Provincial Grand Masters address at Provincial Grand Lodge 22^nd May 2008 

Brethren,

I bid you a warm welcome to our Annual Meeting.   It is, not surprisingly, the highlight of the year for those receiving Provincial Appointments and Promotions.   I do congratulate them but I also recognise that I do not have to remind them in detail of their future responsibilities and I have no doubt that they will both appreciate and enjoy their new status.

Congratulations are also due to those honoured a few weeks ago in Grand Lodge.   The Deputy Provincial Grand Master, previously W. Bro., Stephen Allen was promoted to the Rank of Past Grand Sword Bearer with the designation of Very Worshipful Brother and Worshipful Brothers Michael Hedges and Charles Hall were promoted to Past Senior and Junior Grand Deacon respectively.   Worshipful Brothers Ray Briggs, Ray Clarke and John Playford all received the rank of Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, and, whilst members of Norfolk Lodges, W. Bros. John Eversfield and Peter Thomas also received the same Rank by virtue of recommendations from elsewhere.   I must not forget R. W. Bro. Ian Bruce who is an acting Steward for the year.

W. Bros. Trevor Marsh, Alf Fulcher and Mike Sutherland retire today from the Charities Committee, to each of whom I extend fulsome thanks for the untiring hard work they have undertaken and time they have expended on behalf of the less fortunate among our brethren and their dependants as well as on behalf of non-masonic charities. We welcome Brothers Wilkerson, Bothway and Reynolds who will continue the good work.

Whilst on the topic of personalities I do extend my warmest thanks to my Deputy and Assistant Provincial Grand Masters for their efforts on your and my behalf and to those brethren in the Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge for their work today and at various functions during the year as well as transporting me to and from and attending me at meetings.  

We almost take for granted the considerable planning by the Provincial Grand Secretary and Director of Ceremonies and their teams who contribute so much to the smooth running of this and other events, and indeed the general running of the Province.   I much appreciate them and what they do.  

As you have seen W. Bro. Gary Allen has stepped down after three years as Director of Ceremonies, a term I extended by one year from his original appointment.   He served previously as a Deputy for four years, not inconsiderable service to the Province, and he knows how much his attention to matters of administration, procedure, etiquette and general helpfulness to name but a few, have meant to me.   I am sure in thanking him we shall want to wish him well in whatever he undertakes in the future but with a rest in the meantime.   W. Bro. Mike Goffin takes over the duties and, other than in personality, I doubt we shall see much change.   We welcome him and offer our good wishes to him during his term of office.

On the Lodges front during the year the Lodge of Unanimity celebrates its 250^th Anniversary, and has dedicated a new banner, and Bowers Lodge has entered the University Scheme promoted by the Assistant Grand Master.   I have no doubt that this will help in advancing the chance of freemasonry to younger people in and around Norwich and indeed is a large window of opportunity for the Lodge.   Le Strange Lodge also laid on a splendid evening to celebrate W. Bro. Fred Williman’s seventy years in freemasonry, an event well worthy of celebration.

I have already spoken about the portrait which is before you and again thank the members of this fine Province for their support, good humour and especially for the friendship shown to me.

A year ago I referred to the Strategic Working Party, the Report of which has become known as PROBE.   The result has been thoroughly worthwhile and I thank W. Bro. Peter Poole and the members of the team for their meticulous approach to the somewhat time-consuming project.   The results have been presented at several locations around the Province and feedback has been helpful in that it will enable the Executive to plan for the future needs of brethren.   I have to say however that low numbers at the presentations have been particularly disappointing.   The full Report is available to all brethren at the display stand and I encourage you to have a look at it after the meeting.   It is clear from the Report that Brethren are happy with how we practise our masonry and are eager to maintain the high standards which pertain.   They are also keen to learn more about our ceremonies and history and efforts are in hand to assist with both these points.  

Our Maid’s Head, Installed Masters’ and Provincial Grand Stewards Lodges and the Norwich Masonic Circle and the New Ashlar Magazine are all providing regular opportunities for Brethren to advance their Masonic knowledge.

It was also very clear from the Report that communication within the Province at every point left something to be desired.   This embraced not only from Grand Lodge and Province to Lodges and members but also within Lodges and amongst Lodge members themselves, and in addition from them back to the Province and Grand Lodge.

You will almost certainly have heard of our new website.   It is undergoing test trials at the moment and should be up and working for a number of facilities by the end of the year.   When fully operational it will provide an information platform for all Brethren and in particular ease the work of Lodge Secretaries and offer much improved communication for all of us.

