Our Provincial Grand Master and Grand Superintendent, Rodney Lister Bass OBE, passed to the Grand Lodge above on the 14th July 2020.
Full details of his passing have already been circulated to all brethren by our Deputy PGM, VW Bro Paul Reeves. His letter can be read here.
Rodney's presence and the ongoing contributions he made to the Province of Essex will be sorely missed and further details will be published on the CUBE as they are made available. Our condolences and thoughts are with his wife and other members of his family at this sad and difficult time. His Eulogy can be read here.
A Message from the Deputy Provincial Grand Master in Charge
Welcome to the website for Freemasons in the Province of Essex. I hope Freemasons and non Freemasons will find something of interest within our pages.
The Grand Lodge of England was founded in 1717 and is widely regarded as the Principal Grand Lodge for Freemasons in the world. However, there is no international organisation as such. Nevertheless, a system of mutual recognition by sovereign Grand Lodges operates successfully. Essex is the fourth largest province in England and Wales with more than 300 Lodges and about 9,000 members.
Freemasonry offers its members an approach to life which seeks to reinforce thoughtfulness for others. Also, kindness in the community, honesty in business, courtesy in society and fairness in all things. Freemasons are urged to regard the interests of the family as paramount but Freemasonry also teaches a concern for people, care for the less fortunate and help for those in need.
Although not our principal activity, charity forms an important part of Freemasonry. It enables us to offer support in many cases of need. Freemasons only collect money at our own functions and not from the public in general but in spite of this, Masonic charities distribute millions of pounds each year to non-Masonic causes.
At the same time as contributing to both national and local charities, Freemasons in Essex have a very special charity. It is called 'Teddies for Loving Care'. This charity provides a constant supply of colourful Teddy Bears to all Accident and Emergency units throughout the county. This scheme was started in March 2001 and has now spread to 34 Masonic Provinces in England and Wales. To date we have donated over 1.25 Million teddies to sick and injured children.
Membership is open to men of all faiths who are law-abiding, of good character and who acknowledge a belief in a supreme deity. I am delighted that Freemasonry continues to attract men of goodwill from all sectors of the community.
Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest, social, secular and charitable organisations. A fraternal organisation that can trace its roots back to the medieval stonemasons who built magnificent monuments such as our cathedrals and castles.
For Freemasons, there are four important values that help define their path through life: Integrity, Friendship, Respect and Charity.
In our current world filled with uncertainty, these principles ring as true today as they have at any point in the history of our organisation.
Integrity - Building good people. Freemasons are focused on integrity and membership provides the structure to help achieve that goal.
Friendship - Building together. Freemasonry lays the foundation for friendships between members, many of which will last for life.
Respect - Building unity. Freemasonry brings people together irrespective of their race, religion or any other perceived differences.
Charity - Building compassion. Kindness and charitable giving are deeply ingrained within the principles of Freemasonry.