July 2017 Oracle

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STOWMARKET MASONIC Masonic Hall,Violet Hill Road, Stowmarket
Thank you for all those who have kindly contributed to this edition.
JULY 2017 Issue No.
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.
Philippino Banquet & Quiz Night
On Saturday 29th April 70 people were treated to a Philippino feast.
Several months two of our newly made brothers “Arnel De sola and Raul Nitura” offered to do some Philippino food in conjunction with charity a quiz night we had already planned. We had no idea what was to come. Arnel and Raul called on a few friends and relatives to help prepare what I can only describe as a “Philippino Buffet Banquet”. They laid on a three course meal to be proud of taking most of the afternoon to prepare it. The rapturous applause they received at the end showed how much everybody enjoyed their efforts.
I for one am proud to call Arnel and Raul a friend and Brothers.
The Quiz wasn’t bad either (me being quiz master) and with the generosity of those attending we
raised £503 for charity.
A fabulous Night
Roger Florey - (Junior Warden Phoenix Lodge)


TEDDIES FOR RMBI GRAND PATRON
LOVING CARE
Phoenix lodge was one of only 6 lodges in the province to be awarded the RMBI Grand Patron, alms bags at the PGL by the CEO of RMBI, this is awarded to lodges that have achieved outstanding fund raising towards the 2019 festival.
The past master of Ala Robert Crozier accompanied by his wife Denise presented a cheque for £600 to the TLC at Alas January meeting. The photo shows Denise presenting the cheque to W Bro John Jarman the Suffolk co-ordinator for TLC.
The worshipful master and his lady would again like to thank everyone for their support during a very exciting year.
MARK DEGREE
In July 2016 John Shaw (Columbyne Lodge No 1866) was honoured to receive “Active Provincial Rank” in “Mark Degree.”
He decided That he wanted to visit every temple in the “Mark” province which combines Suffolk, Norfolk and parts of Cambridge and we can tell you there “27.” Jack Sile and I said that we would go with him as often as time would allow, in the end it turned out that he only attended one temple without either jack or I by his side. There are many stories we could tell, temples that are difficult to find, people we met ceremonies we had to take rolls in to make up the numbers. And laughs we had (and there were a lot of them).
All in all we met some fantastic people, saw some great ceremonies, ate some interesting meals, really enjoyed ourselves.
John has to give his active rank jewel back at the “Mark “ provincial meeting but he can be very proud to have completed his task and jack and I are proud to have accompanied him.
by Roger Florey
Picture shows W Bro Peter Green receiving the award at PGL.
TEDDIES FOR LOVING CARE
CAR PARK CLEAN-UP APPEAL
The date of the car park "spruce up" this year is
SATURDAY 15 JULY.
Best regards W.Bro. Bernie
On the 9th May members of Bosmere Lodge and friends made a visit to Ware Lodge in Hertfordshire to attend their May meeting.
The pilgrimage was made in order to hand over masonic personal memorabilia belonging to a past brother of the Ware lodge some 60 years ago.
The brother in question was the Grandfather of a Bosmere member, Paul Beynon.
Paul was keen to give back the personal certificates for inclusion into the lodge archives.


Spotlight - Don and Steve Perry Phœnix Lodge
W.Bros. Don & Steve Perry are true Stowmarket Masons having been regular attenders at Phoenix 516 Lodge since the
The Perry family moved to Elmswell in 1968 with Don being the manager of Ayala Designs located on the Tomo Estate in Stowmarket. This was the Company that made mock tudor style pub interiors that were exported worldwide. Don left Ayala Designs and purchased a small building contractors AT Brett (Stowmarket) Ltd. Later he started the snooker club first in the Old Corn Exchanges and later in the Old Barnard Garages in Stowupland Street. Don’s interest outside work was family centred with a love of speed boats,
he is also a keen gardener.
Steve has always worked in the scientific chemical field with several roles in local chemical labs and is currently working for Master Chemical in
Needham Market. Steve’s interest beyond freemasonry revolve round gardening and keeping fit
W.Bro Don was Master in 1989 and W.Bro Steve in 2012. Don first gained Provincial Honours in 1996 and continues to be committed to Freemasonry – Steve remains hopeful of honours in the near future.
Steve Perry June 2017
Father & Son paring
their paths
1970’s for Don and 1990’s for Steve. A father and son pairing their paths to masonry possibly started when living in West Ealing in the early 1960’s. One of mum’s friend’s was widowed and it transcribed that her husband had been a mason. Apart for feeling sad for her family’s loss I was a little jealous as seven years old to hear the children all got new bikes and were send to ‘boarding school’ all apparently paid for by the
Masons - this just sowed the seed.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Brethren and their ladies from the three Stowmarket Lodges accompnaied by friends from Dinner (300 YEAR'S TO THE DAY of freemasonry as we know it today), at Ashlar House, A splendid dinner, great friends, good humour in an informal environment, all in all a fabulous evening. by Bro. Roger Florey
Tercentenary Ce


