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Provincial

Solomon and the

Lodge Officers’ Jewels

A number of Brethren in Essex are part of the Solomon User Group (SUG) which is a module on Solomon
where new items designed by the Learning and Development Team are tried by ‘lead users’ who give
feedback before the material goes live for all users. The current item being reviewed is all about the Lodge
Officers’ Jewels.

Imagine a busy Installation Meeting where the collars have got mixed up and as
you are sitting the closest to them the Worshipful Master looks at you and asks you
to put them in order so he can invest his Officers.
Three well designed introductory quizzes cover matching the officer to the jewel,
the jewel to the officer and a timed quiz to identify the jewels for all the officers
of a lodge. Then comes the fourth quiz called ‘Precedence of Officers’ which is
described as fiendishly difficult with only two minutes to sort all the collars. This
quiz has only one question but if you get it wrong a brother may be invested with
the wrong collar and jewel.
The concept of the tests is first class and practising this way will help any brother make a useful contribution to the smooth
running of proceedings at a busy Installation meeting with the added bonus of becoming more familiar with the Book of
Constitutions Rule 104(d). Do look out for this and other new modules as they are a good way of “fostering curiosity and
developing understanding.

Mental Health Matters

With the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic taking a huge toll on people’s mental wellbeing, the Essex
Cornerstone Club felt it would be a good time to provide a talk on the issue for our members and provide advice
on how to seek help.
2020 was a year that most people would care to forget. Lives and jobs were lost, businesses crumbled and the
nation’s mood, was, and continues to be, filled with trepidation. As we approached the end of 2020, instead of
families gathering round a fireplace to share stories and gifts, they were bound by further restrictions which in turn
created a more sombre atmosphere for most. In times like these, we should take a moment to stop and have an introspective look
at the needs of ourselves and others.
Tragically suicide rates in the UK are still too high. In 2019 for example 5,691 died of suicide. Of that number 4,303 were men. These
numbers of course reflect a time before the global pandemic which has devastated families across the world.
The Essex Cornerstone Club, recognise that Masons across the province have diligently supported and cared for the most vulnerable
in our society throughout the lockdown period. So, in order to support our own heroes, the Cornerstone Club hosted a free event
on the 20th December 2020 which was designed to create an awareness of mental health issues and ways in which to create mental
resilience in these difficult times.

The event was hosted by:
• Hannilee Fish, a Lawyer, Mental Health Practitioner and founder of iKan Health. Hannilee’s book, One Minute Miracles has led her to
deliver mindfulness training to individuals and companies all over the globe;
• Dr Kelly Jones, a Clinical Psychologist who works with the NHS supporting people with dementia, anxiety, trauma and bereavement
and has worked in forensic services across the UK and America; and
• Steve Stanley; a leadership and management facilitator and trainer. Steve is also a personal and executive coach with years of
experience in Neuro Linguistic Programming.
During the event we covered the basics of mental health and the issues most frequently associated with the term. Dr Jones identified
the signs and symptoms which are often found with the most common mental health issues. We also heard several real-life stories
where individuals had overcome adversity and learnt to deal with their own mental health problems. Finally, we looked at the ways
and means by which everyone can take smalls steps to overcome a period of anxiety or stress.
Crucially, the event was designed to encourage everyone to seek help if they have any concerns regarding their own health or that of
another person. There are lots of organisations that offer free and confidential helplines and guidance on how to overcome negative
thoughts or feelings.
The event was a great success with club members joined by members of the Essex Almoners team and many other Essex Freemasons,
with lots of positive feedback from our attendees. The Essex Cornerstone will be hosting a second talk later in the year to supplement
this important topic.
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