FVNews Daily 
PUBLIC HOLIDAY EDITION (GO CATS!)
No. 128. Friday, October 23, 2020

• From the Communications and Marketing Volunteer Action Team

• Email: editor@FVNews.com.au or Ash@Long.com.au
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What’s On (43 listings)
UPDATED DAILY.

Please notify us about your event. 
Please include date, time, talk details, attire, and a link.
Email: editor@FVNews.com.au

Friday, October 23

• 7.30pm. Malvern-Waverley Lodge of Mark Master Masons No 39. Talk” Craig Spendlove, ‘Historical Origins of the Mark Degree’. meeting is not restricted to Mark Master Masons and all other Freemasons are welcome to attend. LINK

• 7.30pm. Victorian Lodge of Research. Talk: Fred Shade, ‘The Oddfellows – Their Origin, History and Ritual’. LINK

Saturday, October 24

• 9.30am-3pm. Secretaries’ Course. Hosted by Eric Williams and Barry Reaper. Register for both morning and afternoon sessions. MORNING andAFTERNOON

• 2pm. Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Victoria. Video Event in place of Annual Assembly which cannot be held due to COVID-19 lockdown. LINK

• 5pm. Concord Mark. Talk: Craig Spendlove, ‘Importance of the Mark Lodge’. For Master Masons and above. Attire: Casual. LINK

Monday, October 26

• 7.30pm. (8pm: Visitors). Spring Vale Lodge. Virtual tour: Grand Lodge of England, Freemasons Hall. Attire: White shirt, Lodge tie and jacket. LINK

Tuesday, October 27

• 7pm.Richmond Lodge. Oktoberfast. BYO beverage, pretzels. LINK
• 7.30pm. (8pm: Visitors).Admiral Collingwood Lodge. LINK
• 7.30pm. Djerriwarrh Lodge. Talk: ‘A Hidden Mystery of Nature and Science’. LINK
• 7.30pm. Middle Park Lodge. Talk, musical performance: Dr David Kram, ‘Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth through the eyes of composers and singers who were Freemasons.’ Attire: Dinner Suit. LINK 
• 7.30pm. Mount Scopus and Collegians Lodge. Talk: ‘Prince Hall Freemasonry’. Attire: White shirt and black tie or lodge tie. LINK
• 7.30pm. Northern United Chapter. Talk: Craig Spendlove, ‘Cyrus – The Man and The Myth’. LINK
• 7.30pm. Wimmera Lodge. Presentation of a 50 year jewel to RWBro George Lanagan PDGM and a 60 year jewel to Bro James (Jim) Coates by WBro Ian Ballinger PGStdB. Attire: Neat casual. LINK

• 7.45pm. Lodge Epicurean. Talks: Peter Gumley on his Isolation rehabilitation and Armen Mardirousi, Secretary of North Hollywood Lodge No. 542 to talk about his own Masonic journey, Hollywood lodge and starting a lodge in California. LINK

Wednesday, October 28

• 7.30pm.Lodge Fraternal. Talk: ‘The Shriners’. LINK
• 8pm. GregoriosLodge. OXI Day. Greek ‘No’ Day Commemorative Ceremony. Includes Grand Master. Guests’ attire: casual. LINK

Thursday, October 29

• 10am-11am.Think Pink Foundation. Iryna Skincare Session for Masonic Ladies. LINK
• 7.30pm. Endeavour Virtual Lodge. Installation of Wor. Bro. Brendan Kyne, DGSupEd, followed by  talk on ‘Chaps, Rouges, Orange-Men and Catholics’.  Dress code: Dinner suit or lounge suit and full lodge regalia. Zoom password 7752. LINK
• 7.30pm. Think Pink Foundation. Iryna Skincare Session for Masonic Ladies. LINK

Friday, October 30

• 7pm.Earl of Dunmore Lodge. Talk: Ben Quick, ‘Order of the Free Gardeners’. Visit by Lodge of the Golden Fleece. Brethren, partners and visitors welcome. LINK
• 7.30pm. Kilwinning Mark Lodge of Research No 2. Talk: Craig Spendlove, ‘Craftsman Marks’. 

