Priory Lodge, No. 5204

Retiring Master's Gifts - On retiring as Master in October 2009 W.Bro Mark Lancaster has given from proceeds in his year in office £450 for Naomi House and £450 for the Macmillan Nurses.Naomi House Chidren's Hospice

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     2016 Festival - The Province of Hampshire & Isle of Wight has now begun preparations for its 2016 Festival, the proceeds of which will go to the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys (RMTGB).  Although not officially starting until 2010 the Festival was given high prominence when its President - V.Wor Bro Michael Woodcock addressed the annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge, held on 1st July 2009 in Southampton Guildhall.

Brother Woodcock especially pointed out that the RMTGB was not a charity for 'posh kinds' going to 'posh schools'.  Quite the contrary as the emphasis was on keeping children - mostly orphaned or otherwise apart from parents - within the state school sector.  One case is a couple - the grandparents - left with bringing up a child but without sufficient means to supply all needs for a full education.  The grandfather was a Mason and the RMTGB was able to help meet ths shortfall.

Details about the work of the RMTGB will be found on its website http://www.rmtgb.org/.

All the Central Masonic Craft Charities adminstered from Grand Lodge (The Freemasons' Grand Charity providing help for Freemasons and their families experiencing hardship, The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for elderly Masons, The Masonic Samaritan Fund for those uanble to meet health costs) and the RMTGB are primarily financed through legacies, gift aids and major festivals such as the 2016 one by our own Province.  Our last Festival - in 2005 - was for the (then) New Masonic Samiritan Fund (NMSF).  The NMSF has since linked into the pre-existing Samaritan Fund.  As may be seen these Festivals occur about every ten years and members of Priory Lodge may see the medals (called jewels) - which are bought by supporting brethren - for all the ones run in Hampshire & IOW since 1944 by linking into the members' pages.