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Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons Annual Meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge on Thursday 14th July 2005 at Freemasons Hall |
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On Thursday 14th July 2005, the Annual Meeting of the Province of London of Mark
Master Masons was held at Freemasons Hall, and as we are accustomed, the meeting
was well supported by members of the Province of London, along with many
visiting distinguished guests to include the Deputy Grand Master RW Bro Gavin
Purser.
The Visiting Grand Masters from other Provinces, along with their Deputies,
Assistants and Secretaries as well as other Right Worshipful Brethren and Heads
of other Orders in London were seated on the Dais. The Provincial Officers for
2004 to 2005 lined up in the Temple and turning inwards, the Provincial Grand
Master, RW David Ivor Williams entered and took his seat.
There was then the procession of Worshipful Masters of Mark Lodges who entered
in perfect step to the tune of “News at Ten” to much applause, followed by the
procession of Commanders of the Royal Ark Mariners to the tune of “Life on the
Ocean Wave” again to much applause.
With everyone in place, and after the opening hymn had been sung, the Provincial
Grand Master assisted by his Deputy and his Wardens opened Provincial Grand
Lodge. The Deputy Grand Master RW Bro Gavin Purser entered after the Salutation
to the Provincial Grand Master RW David Ivor Williams, he was then saluted and
then the PGM saluted the visitors.
Greetings were extended by the PGM RW David Ivor Williams to many visiting
distinguished Brethren, to include The GRAND Master of Switzerland and the
Deputy Grand Master of Switzerland, then, the PGM of West Lancashire, Durham,
Monmouthshire, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Essex, Nottinghamshire,
Bedfordshire, East Anglia, Sussex, Dorset, Middlesex, Bristol, Berkshire,
Buckinghamshire, the District Grand Master of Belgium, the PGM of Kent, The
District Grand Master of the S&E
Caribbean, North and East Yorkshire, Somerset, Surrey and Oxfordshire.
There were also representatives from Gloucestershire & Hertfordshire, Northants
& Huntingdonshire and Staffordshire & Shropshire. The Heads of other Orders
present were Alan Wright - Royal and Select Masters, Ronald Champion - The Red
Cross of Constantine and Peter Glyn Williams - The Secret Monitor. There were
also present Russell Race, The Deputy Metropolitan Grand Master, and John
Brackley the Grand Secretary, plus of course our Past PGM Roeinton Khambatta.
The Brethren then were called to Order to honour of the memory of our members
who have passed to the Grand Lodge above, their names were displayed on a large
screen in the Temple. The Brethren also honoured the memory of those who had
tragically died from the events that occurred on 7/7 in London.
The items on Agenda were promptly attended to with reports from the Grand
Secretary W Bro David Ashbolt, the Provincial Grand Treasurer, W Bro Richard
Ferro, and the Grand Almoner W Bro John Wright. A donation was approved of
£1000.00 to the personal list of the Provincial Grand Master for Cornwall in
support of the 2006 Mark Benevolent Fund Festival.
The Provincial Grand Master was pleased to re-appoint VW Roy Bedford as the
Deputy Grand Master to much applause from the Brethren, and confirmed the
re-appointments of the Assistant Provincial Grand Masters. VW Bro Alf Day, W Bro
Eddie Goodwin, and W Bro John Knox. The brethren were saddened to hear the W Bro
Trevor Dutt had stood down as an Assistant Provincial Grand Master due to
personal circumstances, and W Bro Simon Campbell William Dixon GStwd was
appointed as a new Assistant Provincial Grand Master.
The Provincial Grand Master was pleased to appoint and invest the Provincial
Grand Officers for the year, with every individual appointment being applauded
by the Brethren.
RW Bro David Ivor Williams, the Provincial Grand Master then gave his address to
the Provincial Grand Lodge, informing the Brethren that there were certain items
that needed to be addressed, and thanked the Brethren for attending despite the
transport problems. The PGM thanked the Brethren for the marvellous support that
was given for the Worshipful Masters and Commanders procession. The PGM thanked
brethren for their support and that were promoted and he congratulated them all,
and requested that all those who had been promoted to the Provincial Grand Rank
to join the Provincial Grand Officers Mess. There will be 48 promotions to the
Royal Ark Mariner Provincial Grand Rank at Mark Masons Hall on Monday 12th
September, there will also be a Royal Ark Mariner Banner to be dedicated on that
day, and will be a very interesting meeting.
