You may not realise that Freemasonry is made of a number of different 'Progressive Orders'. This series will explain these various Orders and how they are linked.

Knights Templar and Knights of Malta
The full title of this Order is The United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple and of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes, and Malta, in England and Wales and its Provinces Overseas. It is more familiarly known as ‘KT’.
 
Knights Templar meetings are held in Preceptories and under the authority of its warrant, Knights of Malta meetings in Priories are also held.

Qualification for joining is that a candidate must be a Royal Arch Mason and believe in the Trinitarian Faith. The joining ceremony is called ‘Installation’.

The regalia is based on that of a Templar Knight and consists of a cap, tunic, mantle, sash, belt and sword. The Malta regalia is similar, but the tunic is red and mantle and cap are black.
 
The Order is based on the actions of a band of Knights who were granted a place of habitation within the sacred precincts of King Solomon’s Temple. The candidate is admitted as a pilgrim and undergoes a period of pilgrimage and warfare then penance and meditation before being made a Knight of the Temple.

You can find out more about this order here: https://www.markmasonshall.org/orders/knights-templar

If you are interested in joining this order within Buckinghamshire, please message us.

Next time we will introduce you to Rose Croix.

On Saturday June 29th, over 150 people took their next regular step in Freemasonry. 650 people attended this once in a lifetime moment.  It was a fantastic day for many Buckinghamshire Freemasons but even more so for the members of Fairway Lodge No. 8614 as they welcomed a very special initiate.
The lodge had one of the first slots available on the day and got to Temple 14 GQS shortly after 0900 to perform the ceremony of initiation of Oliver, in the presence of his Dad Mike who was the current head of the lodge. Oliver's grandfather, John, who is also a member of the lodge and was present for the ceremony. 
Bro Oliver joins a succession of new members to Fairway lodge who have welcomed seven initiates in the last few years, and will no doubt follow in both his fathers and grandfathers’ footsteps in Freemasonry.

If you would like to join the Freemasons follow this link: https://buckspgl.org/joinAfter filling in the short form, our Membership Team will be in touch.

RICK WAKEMAN

Rick is a member of the London Chelsea Lodge, contrary to what you might first imagine, the Lodge derives it name not from any links to that part of West London but from a group of entertainers who, in 1905, were appearing at the old Chelsea Theatre in London’s West End and sought dispensation to form a new Lodge.

Rick became a Freemason in 2007 and the support that his mother had received from the Lodge when his father passed away became a catalyst for him to join Chelsea Lodge, No. 3098, known as the world-renowned “Entertainers’ Lodge”

He was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to Music and Broadcasting.

He had a prolific career in the music industry playing keyboards, and he is still playing today. He is best known for being in the progressive rock band Yes across five tenures between 1971 and 2004 and for his solo albums released in the 1970s.

One of his famous albums of the early 1970’s was The Six Wives of Henry VIII, which was a seminal work of its time and was highly acclaimed.

An instrumental progressive rock album, its concept was based on his interpretations of the musical characteristics of the wives of Henry VIII.

The album The Six Wives of Henry VIII received mostly positive reviews from critics and reached number 7 on the UK Albums Chart and number 30 on the Billboard 200 in the United States.

If you would like to be part of a global community that has and still has so many famous members, that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link: https://buckspgl.org/join
After filling in the short form, our Membership Team will be in touch. 

On Saturday June 29th, over 150 people took their next regular step in Freemasonry. 650 people attended this once in a lifetime moment.  BIG 1-2-3 was four months in planning and 14 hours in the delivery with a core team of 25 people, supported by over 50 lodges in the province.  
For Dan, who took his third regular step in Freemasonry, it was an emotional experience.
"As one of the brethren raised at BIG 1-2-3, I stepped into the Grand Temple with nervous excitement. The emotion and tension were palpable, especially under the portentous red lights that bathed the massive temple in an otherworldly glow. The nerves turned to calm serenity and awe as we walked onto the chequered floor and fell under the watch of the silent onlookers, and the spell of the sound of violins echoing around us. The love and dedication of those who organised and orchestrated the ceremonies on that day was evident throughout, and I cannot sufficiently praise them for their work and dedication."
Dan is second from the left in the picture, surrounded by fellow members of the Provincial Communications team and several chains.
If you would like to join the Freemasons follow this link: https://buckspgl.org/joinAfter filling in the short form, our Membership Team will be in touch.

