appointment to PAGChap
W Bro Anthony Lewis - Promotion to PJGD
HRA
E Comp Robert Forbes - First Appointment to PGStB
Credits
Photographs:
W.Bro. Trevor Jones
Administration:
W.Bro. Robert Forbes PGStB, DistGSec.
Proof Reading:
W.Bro. S. LeRoi Lorde PDist SGW
Typing:
Ms. Sandy Hewitt & Ms. Danique Anikey
Printing:
Gentle Printery
Editorial Committee: W.Bro. Winston ‘Freddie” Clarke, Pres Dist. BGP
W.Bro. Robert Forbes PGStB, DistGSec.
W.Bro. Winston G. Wright PDistJGW
Edited by: W.Bro. Winston G. Wright PDistJGW
Published by:
The District Grand Lodge of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands
45-47 Barbados Avenue, Kingston 5, Jamaica, W.I.
Phone: (876) 926-6018 Fax: (876) 960-7776
E-mail: fmaj@cwjamaica.com
2
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KING SOLOMON’S TEMPLE
MASONIC TRADITION
by W. Bro. Alvaro Casserly, C.D., J.P., PDistSGW
At this point I wish to make reference to
three situations involving Masonic Temples.
u In Hanover Street, Kingston, the former
Masonic Building was acquired and made
part of the Kingston Technical High
School. Members of staff and students
still refer to that section of the School as
the “Temple Building.”
u At the Masonic Building in Barbados
Avenue, Kingston 5, there are two
columns. The property of Lodge Collegium Fabrorum No. 1836 E. C., they
were designed to represent the two Pillars
at the entrance of King Solomon’s Temple.
In 2004, on the occasion of the 125th Anniversary of the Lodge, the columns were
refurbished and up-dated. They have
been placed at the main entrance of the
Temple, one on the “left” and the other on
the” right”.
u In July 1965, on a visit to Paramaribo,
Suriname, I called on the Prime Minister.
His desk was at one end of a very large
room. On enquiry later, I was told that
the building was the former Masonic Temple, and that the Prime Minister’s office
was the former main Lodge room.
THE TEMPLE IN MASONIC ORDERS
In Masonic Rituals we find versions of the
tradition concerning the preparation and
erection of “the mighty edifice”, King
Solomon’s Temple. The Temple is the very
substance of portions of Masonic Craft
Rituals, in the First, Second and Third Degrees. The tradition is also to be found in
W. Bro. Alvaro Casserly, C.D., J.P., PDistSGW
W.M. Lodge Collegium Fabrorum #1836 in 1979.
the Holy Royal Arch and other Orders.
The Craft: First Degree
In the Lecture on the First Degree Tracing
Board, we find the following:
“Our Lodges stand on holy ground because the First Lodge was consecrated on
account of three grand offerings thereon
made, which met with Divine approbation. First the ready compliance of Abraham with the will of God in not refusing
to offer up his son Isaac as a burnt sacrifice, when it pleased the Almighty to substitute a more agreeable victim in his stead.
Secondly, the many pious prayers and
ejaculations of King David, which actually
appeased the wrath of God, and stayed the
pestilence which then raged among his
people, owing to his inadvertently having
them numbered. Thirdly, the many
thanks-givings, oblations, burnt sacrifices,
and costly offerings, which Solomon, King
of Israel, made at the completion, dedication and consecration of the Temple at
Jerusalem to God’s service. These three
did then, do now, and I trust ever will render the ground of Freemasonry holy”.
The Craft: Second Degree
In the Explanation of the Second Degree
Tracing Board there is extensive information on King Solomon’s Temple. Here are
a few excerpts:
….Its costliness and splendour became
objects of admiration to the surrounding
nations, and its fame spread to the re-
3
motest parts of the then known world…
…. There was nothing…more remarkable
or that more particularly struck the
attention than the two great pillars which
were placed at the entrance. That on the
left was called Boaz… that on the right
Jachin (Jakin). …. King Solomon ordered
them to be placed at the entrance of the
Temple, asthe most conspicuous situation
for the children of Israel to have the happy
deliverance of their forefathers continually
before their eyes in going to and returning
from Divine worship.
