District Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees of Sussex

On Saturday, 21 March, the District Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees of Sussex held its Annual District Meeting at East Brighton Masonic Centre, Peacehaven, it was a VERY sunny Sussex by the Sea.
R.W.Bro. ER (Gene) Earland, District Grand Prefect, opened the meeting in due form and then received his salutation led by the Dist.G.D.C. W.Bro. Greg Shackelton, P.G.J.D.
The Dep.Dist.G.D.C. W.Bro. Steven Davies, then headed the salutation to the other R.W.Brethren. present; R.W.Bro. Ron Slater, Dist.G.Pref. for District of Severn replied appropriately on behalf of the seven visiting Dist.G.Prefs. and other R.W.Brethren.
V.W.Bro. WJT (Toby) Pratt,P.G.Reg. then entered and stated that the Deputy Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Colin R Woodcock was in attendance and demanded admittance. R.W.Bro. Gene greeted V.W.Bro. Toby, a Sussex Brother, (Grafton Council No.26), who then escorted the Deputy Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Colin R Woodcock, into the meeting.
R.W.Bro. Gene was delighted to welcome the Deputy Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Colin R Woodcock, (also a member of Sussex Ashdown Council No.86). V.W.Bro. Toby then called the Brethren to order and the Deputy Grand Master was saluted with nine. R.W.Bro. Woodcock replied appropriately.
The brethren then paid their respects to departed Sussex Brethren.
R.W.Bro. Gene greeted all the guests in his own inimitable and humorous fashion, receiving similar responses from the Dist.G.Prefs. and other guests.
Following the business items, R.W.Bro. Gene re-appointed W.Bro. Ivor MH Bennett as Deputy District Grand Prefect and then continued by appointing and investing his Team of District Officers.

Before closing the District Meeting, R.W.Bro. Gene addressed the Brethren in a somewhat (for him) subdued manner. When he had greeted the guests earlier, he had informed all the brethren that he had spoken to the Grand Master M.W.Bro. Thomas F Jackson informing him that he (Gene) intended to retire as Dist.G.Pref. before the next District Annual meeting and, consequently, this would be his last District Meeting as Dist.G.Pref.
R.W.Bro. Gene stated that holding the office of Dist.G.Pref. for District Grand Council of Sussex has been the pinnacle of his masonic career and that he had been proud both to lead and represent the District of Sussex for the last 6 years and that it was his intention to visit all the Councils of Sussex and various other Districts during the remainder of his tenure.
After a very enjoyable festive board, R.W.Bro. Gene. was toasted by W.Bro. Ivor Bennett P.G.Swd.B, Dep.Dist.G.M.. The Toast was humorous and especially when he regaled a few attributes of R.W.Bro. Gene especially his Legendary Navigation skill.
R.W.Bro. Gene replied particularly mentioning the presence of the previous two Dist.G.Prefs. of Sussex R.W.Bro. C Martin Wilson and R.W.Bro. Roger F Richardson. R.W.Bro. Gene then informed the brethren that it was in fact R.W.Bro. Roger F Richardson's birthday and the brethren uproariously sang Happy Birthday.
The remainder of R.W.Bro. Gene's response whilst thanking the Brethren for their presents both for himself and for his wife Sandra, he further stated how proud he was to have represented Sussex as the Dist.G.Pref. Then while wishing all present the very best for the future, he became quite emotional.

Content Credits: Ivor Bennett

A.M.D. District of London holds the inaugural meeting of Universal Council No. 286

Following a very successful consecration meeting in February, the inaugural meeting of the District of London's latest Council was held at Mark Masons' Hall on Friday 6 June 2025 in the packed Hong Kong Temple.

The membership had travelled from London to Scotland and from Rio de Janeiro to Cyprus - as well as many other countries - to be part of the exciting new initiative founded to celebrate the universality of the Allied Masonic Degrees.

The highlight of the meeting was the introduction of 8 new brethren into the Degree of St Lawrence the Martyr and who were then created Knights of Constantinople in fine theatrical style, with Bro. Tom Gold as Conductor dramatically demeaning all of us "commoners" with much derision and causing much merriment. We then accepted 2 brethren as joining members, thereby making Universal Council the largest Council  (with 53 members) in the District of London. When discussing the business for the next meeting it was forecast that there were to be further joiners as well as brethren wishing to join the Order!

After the meeting the brethren took refreshments before enjoying an excellent meal with quality wines. The evening the finished with the Worshipful Master raising a glass to our next merry meeting.

If you are interested in visiting or joining this vibrant Council, please contact the Secretary via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Cross-Border Allied Masonry

On Tuesday, the Britannic Council of Madeira No. 46 (District of London) had its summer meeting at Mark Masons' Hall and, in an arrangement that looks like becoming a permanent fixture, extended the hand of Allied friendship to the Eric White Council No. 136 (District of Essex) which was also meeting at Mark Masons' Hall an hour or so beforehand.

The members of Eric White Council were only too happy to attend the BCM meeting and help with the ceremony of the Red Cross of Babylon for 4 candidates (one of whom was one of their members). The ceremony saw some fine am-dram performances - a particularly sozzled Master of the Household and a sycophantic Master of the Cavalry - which kept everyone entertained.

The D.C. of Britannic Council of Madeira, W.Bro. Boon Tan, gave a superb and heartfelt performance as the Thrice Illustrious Sovereign.

Afterwards the members of Britannic Council of Madeira, Eric White Council and the other visitors from the District of London dined together and after the Festive Board drank a hearty toast "to our next merry meeting!"