{"id":4961,"date":"2020-03-23T20:34:56","date_gmt":"2020-03-23T19:34:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gpsj.co.uk\/?p=4961"},"modified":"2020-03-23T20:49:48","modified_gmt":"2020-03-23T19:49:48","slug":"freemasons-are-inviting-the-whole-country-to-toast-absent-friends-and-those-working-on-the-frontline-in-the-nhs-at-9pm-tonight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gpsj.co.uk\/?p=4961","title":{"rendered":"Freemasons are inviting the whole country to toast \u2018absent friends, and those working on the frontline in the NHS\u2019 at 9pm tonight"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Dr David Staples, Chief Executive of the United Grand Lodge of England<\/p><\/div>\n

Reporter: Stuart Littleford<\/span><\/p>\n

Freemasons are calling for the whole community to ensure no one feels alone, even if they are physically self-isolating, by remembering them in a toast at 9pm tonight.<\/p>\n

The 200,000 strong membership organisation traditionally toasts \u2018absent Brethren\u2019 to remember those who are unable to attend their meetings in person at the dinner that takes place afterwards.<\/p>\n

The organisation is adapting the usual 9pm toast\u00a0it makes during its dinners and inviting everyone to join in to toast \u2018absent friends, and those working on the frontline in the NHS\u2019.<\/p>\n

Dr David Staples, Chief Executive of the United Grand Lodge of England, has called for the Freemasons\u2019 regular toast to be a \u2018virtual\u2019 toast \u2013 using #TimetoToast <\/strong>online \u2013 and extended to all those we cannot meet with, yet remain close in our thoughts.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cWe want everyone to join in at 9pm tonight and raise a glass to those we cannot be with in person due to the huge challenges facing the country. Stay safe, self-isolate but know that you are not alone.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are all unable to do those things we previously took for granted, that are so precious to us all \u2013 meeting with friends at the pub or for a coffee, enjoying each other\u2019s company. Being social, in its small way, is something we can still all share. We invite everyone to raise a glass to help raise spirits.\u201d<\/p>\n

Christine Chapman, Head of Freemasonry for Women, added: “We must combat loneliness by ensuring that, even if we are all in our own homes, we are still connecting across the country. Dr Staples and I urge everyone to charge their glass at 9pm and say a toast to absent friends, and those working on the frontline of the NHS.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dr David Staples, Chief Executive of the United Grand Lodge of England<\/p>\n

Reporter: Stuart Littleford<\/p>\n

Freemasons are calling for the whole community to ensure no one feels alone, even if they are physically self-isolating, by remembering them in a toast at 9pm tonight.<\/p>\n

The 200,000 strong membership organisation traditionally toasts \u2018absent Brethren\u2019 to <\/p>\n

Continue reading Freemasons are inviting the whole country to toast \u2018absent friends, and those working on the frontline in the NHS\u2019 at 9pm tonight<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[1700,1698,1699,1697,25,417,26,264,21,122,416,422],"class_list":["post-4961","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nhs-healthcare","tag-timetotoast","tag-christine-chapman","tag-dr-david-staples","tag-freemasons","tag-government-public-sector-journal","tag-government-journal","tag-gpsj","tag-gpsj-magazine","tag-more-news","tag-nhs","tag-public-sector-journal","tag-public-sector-magazine","odd"],"yoast_head":"\nFreemasons are inviting the whole country to toast \u2018absent friends, and those working on the frontline in the NHS\u2019 at 9pm tonight - Government & Public Sector Journal<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gpsj.co.uk\/?p=4961\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Freemasons are inviting the whole country to toast \u2018absent friends, and those working on the frontline in the NHS\u2019 at 9pm tonight - Government & Public Sector Journal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Dr David Staples, Chief Executive of the United Grand Lodge of England Reporter: Stuart Littleford Freemasons are calling for the whole community to ensure no one feels alone, even if they are physically self-isolating, by remembering them in a toast at 9pm tonight. 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