Also a year ago I mentioned the subject of mentoring.   This is very high on the list of priorities in Grand Lodge and it is likely that before too long there will be a formal office of Mentor at all levels.   We all recognise the need as well as desirability of ensuring that our newer brethren have an early opportunity of learning more of our Order in all its aspects although in a way which is readily understandable.   Mentoring is a structure not only of ensuring well-being but also of education.   I am intending to introduce a further form in the shape of an Information Booklet for New Members and I have no doubt that this will assist in making them comfortable in their new environment and provide them with a sufficiency of information towards a firm basis for their future development in the Craft.   If not already the booklet will be available shortly and issued to Lodge Secretaries.   We shall also be producing a range of information and discussion sheets for use when Brethren retire when Lodges work ceremonies in a higher degree.   A system of mentoring within the Province has not hitherto been conducted on a formal basis although most if not all Lodges and their members have followed their own particular pattern.   A recommended system will be issued shortly so as to embrace what is considered best practice.

Again last year I referred to the 1813 Declaration with which we all are, or should be, familiar.   Fortunately many of us enjoy membership of the Royal Arch and as that Order and the Craft are indissolubly entwined I see no reason why this should not be demonstrated on a practical level.   With this in mind I propose to permit the extension of wine-taking at Lodge Festive Boards.   This will include not only Royal Arch Grand Officers but can also embrace Holders of the Provincial Grand Master’s and Grand Superintendent’s Certificate of Merit.   This will, quite rightly, emphasise the high esteem in which these last mentioned Brethren are held within the Province.   Furthermore Worshipful Masters will be permitted, if they so wish, to take wine with members of the Royal Arch generally.   I do not feel that this will in any way impede my recommendation that wine-taking be kept to a minimum and for sensible, i.e. not frivolous purpose. The Provincial Office will issue guidance on these procedures in time for autumn meetings.   Furthermore Grand Lodge is keen to see a formal appointment of a Royal Arch representative in each Lodge.

Charity is at the heart of our proceedings and for the past twelve months Brethren have been working hard to raise funds for the Norfolk Hospice Tapping House Appeal.   Mr. Marc Stowell from the Hospice is here today with information on display and we shall be pleased to entertain him at dinner.   He in turn will be pleased to speak to you on an individual basis.   We are well on the way to achieving our goal of raising £100,000 as part of the Province’s 250^th Anniversary celebrations and I am extremely gratified at the results so far obtained and I thank all of you most warmly.   I am aware that the many fund-raising events have been much enjoyed by all who have taken part or merely attended.   In particular the Jimmy Cricket Show performed to a full house and was a tremendous success.   The collection at last year’s Provincial Grand Lodge kicked off the Appeal and this year, as you have kindly allowed me to nominate a charity for the collection, I ask that you support it once more.

I am now pleased to be able to announce that as part of the 250^th celebration the Province would like to assist your Lodges in supporting your local charities with good causes in your area.   The Provincial Charities Committee will, during 2009, provide matched funding for one half of the value of two hundred and fifty (250) donations to Registered Charities of £250.   Further details will be issued in due course.

For the 250^th Anniversary a full programme of events has been organised and you will see details of many of them on the display stands here today.  

Highlights will include the Dedication of a new 250^th Anniversary Provincial Banner which will take place at the Installation Meeting of Social Lodge, No. 93, on the 13^th January.   This was the date of the Patent of Appointment from Lord Aberdour, Grand Master, in 1759 of the first Provincial Grand Master, Edward Bacon, of Earlham Hall, a Barrister-at-Law and the Recorder of Norwich as well as Member of Parliament for both Kings Lynn and Norwich.   The proposal had been passed at a Meeting on the 10^th August 1758 of Angel Lodge (previously known as  the Maid’s Head Lodge), the premier Lodge of Norfolk), at which Social Lodge (then known as the Flower in Hand Lodge) had been represented by its Master.   It is interesting to note that the appointment of a Provincial Grand Master was not at the behest of the Grand Master or the Grand Lodge but rather on the initiative of Brethren in the Province itself.

A further important occasion will take place on Sunday 6^th September next year when Brethren will join the congregation for Evensong at Norwich Cathedral in a Service of Thanksgiving, this being the anniversary to the day upon which the first meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge had taken place at the Three Tuns Inn, London Lane, the home of the Lodge of that name, otherwise the Maid’s Head Lodge.

Full details of all celebratory events will be contained in the Autumn Edition of the New Ashlar and you will have seen much on the display stands today.

It is to be hoped that Lodges will themselves make their own celebrations and take part in combined ceremonies with Mother, Sister and Daughter Lodges and also arrange Lodge to Lodge visits, perhaps where individual Lodges have never visited as such before, and holding Open Days in the various Centres.   Full support from the Provincial Office will be available, including display material and advice.

Brethren, I have no doubt you will await the events of next year with eager anticipation.