Hadleigh attended the Tercentenary Celebration Bury St Edmunds, 24th June 2017.
elebrations
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SUFFOLK PGM: R.W.Bro. Ian John Yeldham
Tercentenary Celebration Dinner


FRIENDS OF CORNWALLIS COURT
ByWBroPeterRGreen PPGJW-MemberofFriendsofCornwallisCourtcommittee
Cornwallis Court a jewel in our crown.
Cornwallis Court a jewel in our crown
but it does have some significant advantages , in that the care level is much higher than most homes, with the staff to resident ratio, an average of 1 to 4 this rises to 1to 3 in the nursing unit and 1 to 1.5 in the Dementia units.
It is a sad fact that most of us know about Cornwallis Court, but few visit; there seems to be a feeling that a brother or widow who goes there is now cared for and therefore is in little need for further contact. But being old or infirm shouldn’t mean being cut off from the rest of us; so for them and others who wish to know more; this article is for them.
the fraternity to bear, so it was sold and the charities we know today were born. Recently as you know it has all been put under one command, but the RMBI is the only arm of the charity that is run as a business looking after our elderly members either at home or through the 17 care homes run and controlled all round the country. Cornwallis Court is located in Bury St
There is always a demand for care, but one of Helens responsibilities is of course to try and keep the rooms all occupied, If there is a vacant room she has a list of names of people who have made enquiries in the past, and it’s one of her many jobs to make contact and see if there is still a need ; often because care when its needed is pretty urgent ,it’s not unusual for 8 out of 10 calls to be actually too late; for that reason the net is often thrown wider and currently in the Court are senior masons from Leicestershire and Hertfordshire, but even then there are often not enough masons to go round, so we have to look round for suitable non Masonic residents. Helen was at pains to point out though that if there are 2 applications for one room and only one is a mason, all other considerations being equal then the mason will get priority.
Much of Freemasonry has always been about charity and caring, albeit we have always looked after our members first, and some of you I know are a bit uncomfortable with that thought. But even so we did in the past always keep an eye out for need in our communities. Between the wars care was given through the Royal Masonic Hospital. There was a young girl in Essex who had a serious heart condition, the local lodge in Loughton Essex arranged for that little girl to have a life saving and at that time pioneering operation, at no cost to her non Masonic family, this remember was years before the NHS and the cost would have been considerable. That little girl grew up to be my mother. In the 1980’s the cost of running a hospital and its ever growing complexity became too much even for
Edmunds and serves the 3 provinces of Suffolk, Cambridge and Norfolk, though it will serve needy people from all around the country.
The building is the old Bury Hospital, built at the turn of last century, while admittedly not the most modern of buildings it serves very well the RMBI purpose. Helen Mullins the home manager, admits the 74 rooms all with en suite are a little small compared with more modern homes ,
Walking into Cornwallis Court for the first time, the feeling is more like entering a hotel rather than a retirement home ,a large light and airy entrance room complete with soft