The design, structure and decorations of
the two pillars are set out in detail.
The Craft: Third Degree
In the Third Degree Lecture -Traditional
History, the Temple is featured in events
occurring during construction and King
Solomon’s active participation in these
events.
Certain features of the Temple are mentioned and explained:
• The Porch - The entrance to the
Sanctum Sanctorum.
• The Dormer- The window that gave
light.
• The Square Pavement – For the High
Priest to walk on.
It is mentioned that the Temple had three
entrances, (although some Masonic texts
identify two entrances). Also reported on
is the completion of the Temple and the
joy of King Solomon and the princes of his
household on seeing the magnificent structure and the wonderful work of the Masons.
The Holy Royal Arch
In the Historical Lecture in the Holy Royal
Arch it is stated that there are three epochs
in the history of Freemasonry. They are
the openings of the First or Holy Lodge,
the Second or Sacred Lodge and the Third
or Grand and Royal Lodge.
Cont’d on Page 8
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Fathers and Sons in Freemasonry in Jamaica
The ‘Goldsons of Royal Lodge’
by W. Bro. Winston G. Wright PDJGW
T
(L-R) W. Bro. David Goldson; W. Bro. Roger Goldson, W. Bro. Brian Leicester Goldson Snr. and W. Bro. Brian A.L. Goldson
All Past Master of Royal Lodge No. 207
his series of articles on “Fathers
and sons in Freemasonry in Jamaica” has been prompted by the
legend mentioned in the “Revised Ritual”
by an old Past Master that…..The Mysteries of Ancient Egypt….were formatted
unto a pure and noble science……called
Freemasonry….and handed down ….from
generation to generation….down to the
time of the building of King Solomon’s
Temple.” The Legend continues with the
St. Claires and the building of the Roslyn
Chapel in Scotland, and is reinforced by
the many ‘Lewises” among Freemasons
around the globe…..down to the Goldsons
in the Royal Lodge No. 207 in Kingston
Jamaica today.
To be installed and invested as Worshipful
Master of your mother Lodge is usually
the highlight of one’s Masonic career.
Then to be promoted to District Grand
Lodge or Grand Lodge Officer is usually
viewed as additional jewels in one’s Masonic crown. However, to have a Masonic
father, to be a distinguished Past Master of
your Lodge and then to have your three
sons become Past Masters of your mother
Lodge is Masonic achievement of the most
enviable distinction.
The following legend records the story of
W. Bro. Brian Leicester Goldson Sr., Past
Master of Royal Lodge No. 207, whose
Grand Uncle and Father were members of
Hope Lodge No. 2813 and has had three
sons: Brian AL, David and Roger, who are
now all Past Masters of Royal Lodge no.
207, all having sat in King Solomon’s chair.
Hope Lodge No. 2813 in which Brian’s father Bro. Herbert Austin Goldson, joined
as a member was founded in SavannahLa-Mar, Westmoreland in. Given the social and racial stratification of small-town
society in Jamaica in the 1940s and 1950s,
Bro. Herbert Goldson must have been an
influential member of the Sav-La-Mar
community since he was Secretary of the
Lodge for some years. There is no record,
however, that he ever became Master of
the Lodge. He died young, before he could
introduce young Brian to the Craft and
even before he could tell his son anything
about Freemasonry-in those highly “secretive” days about the “Lodge”. In fact, not
only was young Brian not asked to join the
Lodge, but having seen some Masonic papers around the house when he asked his
father about the craft he was bluntly told…
”you will find out in time”.
Although young Brian was well acquainted
with many of the brethren and his mother,
4
Mrs. Goldson, used to accompany Bro. Herbert to some Lodge functions , he was Jokingl advised not to even look at the ‘Old
Temple’ which was then situated on Great
Georges Street in Sav-La-Mar, which site is
now the home of a supermarket, less he
should get a “crick-neck”. In those days
Freemasons were said not to be able to turn
their heads to look at anything behind themthey had to turn full circle round. So Bro.