You may not realise that Freemasonry is made of a number of different 'Progressive Orders'. This series will explain these various Orders and how they are linked.

Royal Ark Mariners
The full title of this Order is The Ancient & Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariners. It is more familiarly known as ‘RAM’.
 
Meetings are held in Lodges and are ‘moored’ or attached to a Mark Master Mason’s Lodge of the same name.
 
Qualification for joining is that a candidate must be a Mark Master Mason. The joining ceremony is called ‘Elevation’.
 
The regalia consists of an apron and breast jewel. The apron has a colourful rainbow edge.
 
The Order is based on the story of Noah, his sons and their wives and commemorates the providence and mercy of God and relates to the legend of the Deluge, or Great Flood. The ceremony recalls God’s promise that never again will he undertake the destruction of mankind.

If you are interested in joining this order within Buckinghamshire, please message us.

Next time we will introduce you to Knights Templar.

They support Milton Keynes University Hospital especially with babies born prematurely or underweight also children and young adults with complex needs.
BMCF have donated £3,058 to cover the costs of taking 30 registered families to the zoo for a memory making trip and have received the following feedback from Katie Mainwaring:

We took 125 people in all including children in wheelchairs and also included a picnic lunch and ice cream.
The following letters of thanks were received from the families:

"Thank you for an amazing time at the zoo, it’s difficult to find things to do with Rayyan but he absolutely loved it, the fresh air & seeing the animals made him content & he enjoyed himself. Thank you as always xx" Nadia, Rayyan's Mum

"What can I say bam bams has been stuck in hospital for almost 3 months due to a failing care package, everyday he comes home for home leave it’s been a rough journey for us as a family and my boy being away from us when he should be home, the trip to the zoo was an amazing day we made some beautiful memories with bams (Brandon) and will forever be grateful, quality family time is so important for all but more so for life limited children so a massive thank you for helping create memories " Katie

"It was such an awesome day! It wasn’t too manic and the weather was perfect! I just want to personally thank Katie for the day out plus ice creams plus the train! Esmé was over the moon they had her dairy free ice cream so that made her day! I think Jacobs favorite bit was the giraffes playing thank you again!" Steph

"Thank you for an amazing day at the zoo. Even today the children are talking about it. From how many monkeys they seen in the trees, to enjoying a yummy ice cream at lunch time. It’s certainly a big highlight for our summer holidays and we made some amazing happy memories." Kelly, Mum to Ruby & Jenson

"What an amazing day. So lovely to go out and be surrounded by so many families who just ‘get it’!!! As always, Katie organised it so well and it was lovely to all come together for lunch - a real community vibe. It can be hard to take day trips on your own, but with Emily’s Star around, you’re never alone!!! Thank you xx" Sam, Mum to Ashlynn

"Thank you for a brilliant day! the weather was just right, the animals were amazing and mine enjoyed the penguins the best! was very well planned. Thank you so much, making memories " Letitia, Mum to Loraya 

Honestly, I cannot thank you enough the day was so incredible. 

On Saturday June 29th, over 150 people took their next regular step in Freemasonry. 650 people attended this once in a lifetime moment.  BIG 1-2-3 was four months in planning and 14 hours in the delivery with a core team of 25 people, supported by over 50 lodges in the province.  
For Neil, assistant to the head of Freemasonry in Buckinghamshire, it was a rewarding experience.
"After hundreds of hours of meetings, rehearsals, and revisions I can honestly say that it was one of the best days of Freemasonry that I’ve had the privilege to be a part of. A once in a lifetime experience for candidates and provincial stewards alike! It was a real privilege to assist so many brethren on their Masonic journey. The Egyptian temple is simply stunning, and I enjoyed every moment of delivering the second-degree ceremony to so many happy people. I hope that others can adopt our approach to delivering an experience for Freemasons wherever in the world they are."

If you would like to join the Freemasons follow this link: https://buckspgl.org/joinAfter filling in the short form, our Membership Team will be in touch.

ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

Arthur was a Scottish writer born on 22 May 1859 and would go on to become famous as the creator of the detective Sherlock Holmes. 

