Foreword by W. Bro. Peter Harborne, Asst.PGM.
I am delighted to have been invited to contribute a Foreword to this volume of
Transactions of the Buckinghamshire Association for Masonic Research.
A new mason often comes across aspects of the Craft that he doesn’t understand
and the North-East Corner Clubs, multi-lodge LOIs, his own lodge’s LOI (where
held) and the senior members of his lodge can all offer answers to many questions
which arise. His gradual acquisition of masonic knowledge is somewhat like
learning to swim; almost overwhelmed by new experiences initially but, little by
little, he learns to keep his head above the water and then to make forward
progress. There is much of interest, however, which can be discovered only by the
expenditure of time and energy in deeper research. The authors of the papers in
this volume have done that research for us and the collected results herein will both
inform and stimulate.
There is a wealth of material in these pages and I recommend them to the Brethren
of the Association, and to those who may not yet be members but have an interest
in extending their Masonic knowledge. There are several thousand years covered
in the various papers which shows the rich diversity of interests held by our
members; every one of us will find at least one fact or concept which prompts us to
do further research of our own.
As Chairman of the 2010 Festival I have been very closely involved with fundraising
for the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys. Buckinghamshire masons
have risen splendidly to the task of supporting this important charity. I was
therefore very interested to read the paper The Greatest of These is Charity in
which the development of all 4 national Masonic charities is explained. Although
Alan Smith’s paper was not able to deal with provincial charities, our
Buckinghamshire forebears were equally as innovative in bring into being the
Buckinghamshire Masonic Benevolent Fund, the Buckinghamshire Masonic
Centenary Fund, Prebendal Close and the Masonic Housing Association. There is
therefore much to be proud of in being a Buckinghamshire mason.
The lodge associated with BAMR has now unfortunately closed. I took charge of
the warrant for transmission back to the Grand Master in March last year and was
the last person to leave that final BLMR meeting at the tail of the procession of
former members. It is good to see that the Association which gave birth to the
lodge is still going strong and continues the task of assisting Buckinghamshire
masons make their daily advancement in Masonic knowledge.
Now turn the page and make yours.
I am delighted to have been invited to contribute a Foreword to this volume of
Transactions of the Buckinghamshire Association for Masonic Research.
A new mason often comes across aspects of the Craft that he doesn’t understand
and the North-East Corner Clubs, multi-lodge LOIs, his own lodge’s LOI (where
held) and the senior members of his lodge can all offer answers to many questions
which arise. His gradual acquisition of masonic knowledge is somewhat like
learning to swim; almost overwhelmed by new experiences initially but, little by
little, he learns to keep his head above the water and then to make forward
progress. There is much of interest, however, which can be discovered only by the
expenditure of time and energy in deeper research. The authors of the papers in
this volume have done that research for us and the collected results herein will both
inform and stimulate.
There is a wealth of material in these pages and I recommend them to the Brethren
of the Association, and to those who may not yet be members but have an interest
in extending their Masonic knowledge. There are several thousand years covered
in the various papers which shows the rich diversity of interests held by our
members; every one of us will find at least one fact or concept which prompts us to
do further research of our own.
As Chairman of the 2010 Festival I have been very closely involved with fundraising
for the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys. Buckinghamshire masons
have risen splendidly to the task of supporting this important charity. I was
therefore very interested to read the paper The Greatest of These is Charity in
which the development of all 4 national Masonic charities is explained. Although
Alan Smith’s paper was not able to deal with provincial charities, our
Buckinghamshire forebears were equally as innovative in bring into being the
Buckinghamshire Masonic Benevolent Fund, the Buckinghamshire Masonic
Centenary Fund, Prebendal Close and the Masonic Housing Association. There is
therefore much to be proud of in being a Buckinghamshire mason.
The lodge associated with BAMR has now unfortunately closed. I took charge of
the warrant for transmission back to the Grand Master in March last year and was
the last person to leave that final BLMR meeting at the tail of the procession of
former members. It is good to see that the Association which gave birth to the
lodge is still going strong and continues the task of assisting Buckinghamshire
masons make their daily advancement in Masonic knowledge.
Now turn the page and make yours.
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