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          Printed in the August 1994 Issue
          
                  WELSH MASONIC CHOIR
          
          "WE CAN NO LONGER HIDE OUR LIGHT UNDER THE
          BUSHEL BASKET; RATHER, WE MUST LET THE WORLD
          KNOW WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE DO, WHAT WE STAND
          FOR AND THAT WE ARE PROUD OF IT." M.W. PGM B.
          Hope Harrison, Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. of Maryland.
          
             Origin - Formation - Mission
          
          It started as the outgrowth of a casual conversation between
          William L. Hughes, 32*, a member of Charity Lodge No. 134 of
          Freeland, MD and the Scottish Rite, S.J., Valley of Baltimore,
          and Dr. J. Noel Roberts, Past Master of Segontium Lodge and
          an officer in the Provincial Grand Lodge of North Wales, U.K.
          Dr. Roberts was then on tour in America with the Cor Meibion
          Caernarfon Male Voice Choir and it was soon revealed that
          several other members of the choir were also Masons. 
          
          Bro. Hughes thought: "Wouldn't it be great to have a choir from
          "The Land of Song", formed entirely of Masons from within
          various professional choirs in Wales, and bring them to the
          United States." 
          
          He and W. Bro. Roberts envisioned the choir as a vehicle to sow
          good seed for Freemasonry by reaching out in the community to
          both the already initiated as well as the uninitiated.
          
          The Provincial Grand Lodge of North Wales and the United
          Grand Lodge of England granted permission for the international
          undertaking. The heretofore vision germinated and started on
          the road to reality. Auditions were held and the non-profit
          Masonic Choir of North Wales, known in Welsh as Cor Seiri
          Rhyddion Gogledd Cymru, composed of 50 talented Masons
          from 29 different Lodges scattered throughout rugged North
          Wales was formed.  
          
          W. Bro. T. Gwynn Jones of Llanfairfechan, retired Headmaster
          of the Colwyn Bay School at Clwyd, Past Master of St. Mary's
          Lodge and an officer in the Provincial Grand Lodge of North
          Wales, was selected as Music Director. W. Bro. Jones
          matriculated at the University of Wales and Trinity College of
          Music at London. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. 
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
               First United States Tour
          
          "Who dares nothing, need hope for nothing." It was a bold
          venture for The Masonic Choir of North Wales. Would this effort
          achieve the desired results - that is to revitalize, enrich and
          strengthen our Fraternity?
          On September 10, 1987, after a jubilant send off in Llandudno,
          North Wales by 1,500 well-wishers, the choir members
          accompanied by spouses arrived at Baltimore-Washington
          International Airport, to be greeted by Masonic dignitaries before
          being escorted to a reception at Boumi Shrine Temple in
          Baltimore where they met their host families. The prayer five
          years before had come true. Our Welsh brethren will forever
          cherish the fact this was the first time a Masonic choir from
          another country performed in the United States.
          Thus began, under the auspices of the Grand Masters of
          Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York, a whirlwind 11-day tour
          that brought the choir, its soloists, harpist and pianist to eager
          audiences in churches, Lodges, Masonic Homes, and public
          gatherings in the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania and New
          York.
          Aristotle, quoting Musaeus (c. 900 B.C.) said: "Song is man's
          sweetest joy". The Masonic Choir of North Wales delivered that
          joy with a varied repertoire in Welsh and English to appreciative
          and responsive audiences. They received praise and rave
          reviews by the media wherever they performed. 
          Bro. S. Robert Powell termed a duet with harp accompaniment
          "a seamless fusion of the two voices and harp.". He said that at
          the end of their performance he was quite prepared to emigrate
          to Wales and there spend the rest of his life. 
          A special feature of the tour was the use of host families where
          choir members could lodge. Many friendships were formed that
          later resulted in trips by the hosts to the homes of choir
          members in Wales.
                       Concerts
          
          Concerts, the source of fundsfor the tour, were held at Grace
          United Methodist Church, Baltimore, MD, the Masonic Temple-
          Scottish Rite Cathedral, Scranton, PA and First Presbyterian
          Church, Utica, NY. Members of Demolay, Job's Daughters and
          Rainbow for Daughters served as ushers.
          Their concerts provided a two-fold fellowship opportunity - to
          bring members and their families from various Lodges together
          and for members to invite worthy prospective members and their
          families to an event which exemplifies our high values. 
          
                     Fort McHenry
          
          As a public part of their first U. S. tour, the choir, in splendid
          formal attire, accompanied by the U. S. Navy Band, sang several
          selections before a patriotic crowd of 7,000 assembled at Fort
          McHenry.  The old fort came alive with their dynamic rendition of
          The Star Spangled Banner during a mock bombardment of the
          fort. This was the first time that a Masonic group participated in
          Defender's Day ceremonies at this historic landmark. Later,
          Congresswoman Helen Delich Bentley would praise the choir's
          performance in a lengthy Commendation in the Congressional
          Record.
          
          U.S. Constitution Bicentennial Ceremony
          
          The Masonic Choir of North Wales gladly accepted an invitation
          to sing at the mammoth U.S. Constitution Bicentennial
          Ceremony at Philadelphia attended by President Reagan, the 50
          Governors and thousands of citizens. This was the only group
          from another country participating in this prestigious event. Their
          moving rendition of our National Anthem not only drew an
          unprecedented encore, it inspired the huge audience to sing with
          them and became a highlight on nationwide television. It was a
          spectacular day for Freemasonry and will be long remembered.
          
                     London - 1992
          
          On June 10, 1992, The Masonic Choir of North Wales was
          singularly honored to sing before 12,000 Brethren from around
          the world who met in London to celebrate the 275th anniversary
          of the United Grand Lodge of England. 
          
                    Next U.S. Tour
          
          They came, they sang, they conquered, and they'd like to come
          to the United States again. 
          To develop an itinerary of six concerts and other appearances by
          The Masonic Choir of North Wales in a cluster of cities for a
          tour in the Fall of 1995, inquiries are now being sought and
          should be directed to Bro. William L. Hughes, 19239 Middletown
          Road, Parkton, MD 21120. Recordings by the choir will be
          provided upon request. 