Michael Gray, QCCC’s Local Secretary in Singapore, is now responsible for the Masonic Library and has created a new website: www.singaporemasoniclibrary.com. The Library is located at Freemasons’ Hall at 23A Coleman Street and holds around 1,500 books and periodicals, with an emphasis on material relating to the Eastern Archipelago.
It is with great sadness that we record the death of RW Bro. Dr Roeinton Khambatta, Master of QC in 2000, Prestonian Lecturer for 2007, and an Honorary Member of the Lodge. Roeinton died peacefully in his sleep on 19 December 2018, aged 94.
Roeinton was born in 1924 and made a mason in Lodge Zoroaster (SC). In 1965 he joined Lodge Faith No 2438 (EC). That lodge then met in Karachi in the District of Punjab and was his father’s and grandfather’s lodge. Five years later Roeinton was installed as District Grand Master and Grand Superintendent of Pakistan, holding those offices until his resignation in 1976 following the banning of freemasonry by the government of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq.
Roeinton moved to London where he practised as a Consultant Cardiologist until his retirement, becoming a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London and Edinburgh, and an Emeritus Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the American College of Chest Physicians. He was not only active in London masonry but also in the Provinces of Suffolk, Hertfordshire, and Worcestershire, in all of which he held the rank of Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden. In total, Roeinton was a member of 16 lodges and 8 chapters under the EC, and in 1988/9 served as a Grand Steward on the nomination of Lodge of Felicity No. 58, and was the President of his Board. He was awarded the Order of Service to Masonry in 2012.
In addition to membership of many other orders, the 32° was conferred on Roeinton in the Valley of Washington, D.C., on 20 May 2010. He will be missed by many.
Hugh MacDonald is our latest Local Secretary for Wiltshire. He was initiated into the Lodge of Amity No.171 in 2007, raised in 2009, and exalted into The Chapter of Light No. 2721. He joined Moonraker Lodge (Wiltshire) No. 8747 in 2018. Hugh has a keen interest in archaeology, history and theology, and researches the origins of Ancient and Modern Freemasonry. He has written academic papers under his own name and publishes poetry and fiction under a pen name. Hugh can be contacted at macdonald1411@icloud.com and 07788278638.
Welcome to Andy Tong, our latest Local Secretary. Andy lives in Cheshire and has been a freemason for more than fifteen years. He is a Past Master of two Craft lodges and a member of two RA chapters, two OSM Conclaves and a Court of Athelstan. He is the founding Commander of the OSM, Arch of Steel and an active member of the Grand Supreme Rulers Arch of Steel. He is a Past Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works in Craft, and Founder Chairman of the Cheshire Provincial Royal Arch Companions Forum. Andy can be contacted at andy.tong@totalise.co.uk.
Welcome to Lance Kennedy, our newest Local Secretary based in Dallas, Texas. Lance is an attorney and a seventh-generation Texan. He is a member of the Texas Lodge of Research and can be contacted at lance.kennedy@gmail.com.
AQC 131 is being mailed out to QCCC members this week. UK members should receive their copy in the next few days, depending on the efficiency or otherwise of their local postal service, and overseas members within the next couple of weeks. We are aware of major and minor delays in various countries, including customs-related delays, and Royal Mail provide a helpful daily bulletin of issues which are or may be affecting mail services around the world. This information is updated regularly and can be checked on demand by clicking here.
Osmar Osvaldo Müller Jr. has today been appointed QCCC’s Local Secretary in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. He was initiated and passed in 1993, raised in 1994, and became master of Tiradentes VI Lodge, No. 1553, in 2000, and again in 2008 and 2015. He is a member of Emulation Lodge Hippolyto Joseph da Costa, No. 9954 (UGLE), active in Royal Arch, and is the current secretary of Social Security and Assistance for GOB-RS. Osmar can be contacted at osmarmullerjr@hotmail.com.
It is a delight to welcome Simon Rivers as QCCC’s new Local Secretary in Western Australia. Simon was born in the UK, initiated, passed and raised in London, and remains a member of St George’s Chapter, No.5 (EC). He is a founder member of of Cornerstone Lodge, No.368, in WA, where he has served twice as WM and is currently Secretary. He is a Past Junior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge of Western Australia and has a passionate interest ain masonic research. Simon can be contacted at simon.j.rivers@icloud.com.
We are only a few days away from the end of the 2018 QCCC subscription year and if any member has not paid their 2018 membership dues by Friday, 30 November, they will not receive AQC 131, which will be mailed out next month.
In order to prevent this, please Sign In to your QCCC Account or go to Find My Account and check your status & pay. If you have not already done so, you may need to Register to confirm or amend your details. Once registration is complete, an automated email will give you your membership number and you can log in using that information.
If any renewing member has any difficulties, please call us 01778 392023 (or +44 1778 392023 if dialing from a non-UK number), or email subscriptionsmanagement@warnersgroup.co.uk referencing QCCC. Thanks – we don’t want to lose you!
Welcome to Rubens Caldeira Monteiro, our new Local Secretary in Rio de Janeiro. Rubens is the Grand Secretary of Foreign Relations of the Grand Lodge of the State of Rio de Janeiro, and a PM of and Secretary Ad Hoc for Quatuor Coronati do Rio de Janeiro Lodge No. 145, GLMERJ. He is also a member of Internet Lodge No. 9659 , UGLE, and is active in many other orders including Royal Arch, (First Principal of Impeesa Chapter No. 6); Mark, (Past Master of Impeesa Mark Lodge No. 20); and Royal Ark Mariner, (Past Commander of Impeesa Lodge of Royal Ark Mariner No. 20), among others.
Rubens can be contacted at aprendiz.pitagorico@yahoo.com.br and by phone (+55 (21) 98183-2626).