He studied at the University of Edinburgh's Medical School where he achieved the Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery qualifications. Whilst he was a medical student, Conan Doyle was profoundly captivated by the skill of his professor, Dr Joseph Bell, in observing the minutest detail regarding a patient's condition. This approach of diagnostic deduction inspired Conan Doyle's literary creation, Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock Holmes made his first appearance in 'A Study of Scarlet', and its success encouraged Conan Doyle to write more stories involving the detective. Successively, Conan Doyle focused his work on non-fiction, including to military writings, such as The Great Boer War (1900) and The British Campaign in France and Flanders, 6 vol. (1916–20).
Conan Doyle was initiated in Phoenix Lodge No. 257 in Portsmouth in 1887 and resigned from the Lodge in 1889. He re-joined the same Lodge in 1902 and remained a member until 1911.

You may not know, but some of the filming for the 2009 Sherlock Holmes film starring Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law took place at the United Grand Lodge of England’s headquarters Freemasons’ Hall in London.

If you would like to be part of a global community that has has hand and still has so many famous members, that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link: https://buckspgl.org/join
After filling in the short form, our Membership Team will be in touch. 

On a wet Saturday morning, the luminaries of the Paralympics and the world's media descended on humble Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the birthplace of the Paralympics, for a far-from-humble event: the lighting of the Paralympic Flame.

Buckinghamshire Freemasons were asked to volunteer to aid in the organisation and running of the event; taking up positions as marshals, traffic wardens, stewards and even diplomats.

We're very proud to have been in attendance of this ceremony of global significance and of the praise received from those in attendance, with one member of the press remarking "I've completely changed my mind about what you are!" In a world of scepticism and cynicism, this is among the finest of compliments a Freemason can receive from their community.

But the day was not one for sceptics nor cynics; even as the rain lashed and the winds howled, the spirit of hope, togetherness, and strength extolled by the Paralympics could not be extinguished. The flame was lit to rapturous applause, the torch carried with due reverence, beginning its journey to Paris and drawing onlookers and excitement from every quarter.

The Paralympic flames will make their final appearance during the Opening Ceremony, where they will be used to light the cauldron to symbolise the start of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games tomorrow, 28th August.

Aylesbury played its part well, and the Buckinghamshire Freemasons will forever be proud to have helped it in doing so.

Why Stoke Mandeville?

The small village on the edge of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, is the birthplace of the Paralympic movement. It is where Dr Ludwig Guttmann first dreamt of a sporting event for World War II veterans with disabilities to aid in their physical and mental rehabilitation in a fun, but competitive way. A mindset & idea to push the recovery process.

If you would like to be part of a global community that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link: https://buckspgl.org/join
After filling in the short form, our Membership Team will be in touch. 

On Saturday June 29th, over 150 people took their next regular step in Freemasonry. 650 people attended this once in a lifetime moment.  BIG 1-2-3 was four months in planning and 14 hours in the delivery with a core team of 25 people, supported by over 50 lodges in the province.  
For Daniel, it was a a magical experience to take his second degree in the company of his husband Abdul.
"The Egyptian temple where my Second Degree took place was stunning, with purple and turquoise creating a unique atmosphere. Our lodge members supported us along with so many brothers from across the county and overseas. We had memorised our parts, feeling nervous and excited about presenting them to the DPGM. The ceremony went smoothly. Provincial Grand Stewards gave us tips on how to stand and present ourselves. The tracing board was interesting, with symbols teaching us about morality and masonry. As a new Freemason, I learned a lot. Seeing multiple ceremonies deepened my understanding of masonry. I met great new brothers and made connections. It was a long but rewarding day."

If you would like to join the Freemasons follow this link: https://buckspgl.org/joinAfter filling in the short form, our Membership Team will be in touch.

Buckinghamshire has 117 lodges that meet at 16 Centres across the county throughout the year.

This is the diary for the coming month.

If there is a location & day that suits your home and work life and you are interested in finding out more, please reach out to our membership team who will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

If you would like to be part of freemasonry and a global community, that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link: https://buckspgl.org/join
After filling in the short form, our Membership Team will be in touch. 

Discover how the  is harnessing technology to elevate the experience for its members.
This engaging webinar features Hugh-Douglas Smith, the Chief Information Officer of UGLE, and an esteemed Freemason hailing from the Hallstone Province of Buckinghamshire. Hugh is at the forefront of Project 2023, a pioneering initiative to develop a membership system designed to empower members by giving them direct control over their own data.
 
Gain insight into the innovative measures implemented by Hugh and his team to modernise the way Freemasonry is experienced.
🎟 Book now for 19.30 on Tues 10th September ➡ https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3917235409272/WN_PHQf_A4HTYeqVBzuDquT-g

You may not realise that Freemasonry is made of a number of different 'Progressive Orders'. This series will explain these various Orders and how they are linked.

