Scouting & Freemasonry 2

Warwickshire Scout Lodge No. 9648

Leaders and similar Youth organizations. Their origin dates back to 1952 at a gathering of Scouter/Masons held at Scout House in London, England.

They proposed that a meeting of Lodges with a similar dual membership would be of great interest to all. Since then regular biannual meetings have been held. Some at Freemason's Hall, Great Queen St., London and throughout the U.K. The "host" Lodge prepares a program, which has included 17th Century Degree Teams, Prestonian Lectures, Masonic Choirs & Orchestral Concerts, etc. in all, usually over two hundred attend, with most in uniform and Masonic clothing. Quite a colourful gathering.

The Association comprises Lodges around the World including 28 in England, 1 in Scotland, 1 in Ireland, 2 in Wales, 10 in Australia, 1 in New Zealand, 1 in Germany together with Scouter/Masonic Clubs in New York and in Canada. There are also many individual Scouter/Masons who are not with a "Youth" Lodges but are affiliated members.

It is interesting to note that two Lodges within The Grand Lodge of Canada in The Province of Ontario - Spry Lodge No. 385 in Beeton and Spry Lodge No. 406 in Fenelon Falls are named after M.W.Bro.Daniel Spry, Grand Master 1882/1883, whose Grandson Major General Daniel C.Spry became the Chief Executive of Scouts Canada in 1946 and Director General of the World Bureau of Scouting in 1953. He was also the youngest General of the Canadian Army in World War II.

Lodge Baden-Powell U.G.L. of N.S.W.

A special cloth emblem, in limited numbers, has been produce by Lodge Baden-Powell, to commemorate the meeting held on January 4, 1988 for the Freemasons who attended the 16th World Jamboree in Cataract Scout Park.

The emblem features the Square and Compasses, the Scout emblem and depicts the Main Gateway at the entrance to Cataract Scout Park. The Gateway, constructed by The United Grand Lodge of New South Wales, serves as a reminder the Freemasonry is interesting in assisting today's youth to grow to responsible manhood and citizenship.

Our future is our bond with our Youth.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was originally written by Bro. Kerr for the Ontario Mason, and is reprinted with his permission.

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