Herbert died in 1954 and young Brian graduated from Manning’s High School and
went to work with the West Indies Sugar
Company (WISCO) at Frome.
Studying Overseas
Soon after Brian Sr. went overseas to study
at the Walthamstow Dpolytechnic, now
University of North London, where he studied Quantity Surveying for three years. He
worked in England before returning to Jamaica in 1969. He started his Partnership
Goldson Barrett Johnson- Quantity Surveyors- in 1971.
Married Childhood Sweetheart
In 1960Goldson married his childhood
sweetheart from Manning’s High School the
then Ms. Tryphene (Tiney)Fenton. They
proceeded to London England in 1960.
They returned to Jamaica in 1969 and produced two sons; Brian and David.
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Years to the Chair
In 1975 Bro. George Russell, who was
then the S.W. in Royal Lodge No. 207 approached Brian who had long wanted to
join the group. He was proposed and admitted a member of Royal Lodge in 1976.
It took him five years to get to the chair of
King Solomon- not only because of his
keen interest in Freemasonry and his family history in the Craft of Hope lodge in
Sav-La-Mar but also because two Wardens- members of the Lodge administration left for overseas- taking one of the
five flights a day to Miami and causing
Bro. Brian to skip two chairs from S.D. to
S.W. and then to Master of the Lodge in
1981. In assuming the Master’s Chair W.
Bro. Goldson found that he had six entered
Apprentices who had all been given their
First Degree during the previous administration. Due to his zeal and passion for
Masonic work W. Bro. Goldson not only
passed and raised the six Apprentices but
during his year he also initiated six more.
In the age of mass migration, this helped
the Royal Lodge to remain viable and even
to grow. It is of interest to note that at the
Installation of the new W. Master of the
Royal Lodge in 1982- W. Bro. Linton Andrews a Past Master of Royal Lodge and
now District Grand Master of the District
Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of
Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, who was
then an Officer of the Jamaica Public Service Company Ltd. (JPSCo) who was asked
to “engineer” things to avoid a power-cut
on that night, was unable to prevent a
‘black-out’ in the night of Installation and
W. Bro. Brian Goldson had to perform
most of the ceremony “in the dark” due to
a massive JPSCo power outage in
Kingston. Since then, W. Bro. Goldson has
served as Junior deacon, Junior Warden
and Past Senior Grand Warden of the District Grand Lodge of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
The Lewis- Brian AL
Lewis-Brian AL was initiated in 1987 in
the Royal Lodge No. 207 and was confident in the Craft from the very start. Having come from darkness into light he
immediately established a level of comfort
and teasing stories like “riding goat in the
Lodge” never affected him- he had no fear
and no worry- because his father and
friends were all in there. After two years
he left for Georgia State University (1988-
1990) to study for his MBA. Upon his return he worked for Grace Kennedy (Western Union) in Jamaica and the Caribbean
for sixteen years. In 2006 he became a
full-fledged entrepreneur with varied business interests. He was installed as Master
of Royal Lodge in 2000 and believes
strongly that “Freemasonry makes good
men better”.
W. Bro. Brian Leicester Goldson Snr.
Past Dist.SGW
David joined Royal in 1990 at age twentyfour, and his father- Bro. Brian Sr. presided
over his initiation ceremony-like he did for
all his three sons. He remembers quite
clearly that W. Bro. Laurie Ventour did the
perambulations and he was pleasantly surprised when he “opened his eyes” to see
all of daddy’s friends standing around. He
thought the initiation ceremony was impressive and has experienced personal
growth and confidence since joining the
Lodge. He particularly enjoys the opportunities where as a young mason he gets
up and speaks and does ritual work. Unlike
most other members, David did not go
through the Junior and Senior Deacons
chairs or that of the Inner Guard. After
serving four years as Secretary of the
Lodge he went straight to J.W. and was installed as Master of Royal Lodge in 2004.
