BLOOMSBURY RIFLES LODGE No. 2362
Archive news
2017 Banner Dedication Ceremony.
Posted September 30th 2017
For our September meeting the VW Bro Cdr Ian Wellesley-Harding,
RN, PGSwdB, Assistant Metropolitan Grand Master dedicated our banner at Freemasons Hall, the decision to have a banner started on our 125th anniversary, it has taken 2 years to recreate the original design from our consecration and to plan the meeting. Over 60 people attended the meeting.
The banner will have pride of place in all our meetings for many years to come.
Suffolk PGL charity clay shoot
Posted June 22, 2015
The "Rifles" where well represented at this annual Charity clay pigeon shoot at High Lodge in the picturesque coastal area of Suffolk.
High Lodge had recently host the English Open Championships and many of the stands proved challenging.
With Other 80 competetors and a large number of novices the event was a great sucess with approximately £2,000 raised for EACH and Suffolk Masonic 2019 Festival.
Next years event is 25th June 2016 so add it to your diarys.
MetGL CSA V East Kent CSA
Posted May 18, 2015
The Met GL Clay pigeon team took on there Brothers in East Kent at Darthford Shooting Ground in a 100 bird sporting compertition after a mornings shooting with the sun shining the teams returned to the club house where the final tally showed that the Met GL team retained the cup for the 4th year in a row with a slender lead of just 30 clays.
FREEMASONS AND ENTERTAINMENT EXHIBITION AT THE LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
During the 1700s, as Freemasonry grew in popularity, it began to attract new members from increasingly diverse social backgrounds. Masonic lodges had always attracted men whose work could take them anywhere in the country, such as mariners and merchants, who would find security and friendship within the fraternity. The stage was no different and throughout the 1700s, there are many examples of members of the theatrical or musical professions enjoying or seeking membership of lodges.
Starts 8th June 2015 and runs till 13 february 2016
50 Year Certificate
Posted February 1, 2015
W. Bro Alan Arthur James Smith LGR LGCR, a member of Bloomsbury Rifles Lodge No. 2362 was presented with a 50 Year Long Service Certificate on Thursday 11th December 2014 at Central London Masonic Centre by W. Bro John Oram AGStB LGCR the lodge SVO.
Brother Oram reminded the brethren of those times in 1964 when Bro Alan was initiated, and in particular when petrol cost £1.00 for four gallons! The brethren of the lodge congratulated their brother with great applause and satisfaction.
Passing Of Bro. Robinson to the Second degree.
Posted November 20, 2015
On our last Lodge meeting of 2015 we had the pleasure of Passing Bro. Robinson to the Second degree, our WM WBro. Wood led the ceremony and our SD Bro. Bevan guilded Bro. Robinson though the ceremomy.
This was a full team effort with particular praise being heaped on WBro Weathrill and WBro. Edmed for their explanations of the Tracing Board and the Charge after Passing/working tools respectively.
News during the meeting of two potential canidates for our February meeting, and the chance for all to take part in "living circle" for the Charge after Initiation.
Lodge recovers Founders Jewel.
Posted July 13, 2015
W.Bro Wood purchased and donated to the Lodge a Founders Jewel, just in time for 125th Anniversary he was tipped off from a very kind member of L2881 that Bonnington's auctioneers were auctioning a Founders Jewel belonging to Bro. George Edward Grimes who was the Lodges first Junior Warden.
He was one of the seven founding members to petition Grand Lodge for the formation of Bloomsbury Rifles Lodge He became Master of the Lodge in 1892 and again in 1893.
Lodge Blue Table Event.
Posted September 20, 2015
Bloomsbury Rifles held its first ever prospective members & Blue Table Festive Board. After a brief lodge meeting the temple was closed and prospective members were invited into the Lodge Temple were the Worshipful Master gave a short presentation as to Freemasonary after which all retired to the Festive Board.
125th Anniversary Meeting at CharterHouse
Posted July 11, 2015
The Members, Ladies and Guests meet under an emergency meeting to celebrate 125 years of the Lodge at Charterhouse in the centre of London. The Lodge was opened at 4pm and following the reading of the dispensation for the emergency meeting W.Bro Edmed provided a summary of the Lodge history and displayed a founders jewel discovered on ebay and recovered by W.Bro Wood, as detailed below.
