On 6 January, in one of the first acts for the Province in the new year, Masonic Provincial Grand Lodge of Oxfordshire signed the Armed Forces Covenant.
The Armed Forces Covenant is a written pledge from the nation that that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly. Organisations can sign the covenant, to show their commitment to honouring this pledge.
The Armed Forces Covenant was signed in October 2021 by the MW Grand Master HRH The Duke of Kent on behalf of the United Grand Lodge of England. This signing showcased the recognition of the very high regard that the members of the United Grand Lodge of England have always had for our Armed Forces. The Provincial Grand Lodge of Oxfordshire wished to sign the covenant to further deepen and demonstrate the province’s continued commitment to supporting the armed forces.
The signing of the covenant was done by the Right Worshipful Brother James Hilditch for the Province of Oxfordshire, and Group Captain Guy Austin for the Armed Forces, the ceremony also saw the Right Worshipful Brother James Hilditch give a short speech as to the historical, and present connections between Oxfordshire Masons and the British Armed Forces.
The Signing was done prior to the Installation Meeting of Amery Lodge (Oxfordshire Lodge of Heads of Masonic Progressive Orders) No 8316, at the Oxfordshire Masonic Centre – Cardinal House in Marsh Baldon Oxon.,.
The Covenant was signed by both the Head of Freemasonry in Oxfordshire – Right Worshipful Brother James R G Hilditch and for the Armed Forces, Group Captain Guy Austin RAF Reserves.
A Copy of the Covenant is attached below:
The speech given by R.W. Bro. James Hiditch
Ladies, Gentlemen, Brethren.
Let me first welcome you to Cardinal House, the centre for Freemasonry in Oxford. On this special occasion, I am particularly pleased to welcome Group Captain Guy Austin, Royal Air Force Reserves, as the representative of the Armed Forces, along with Kate Lole. And also the Heads of all the Orders of Freemasonry which operate here in Oxfordshire.
Organised Freemasonry was conceived over three centuries ago, out of a time of great conflict. Huguenots and Stuarts, Catholics, Protestants and Jews, vying for power and influence in unsettling times. From this crucible of social discord arose an organisation which promoted religious tolerance, something wholly radical in a world characterised by conflict. Freemasonry spoke for meritocracy at a time when birth and wealth determined success; it elected officers subject to democratic accountability, it introduced new norms of civility and discourse and promoted education and self-improvement. Principles which spread around Europe from Grand Lodge to Grand Lodge.
Freemasonry offers a simple philosophical message to its members – to act with integrity, to show respect to our fellows, to be charitable, kind and tolerant and have a huge amount of fun along the way. The purpose is not only to promote virtue, but also to promote a thoughtful approach to being virtuous. It is centred around an analogy of building, or creating, and thus by chipping away our rough edges and our inadequacies we reveal the better people we can be – more fit to serve those less fortunate than ourselves, those who have fared less well in life than us, and those communities from which we are drawn.
At the end of the Second World War a great many sailors, soldiers and airmen, seeking to maintain contact with their former colleagues and recapture the camaraderie they had known in the forces, turned to Freemasonry. It was a golden time for Freemasonry in general as hundreds of new Lodges, each with military connections, were consecrated, and today it is no wonder that so many servicemen, and women, find a parallel between the lives they have led in uniform and the support and friendship they find within lodge.
In October last year, the MW Grand Master HRH The Duke of Kent signed the Armed Forces Covenant on behalf of the United Grand Lodge of England, in recognition of the very high regard that the members of the United Grand Lodge of England have always had for our Armed Forces. Within the masonic province of Oxfordshire, we have many links with the Armed Forces, principally the RAF bases at Brize Norton and Benson, and many of our members have military backgrounds.
As the Head of the Freemasons in Oxfordshire, I am delighted to be signing the Armed Forces Covenant today, as a tangible demonstration of our continued commitment to support the Armed Forces. I invite Group Captain Guy Austin to sign alongside me on behalf of the Armed Forces, and afterwards to say a few words.
The Heads of the Progressive Masonic Orders
From the left
THE ORDER OF THE SECRET MONITOR or Brotherhood of David and Jonathan
PROVINCE OF OXFORDSHIRE, BERKSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE – Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler – R.Wy Bro. Bernd Wegerhoff
UNITED RELIGIOUS, MILITARY AND MASONIC ORDERS OF THE TEMPLE AND OF ST JOHN OF JERUSALEM, PALESTINE, RHODES AND MALTA
PROVINCIAL PRIORY OF OXFORDSHIRE, BERKSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE – Right Eminent Provincial Prior – Graham John McGowan–Smyth
THE MASONIC AND MILITARY ORDER of THE RED CROSS OF CONSTANTINE and THE ORDERS of the HOLY SEPULCHRE and of ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST
RED CROSS OF CONSTANTINE THAMES DIVISION – Intendant–General – R.Ill.Kt. Alan John Baverstock
GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS OF OXFORDSHIRE – Provincial Grand Master – R.W. Bro. Ian Watson Wright
Who is also head of
THE DEGREE OF THE ANCIENT AND HONOURABLE FRATERNITY OF ROYAL ARK MARINER
The Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariner of Oxfordshire – Provincial Grand Master – R.W. Bro. Ian Watson Wright
UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND
OXFORDSHIRE PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE – Provincial Grand Master – RW.Bro. James R.G. Hilditch
Who is also head of
SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER OF ENGLAND
OXFORDSHIRE PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER – Provincial Most Excellent Grand Superintendent – ME.Comp James R.G. Hilditch
BRITISH ARMED FORCES
Honorary Group Captain Guy Austin – Royal Air Force Reserves
The ANCIENT and MASONIC ORDER of the SCARLET CORD
PROVINCIAL GRAND SENATUS OF THE CHILTERNS – Provincial Grand Summus – R Dist.Comp. Dr. Silverio Leonard Ostrowski
THE ORDER OF ROYAL & SELECT MASTERS
District of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire – District Grand Master – R.Ill. Companion Timothy Hancock
THE ORDER OF THE ALLIED MASONIC DEGREES OF ENGLAND AND WALES AND DISTRICTS AND COUNCILS OVERSEAS –
THAMES VALLEY DISTRICT – District Grand Prefect – RW.Bro. Ian Anthony Bailey
THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE Under the Supreme Council 33°
DISTRICT OF OXFORDSHIRE – Inspector General – V. Ill. Bro. Peter G. Jones
THE WORSHIPFUL SOCIETY OF FREE MASONS (Rough Masons, Wallers, Slaters, Paviors, Plaisterers & Bricklayers) “The Operatives”
SOUTHERN COUNTIES REGION – Deputy Grand Master Mason & Senior Passed Master – Rt W. Bro. William H. Winter
Please note that there were three other Progressive Orders not represented, as WBro Ronald J Bridger was unable to attend the Meeting:
THE GRAND COLLEGE of HOLY ROYAL ARCH KNIGHT TEMPLAR PRIESTS and ORDER OF HOLY WISDOM
District No. 16 OXFORDSHIRE, BERKSHIRE & BUCKINGHAMSHIRE – Grand Superintendent and High Prelate – Rt Em Kt Pt Ronald J Bridger
THE ROYAL ORDER OF SCOTLAND Provincial Grand Lodge of the Cotswolds – Provincial Grand Master – Bro. Ronald J Bridger
OXONIUM CONCLAVE OF PILGRIM PRECEPTORS [ No. 31 – Illustrious Preceptor – Ronald J Bridger