He went to the University of New Orleans
to study Civil Engineering in 1984 and
graduated with a Masters in Structural Engineering from Univerity of Florida in
1990. He worked for Bryad Engineering
and then in 1999 he joined Hue Lyew Chin
Engineering where his is now a partner.
5
One of the most outstanding out-reach
projects of the Royal Lodge was the undertaken during his year of administration
when the Lodge partnered with the Best
Care Lodge on Trevennion Road which
has been sponsored for many years by the
St. Andrew JAJCEES. This project saw
the Lodge set up a chicken project at the
home which not only provided nutrition but
income for the young people in care at the
home. David is now Charity Steward of the
Lodge and has been a Past District Grand
Standard Bearer of the District Grand
Lodge of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands
since 2009. Having spent twenty-three
years in the Lodge he says that “joining the
Craft is one of the best decision he has
made in his life.”
Roger, the youngest son, joined the Royal
Lodge in 2002 at age 31- the oldest one to
do so. This happened when his father took
an application form to him and said “sign
this”. Although he had always enjoyed the
camaraderie of the Fraternity, he had serious questions on his mind when he was
asked during his initiation ceremony
whether he was “joining of his own free
will and accord”.
He attended Wolmer’s High School for
Boys, as did all his brothers, and recalls that
his father presided at his initiation and that
his brothers David and Brian Jr. occupied
the J.W. and S.W. chairs respectively. He
was comfortable because he could recognize everybody’s voice. Roger studied
Chemical Engineering at Georgia Tech. between 1990 and 1995 and on his return
worked for Red Stripe for two years. He
later went to the University of Maryland to
pursue a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and has returned to work for
Grace Kennedy and Company. He now
works with KPMG.
Roger has not only cemented the Masonic
fellowship in the Royal Lodge in the English Constitution but has sought to extend
it to the Scottish Constitution having married AshidAstrid- the daughter of the current Master of the Barrington Miller
Lodge-W. Bro. Trevor Heaven.
He says all the Goldson sisters-in-law are
happy and comfortable in the Royal
Lodge.
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“A Walk Around the Lodge”
A
By W. Bro. Harvey Lovewell
short presentation given whilst
walking around the lodge to the
Members of Ravenshoe Lodge
May 2013, Australia. I will start here, as
requested by the members of the Lodge,
who asked for an explanation of the significance of the North East Corner of the
Lodge. Traditionally this is where a building
started and for this we thank the Egyptians.
The East symbolizes WISDOM, the West
STRENGTH, the North Darkness and the
South BEAUTY. Corner stones are the first
stones placed at ground level. They are generally placed in the northeast corner, from
which, a building was traditionally commenced. They are part of the structure of the
building, and, of necessity, are placed at the
start of building. Until the 1950s and 60s,
this was the type of stone most commonly
placed by the fraternity. Our district Grand
Lodge conducted this ceremony at the commencement of the new building at Carpentaria Homes. Of course the foundations must
have been already laid as some foundations
for big stone Medieval cathedrals were up to
10 metres below ground level.
Symbolically the North was a place of darkness and cold a place good to leave behind
and find a way to the warmth and light
which was the East from where the sun rose.
You must remember that Freemasonry was
and is strongest in the Northern Hemisphere
hence cold in the North was and is a reality.
The association of Masonry with the placement of corner stones comes from the craft
guilds. There are records of Masonic Lodges
in Ireland placing corner stones, with full
parades and ceremonies, dating from the
1500s and records from England from the
late l600s.
In ancient times sacrifices were conducted
on corner stones to appease the gods, corn,
oil, wine, and a gold coin were also placed
under these stones. So you can see the importance of tradition placed in the North
East corner. Here in the Lodge we have three
of the columns from the five orders of Architecture. The first degree tracing board
tells us their symbology I urge you to read
it. Suffice to say they represent Wisdom,
Strength and Beauty.
a Circle denotes St. John the Baptist, whose
"day" is June 24th and St. John the Evangelist, whose "day" is December 27th. They are
the 2 Patron Saints of Masonry. While many
Master Masons are aware of the celebration
of these 2 days, few realize why it is cause
for celebration within a lodge.