Saturday, October 31

• 7.30pm. Blue Lounge Social Club Education Forum: Cryptic Masonry: The Order of Royal and Select Masters. All Freemasons welcome. LINK

Monday, November 2

• 7pm (7.30pm: Visitors). Oakleigh Mark Lodge. Business Meeting. Talk: Craig Spendlove, ‘India -The Raj, Mysticism and Masonry’. LINK
• 7.30pm. Lodge Garibaldi. Talk: Mike Kearsly. LINK

Wednesday, November 4

• 7.30pm. Gippsland Lodge. Talk: Iain Nicolson, ‘Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem’. LINK to come.

Thursday, November 5

• 7pm (7.30pm: Guests).Killara Lodge. Talk: Barry Watson, ‘The Last 100 Days of World War I.’ LINK
• 7.30pm. Ivanhoe Grammarians Lodge. To be chaired by Milton Tsaktsiras, SW. LINK to come.
• 7.30pm. Robbie Burns Lodge of Mark Master Masons. Presentation of 50-Year Jewel to V.Wor.Bro Bill Wright. Talk: Glen Hollibone. LINK Passcode: CFW239 

Saturday, November 7

• 7pm. Blue Lounge Social Club. Forum: ‘Why Freemasonry is an organisation worth joining in the 21st Century’. LINK

Monday, November 9

• 10am-12 Noon.District Co-Ordinators’ Meeting.
• 7pm. Lodge of Commerce. Vacant Chair Ceremony. LINK to come.

Tuesday, November 10

• 7.30pm. Epicurean Lodge in conjunction with Bellarine and Otway. Remembrance Day Observance. Details TBA.
• 7.30pm. Colac Lodge. Talk: Myles King, President, Board of General Purposes. LINK to come.

Wednesday, November 11 – Remembrance Day

• 11am.Powlett Lodge, Wonthaggi. Laying of Wreath at Cenotaph, McBride St.
• 7.30pm. Traralgon Lodge. Talk: Marty Tanzer, Remembrance Day. LINK
• 7.30pm. United Services Lodge. Remembrance Day Ceremony. Talk: Bro. Col. John Wertheimer, ‘A Remembrance Day’. Vacant Chair Ceremony. Attire: Members, jacket and tie. Visitors welcome, neat casual. LINK

Thursday, November 12

• 7pm. Masons Connect. Sharing Freemasonry Meeting. RSVP
• 7pm for 7.30pm. Antient York. Talk: John Glover, ‘The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and Power Point production of the Vacant Chair Ceremony. Attire: Jacket and tie. LINK to come.

Friday, November 13

• 7.30pm. Altona Lodge. Talk: Brendan Kyne, ‘Guided Tour of the Victorian Lodge of Research Portal’. Attire: members collared shirt and tie, visitors smart casual. LINK

Thursday, November 19

• 7pm. Prospect Hill Mark. Interview with Peter Gurr, First Grand Principal, Grand Chapter. Attire: members jacket and tie, visitors smart casual. Open to non-Mark brethren. LINK

Tuesday, November 24

• 7pm. Lodge Amalthea. Talk: Chris White, ‘Freemasonry and the Goat’. LINK

Monday, November 30

• 7pm. Oakleigh Council, Royal and Select Masters. Talk: David Yole. All members past and present of the Order, in addition members of other Orders. Attire: Casual. LINK
• 7.30pm. Citizens Marine Royal Ark Mariners. RAM Masons only. LINK

Videos

• Male Role Models. (01:50) LINK
• What Is Masonry? (03:02) LINK
• A Charge To The Fraternity by Benjamin Franklin/ (05:10) LINK

Trybooking Link Available

• A Trybooking LINK has been made available for a special Remembrance Day observance: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=670211&
• Graham Berry advises that Epicurean Lodge in conjunction with Bellarine and Otway will be holding a Zoom Meeting to commemorate Remembrance Day on the evening of Tuesday, November 10, as approved by Richard Elkington, Grand Master.

