The Marquis of Northampton

Luz do Oriente has known that R:.W:. Brother, the Marquis of Northampton, is going to cease his functions as Pro-Grand Master of UGLE. He is going to be succeed by his deputy. A reference to the first visit he made to Portugal and its participation in the General Assembly of the Grand Legal Lodge of Portugal appears in the revue Freemasonry Today. His Excellency is a good friend of Portugal and of Portuguese regular Freemasons. GLLP is in debt for the support he gave us throughout the years.

200 Years Since Freemasonry was Established in Portugal

The regular Grand Lodge of Portugal, founded in 1991 and recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England in 1992, on June 14th-15th, celebrated its own 11th anniversary and the 200th anniversary of the original Charter granted to the first Portuguese regular Grand Lodge by English Freemasonry in 1802. A delegation from England attended the celebration. It was headed by the Pro Grand Master, the Marquis of Northampton, and the Grand Secretary, Robert Morrow, together with two great friends of Portuguese Freemasonry, RMBI President, Brian Smith, and Peter Kitson. Also present were delegations from the Grand Orient of Brazil, led by the Grand Secretary, the Grand Loge National Français, led by the Assistant Grand Master, and the Grand Lodge of Spain, led by the Grand Master. The delegations were received by the President of the Portuguese Parliament, Mota Amaral, the Prime Minister of Portugal, Durão Barroso and the Mayor of Lisbon, Santana Lopes. In addition, the President of the Republic of Portugal, who was absent from Lisbon, sent a message stressing the values of Regular Freemasonry. On the morning of the 15th, the delegations visited an hermetic and Templar palace at Sintra, the Quinta da Regaleira, guided by the Grand Master of Portugal, José M. Anes, who is a specialist on these subjects. The Portuguese Grand Master and Lord Northampton were then both interviewed on a national television programme. In the afternoon, the Portuguese Grand Lodge formally met in the Estoril (Palace of the Congresses) in the presence of about 300 Portuguese Freemasons. As a significant mark of respect, Lord Northampton was created an Honorary Grand Master of Portugal. The day ended with a well attended ladies’ night. These events were fully covered in the major Portuguese newspapers.