The Brentwood Gazette’s Weekly Teaser — 24-6-2015: Grand Lodgers.

You know, I’m thankful, I’ve got an iTunes Store account.

Really.

A few weeks ago, I managed to destroy an external hard drive: one with family photos on it: AND with all my backed-up TV box sets.

Bit of a git, that.

However, with help, I’m re-building the TV collection: if not the family photos.

Saying that, one or two bits are totally gone: including my copy of An Adventure in Time and Space, the dramatised version of the early days of Dr Who.

Frankly … ?   I downloaded it from the iTunes Store: and I’m currently re-watching it through my Apple TV.

And I have to admit: it still looks fantastic.

~≈Á≈~

But, at any rate, it’s Wednesday: regardless of whatever I’m watching on TV.

And, as a Wednesday … ?   That means it’s time for the Brentwood Gazette’s Weekly Teaser.

Here’s this week’s questions: covered by the usual Creative Commons License* … 

Q1) 24th June saw the founding of Britain’s first Grand Lodge.   What fraternal organisation did it organize?

Q2) In which year of the 18th Century was it founded?

Q3) What’s the modern version of the Grand Lodge called?

Q4) Who’s the Grand Lodge’s head?

Q5) The organization’s local groups are called what?

Q6) That group is usually lead by a worshipful whom?

Q7) The group has three degrees: name one of those degrees.

Q8) While at meetings, members of the group wear evening dress, a sash … and what else?

Q9) The group best known symbol is a Square and Compass: sometimes shown with which letter?

Q10) The Grand Lodge, and the group it represents, claim to be descended from medieval what: stone masons, wheelwrights or carpenters?

Here’s last week’s questions and answers … 

Questions.

Q1) 17th June, 1944 — 71 years ago, today — saw Iceland become a republic: after severing formal ties from which country’s monarchy?

Q2) Iceland had been a kingdom: since which year of the 20th Century?

Q3) What’s the name of Iceland’s Parliament?

Q4) The head of the Icelandic government is the Icelandic Prime Minister.   The head of state is?

Q5) Is the Head of State’s last name a surname … ?

Q6) The Church of Iceland is what: Anglican, Lutheran or Methodist … ?

Q7) Which Chess player made his home in Iceland in the last years of his life?

Q8) Icelandic singer, Emilíana Torrini, recorded Gollum’s Song: for which of the Lord Of The Rings films?

Q9) Askja, Hekla and Laki are all Icelandic what: cities, volcanoes or mountains?

Q10) Finally … What’s Iceland’s capital city?

Answers.

A1) Denmark’s.

A2) 1918.   (It had been effectively independent, but in personal union with the Danish King.)

A3) The Alþingi: or Althing, if you prefer the Anglicized version.   (It’s technically, the oldest Parliament on the planet.)

A4) The Icelandic President: the office is currently held by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson.

A5) No.   In common with most Icelanders, the President’s ‘last’ name is a patronymic: in other words, it’s derived from his father’s first name.   If I’ve understood it correctly, his children would use the patronymic, ‘Ólafursson’.   (Some Icelanders — like singer, Björk — have a matronymic, taken from their mothers names: Björk’s full name is Björk Guðmundsdóttir*.)

A6) Lutheran.

A7) Bobby Fischer.

A8) Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers.

A9) Volcanoes.

A10) Reykjavík.

Enjoy those: I’ll catch you next time … 

*        All that means is that you’re free to copy, use, alter and build on each of my quizzes: including the Teasers, Gazette Teasers and the Friday Question Sets.   All I ask in return is that you give me an original authors credit on your event’s flyers or posters, or on the night: and, if you republish them, give me an original authors credit AND republish under the same license.   A link back to the site — and to the Gazette’s, if that’s where you’ve found these — would be appreciated: as would pressing my donate button, here.   Every penny is gratefully received.