• “We will be filming next Tuesday (Oct. 27) at the Torquay War Memorial, with 10 people all socially distanced. There will be an abbreviated Vacant Chair ceremony, with the Grand Master in attendance to lay a wreath on behalf of Freemasons Victoria.” A video will be produced, with music from Jim Taylor, and any prayers and other audio into a finished 20-minute video to show on the evening.

• “We have a special 5-minute video from Senator Major General Jim Molan to screen. There will be a second speaker, an entered apprentice, Lt Colonel Kyle Tyrell, from Geelong Lodge of Unity and Prudence.The Evening will be hosted by John Patterson, PDGM.

• Cost is $10 per person, partners and non-Freemasons welcome, via Trybooking. Once booked, a link will be emailed to you closer to the date with the Zoom event. Lodges may wish to contribute to the evening, and can donate into Epicurean bank account.

Rahim to be DCo
• Garry Runge, Grand Secretary, announced yesterday of the  appointment of Wor. Bro. Rahim Samat, PGStdB, as the new District Co-Ordinator for the Northern District No. 116. As Freemasons we do not debate politics or religion, but it is noteworthy that Rahim has been a trailblazer in the Craft across Victoria for his faith. Members of his mother lodge, Ivanhoe Grammarians, are thrilled with the appointment, following on from the excellent work of Wor. Bro. Ian Thompson.

Visits resume at Homes

• Tanya Connor, Chief Operations Officer of Royal Freemasons Homes, circularised late yesterday (Thu.) that face-to-face visits to residential aged facilities will be available seven days per week from Wednesday (Oct. 28). This follows an easing of Victoria’s COVID-19 restrictions, and updated guidelines from the Department of Health and Human Services.
• Online bookings will be accepted from Sunday (Oct. 25). Maximum time with residents for each booking is 2 hours. Visitors must have their temperature checked and recorded and complete a Visitor Declaration Form before entering the home. Masks must be worn at all times’ visitors will be supplied with a medical grade mask upon entry.

• Metropolitan: Each resident may have one visit by one person, per day for a maximum of 2 hours. Children may visit the home, subject to conditions. Regional:  Each resident may have one visit by one household, per day for a maximum of two hours. For more information call 1300 176 925 or email coronavirus@royalfreemasons.org.au

Guests at PDGM meeting
• Kelly Leventis, Marketing Co-Ordinator for Freemasons Victoria, was a guest at the regular meeting of Past Deputy Grand Masters held yesterday, chaired by Anthony Bucca, Deputy Grand Master. Also invited to speak was Ash Long, Chair of Communications and Marketing Volunteer Action Team, whose members support the work of the Grand Secretariat and Marketing Team staff. Recognition was paid to the VAT members Damian Byrne, Graeme Hawke, Xavier Murtagh, Luke Potter and Robert Pullin. 

Non-Essential Maintenance Works
• Anthony Bucca (Deputy Grand Master), Chair of the Freemasons Future Recovery Team, has announced that: “non-essential maintenance onMasonic buildings, both internal and external, including gardening and cleaning” is now permitted. “Boards and individual Lodges responsible forMasonic building management are encouraged to begin planning for general maintenance. Consider arranging for general cleaning, particularly of kitchen areas, maintenance including painting and repairs, lawn mowing and tidying up the landscaped areas.”
• “Numbers must be kept to the absolute minimum and everyone must adhere to State guidelines. Social distancing and masks are a must and following OH&S requirements are essential. If in any doubt whatsoever, please confirm with the Grand Secretary prior to undertaking any work.”

Full Regalia at Wreath Laying
• Ken Barnes writes: “The Worshipful Master of the Powlett Lodge No. 661, Wor. Bro. Greame Gully, accompanied by his Deacons, will lay a wreath at the Wonthaggi cenotaph in McBride Ave., Wonthaggi. The ceremony is to be conducted in conjunction with the RSL commencing 1100 hrs. and is subject to COVID restrictions on the day.
• “Powlett Lodge and all Freemasons in attendance have dispensation from our Grand Master to attend in full regalia and dinner suit/tails. Full regalia includes gloves, collars and gauntletts as well as Grand Lodge honours and service medals and of course facemasks. This a chance to pay our respects and show ourselves to the public.”