W. Bro. Harvey Lovewell
The Master’s column, the Ionic representing
Wisdom, was created to meet the need for
grace and elegance. The Ionic order was employed in the erection of the temple of the
goddess Diana. On the front is a circle with
a point in the centre and two parallel lines,
one on each side. The symbolism of the point
within a circle is, again from your Ritual:
1. Point = The Individual Brother.
2. Circle= The boundary line of his duty to
God and to man, beyond which a man
should not allow his passions, prejudices or
interests to betray him.
To the Pythagoreans, the point and circle
represented eternity, whose “centre is everywhere and the circumference nowhere.”
In ancient times, festivals were held on the
days of Summer and Winter Solstices these
2 days because they represent and illustrate,
the cycles of life. Each parallel line touches
the outer circle, which, from ancient times
was the sun at the extremes, the Solstices.
Today, our Winter Solstice is June 21st and
our Summer Solstice is December 21st. They
also represented the highest and lowest
points which the sun reached, the shortest
and longest hours in the day. They signify a
time of celebrating the bountiful harvest of
plenty that emerges from the seeds of the
Earth.
In speculative Masonry, combined, they denote, in essence, the celebration of reaping
the fruits of your labour. The following is
not a strong tradition in Australia but it is
overseas and is a Christian explanation and
maybe you should be aware of this. The two
parallel lines at each side of the Point within
6
The Lodge of St. John was the primitive
Mother Lodge, held in Jerusalem and dedicated to St. John, the Baptist and then to St.
John the Evangelist and finally to both. It is
called the Lodge of the Holy Saints John of
Jerusalem and from this lodge all other
lodges descended." Here we have the Director of Ceremonies with his Baton.
The marshal was originally the officer in
charge of the well-being of the king's horses
(as the steward was of his pigs), but he came
to have certain ceremonial functions in the
marshalling of processions and pageantry.
The rod, staff, verge, or sceptre has always
been a sign of authority; archaeology tells us
its use can be traced back beyond the Egyptians, the wands now borne by the Deacons
and Stewards of the lodge preserve vestiges
of this function. In like manner the DC always carried an abbreviated staff, or baton,
as the badge of his office.
So now I have started to walk around the
lodge clockwise. Why? You have all heard
this called to perambulate. This started as
walking around a holy object with the right
hand pointing to said object in reverence.
Originally, circumambulation was only performed in the lodge in relation to the specific
preparation and examination of the candidate
prior to his obligation, to ensure that he was
properly prepared and a fit and proper person
to participate in the ensuing ceremony.
The rite of circumambulation is also related
to the circle of existence, which is a symbol
of the passage of the spiritual self through
the cycle of life, whence darkness is dispelled and the long upward course of purification is begun, leading from darkness to
light, barbarism to civilization. This advancement will ultimately lead us from this
profane earthly existence to a state of perfection in that grand lodge above, eternal in
the heavens.
Article to be cont’d in next Edition
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T
HRA CELEBRATES BICENTENARY
he Most Excellent Grand Superintendant of the Holy Royal Arch, in and
our Jamaica and the Cayman Islands,
E. Comp. Walter Scott, has said that “ 2013
is a most significant year for us as English
Royal Arch Masons as it is the year that we
will celebrate the Bicentanary of the formal
recognition of the Holy Royal Arch as a port
of pure ancient Masonry.” The celebrations,
he said, will be held in London on 16 October, 2013. Companions, we continue to grow
our numbers in the Royal Arch, both in absolute numbers and as a percentage of the
Craft. The records of Supreme Grand Chapter of England reveal that as at 24 January,
2013 we had 592 Companions in the District
and1120 members of the Craft. This amounts
to 52.85 percentage of Companions who are
members of the Craft. It may be of interest
for you to know that of the 30 District Grand
Chapters of Supreme Grand Chapter, our
District has the third largest number of companions. Only the Districts of the Eastern Archipelago and South Africa North have more
Companions than we do. And, only the District of Madras in India has a greater number
of Companions as a percentage of the Craft.
