News

Please see latest Update from our Provincial Grand Master:

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Please see latest Update from UGLE:

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As Freemasons we are proud of a 300-year history of helping those in need.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic focussed our minds on the dramatic changes to the lives, circumstances and needs of so many people in so many ways. In our Province of East Kent we have been able to respond very positively to the truly exceptional difficulties that the pandemic has brought about. The challenges presented by the pandemic will always be met with enthusiasm and commitment. As Freemasons we are determined to identify and support such organisations and individuals in these times of unprecedented difficulty. This medical emergency will, of course, pass in due time, but the purposes and positive effects of Freemasonry, both locally and nationally, will remain long afterwards. We would like to thank all those who have made such a difference for so many —and who will, continue to do so.

Neil Hamilton Johnstone, Provincial Grand Master

Obituary – the Reverend Michael Hinton

It is with great sadness that we need to inform you of the passing of one of DGSB’s former Headteachers, the Reverend Dr Michael Hinton. Reverend Hinton was a much respected and well-loved leader of the school between 1960 and 1968 and successfully saw a generation of students through what was a very turbulent decade, always doing so with the boys’ best interests at heart. The sincere condolences of everybody at Pharos Lodge and DGSB go to Michael’s family and friends at this difficult time.

As the Dover masonic centre remains closed, brethren from Pharos Lodge met instead at Wootton Village Hall on Saturday the 17th October for the their normal regular lodge meeting.

Special dispensation had been granted from the Province of East Kent to hold the meeting at a non-masonic venue, and all Covid 19 regulations were followed.

The Worshipful Master was able to hold a ballot of members present to award grants of £50 to the Dover Grammar School for Boys, and £100 to each of our charities –  The Pilgrims Hospice, Royal National Lifeboat Institution and The British Legion.

Thanks go to WB Arthur Hornby for all the hard work he has undertaken to make the necessary arrangements to enable this meeting to take place. Thanks also to United Industrious Lodge No 31 for the loan of some of their masonic furniture.

Newsletter from the Pharos Secretary

Greetings

Brethren, I hope you are still keeping safe and well.

Recently you will have had email from me regarding the Founders and Past Masters Jewel’s for sale on eBay. I was amazed at the speed of response from members offering to not only contribute to the purchase, but the fact that some were prepared to foot the cost in full. With agreed contributions from the first 10 of £10 each, W Bro Steve Davies secured the items on the lodge’s behalf.

On behalf of the lodge I have written to all those who helped, or offered to help, expressing gratitude for the return of part of Pharos History.

These days nearly all secretarial work is carried out on computer but in the past much was hand written or typed (thank you modern technology for making my life a little bit easier!). A couple of years ago I thought it would be a good idea to copy as much of the lodge’s history as possible in a digital format for future generations. I suppose the most recent, about 2 years ago, was to copy the photos of our Past Masters from our photographic record. Whilst several of our founders occupied the Chair of King Solomon in Pharos, only a couple referred to their lodge status at the consecration.

So who were our Founders?
Where did they come from (Lodge wise)?
What was their initial role in 1950?

Here’s what I found:

From Senior Warden down to Stewards, only 3 never attained the chair, the most interesting being Francis Ryeland, Past Master of lodge 3356. That’s not 3356 in the United Grand Lodge of England, but the District of Rhodesia where he was District Grand Tyler 1957-57, promoted to District Grand Superintendent of Works in 1958. He remained a member of the Pharos Lodge until his resignation in 1970.

Returning to my ‘That which was lost is found’ narrative, I, along with WBro Steve Davies, have been giving some thought as to where some of the 17 Founders Jewels, of which we have 2, and 10 Founders Past Masters Jewels of which we also only have 2, may be?

2025 marks the 75 anniversary of the Consecration of the Pharos Lodge 6967, and I think it would be a fitting memory to those that founded the lodge, and those that followed, if we could get a display cabinet giving our history ready for this date. The time will pass quickly and some of us may not even be around to see it, so if you know of the whereabouts of any of these Jewels, or any Past Masters Jewels, please let me know so the lodge can attempt to encourage the holders of them to ‘let them come home’.

Not my usual Newsletter, but I hope you have found it interesting.

Stay safe, stay well.

Arthur

W.Bro Arthur Hornby,
Secretary of the Pharos Lodge 6967

We became aware that a founders jewel and PM jewel were on the auction site eBay, so the lodge decided to purchase them – if we could.  Happily we were successful and they now have become part of our lodge history again.

Below is a little of that history researched by WB Arthur Hornby our secretary.

W Bro Leslie William Henry Norman Hookham

W Bro Leslie William Henry Norman Hookham was already a member of the Peace and Harmony Lodge (199) in Dover when it was decided to found the Pharos Lodge on 29th April 1950.

As a founder of the lodge he first took on the office of Steward, which he held for two years, progressing to Junior Deacon in 1954. After what appears to be a short break he resumed that office in 1957, progressing to the Chair of King Solomon in 1961 as Worshipful Master.

In 1971 he received the Provincial Honour of Past Provincial Deputy Grand Registrar, no doubt from the work he had done in his mother lodge as well as in our own. From 1976 to 1986 he was the Library and Museum representative.

WBro Leslie passed to the Grand Lodge Above  on the 6^th of March 1989.

On 29th of February the Pharos Lodge held its annual ‘Hail and Farewell’ social, saying goodbye to our present Worshipful Master, WBro Roger Gabriel, and welcoming Bro Craig Collins as Master Elect.

These days the falling attendance seen at many lodge meetings is also reflected in the social activities they hold with a decrease in numbers at many events, often resulting in cancellations. It is important therefore that when we are lucky enough to have younger men join us we do our best to provide suitable entertainment for them.

With our latest Brother having ten guests on his table alone, added to the regular supporters we were halfway there. We also had the good fortune that one of our ‘younger’ brethren decided to use the occasion to celebrate his 20th (yes, I did say 20th ) birthday,  such are the pitfalls of being born in a leap year on the 29th of February!

Apart from the birthday cake for Dai, the lodge secretary took the opportunity to present a ‘Certificate of Appreciation’ for all the hard work Dai has put in as Almoner for many years.

With a total of 21 in his party we had a total of 67 sit down to a cracking meal in the Masonic Centre at Dover and then danced the night away to a disco.

As always Charity was at the heart of what we do. With the profits from the evening totalling over £600.00, the social committee is adding funds to allow £1,000.00 to be given to the 2025 Festival. Our thanks to WBro Steve Davies for taking on the role of MC for the evening, Bros John Cockram, Bob Duffy and Mark Pitchers for their help with the Raffle etc, and our Caterer and his staff for a wonderful meal and excellent service, but mainly to all of those who came and supported the occasion.

Look our for details of our summer BBQ at Wootton Village Hall

December 2019 saw the staff and boys at Dover Grammar School for Boys celebrating almost a hundred years at their current site.

The School on the Hill is due to be replaced in 2021, and the staff and boys were joined by retired staff, Old Pharosians and Members of Pharos Lodge to work with the boys producing work that drew on the memories of these past members of the school.

A drone was also engaged to film some of the arial views.

This second film shows an artist’s view of what the new school might be like.