Oracle No.27

oracle 27 JULY 2018 Issue No.
STOWMARKET MASONIC £500 Masonic Hall,Violet Hill Road, Stowmarket
DONATES
PHOENIX LODGE 516
TO ENABLE SCOUT TO ATTEND WORLD JAMBOREE
Thank you for all those who have kindly contributed to this edition.
Story on page 2
We look forward to all those who use the facilities at Stowmarket and welcome contributions to Oracle for future issues.
Please feel free to submit any articles you may feel of importance for Oracle to W.Bro. Codge [email protected], your secretary, or to the Stowmarket Masonic Association.
THIS PUBLICATION WOULD WELCOME ANY ARTICLES FROM OTHER DEGREES WHO USE THE FACILITIES AT STOWMARKET
Please also feel free to submit any events your lodge may have arranged i.e. Ladies Nights etc.


PHOENIX LODGE 516 DONATES £500
CONNER YARROW a Scout representing The Shackleton Explores of Elmswell has been chosen to attend the World Jamboree in West Virginia USA on the 21st. July 2019. What an honour for a 15 year old. He must raise £4,500 to achieve this ambition of going.
What?
Through the efforts of family and friends he is well on his way to that target. The money donated from Phoenix Lodge was presented to him at Elmswell Public Library and was gratefully received. We wish him well in this venture and look
The 24th World Scout Jamboree will held in West Virginia, USA, and will be an adventure beyond anything you can imagine. It is to be hosted jointly between Boy Scouts of America, Scouts Canada and the Scout Association of Mexico.
forward to his report back next year.
When and where?
World Scout Jamboree 2019
The Jamboree will take place on 22nd July – 2nd August 2019 at The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in West Virginia, USA.
The UK Contingent will be made up of participants, their Unit Leaders, International Service Team and a Contingent Management and Support Team (UK Contingent Team).
Our Vision
Beyond Borders, Beyond Limits,
The UK Contingent Management Team will deliver a unique international adventure shaped by young people, where contingent members will develop personally and have a positive longer term impact on Scouting and beyond.
Beyond Expectations
We have made a commitment to ensure that we not only deliver a fantastic international adventure for our Contingent but that we will also champion youth engagement ensuring that we provide young people with opportunities to shape the Jamboree experience. Not only this, we want to ensure that we are providing development and training opportunities for every member of the Contingent so that they are able to recognise that they have gained new skills and confidence through being a member of the Contingent. Lastly, we want to ensure that the Jamboree reaches beyond those that travel with us. We want our work on youth engagement and personal development to filter back in to local Scouting for the wider movement to benefit from in the years to come. We hope you will help us embrace this challenge!


SMA Life
For those of you who are not aware of the existence of the SMA (Stowmarket Masonic Association) or indeed aware of our existence but not aware of what we do.
The Travelling Gavel
Unfortunately one of Phoenix Lodges Gavels has travelled, its was presented to Phoenix Lodge 757 on 24th September 1845. If anyone knows of its whereabouts please contact Phoenix Lodge Secretary.
The SMA is the organisation which manages all aspects of the Stowmarket Masonic Centre. The general management of the Centre is vested in the SMA committee. The committee is made up of elected members from Phoenix and Ala Lodges plus some co-opted members. The current committee is:
Chairman
Deputy Chairman Treasurer
Secretary
Committee Members
Co-opted members
W. Bro. Barry Phillips (Phoenix Lodge) W. Bro. Peter Turner (Ala Lodge)
Bro. Roger Florey (Phoenix Lodge)
W. Bro. Bernie Nunn (Phoenix Lodge)
W. Bro. Colin Davies (Phoenix Lodge) Bro. Keith Cadby (Ala Lodge)
W. Bro. Jim King (Phoenix Lodge)
W. Bro. Bob Goodall (Phoenix Lodge) Bro. Mike Hart (Ala Lodge)
Bro. Gary Riches (Phoenix Lodge) Bro. Jack Sile (Ala Lodge)
W. Bro. Graham Fielding (Master Ala Lodge) W. Bro. Robert Mullins (Ala Lodge) Bar Manager
W. Bro. Steve Perry (Phoenix Lodge) Bar Treasurer W. Bro. David Frost (Phoenix Lodge) H&S
The SMA raises revenue in many ways, mainly by hiring the Centre to a number of Masonic Orders. Some of the Lodges using the Centre have been very supportive in the past, and continue to be so, by holding events to raise funds for the Association.
One of the current fund-raising initiatives is the 100 Club, which is run by W. Bro. Colin Davies. Colin has managed the 100 Club since in inception and by doing so has helped to support the Association in its Centre refurbishment programme. He continues to need our support. So, if you haven’t already got a number or numbers in the 100 Club draw please contact Colin. The cost is £24 per annum, which is only £2 per month, less than a pint of beer, but you could win up to £200.
Thanks Bro. Al
What do we do with the money, I hear you ask. Over recent years the SMA has funded, and in many cases provided labour, for projects such as:
On his return to the United States Bro. Al Wilson very kindly left the Ala Lodge the sum of £1500.00 to be put to charitable use.
Bar makeover
Temple refurbishment
Dining room refurbishment
New cloakrooms
Exterior decorating (more than once recently) Installation of stair lift
After asking for suggestions it was decided to split the funds and give £750.00 to the Suffolk 2019 Festival and £750.00 to the Every Heart Matters Charity which is raising money to create a new Centre of Excellence for Heart Care at West Suffolk Hospital.
This year we have commissioned the replacement of the “front” door and on a larger scale, the installation of new air conditioning systems in both the Temple and the dining room. These projects will be carried out over the summer recess.
The picture shows W.Bro Graham Fielding together with his wife Kerri presenting the cheque to one of team of specialist nurses in their current home whilst the new area is being created. This should be finished in October 2018 and will be a great assert ot the Hospital and the surrounding area.
Finally, a date for your diary. The annual car park clean up is scheduled to take place on Saturday 30 June, commencing at 9-00 a.m. Coffee and tea will be provided (possibly biscuits), so come along and give a hand.
Bernie Nunn – SMA Secretary
W.Bro Graham Mason Ala Charity Steward


