Making Visiting Work

Over the last few months we have been fortunate to have had a number of Middlesex Lodges perform ceremonies on our behalf and it's always great to get positive feed back.

Our candidate and his father

So, on one of my recent tours of Masonic websites, I came across this entry on the website of Middlesex St.Andrews Lodge No.8897. A Lodge with great traditions and ritual, who recently performed a Raising ceremony for one of our members.
The text was as follows:
"Many thanks go to North Harrow Lodge No. 6557 for giving a purpose to our meeting on 22nd March 2013. Bro. James Flood was raised by Middlesex St. Andrews and proved to be an exceptional candidate. Our March meeting was looking pretty grim a couple of months ago but with the assistance and co-operation of North Harrow Lodge, this meeting proved to be a pleasant change. One sour note (from our point of view) was the Festive Board, where the North Harrow visitors managed to walk off with all of the raffle prizes, which included some exceptional bottles of whisky!"

Their Secretary

Their W.M 

The hospitality shown to the six North Harrow visitors by Middlesex St.Andrews was exceptional, even though we did win three bottles of malt whisky and a bottle of wine ! Oopps !! Thank you from all at North Harrow !!!

A Time for Reflection

Howard

A year has passed and I thought It's time to reflect on the work that has been achieved with the help of many of the Masonic Lodges in the Province of Middlesex.
Over the last twelve months North Harrow Lodge has performed ELEVEN  initiations, ONE passing and TWO Raisings and welcomed into our fold a further THREE Joining Members.

James & his Father Richard

FOUR other Middlesex Lodges namely Hegeston 5220 (3), Haste Hill 7592 (2), Campbell 1415 (2) and Hercies 9651, have performed EIGHT Ceremonies of Passing on our behalf and a further SEVEN Lodges namely  Middx St.Davids 5460 (2), Syon 7394, Wealdstone 5236, Middx St.Andrews 8897, Wembley 2914, The Hale 5141 and Sudbury 4529, have performed EIGHT Ceremonies of Raising for us.

Feliciano

Our sincere thanks and gratitude go to these Lodges for performing some outstanding rituals, extending the hand of friendship and have ultimately helped us to clear the THIRTY ceremonies that we had projected at the start of 2012. (Photographs are of some of this year's Master Masons in no particular ) and what a great bunch they are!!!!

The Sec with Navin

That has also meant that we have made over THIRTY visits to other Lodges in the last year and built a friendship that, I am sure, will last well into the future. My special thanks must also go to our Worshipful Master W.Bro Terry Clayfield who has accompanied me on most occasions in support of our candidates.
Our TEN new Master Masons continue to impress us.  ALL have taken an office in the Lodge which range from Stewards to SD and play an active part in the ceremonies, festive boards and Lodge of Instruction meetings.

Feliciano & Rimal

It has enthused the membership and empowered the new brethren to progress.
Now we look forward to the future and have another THREE initiations scheduled and a total of THIRTEEN 2nd and 3rd Degrees outstanding.

Aamir, Our W.M  & Howard

Simon & Guy (VO)

From November last year, we have also continued to share our success with others by passing TEN Candidates for initiation to NINE Lodges.
70% of our initiates have come through our website or Social Media and the rest through their respective connections.
Lets hope that our success in membership will encourage more Lodges to embrace the Internet as a tool in recruitment.

Showing the Way Forward

As a follow up on my last post. I felt honoured to have been asked by UGLE to present one of four case studies into how North Harrow Lodge has been successful  in recruiting an unprecedented number of  new members through it's Website and Social Media presence.
It must have been an early start for most of the delegates who attended the 5th Annual Mentoring Conference at Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday 6th March as they came from all parts of the country for the 11am start. I found myself travelling into Central London on the tube at about 8.30 in the morning, something I have not experienced before, that is at "rush hour". Standing room only !! more like a cattle truck. Every other person was either on a mobile phone or an electronic device. (This is the way forward to attract potential member ! He Thinks)