The Provincial Grand Master was keen to point out that he does not condone the
use of ritual books, and asked the brethren to make every effort to learn the
ritual. The PGM was also disappointed with the response of the Silver Pin award,
although the PGM had attended many meetings and seen the ceremony performed to a
very high standard which would qualify the Master for the Silver Pin award, but
went on to add that even if you attempted the ceremony and did not win the
Silver Pin, you would at least have won the support of the Candidate and the
Brethren of your Lodge.
The PGM was pleased to congratulate W Bro Basil David Ebinezar on his 100th
birthday celebration just a week ago, and to top that W Bro Basil was installed
as Master of his Lodge. Congratulations also to W Bro Mac Ross who celebrated
his 50th Year in Masonry. A special award of the Provincial Grand Masters
personal award to service to the Mark Province of London was presented to VW Bro
Irwin Obadiah.
The PGM then went on to thank the members of the Brotherly Love Committee which
is now closed and stood down, and congratulations were extended to W Bro Ron
Bateman for all his tireless work, and to W Bro Bill Divall of the Care
Committee, and not forgetting W Bro Frank Powell for the Mark Newsletter, and W
Bro Allan de Luca, the Province of London of Mark Master Masons Webmaster, and W
Bro Bill Dwyer for his excellent work on the Year Book.
The PGM thanked the brethren for their donations to the Brotherly Love Fund, and
informed the Province that the Desmond Bowditch Award for 2005, after a long and
very difficult decision by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master VW Roy Bedford, it
was awarded to Henniker Lodge No.315, and a charity purse was then presented to
a representative of the Lodge by the PGM to much applause.
There was parked outside Freemasons Hall entrance, an ambulance that had been
donated by the Province of London Mark Master Masons, and that the Brethren
should take the opportunity in having a look inside, and with the recent events
that have occurred this ambulance would have been called upon to deal with those
who were injured.
The PGM informed the Brethren that W Bro Jack Cohen the Provincial Grand
Director of Ceremonies has stepped down, a post he has held for 8 years, and
thanked W Bro Jack for all his efforts and support which was warmly applauded by
the Brethren, and we now look forward to the new team in performing their
duties, and thanked W Bro Rod Gibson for all his work in organising the
Delegations.
In conclusion the PGM referred the Brethren to that part of the ritual which
states, “Should other friends forsake you, should the envious traduce your good
name, or the malicious prosecute you, should dangers, doubts or difficulties
assail you, should force attempt to drive or temptation entice you from the
right path, among Mark Master Masons you will ever find friends”, and put into
practice those words we would be proud to be Mark Master Masons. The PGM stated
that unfortunately time did not permit to thank so many other Brethren for all
their efforts during the past year, and made special reference to the Organist
and also to the band who had entertained the brethren, especially during the
collection of alms, where music was played by Masonic composers, and the PGM
admitted that he did know the tunes, but could not name the composers, and were
enjoyed by everyone as they tapped their feet in recognition.
After the Provincial Grand Lodge had closed, the brethren sang the closing hymn
followed by the National Anthem, and over 300 brethren adjourned to the New
Connaught Rooms for the customary festive board and toasts.
The winners of this years 500 Club Draw, the results were, 1st Prize £500 won by
David G. Harvey of St Mark's Lodge No 1, 2nd Prize of £400 won by Vic Cowan of
Old Kent Lodge, 3rd Prize £300 by David A. Smith of Tuscan Lodge No 454 and 4th
Prize of £200 by Morris Rosin of Centenary Lodge 1200.
click on picture to enlarge
Article by W Bro Allan de Luca PPGJD and pictures by W Bro
Frank Powell ProvGSwdB
this page last updated 2006, Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of London