Masons help sick children

• Hertfordshire Freemasons have donated £3750 to help children suffering from life-limiting illnesses. The Gazette reports that the funds have gone to Lifelites, a charity that provides technology to children suffering from life-limiting illnesses and disabling conditions. “The donation from theProvincial Grand Lodge of Hertfordshire will fund the purchase of an Eyegaze – a technology that enables children who cannot speak, to communicate, to play with their siblings, paint or make music.” LINK

World News
• The Bridlington Free Press (UK) reports: “Three local causes in Bridlington have received a welcome boost courtesy of the local Freemasons Lodge. Ian Watson, the charity steward of the Old Bridlingtonian Lodge of Freemasons, recently presented a cash register and portable appliance tester to Helen Clifton who manages the Southside Charity Shop.” LINK

New Subscribers
• We are aiming to increase our opt-in subscribers list by seven every issue before August 31, 2021, to reach 4000 members. Subscribe at LINK. Today, we welcome Sean Mitchell, Neville Wallace, Cobram Lodge, Ivan Kovacevic

Please Send Your Summons
• Lodges can assist by sending emails about every lodge meeting and event to editor@FVNews.com.au 

Please include us on your Lodge Summons mailing list.

Famous Freemasons
• Wren, Sir Christopher (1632-1723) – The most famous architect in British history, Wren was educated in Latin and Aristotelian physics at theUniversity of Oxford. He was a notable astronomer and mathematician and, following the Great Fire of London in 1666, Christopher Wrenorganised the rebuilding of 51 churches in that city for King Charles II, the most illustrious of which is St Paul’s Cathedral. His other architecture masterpieces, most notably, were Hampton Court and the Wren Library at Trinity College, Cambridge University. Christopher Wren’s portrait featured on the reverse side of the £50 banknotes issued by the Bank of England from 1981 until 1994.
• On November 28, 1660, Wren became a founder of The Royal Society of London, becoming president in 1680. His scientific work was highly regarded by Sir Isaac Newton and Blaise Pascal. He was an active Freemason; the Master of Lodge Original, No. 1. (This is now the Lodge ofAntiquity No. 2, “adopted” on May 18, 1691.) His remains are interred in St Paul’s Cathedral, London, where a simple stone plaque is inscribed: ‘Reader, if you seek his memorial – look around’. – Timothy Horton

Masonic Knowledge
• “The Greeks had a word, charisma, meaning a gift, and a number of words from the same root, variously suggesting rejoicing, gladness. TheLatins had a similar word, carus, and meaning dear, possibly connected with am or, signifying love. From these roots came “grace,” meaning a free, unbought gift, as in the theological phrase, “the grace of God,” and “charity.” Strictly speaking, charity is an act done freely, and spontaneously out of friendship, not as a civic duty and grudgingly, as is sometimes the case in public charity. The Masonic use of the word is much nearer this original sense, for a Mason extends relief to a needy brother not as a duty but out of friendship.” – www.masonicdictionary.com

Masonic Wisdom
• “Brotherly love is not a tangible commodity. We cannot touch it or weigh it, smell it or taste it. Yet it is a reality; it can be creative, it can be fostered, it can be made a dynamic power. The Master who has it in his Lodge and his brethren will find that Lodge and brethren give it back to him. The Master too worried over the cares of his office to express friendliness need never wonder why his Lodge seems too cold to his effort.” –Bro. Carl H. Claudy 

The Last Word
• “Everything which tends to combine men by stronger ties is useful to humanity; in this point of view Masonry is entitled to respect.” – LaLande 

INFORMATION TO KNOW
FVNews is published by Bro. Ash Long, Chair of the Communications and Marketing Volunteer Action Team of Freemasons Victoria. 
Phone: 0450 399 932.
Web: www.FVNews.com.au 
Email: editor@FVNews.com.au

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