Here you can see the new Charity Jewel which has been available from 1st January, 2005 to Shropshire Masons who support the New Masonic Samaritan Fund Festival, which will reach its climax in 2008. During the intervening years the jewel may be worn by all those entitled to it, and it is the hope of the Provincial committee that the Festival will prove so successful that the Grand Master will declare it a 'permanent' jewel - in other words, one that may be worn after 2008.

Masons having a minimum of £100 in their 'A' fund account (check with your Charity Steward if unsure) need to fill in a form guaranteeing that this amount (or more) will be transferred to the Festival total in 2008. This qualifies you as a Steward of the Festival, and you are then entitled to wear the jewel. The jewel itself costs £15 to purchase.

For those wishing to pledge more to the Festival, higher honorific titles are available, up to Grand Patron. Details of these titles and the totals required to qualify are also to be had from the Lodge Charity Stewards.

 

NEW MASONIC SAMARITAN FUND – 2008 FESTIVAL REPORT

 

There is now less than 24 months to go before the conclusion of our Festival and I am pleased therefore to take this opportunity of addressing you all through the medium of this Newsletter as to the progress we have made and the plans that we have for the completion of our Festival.

During the last 12 months or so there has been a slight reduction in our charitable contributions to the Festival – and I accept that that was inevitable for two very good reasons: firstly, there have been many other calls upon the Brethren’s charity for worthy causes such as the Tsunami Appeal, Dream On Florida and the Queen Elizabeth Court Fete 2006; secondly, one must anticipate that in any long running Festival it is difficult to always maintain the year by year targets.  However the success of the Festival so far is there for all to see, as we have now generated a fund just under £800,000 which represents 105% of the initial target.  

We are now entering the final phase of the Festival and we must pull together in a concentrated push towards it conclusion in 2008, so that we can hopefully achieve a Festival Fund figure that reflects honour upon the Province and our Provincial Grand Master, and provides maximum funding to meet the rising medical costs and number of applications being dealt with by the NMSF.

The Festival Committee is making good progress towards the final selection of a suitable venue for the Festival and I hope to be in a position to make an announcement on this by the end of the year.  You will, I hope, all appreciate that in making the selection I have been very concerned over the cost to the Brethren and wish to ensure, so far as I can, that the venue and arrangements that are eventually confirmed, will place the ticket price within the pocket of all Brethren.   I shall shortly be appointing a Festival Celebration Committee which will have the task of setting up and confirming all of the necessary arrangements for our Festival Celebration.

On Tuesday the 27th March 2007 the Province will be proud to host the AGM of the NMSF which will be held at Crewe Street , commencing at 6.00p.m..   We shall therefore be able to welcome the Board of the NMSF and we also hope to be graced with the presence of its President R.W.Bro. Captain Norman Lloyd-Edwards.  This event is a “feather in the cap” for Shropshire and I have therefore proposed that the event be marked with a celebratory dinner at Crewe Street to which all will be welcome, including wives and partners.   As there is limited capacity at Crewe Street , we will have to deal with applications on a “first come, first served, basis”.   Please therefore look out for further details of this event which will be circulated towards the end of the year.   For the purpose of the AGM Dinner next March, it is my intention to organise either a raffle or an auction of very special Festival prizes – the details of which will also be circulated at a later date.

I wish everyone a happy and enjoyable forthcoming Masonic year and my thanks as always go to the Group Leaders and the members of the Festival Committee for their hard work and dedication and also to all the Charity Stewards around the Province for their valued assistance to the Members of the Committee and myself in this great undertaking.        Peter Allan Taylor, Deputy PGM, Shropshire

 

Toye, Kenning and Spencer have also produced a limited number of fine cufflinks which bear the Masonic Samaritan Fund title and the Provincial badge; these are available from Michael Heywood or via your Charity Steward. The cost is £17.50, and once again, the profit from this venture will help boost the 2008 Festival Fund.

For Masons wishing to learn more, and most especially for those wishing to subscribe towards a jewel, details are available from the Charity Stewards of the individual Shropshire Lodges.

Further items available towards the 2008 appeal:

       

Jewel holder/case:     £5              

Festival Tie:    £10

Sweatshirt (long sleeve):     £18.50    Please quote size:    S, M, L, XL, XXL

Polo shirt (short sleeve):      £16.50    Please quote size:    S, M, L, XL, XXL

Golf Umbrellas:      £15

"Behind the Wire" - a book on Masonry in POW camps:    £5

Available from Lodge Charity Stewards or Allan McCartney.