53.33% to our 52.85%. We have every right
to be justifiably proud of our District.
I am informed by The Deputy Grand Superintendent and the 2nd and 3rd District Grand
Principals that the standard of ritual work in
the several Chapters in the District continues
to improve. There is however, one remaining
area in the Royal Arch in which we do not
do particularly well. It is visiting. How many
Time
11.00 a.m
Activity
Location
Convocation of Metropolitan Grand Stewards
Chapter No. 9812 in which a demonstration of the
Ceremony of Exaltation using the changes
authorized in 2004 will be given
1:00 for 1:30 p.m Luncheon presided over by the ME Pro First Grand
Principal
4:30 p.m
Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter, presided
over by the ME The First Grand Principal,
HRH The Duke of Kent, KG
6.15 for 7:00 p.m Dinner, presided over by the ME The First Grand
Principal
We are planning a very ambitious year-long celebration of this historic Anglican worship space
in 2014, and I hope that you will consider helping us organize and execute a year-long series
of celebratory events. These are some of the
ideas and plans we are developing:
* A Cathedral Facebook page (look for it now
on your computer)
* A Cathedral website (coming very soon at
www.CathedralJa.org)
Grand Connaught Rooms
Grand Temple
Savoy Hotel
on the Royal Arch. I will be visiting every
one of the 12 Chapters in the District for one
of their regular meetings. I will also be paying special visits to Irish and Scottish Royal
Arch Chapter meetings. I urge you to join
with me in these visits. Let us support our
fellow Companions! Let us support the
Companions of our sister constitutions, so
that we may learn, appreciate and enjoy the
different ceremonies, whilst at the same time
treasure our own.
E. Comp. Walter H. Scott, Grand Supt. of HRA
in and over Jamaica and the Cayman Islands
of us have ever visit ted an Irish or a Scottish
Royal Arch meeting? How many of us visit
our sister Chapters other than perhaps at the
odd Installation meeting?
This year, the year of our Bicentenary celebrations, I propose to lay a special emphasis
In Jamaica, the Dist. Grand HRA Convocation will be held at the Masonic Building, 4547 Barbados Avenue, New Kingston on
Saturday July 27, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. The Past
Grand Supt. of Irish Royal Arch Masonry in
Jamaica and Bahamas will be the Guest
Speaker at the Convocation. The Bicentenary Banquet will be held in the Dining
Room Downstairs at 7:30 p.m.
Anglican Cathedral Heritage Committee
Colleagues, following a hurricane in 1712 the
present nave and transepts of the Cathedral were
constructed and occupied in 1714. We still worship in this space every Sunday! Next year we
will celebrate 300 years of worshiping in this
historic colonial heritage space.
Grand Temple
* Monthly concerts and heritage educational
presentations in 2014.
* Work on restoration of the Cathedral's monuments (beginning in August 2013)
* Restoration and return of the Resurrection
Chapel painting (expected return in October
2013)
* Planning and executing major restoration
fund-raising events overseas in 2014
(Our goal is to raise JA $38,000,000 from the
Jamaican Diaspora in England, Toronto, New
York, Atlanta, and Houston)
We will have a major event in Kingston in conjunction with overseas events. (maybe connected electronically). The fund-raising events
would occur in mid-2014 with the campaign
7
By Bro. William (Bill) Poinsett
concluding on Cathedral Sunday 2014.
* Engage a Public Relations firm to help us plan
and execute our plans in a professional manner.
As you can see this is a very ambitious plan and
we need a lot of hands on deck to pull it off.