The Lodge closed and then Members, guest and the Ladies had a tour of Charterhouse followed by an Excellent dinner.
Lodge attains Patron status for MMC Appeal.
Posted September 9, 2015
In just 5 months the lodge has raised a massive £6,250 towards the Metropolitan Masonic Charity Appeal to fund a second air ambulance for London.
The appeal aims to fund £2 Million towards the ‘Your London, Your Helicopter’ campaign of London's Air Ambulance which aims to provide a second emergency medical helicopter for use by London’s Air Ambulance advanced trauma team. The aim of the second helicopter is to extend daylight flying hours, thus providing an even more effective emergency service to London.
Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum presented with cheque for our Charity donations for this year.
Posted June 21, 2016
W.Bro Ian Edmed visited the home of the Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum to present a cheque for charity donations from the Lodge for the year.
Chairman of the RGJ (Rifles) Museum Trustees, Brigadier (retd) Vere Hayes, received the cheque outside of the enterence to the museum.
Rifles support Lifelites.
Posted June 15, 2016
Through the magic of technology, Lifelites gives life-limited and disabled children in hospices opportunities they wouldn't otherwise have. Lifelites provides specialist entertainment and educational technology packages for these young people to learn, play, be creative, control something for themselves and communicate - for as long as it is possible.
Lifelites do this for 9,000 children at every baby and children's hospices across the British Isles. So wherever you are, there will be a Lifelites project for children near you.
Metropolitain |Grand Lodge AGM
Posted March 3 2016
We are pleased that 2 members of the lodge have been recognised by MetGL in 2016, WBro. B Neil was invested with Senior London Grand Rank, he is also our Master Elect and will be installed at our next meeting.
WBro P Wood, our current Master, was installed as Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies. Pictured left in his regalia.
We wish them both well in there respective offices for the coming year.
Lodge Installation 2016
Posted April 29 2016
Our April meeting our Maseter Elect W.Bro Barry Neil was installed in King Solomon's Chair for the ensuing year. During the meeting he appointed the Lodge Officers for the year.
The Lodge also had attending as guests Masters of London Rifles Brigade, Victoria Rifles, London Scottish Rifles, London Irish Rifles, Paddington Rifles and one of our daughter Lodges, Bond of Friendship.
Ceremony of the Empty Chair
Posted Dec 16 2016
The scene was set at Temple 10 of Freemasons Hall, the Bloomsbury Rifles Lodge No: 2362 hosted 'The Ceremony of the Empty Chair' to remember and honour our fallen Brothers who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
The Ceremony was performed by the Suffolk Grand Stewards No. 9215 ably conducted by W.Bro Peter Thorogood and delivered perfectly. The Temple itself was magnificent, but the mood was really set with the dimming of the lights and the organ playing old time war tunes such as 'Goodbyee' and eventually 'The Last Post.'
We are reminded of the UGLE great war project, a database of all members of UGLE who fell in the Great War. At this time there are 3456 names on that database. I say at present because they rely on Lodges providing the information for that database.
At the end of 1918, according to the UGLE’s Directory of Lodges and Chapters 2015, there were 3913 Lodges registered. Many of you will doubtless know that Lodge No. 3913 is the Suffolk Installed Masters Lodge.
From that database, and generally knowing which Lodge you are associated with, ten of the Lodges represented here today lost someone in the Great War:
Lodge of Unity, Peace and Concord
Polish National
Priory
London Rifle Brigade
London Scottish Rifles
London Irish Rifles
Bloomsbury Rifles
Benevolentia
Paddington Rifles
Seaford
The database in fact records some 33 Brethren who died in the Great War from these Lodges. You can check for yourselves at www.masonicgreatwarproject.org.uk
MetGL Team Charity Quiz / Trivia Evening
Posted February 1, 2015
A four man team from the Lodge took on all comers in the Annual Charity Quiz on-board the RS Hispaniola, berth alongside Embankment on the Thames. Missing our "star players" hinder the teams performance, you know who you are! and despite a valiant effort someone always has to come last!
