ON June 24 1717, four established London Lodges came together at the Goose and Gridiron Tavern in St Paul’s Churchyard. Thereupon, our Grand Lodge, the first in the world, was formed with Anthony Sayer as the Grand Master. Thus United Grand Lodge of England is 300 years old in this year 2017.

The three Brecon Craft Lodges are in the Province of South Wales comprising of over 160 Lodges with Lodges structured throughout the former Counties of Glamorganshire, Breconshire and Radnorshire. The Provincial Grand Master for South Wales, R.W. Bro. Gareth Jones OBE was of the opinion that 2017 was a wonderful opportunity to reach out to our communities with pride and show what we as Freemasons do for the good of society. Our actions could dispel some of the myths about our Craft and attract more good men to our ranks. His wish for this most important year was that all Lodges or masonic centres should hold at least one event to celebrate the 300 years.

A Freemasons Lodge was first recorded as meeting in Brecon in 1764. The Brecknock Lodge No 651 in its current form has been meeting in Brecon since 1855 some 162 years. To celebrate the tercentenary of the formation of Grand Lodge it was decided to invite ladies and gentlemen to the after proceedings of the November Lodge Meeting. What better way to promote this momentous occasion than by upholding one of the main tenets of our organisation – support for charity.

Freemasons raise monies for charitable purposes from within the membership where, every Brother is expected to contribute. Last year the Brecknock Lodge earned the Province’s Gold Award for contributions to the 2021 Festival Appeal where each registered member of the Lodge has committed to a sum of one thousand pounds over the period to 2021

At the Festive Board at the Castle Hotel, Brecon on November 29 the Worshipful Master of the Brecknock Lodge, W, Bro,. John Ingham welcomed Distinguished Guests including the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, W. Bro. William Jenkins and the Provincial Grand Charity Steward, W. Bro. John T.J. Davies.

The formalities of the evening commenced with the Worshipful Master presenting the Loyal Toast. Then followed W. Bro. Ian Swain who informed those present that the donations received from the recent internment of his father, W. Bro. John Swain, a honorary member of the Breckock Lodge would be donated to Air Ambulance, This being a sum of £5,000. It was also announced that W. Bro. John had made a bequest in his will that a sum of £5,000 should be gifted to the Brecknock Lodge for the Brethren to enjoy a glass of wine when dining after the Lodge Meeting.

Mrs Dorothy Swain, his widow, was in attendance and it was her suggestion that this special evening would be an ideal time to start the bequest and that all the Ladies present and the wine on the tables should be paid for from the bequest. As can be imagined a hearty toast to the memory of our late Brother was forthcoming.

The Worshipful master then presented a cheque for £200 to Moira Parfitt of Calan Domestic Violence Services. This organisation had previously written to the Lodge asking for support for the purchase of a television set for their refuge.

The Assistant Provincial Grand Master then gave an overview of the tercentenary celebrations in the Province and was then followed by the Provincial Grand Charity Steward who gave many interesting facts and figures on the sums of money donated in the Province to Masonic and Non Masonic petitioners.

The Charity Steward of the Brecknock Lodge, W. Bro. Graham Richards, was then introduced and he announced £1,000 donations to the following organisations in the name of the Brecknock Lodge No 651: The Salvation Army Homeless Christmas Appeal; Feed the Homeless Cardiff; Feed the Homeless Swansea; St Johns Ambulance Brecon; Macmillan (Mid Wales); Usk House Brecon; Brecon Mountain Rescue; Brecon Scouts; Brecon Guides; The Mark 150th Anniversary 2020 Appeal; The 2021 Craft Festival Appeal; TLC Teddies for Loving care Appeal; Albert Edward Prince of Wales Court Dementia Support; Noahs Ark Appeal; Lotus Orphanage Appeal in Sri Lanka.

As there were 15 charities in all, this adds up to the magnificent sum of £15,000.

Also in attendance were honoured guests from the Powys Teaching Health Board representing the Brecon War Memorial Hospital, namely, the chair Professor Vivienne Harpwood, the chief executive Carol Shillabeer with locality general manager south Margy Fowler and Sue Pearce, the integrated clinical team manager for Brecon and Bronllys.

The highlight of this memorable evening was when W. Bro. Graham Richards presented a cheque to Professor Vivienne Harpwood in the name of Brecon Freemasons for £50,000 for the benefit of the Brecon War Memorial Hospital in appreciation and recognition of the services and care given to Freemasons and their families and indeed to the whole Brecon and district community. All in all this was a momentous and fitting celebration of the formation of the United Grand Lodge.

Any gentleman interested in become a Freemason has to apply to join a Lodge and convince the members that he is of good repute, a believer in the God of his religion and prepared to be generous in charitable giving. We welcome men of any race, colour or creed. Our aim is to make good men better by being reminded of their duty to society, law abiding and conscious of the needs of those less fortunate, both masons and non-masons alike.

During the course of the evening and in celebration of the tercentenary year, a total of £70,200 was donated for charitable purposes.