CAN WE COUNT ON YOU to serve on the
Cathedral Heritage Committee? I would like to
begin planning Committee meetings soon, and
would like for you to let me know what meeting
times might work best for you? Evening meetings in Spanish Town during week days? Saturday morning meeting dates in Spanish Town?
Other?
Contact me at: Email:wpoinset@yahoo.com
or phones 749-5783 (h) or 582-1179 (c)
July NEWSLETTER 2013_Layout 1 23/07/2013 06:54 PM Page 1
R.W. Bro. Walter Scott, Dist.
Grand Master of Jamaica
and the Cayman Islands (2R)
presents a cheque from the
District Board of Benevolence to Ms. Laura Chapman
..................during his recent
visit to Grand Lodge in London. Looking on are W. Bro.
Dr. Winston ‘Freddie’ Clarke
President of the Board of
General Purpose (R) and W.
Bro. Robert Forbes Dist.
Grand Secy.
KING SOLOMON’S TEMPLE
The First or Holy Lodge was opened two
years after the Exodus of the children of
Israel from Egypt. It was opened by
Moses at the foot of Mount Horeb in the
wilderness of Sinai.
The Second or Sacred Lodge was opened
by King Solomon at the Mount Moriah, at
the place where Abraham had not refused
to offer up his son Isaac, as a sacrifice, and
the Almighty provided another sacrifice.
In this Second Lodge, Solomon, King of
Israel, Hiram King of Tyre and Hiram
Abiff, presided.
The Third or Grand and Royal Lodge was
held at Jerusalem and opened by Zerubbabel shortly after the return of the children
of Israel from Babylonian captivity. It may
be of interest to mention, that there is a Rabbinic legend to the effect that King
Solomon, in his capacity as prophet and
seer, foresaw the destruction of his Temple
by the Babylonians and accordingly caused
an underground vault to be built below the
Temple in which the Ark of the Covenant
and sacred vessels were eventually hidden.
This is reflected in the Ritual of the Holy
Royal Arch.
Mark Master Masons
In the Lecture on the Mark Master Masons
Cont’d from Page 3
Degree, we are provided with details on
King Solomon’s Temple:
of the Craft are in reality the mysteries of religion”
“At the building of King Solomon’s Temple,
there were 80,000 operatives employed…
part of whom were hewers in the quarries of
Zaradatha, and part builders of the Temple,
besides these there was a levy of 30,000 in
Lebanon. In order that each of the 110,000
workmen might be known to their superior
officers, every portion of work be subject to
the nicest scrutiny, and each fellow craft receive with punctuality the reward of his industry and skill, this immense number was
divided into 1,100 Lodges of fellow crafts
and apprentices…over the whole presided
3,300 Menatschim, Overseers, or Mark
Master Masons, three over each Lodge.
These are now called the Master and the
Senior and Junior Wardens.”
These are as few extracts from Masonic Degrees and Masonic Orders that have been selected to point to the extent of scriptural
influence on Masonic Tradition. As outlined
in this Lecture, King Solomon’s Temple, the
preparation, construction and completion, is
central to Masonic Tradition and Masonic
practices. In the Craft Rituals and Lectures
and in other Masonic Orders are to be found
numerous references to the architecture, ornamental details of “that mighty edifice”
also details of the personalities involved.
Most of the Masonic Rites, as now practiced, may therefore be considered as based
on authenticated scriptural and secular history, and acknowledge the centre-piece of
King Solomon’s Temple in the whole Masonic structure.
Red Cross of Constantine
In the Legend in the Ritual of the Masonic
and Military Order of the Red Cross of Constantine, we find the following:
“In this respect they followed examples laid
down in the sacred scriptures, the style of
which is figurative. The model which they
selected was Solomon’s Temple Which emblematically represents the Christian
Church. Hence it follows that the mysteries
8
Right Worshipful Master, Right Worshipful
Brethren, Worshipful Brethren,
Brethren: I wish again to express my appreciation for the invitation to present the
Fourth Lecture, in this distinguished series,
and to thank you sincerely for your patient
and interested attention.