However over £2,000 was raised on the night for the London Air Ambulance, so a good nights work done.
2017 Installation of W.Bro Bowdell as the Lodge Master.
Posted April 28th 2017
For our April meeting the Master Elect W.Bro Zachary Bowdell was installed in King Solomon's Chair for the ensuing year. During the meeting he appointed the Lodge Officers for the year.
The Lodge also had attending, as guests, Masters of London Rifles Brigade, Victoria Rifles, London Scottish Rifles, London Irish Rifles, Paddington Rifles and one of our daughter Lodges, Bond of Friendship.
We had the pleasure of our Met Grand Inspector attending, W Bro M. Stollery who commented "The Bloomsbury Rifles has the characteristics of the experienced members allowing the newer ones space to learn their craft, the gentle banter, the focus on people trying their best and enjoying their Masonry."
In Memory of Denis Vokins
1932 -2016
Dennis was initiated into the Lodge on the 22nd. October 1987. He was proposed by Brother Andy Brogden and W. Bro. Peter Dawtry, both members of the TA.
Dennis became Master of the Lodge in 1997 and received London Grand Rank in 2003.
Dennis was appointed as Chaplin in 2001, an office that he maintained until his passing. He was also Secretary of the Lodge of Instruction for a number a years.
Lodge buys back Past Master Jewel
Posted November 14, 2014
The Secretary heard that one of our Past Masters Jewels was up for sale on Ebay, a quick email discussion and several members donated to restore the jewel to the Lodge. The treasurer then starting bidding, lucky we secured the return of the jewel despite stiff compertition.
The Jewel was originally presented to W.Bro Corkett for services during his year in office.
Dated 1938 it is part of the lodges rich heritage and by recovering the jewel it has now been entrusted to our last Past Master keeping that rich heritage alive.
Women V Cancer JOGLE Challenge Raise £125,000
Posted December 20th 2017
On the 8th September this year, 30 brave (or crazy) ladies started the epic cycling challenge that is John O’Groats to Lands End (JOGLE). They came from all parts of the UK, and from overseas (Portugal and USA). Some of them had met briefly at a training weekend earlier in the year, but many had never met before. Despite this, it was immediately apparent that the journey would be an amazing adventure, with lots of laughs and lots of support from each other, as they all aimed for the biggest challenge they had ever considered, to raise funds and awareness for women’s cancers. Every penny that they raised would benefit 3 charities, Ovarian Cancer Action, Breast Cancer Care and Jo’s Trust. All had their own personal reasons to do this. Many of the women were taking on the challenge to celebrate surviving their own cancer, or were doing it to remember loved ones.
Over the next 12 days they cycled an average of 85 miles a day, through all weathers, and probably more rain and wind than they all would have liked. Getting up at 5.30am every morning, they entered they called the ‘JOGLE Bubble’. It really was a case of Eat, Sleep, Ride, Repeat. They rode for 10 - 11 hours a day, passing amazing scenery, climbing some very steep hills and descending some, at times, scary descents. Every day they met amazing, generous people, who supplied them with cakes, lunch, tea and most importantly, support to keep them going. Surprisingly there were very few punctures or mechanical incidents to hold them up, and although many of them suffered with tiredness, aches and pain and some minor injuries throughout the journey, nothing seemed insurmountable as they all supported each other right to the very end.
Highlights of the trip included, the isolated beauty of John O’Groats, visiting the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge, climbing over Shap Fell (which went on forever), crossing over iconic bridges including the Erskine Bridge and the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Cheddar Gorge, and finally arriving in Lands End, in the dark and fog.
As a group they had raised over £125,000 for the three charities.
Katie Kingham niece of our own ADC Alan Smith, who took part in memory of her Auntie Heather commented : For me it was a challenge of a lifetime, and I am incredibly proud of have been able to support these wonderful charities in such a positive way. I am so grateful to everyone who supported me and particular thanks must go to Bloomsbury Rifles Lodge No.2362 for their generous donation, which has helped me reach an amazing total of £4,600.