Phoenix Lodge No 516
THE NOBLE STONE
Æthelstan or Athelstan meaning “noble stone”; c.894 – 27 October 939) was King of the Anglo- Saxons from 924 to 927 and King of the English from 927 to 939.[c] He was the son of King Edward the Elder and grandson of Alfred the Great. Modern historians regard him as the first King of England and one of the greatest Anglo- Saxon kings
“Ladies Night”
105 guests turned out for "Phoenix Ladies Night" at Bestead Brook Hotel in Ipswich in support of our WM Jim King and his lovely lady “Yvonne King.”
What a great night it was, the setting was perfect, food delicious, the company fantastic and the band (Beats Working) brilliant (nearly all 60s music.
The toast to the ladies from WB John Pursglove was really good and the reply from the lady of the evening vas very moving.
The party after to all that 60s music had the dance floor packed all night, and an abundance of wine was consumed.
Marriag&e
vows
Christening
King Athelstan was a renowned lover of Operative Masonry and a great patron of the arts and paid special attention to architecture and the art of building.
Legend tells that In 926 A.D King Athelstan assembled a group of craftsman and knights from every part of the kingdom in the city of York, in an attempt to establish a code of regulations to be followed to govern the Craft.
Peter Green along and his wife Cath with Roger Florey were proud to have been invited by fellow Phoenix lodge brother Raul Natura and his lovely wife Miles to celebrate the baptism of their gorgeous daughter “Mirieiie Rose”.
Raul and Miles also renewed their wedding vows.
A beautiful ceremony and a delicious buffet after.
With thanks to Gwain Fraser Phoenix Lodge 516


Spotlight - Colin Davies Phoenix Lodge
FROM being a fit 72 year old playing golf badly twice a week and table tennis once a week I am now a pale imitation of myself having lost 2 stone as a result of the two operations. My aim is to get back to playing table tennis in six months.
That’s where we will start. I first played table tennis in St Pauls Church East Ham at the age of 12. The Church was a very important part of my life. We were all members of the Pathfinders and as we got older the YCF (Young Christian Fellowship). The friends I made from those days are still friends to this day, with a planned reunion.
Finding myself fairly good at table tennis I joined a local club and played in the Barking and District League for 12 years. I also represented my College, Chelsea at this sport. From the age of 18 I studied Chemistry at Chelsea and went on to complete a PhD there. Towards the end of my research I was given the opportunity to apply for a position in Canada working at McMaster University, Ontario under the guidance of one of the foremost chemists in the word, Professor Gillespie. I could write a book about my time in Canada but Codge has allowed me only 400 words. Whilst there I made some wonderful friends through table tennis. I and Mike Schaaf set a Club
up in our town of Hamilton and as a result of our success we both became members of the Canadian Table Tennis Executive. Mike unfortunately died in Germany just after
we both moved back to our home countries. I got married in Canada and brought Terry back to England with me in 1971.
Obviously I had to get a job and managed to
there for three years and moved to Head my own Science department at Hollywells in Ipswich. During that time I became involved with a major new innovative Science scheme called Suffolk Science which I had the privilege of managing for 2 years from an office in Bury St Edmunds.
Just before leaving King Edwards we moved to Stowmarket still living in the same house since 1975. It did not take me long to become acquainted with the Football Club which I still support and for my sins am still a director. During the season if you find yourself at a loose end come and join me on the
touchline you might get a beer or two also thrown in for
good measure. I continued to
play table tennis for the Home Guard Club in Bury St
Edmunds, the Con Club in Stowmarket and for a while Trimley.
What a fantastic
decision
find a
position
Edward VI Upper School as it was called then in 1972. I stayed
teaching at King
I was very good friends with Ken Allington who owned a garage in Stowmarket and John Osborne. They were both Masons and on chatting about the organisation got my interest. They proposed
me and I joined Phoenix Lodge. What a fantastic decision that was. I have been so blessed with help and good wishes form our Brethren this last year and I hope when I get fitter can repay some of it. Through John Shaw I joined up with his Golf group and began to play golf badly but
thoroughly enjoyed it.


