A FREEMSONRY lodge has celebrated a special anniversary by donating £10,000 to groups in Herefordshire.

Delphis Lodge, one of 15 meeting in the county, marked the 300th anniversary of the foundation of the first Grand Lodge in London in 1717 by handing out the grants.

Representatives of 10 local charities were invited to a special event at Hereford’s Masonic Hall in Kyrle Street to receive their donations.

The Charity Steward of Delphis Lodge, David Knowles, welcomed them and invited them to speak for a few minutes about their organisations before they were each presented with a cheque for £1,000 by the Master of the Lodge, Roy Davies.

Following the presentations from the charities the Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire, the Rev’d David Bowen, and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Mike Roff, gave a short history of Freemasonry in general and the Province of Herefordshire in particular. They emphasised the importance of charity in Freemasonry, with more than £33million being collected and donated nationally each year. All this money comes from Freemasons and their immediate connections, and no money is raised from the public in general.

Following a talk on the history of the Kyrle Street building by a long-standing Mason and member of Delphis Lodge, Tony Weal, all enjoyed a buffet lunch, and the opportunity to discuss with each other the issues they face in carrying out charitable work in the county. They all warmly thanked the members of Delphis Lodge for their generosity and for the opportunity to meet together at Hereford’s Masonic Hall.

The charities receiving donations were:

Alzheimer’s Society, Close House Youth Centre, Drybridge Day Care Centre, Hereford Deaf Children’s Society, MacMillan Renton Unit, Marie Curie, Mind, Riding for the Disabled, Scouts, Yeleni Support Centre