armchairs and perhaps one or two people sitting round it’s hard to believe that there are over 100 people somewhere around the place, The RMBI keeps the standard of decor and furnishings bang up to date with tasteful colour schemes in each of the 5 units and with artworks on the walls, some of which have been produced by residents. Because of the size of the place there is an almost continuous process of upgrading and redecoration. I lost count of exactly how many common rooms there were all of different sizes accommodating groups from 3 to 60. The largest being the Essex room where the Friends hold their monthly coffee mornings.
sounds etc the Friends committee will probably look to fund this little extra, so if there is anybody out there in the province who has the necessary skills and expertise we would like to hear from you .
Cornwallis is that rare home that offers residential, nursing and dementia care all under one roof, so for the elderly residents that do enter, they do in the knowledge that they don’t necessarily ever have to move again, this is a big plus for the resident as moving can be quite a traumatic experience at a certain age. Also, uniquely the RMBI will cover expenses should the money run out, this is of increasing concern as we are all living longer. Hence the need for things like FESTIVAL 2019.
This brings me on to the Friends of Cornwallis Court committee. its purpose is to make the residents feel at home by providing little extras and comforts that make life so much more tolerable, like facials and manicures for the ladies, we provide social and recreational activities of all kinds arranging speakers and demonstrations on all sorts of subjects, and for those that want it, a regular Masonic orientated meeting where discussions on many aspects of masonry take place, that meeting is truly an educational experience. There is a volunteer travelling Lodge called the Good Neighbours Lodge, based in Kent it travels round to all 17 RMBI homes and provides a ceremony where all are invited to take part, on a rotational basis this means they only get to the Court once every 4 years Where possible we provide transport, the Friends have purchased 2 vehicles for the use of residents sadly not used as much as it could be because of regulations creating a shortage of drivers again if there is anyone out there under 70 who has some time to spare, we could use you. An important part of our remit is to encourage Masonic Lodges and their members to visit, remember you are ALL WELCOME to our coffee mornings on the first Saturday of every month 10 to 12. The raffle is a valued source of income to us, this is added to our amenity fund together with the donations from Masonic lodges from around the provinces, which I must say are all gratefully received brethren and will be faithfully applied
Every year we hold a Strawberry Tea in the gardens, this is immensely popular with the residents and their families, everyone is welcome particularly you our fellow brothers, this too is a major source of income for the friends charity, this years event is on Saturday 29th July, please make a note in your diary.
Often we are able to help the home in other ways, particularly if it brings quick and immediate relief to someone. Some things cannot be budgeted for ; in the last year we have
approved the purchase of a specialist wheelchair, these are custom made items and the cost is quite high, around £6000 in this instance, special baths can reach £10,000, There is often a need for some specialist piece of equipment that is unexpected and this is where the Friends step in and in case your are wondering it does remain the property of the Friends afterwards. It is not always easy to separate responsibilities between the friends and the RMBI but it is something which with care works well enough.
The court is particularly proud of Geoffrey Dicker House , paid for by V W Bro Geoffrey Dicker a past Provincial Grand Master of Norfolk, purpose built as a dementia care unit, it provides optimum care to sufferers of this dreadful condition. Currently undergoing a bit of a refurbishment , tobringituptodateitisdoinga splendid job with the very best of trained staff on hand. Looking round with Helen the manager I noticed the lovely new bathrooms/wet rooms, being installed by the RMBI, but was informed by Helen that she would really have liked to see them with sensory equipment, soft lighting,
Because we serve three provinces the committee is made up of members from all three areas these break down to four from Cambridgeshire, eight from Norfolk and eight from Suffolk, the committee can also co-opt up to 4 ladies. The Friends of Cornwallis Court is a registered charity and as such the responsibility for all its assets are vested in the Trustees, which are selected from the committee who hold office for four years, our chairman is W.Bro Peter Gosling Past Provincial Grand Charity Steward, W.Bro Peter has worked very hard for over 20 years on this committee, another stalwart without whom much of the activity would cease is W Bro Derek Barnard, a member and Trustee.
Reading this has I hope given you some insight into this Jewel in our county, and I am speaking to all almoners, here; if you would like to visit individually, please come to any Saturday coffee morning, if you would like to bring your lodge and have a tour please phone the home manager Helen Mullins on 01284 781452. To offer your assistance in any other way make initial contact with W.Bro Derek Barnard on 01284 703344 or W.Bro Peter Gosling.
As to the future, without doubt the age of the building means that at some point in the next 25 or so years the RMBI will have to look to fund a replacement so it is very important that we cherish what we’ve got but be ever mindful of the needs of the coming generations.


