The special relationship between the armed services and freemasonry continues.
On Friday, the head of Cumbria Freemasons, Bill Bewley, signed the Armed Forces Covenant on behalf of the Freemasons of Cumbria. The signing took place at 11am at Carlisle Castle and a generous donation was then presented to the Museum of Military Life.
There has always been a special relationship between the Armed Services and Freemasonry, as both institutions value the same principles of integrity, respect and friendship. With so much conflict existing in the world, it is only right that Freemasons publicly support and uphold the Armed Services Covenant.
The Right Honorable, the Lord Inglewood, Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Commander Philp Burns, Royal Navy, (retired), MBE, DL. Colonel Thomas McMullen, Army, (retired), OBE, DL. Captain Peter Reynolds, Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment. Air Commodore Peter Smith, Royal Air Force, (retired), DL. Wing Commander Kathryn Smith, Royal Air Force, (retired) were all in attendance.
Two Covenants were signed, a Cumberland and Westmorland Covenant and the Official MOD Covenant document.
The official MOD Covenant was signed by the head of Cumbria Freemasons, Bill Bewley on behalf of the Freemasons of Cumbria and Captain Peter Reynolds of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment on behalf of the MOD.
The Cumberland and Westmorland Covenant was signed (in addition to the head of Cumbria Freemasons and Captain Reynolds) by the invited guests named above.
All Her Majesty’s Armed Forces were represented at the ceremony.
The Covenant is a pledge that Freemasons acknowledge and understand that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy and the society they serve with their lives.
The covenant supports serving personnel, service leavers, veterans, and their families and is fulfilled by groups or and organisations who have signed the covenant and committed to making a difference by supporting those who are or who have served the country.
Cumbria Freemasons recognise that no member of the armed forces community should face disadvantage and they will be supported and respected.
