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The meeting of the Grand Mess was held at the Imperial Hotel, Russell Square on Monday 8^th May 2006 at 6.30pm with Chairman W Bro Bob Stokes welcoming everyone, and mentioned that he had received 42 apologies, and wondered if the second Monday in the month of May was not so ideal to achieve a fuller compliment of members attending. The Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro David Ivor Williams was not in attendance as he was flying home from his holiday in Croatia. W Bro Bob Stokes welcomed the mess President, W Bro Eddie Goodwin APGM, along with John Knox APGM and Trevor Dutt PAPGM, who were warmly applauded.

The welcome to the members, was immediately followed by the Guest Speaker - Julian Rees, the Deputy Editor of “Freemasonry Today”, who gave us an insight on how the magazine came into being and how he become involved, and mentioned that at the time of its inception, "Freemasonry Today" was probably Freemasonry’s best kept secrets. In 1997, a rumour was circulating that a new Masonic publication was being planned, with an idea to bring in aspects of Freemasonry not dealt with elsewhere, and wanted to avoid being the mouthpiece of the Directorate.  

It soon had 20,000 plus subscribers without a single issue being distributed.   Julian gave the members a short background on how he become the “Deputy Editor” of the magazine, much to the credit of Michael Baigent, the Editor of “Freemasonry Today” of whom we were reminded of his best selling books entitled “The Elixir and the Stone“, “The Inquisition“ and “Ancient Traces“ and in 1982 collaborated with Richard Leigh on the book “The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail“, and recently faced Dan Brown across the court over the much publicised book, “The Da Vinci Code”.

Julian went on to describe his visit to the United States and with his lecture New York “Through Ritual to Enlightenment“, and made his personal comments on the vast multiple “Initiation’s” being performed, much to the displeasure of many other Freemasons, and Julian commented “that it was hardly a personal experience to be part of that multiple Initiation ceremony” which was warmly received by some members of his audience. In England we have a problem with young members dropping out, and that question should be also be asked of some of the American Lodges.   An interesting fact, according to the New York Times on Sunday 13 January 2006, “membership had plummeted Statewide, membership now stands at about 65,000, down from a peak of over 300,000 in 1958“, and gives rise to the question of how many of the 2,100 candidates who were conferred with the first degree on 29 March 2006 are still members of the Fraternity? The crass publicity that it received, was in its own sense to publicise and encourage more members, but was it a success ? Not all the Provinces in the United States have gone down this road especially in North Carolina and Kansas, although, Julian remarked “it’s the journey and not the destination that matters”, and New York have not repeated the same exercise, and perhaps have given it up.  Julian also referred to 275 years of Freemasonry celebrated in France and in 2003 wrote an in depth article on the Masonic exhibition held in Lyon in the Autumn edition of “Freemasonry Today“. It is known that Freemasons were active in France before1728, and it was the year that Philip, Duke of Wharton, was recognised as the Grand Master of Freemasons in France. Today, French Freemasonry is active in at least ten separate jurisdictions.

With the “Freemasonry Today” magazine covering all Masonic news and other activities, Julian stated that the Mark Degree should have a higher profile and ought to receive the prominence it deserves, so some help from the Province of London of Mark Master Masons would be appreciated. To include the forthcoming 150^th celebrations. Julian commented that the “Freemasonry Today” magazine would soon possibly be found on the stalls of W.H. Smith, and thanked everyone at the mess for their kind attention with was warmly applauded by the members of the Grand Mess.

The Chairman, W Bro Bob Stokes then moved the proceedings on to the “Parish Notices”, and referred again to the number of apologies that had been given for this particular meeting day, and would send a “mail shot” to ask “is it a bad day” or do we need to put it off to another day ? And the decision will be made on the majority of the consensus. The original concept of the mess was to have a daylight meeting in the winter months so that members could be home before dark, and the other, in the evening so that members could attend after work. Bob also suggested that perhaps it should become a “Club” so that we do get to talk to each other on different subjects.

W Bro Bob went on to make a personal statement, and he really thinks he should stand down at the age of 79, and wants to hand over to a successor by this time next year, under two provisions, one that he is still here !!or he is not sacked beforehand !!, but concluded by saying he enjoyed being here and long may it continue. The obligatory raffle was held, and the choice of a donation of £200.00 from the proceeds of the Raffle to a charity of his choice was given to Julian Rees who wished it to be donated to the Cornerstone Society, with the balance of the Raffle going to the Brotherly Love fund. (no figure was available for the balance to the Brotherly Love fund at the time of writing the article).

The President of the Mess, W Bro Eddie Goodwin then addressed the members, and personally thanked Julian Rees for his lecture, and was received with another warm applause, adding that we were very grateful for his attendance and for giving the audience an insight on how the magazine started. The PGM was unable to attend on this occasion, as he was travelling back from holiday in Croatia, and also VW Bro Roy Bedford was also away. He hoped that everyone will be attending the Annual Provincial Grand Meeting on the 13^th July, and it is always a very enjoyable meeting and good fun, also attend on behalf of your own Lodge to support your Worshipful Master and Commanders as they parade in. The 150^th Anniversary will be on the 26^th October and a “party” afterwards, so start putting your numbers with your secretary early, the ticket price is £36.00 and includes transport to the National Hotel for the party.

In conclusion Bob Stokes thanked the President, W Bro Eddie and informed the members that the Grand Mess atmosphere today was excellent, and with everyone chatting, and urged everyone to go back to their Lodges and tell them of the good time you have had and bring them along to the next meeting, where they can put their own questions to the PGM, and once again thanked everyone for their attendance and for being here and looked forward to seeing everyone again.

The next Mess meeting will be held on Monday 13^th November 2006 at Mark Masons Hall, and will be a lunchtime meeting for 12.00 mid day for 12.30p.m. and the guest speaker will be Leo Zanelli.

On a personal note the buffet was excellent to include plenty of wine, all of which on this occasion was not consumed, and we should thank the Mess Committee members, Simon Aybes and Roberts for all their efforts. There was plenty of food available, even for seconds, at which yours truly certainly took up the offer of a second plate.