THREE LODGES COMMITTEE
VENUE
The Lodge, Harleston, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 3HP 12 August 2017
Tickets and booking through ROGER FLOREY or contact one of the committee Peter Green - David Tombs - Bob Goodall - Barry Philips - Peter Raven
Summer Party
Great BBQ Bar Live Music
Bouncy Castle
Swimming
Pool
Yes you can have a dip - bring your swimmies
Only £12. 50 each
And fun with all your friends - open to Brothers friends


MEZ Roger and Susan Dor invite you to the PHOENIX & ALA CHAPTER
2017 Gala Dinner
At the Stowmarket Masonic Hall 52 Violet Hill Road IP32 7GH
SATURDAY 30th September 2017
Welcome Canapes 6.45pm Dinner 7.15pm till Late
MENU
Asparagus & Lemongrass Soup
Grilled Plaice Veronique
Pan Fried Duck Breast, Dauphinoise Potatoes, Raspberry Jus, Braised Red Cabbage & Mangetout.
Dark Chocolate Terrine, Caramelised Oranges &Chantilly Cream Cheese & Biscuits
Coffee & Mints
Phoenix and Ala Chapter members and GUESTS
Ticket price £29.50 pp NO Cheese £26.50 pp
Book now to reserve your places, payment by
Monday 18th September 2017 Confirmation and cheques payable To Roger Dor, 9 Kestrel Drive, Stowmarket, Suffolk. IP14 5QU E mail; [email protected] 01449 614447
Dress - Men Smart Casual - Ladies Cocktail


FATHER AND SON
Our Worshipful Master Brian Evans initiated his son Joshua into Phoenix Lodge 516. Emotions were running high especially at the festive board, W.Master Brian was one proud dad, he proposed the toast to Josh with tears in his eyes and lips trembling. It was a wonderful sight to see. the ceremony was superb, festive board was excellent. All in all a great evening.
LETTERS...LETTERS...
Its always a pleasure to see the Oracle. Especially when living overseas.
It's heartening to see the great humour and charitable work that the Stowmarket provide
I hope this message greets you in good health.
I have many great memories of festive board and miss freemasonry in general but the Stowmarket brethren in particular.
I am living and working in Shanghai working for Wellington College China central office. Shanghai is an amazing city, a real mixture of ancient and modern. I do however miss fish and chips at times.
All the very best to you and all the brethren and once again thank you for sending the Oracle.
Best wishes
Simon Ruscoe-Price
Re Visit to Phoenix on Friday 7th April 2017
On behalf of W/Bro Clive Coe, Andrew Ladds and myself could you please record our sincere thanks for the true friendship and hospitality that was given to us when visiting the Phoenix Lodge No 516 last Friday. It really was a super and enjoyable evening.
The work in the Temple was first class and most of all, everyone seemed to enjoy their ritual. It was obviously a very moving day for your Worship Master to initiate his own Son and we all wish him much success and enjoyment in his Masonry as he progresses.
May we also thank W/Bro Peter Green for inviting us along to this special meeting.
Finally we look forward to seeing you again if invited and wish the Lodge all the success for the future.
Kind regards - S&F
W.Bro John Carrington SLGR
Dear Mr Evans,
Donation to Manchester
Bomb Appeal
Many thanks for your kind
donation of £100 on behalf of Phoenix Lodge No 516 in the Province of Suffolk.
The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master has agreed that all monies will be donated to a specially created trust being operated in conjunction with The British Red Cross fund, 'We Love Manchester Emergency Fund’.
On the 13th June, Sir David presented them with a cheque for £196,000. This represented the donations to date from Freemasons not just in East Lancashire, but from our friends in other Provinces across the country and indeed, around the world; this amount has now been exceeded and the monies are being passed to the fund on a regular basis.
We are ensuring that updates, as appropriate, are being added to our Provincial website and Provincial social media feeds
Yours sincerely
pp Chad Northcott Chairman of ELMC
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 - David Frost [email protected] 01359 230152 or 07585 701230
Ala - Keith Cadby [email protected]
01449 258406 Bosmere - Tony France
[email protected]
01359 240208 or 07759 442946
Gipping Valley Rose Croix - Colin Barber - [email protected]
A big thank you to all those contributors, please keep sending articles events etc. to [email protected]
01449 675548