Mark Master Masons
The full title of this Order is Mark Master Masons of England and Wales, and its District and Lodges Overseas. It is more familiarly known as ‘Mark’.
 
Meetings of Mark Master Masons are held in Lodges and are laid out in a similar way to a Craft Lodge room.
 
Qualification for joining is that a candidate must be a Master Mason. The joining ceremony is called ‘Advancement’.
 
The regalia consists of an apron and breast jewel. The edges of the apron are light blue and crimson.
 
The Order is based on the building of the first Temple at Jerusalem. The candidate is first acknowledged as a Mark Man then advanced to a Mark Master Mason where a ‘Mark’ is chosen to identify the stonework they have produced. The Advancement Ceremony teaches the lesson that education is the reward of labour and the dramatic message that dishonesty can never succeed.

If you are interested in joining this order within Buckinghamshire, please message us.

Next time we will introduce you to Royal Ark Mariners.

On Saturday June 29th, over 150 people took their next regular step in Freemasonry. 650 people attended this once in a lifetime moment.  BIG 1-2-3 was four months in planning and 14 hours in the delivery with a core team of 25 people, supported by over 50 lodges in the province.  
For Lawrence, it was a whirlwind chain of events.
"As a 4-week-old head of Verney Lodge, I had the privilege of initiating a new brother at Freemasons' Hall in a beautiful temple. It was a remarkable experience for both of us. Cosmin is from Romania and I am from South Africa, which shows the universality of our fraternity. Freemasonry transcends borders, cultures, and languages, and unites us with a common bond of brotherhood and values. Whoever you are, wherever you are from, you can find a home in Freemasonry."

If you would like to join the Freemasons follow this link: https://buckspgl.org/joinAfter filling in the short form, our Membership Team will be in touch.

COUNT BASIE

Jazz icon Count Basie, the “King of Swing,” was a member of Wisdom Lodge No. 102 in Chicago, Illinois. 
The great jazz pianist and composer William James "Count" Basie helped establish swing music as one of jazz’s most popular styles. Brother Basie was known for his good humor, relaxed demeanor, and passion for his craft.

He was born in Red Bank, New Jersey, in 1904 and began learning the piano at a young age. Always focused on his love for music, he began touring and playing professionally in his teens. He moved to New York City in 1924 and began rubbing elbows with other great musicians of the time, including fellow Freemason Fats Waller.

In 1935, Basie formed Count Basie Orchestra, the band he would lead for nearly 50 years. As his career advanced and he gained more renown, he became known for how his style compared to his contemporaries. Compositionally, Basie’s songs were often straightforward, built off simple melodies over which his band members could solo.

For his unique contributions to the world of music, he won nine Grammy awards during his life. He received an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music, was inducted in the Blues Hall of Fame in 2019, and also was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

If you would like to be part of a global community that has and still has so many famous members, that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link: https://buckspgl.org/join?

After filling in the short form, our Membership Team will be in touch. 

St. Martin's Lodge, No. 2812, located in Fenny Stratford, has a rich history intertwined with the local community and broader Masonic traditions. The lodge was established with ten petitioners, and its consecration took place on July 21, 1900, at the High Street Schools in Fenny Stratford. The ceremony was led by The Rt. Hon. Lord Addington, the Provincial Grand Master, with W.Bro. Col. Alexander Finlay serving as the Primus Master and Rev. Henry Oliver as the first Chaplain.
According to the Bucks Standard, which highlighted a moving speech by Rev. Bro. V. P. Wyatt, the consecration event was significant.

Following the formalities, the members gathered for a banquet at the Town Hall, where a musical "Glee Party" was performed under the direction of Bro. Herbert Schartau.
Herbert Schartau was a composer and musician known for his contributions to music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was of Swedish descent but was born and raised in Kent, England. Schartau was a professional singer and also a society entertainer at the piano, composing several songs throughout his career.
His works include songs like "Fairy Song" and "Daisy Dell," and he was active in the musical scene, contributing to events where pianoforte solos and part-singing were featured. Schartau's music was part of the Victorian and Edwardian sporting song tradition, as seen in collections like "Play the Game: Victorian & Edwardian Sporting Song".
In addition to his musical career, Schartau was involved in Masonic activities, having attained a prominent position within the organisation by the late 19th century.

Throughout its history, St. Martin's Lodge has maintained strong ties with the community. In 1909, the Earl of Orkney was appointed Provincial Grand Master shortly after leaving the Chair in St. Martin's, further cementing the lodge's significance. 

