SWEEPING ENGLAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 626, 1 April 1929, Page 14

SWEEPING ENGLAND

GREAT MASONIC PROGRESS Freemasonry is sweeping England, according to Mr. Frederick Lewis, assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies of the Grand Lodge of England, who is now in Melbourne. In three anti a-half years, he “aid, 1,000 new lodges had been created. Mr. Lewis will represent English Freemasonry as a visitor at the installation of Lord Somers as Grand Master on March 20. Mr. Lewis, who is a retired shipping merchant, is touring Australia and New Zealand, and will visit Canada and America later. He is eminent in Masonic circles in England, having founded five lodges and chapters himself, in addition to being .a member of 11 lodges and chapters, a Knight Templar and a Knight of Malta. He has taken the 30th degree and is a Grand Lodge man. “X am nothing if not an Imperialist,” sais Mr. Lewis. “Especially is this the case in Freemasonry. 1 believe the craft, extending as it is, will bring the English-speaking nations together and be the first real step toward international brotherhood. “Its aim is to help all men with real principle at heart, irrespective of nationality or creed. The basis of Freemasonry is charity.” Mr. Lewis is a vice-patron of the Roj-al Masonic Institute for Boys and Girls, the Masonic Hospital, and the Masonic Institute for the old and infirm.

Amounts between £SB and £65 a year are paid to each of the 1,800 old people in the care of the institute. It costs more than £IOO,OOO a year to keep the work going, and Masons supply it all. In the boys and girls’ institutes, Mr. Lewis said 2,400 children of Masons were cared for.

Mf. Lewis is a gold medallist of the Million Memorial Fund subscribed to build a monster Masonic temple in London, with special rooms for overseas visiting Masons. It will be finished in two years. Already £OOO,OOO of the £1,000,000 needed has been subscribed.