50 YEARS AGO

Compiled from the Buffalo Quarterly Journal September 1953

The "M.W.P. Educational Awards" came into being as a result of a Maesteg Testimonial Fund to mark the services of Bro. M. W. Payne (Grand Primo 1934) to the Order. The money realised (£105) was to be invested and the interest therefrom plus any additional donations to be awarded to the orphan who the Grand Primo considers has shown the greatest promise.

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It was announced that the total receipts to the East Coast Flood Distress Fund amounted to £6428.18s. 7d. This was subsequently distributed in the areas affected.

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A report in reference to Headquarters administration was (as was the usual custom of the times) deferred for further consideration. The very next item regarding future Journal policy received similar treatment.

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A long debate took place on a proposal originated by Grand Lodge and suggested by Bro. C. D. Buckle (Grand Lodge Auditor) under the heading of "Fidelity Guarantee Assurance Scheme". This appeared to slightly cut across a previous proposal for a Fidelity Bond Scheme to cover all P. G. Secretaries. There were strong arguments for and against and in the event the Motion to adopt the scheme was declared lost by a substantial majority. So far as we know that is where it still is "Lost".

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A report appears of a seven days celebration programme in the Province of Bradford. There was something different for each day of the week, commencing on the Sunday with a Church Parade. According to the notes published the event must have been a grand affair, but unfortunately nothing is said about the reasons for it, but our guess is that it had something to do with the Queen's Coronation. It would have been nice to include a report of a follow up this year, if only to mark the fact that it was "25 Years Ago".

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The Editor Regrets. We have received an unprecedented number of requests to publish changes of Lodge home but regret that this is impossible for us to undertake this very heavy assignment. In a year they literally number hundreds and on occasions, before their publication in the Journal, they would be moving again. In point of fact, it seemed to one observer that it might be a good idea if we provided a few of our 'regulars' with caravans.

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A two and a half page report tells the story of the 1953 Journal Tour to the Northern Isles and included no less than seven pictures of the events. It was a great pity when these trips had to be abandoned. Cost was the cause and inflation finally killed off the last efforts to keep the Tours going.