Almoners
notes...
In Memoriam
Bro. David Boon
Phoenix Lodge,
Phoenix & Ala Royal Arch Chapter,
_____
Called to the Grand Lodge Above
11 June 2018 _____
Who Lived Respected and Died Regretted
LETTER
Dear Bernie and members of Phoenix Lodge 516,
Thank you so much for the most beautiful bouquet of flowers received on my birthday. It was a lovely surprise. Please convey my thanks to the Master and Brethren of the Lodge. Also many thanks for the card. Please pass my best regards to anyone who remembers me.
Kindest regards - Moira Cogdell
LODGE ALMONERS
Need an Almoner? Although the Lodges have a summer recess, the Almoner’s door is always ajar - 24/7.
Please keep these contact details where they are clearly visible - like by using a magnet on a
fridge door.
Cut along dotted line
IN AN EMERGENCY RING AN ALMONER
Phoenix - Bernie Nunn
[email protected]
01359 232960 Ala - Keith Cadby
You are
[email protected]

01449 258406 Bosmere - Tony France
To a Music Evening with light refreshments
[email protected]
01359 240208 or 07759 442946

Gipping Valley Rose Croix - Colin Barber - [email protected]
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO A MUSICAL EVENING AT THE MASONIC HALL, STOWMARKET
ON SATURDAY 22 SEPTEMBER AT 7.00PM
01449 675548
INVITED
Music Evening
R.S.V.P
JAMES KING 01359 241286 ONLY £5.00pp
BBQ
5
Saturday, 7th July,
at Masonic Centre. Violet Hill Road, Stowmarket from 2:00 pm £12.50pp
For any further information, or to book tickets please contact Graham Mason on 01449 677887 or [email protected].
COME ALONG TO PHOENIX LODGE
CLUB OF
INSTRUCTION
USUALLY THE TUESDAY AFTER LODGE MEETING at 7.30pm
OPEN TO ALL MEMBERS
Please ask our Mentor W.B. John Shaw or DC Codge for more information
Sat 22nd Sept 2018

An evening with highly acclaimed musicians Price only £5.00pp - RSVP 01359 241286
Armistice Day Dinner
Everything Masonic
The Provincial Orator,
W.Bro. Peter Thorogood
will be giving a talk to Group 9 on
“EVERYTHING MASONIC”
for the new/junior brethren
to include all Light Blues. On Sunday Morning
9th September at 10.30
at the Stowmarket Masonic Centre
To gauge numbers please indicate your intention to attend.
Jack, Group 9 Rep. 01473 258339 or
07528 450983, [email protected]
11th Nov, 2018
A 100 year remembrance dinner to celebrate the ending of the Great War - Tickets £16.00pp available from W.Bro. Codge
Annual Christmas Party
December at the Golf Club
3 DAY TRIP TO ARRAS visiting Vimy Ridge, The Somme etc. 6-8th October 2018
A LIMITED EXTRA NUMBER OF SEATS JUST ACQUIRED Call Codge 01449 675548
COMPLETE YOUR JOURNEY IN PURE ANCIENT FREEMASONRY
1 ENTERED APPRENTICE
2 FELLOWCRAFT
3 MASTER MASON
ROYAL ARCH COMPANIO4N
For more details contact the Phoenix Lodge representatives [email protected]
or [email protected]
A big thank you to all those contributors, please keep sending articles events etc. to [email protected]
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SUPPORTING YOUR LODGE
The Great War
Centenary
1914-1918 • 2014-2018