Women V Cancer JOGLE Challenge Raise £125,000
Posted December 20th 2017
On the 8th September this year, 30 brave (or crazy) ladies started the epic cycling challenge that is John O’Groats to Lands End (JOGLE). They came from all parts of the UK, and from overseas (Portugal and USA). Some of them had met briefly at a training weekend earlier in the year, but many had never met before. Despite this, it was immediately apparent that the journey would be an amazing adventure, with lots of laughs and lots of support from each other, as they all aimed for the biggest challenge they had ever considered, to raise funds and awareness for women’s cancers. Every penny that they raised would benefit 3 charities, Ovarian Cancer Action, Breast Cancer Care and Jo’s Trust. All had their own personal reasons to do this. Many of the women were taking on the challenge to celebrate surviving their own cancer, or were doing it to remember loved ones.
Over the next 12 days they cycled an average of 85 miles a day, through all weathers, and probably more rain and wind than they all would have liked. Getting up at 5.30am every morning, they entered they called the ‘JOGLE Bubble’. It really was a case of Eat, Sleep, Ride, Repeat. They rode for 10 - 11 hours a day, passing amazing scenery, climbing some very steep hills and descending some, at times, scary descents. Every day they met amazing, generous people, who supplied them with cakes, lunch, tea and most importantly, support to keep them going. Surprisingly there were very few punctures or mechanical incidents to hold them up, and although many of them suffered with tiredness, aches and pain and some minor injuries throughout the journey, nothing seemed insurmountable as they all supported each other right to the very end.
Highlights of the trip included, the isolated beauty of John O’Groats, visiting the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge, climbing over Shap Fell (which went on forever), crossing over iconic bridges including the Erskine Bridge and the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Cheddar Gorge, and finally arriving in Lands End, in the dark and fog.
As a group they had raised over £125,000 for the three charities.
Katie Kingham niece of our own ADC Alan Smith, who took part in memory of her Auntie Heather commented : For me it was a challenge of a lifetime, and I am incredibly proud of have been able to support these wonderful charities in such a positive way. I am so grateful to everyone who supported me and particular thanks must go to Bloomsbury Rifles Lodge No.2362 for their generous donation, which has helped me reach an amazing total of £4,600.
2018 Installation of W Bro Beavan as Lodge Master
Posted April 20th 2018
For our April meeting the Master Elect Bro Steve Beavan was installed in King Solomon's Chair for the ensuing year. During the meeting he appointed the Lodge Officers for the year.
The Lodge also had attending, as guests, Masters London Scottish Rifles, London Irish Rifles and one of our daughter Lodges, Bond of Friendship.
Lodges joins Circuit of Services Lodges.
Posted January 15th 2018
The Circuit of Service Lodges, formed in 1993 and currently comprising 34 lodges, exists to promote comradeship and fraternal contact between military masons. The Lodges and the Arm or Service affiliation are listed below. To qualify as a member of the circuit a lodge must have a distinguishable military culture and ethos that can only be achieved by a predominance of servicemen or veterans in its membership ranks.
Bro Burnett was raised to the Degree of a Master Mason, in what was an excellent meeting. It was a night in which the Grand Master of New York was voted to be an Honorable Member and Bro Hodgson was presented with his MetGL Mentors Certificate.
The Lodge also approved a £3000 grant to the MMC Lift for Life Appeal.
Armistice 100
The Armistice weekend in 2018 was one of the busiest, being the 100th anniversary since the guns fell silent after the 2nd World War on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
Being a military Lodge and part of the Circuit of Service Lodges which was formed in 1993 and currently comprising 34 lodges, we proudly attended and paraded our banner at the Armistice Service on Saturday the 10th. It fell to Victoria Rifles Lodge (our Mother Lodge) to host the Armistice Service of Remembrance at the Grand Temple in Freemasons Hall. Approximately 1600 masons from across the country and further afield attended, many from military service to remember the fallen who gave us our liberty today. http://www.militarymasons.org.uk/
On Sunday 11th Members of the Lodge attended the service of remembrance at the Ranger Memorial on Chenies Street, outside the parade hall from which the regiment which our lodge takes it name from was formed. Cadet Swan from the KIng's Royal Rifle Corp laid the wreath on behalf of the Lodge at a service attended by the American International Church and charity Just Rifles.