The lodge moved into the Queensway Masonic Hall in 1982, a facility secured by the Bletchley Masonic Hall Company Ltd., with St. Martin's Lodge as a major shareholder. This move marked a new chapter in the lodge's history, providing a dedicated space for its meetings and activities. The lodge's banners, depicting Saint Martin, reflect its historical and cultural heritage, celebrating the legacy of its namesake, a Roman soldier who became a Christian saint known for his compassion and charity.

If you find the idea of becoming a Freemason in Buckinghamshire intriguing, you can express your interest by contacting the local membership team. To apply, you must reside in or near Buckinghamshire. Please use this link to make contact: https://buckspgl.org/join

On Saturday June 29th, over 150 people took their next regular step in Freemasonry. 650 people attended this once in a lifetime moment.  BIG 1-2-3 was four months in planning and 14 hours in the delivery with a core team of 25 people, supported by over 50 lodges in the province.  
For Cosmin, it was a life changing event.
"The day I joined Freemasonry at Freemasons' Hall in London was unforgettable. Entering that historic building, I felt awe and respect for the fraternity I was going to join. The initiation was thought-provoking and very beautiful. It stressed values like honesty and kindness, which resonated with me. I reflected on how to apply these principles in my life. What stood out was the community; I was surrounded by fellow Freemasons who shared this experience and supported each other. It was amazing."

If you would like to join the Freemasons follow this link: https://buckspgl.org/joinAfter filling in the short form, our Membership Team will be in touch.

The playground is set back from the road and enclosed with traditional children’s play equipment, adult fitness equipment and picnic benches.  

After the BMCF Contribution, the Roundabout which had been condemned, is now working again with new parts, seats and fibrefall resin bound recycled rubber mulch surfacing also new surface under the swings and new steel feet added to the chain traverse, the wooden activity trail and climbing post.

BMCF have donated £400 towards the renovation and resurfacing and the following letter of thanks was received from Helen Holman: "We found the funding application process very straightforward and after completing a grant application form online I was kept updated by emails of the application’s progress and EPC received the funding within a couple of months to use towards our playground repairs."

You may not realise that Freemasonry is made of a number of different 'Progressive Orders'. This series will explain these various Orders and how they are linked.

Royal Arch
The continuation of the Third Degree is the 'Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch'. It is more familiarly known as ‘Chapter’.
 
Meetings of a Royal Arch Chapter are known as Convocations and have three Principals who rule the Chapter as opposed to the single Master in a Craft Lodge.
 
Qualification for joining is that a candidate must be a Master Mason. The joining ceremony is called 'Exaltation' and the members are called Companions.
 
The regalia consists of an apron, sash and breast jewel. The colours of the apron and jewel are crimson and dark blue which vary depending on a member’s rank.

The Order is based on the return of the Jewish tribes from their captivity in Babylon to rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem having been destroyed at the end of King Solomon's reign. During the preparation for the building of the Second Temple, a momentous discovery is made and it is this discovery that is the basis of the Exaltation Ceremony.

If you would like to be part of a global community, that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link: https://buckspgl.org/info
After filling in the short form, our Membership Team will be in touch.

Next time we will introduce you to Mark Master Masons.

On Saturday June 29th, over 150 people took their next regular step in Freemasonry. 650 people attended this once in a lifetime moment.  
For Tim Anders initiating his 85-year-old father into Freemasonry in the Grand Temple was something he will never forget. 650 Freemasons were there to witness Tims brother Chris function as Junior Deacon, guiding their father through the ceremony. All other offices were filled by our Light Blues demonstration team - all of which had been in Masonry less that 4 years.
It was an emotional moment, watching them together and feeling the solemnity of the occasion mixed with their family pride.
To cap it all off, The PGM invested Tim as his fourth Assistant Provincial Grand Master. Tims newly initiated father and brother functioned as cushion bearers in that ceremony. It was the perfect end to an incredible day.
Tim said "As Freemasons in Buckinghamshire, we are known for our innovation and creativity. BIG 1-2-3 was a remarkable example of this. We pulled off a series of firsts in one day, creating a memorable and meaningful experience for everyone involved. It took months of planning and preparation, but the result was well worth it."

If you live in or near Buckinghamshire, and would like to join the Buckinghamshire Freemasons, follow this link: https://buckspgl.org/joinAfter filling out the short form, our Membership Team will be in touch.