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Provincial Grand Masters Address for 2007
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Brethren,
One year on
Doesn’t time fly when one is enjoying oneself .I am delighted
to welcome you all here today and especially our distinguished guests
whom I have already introduced-
And I now extend a warm welcome to the members of the
Province and congratulate those Brethren whom I had the pleasure of
appointing
and promoting this afternoon and investing them with their
new ranks which bring with it new responsibilities and I know that you will
accept those responsibilities and offer help, encouragement and assistance
to the newer brethren. I must thank the members of my Executive and other
members holding important office in the Province for their invaluable help
to me during the past year particularly in this my first year as your PGM.
I thank especially my Deputy – Very W Bro Anthony Williams
for his loyalty and support to me and likewise the Assistant Provincial
Grand Master W Bro. Robert Arundel and their constancy and commitment to the
province.
Thank you!
Brethren, it is good to see so many here this afternoon and I
appreciate at this time of year there is much competition for that
precious commodity time with half term holidays and with P G Lodge falling
on a weekday I know that there are many Brethren who are unable to be here
because of their work and holiday commitments. So I very much appreciate
your attendance here today to mark this occasion and to make it so
special for my new Provincial Team.
BUT I take this opportunity now of thanking my outgoing Wardens and all
the officers not only for their valuable support but for their time
commitment.
It has been both valued and appreciated not only by myself
and the Executive but especially all the Lodges where you have attended at
Installations
It is also a particular pleasure to have with us today my predecessor
Right Worshipful Brother M John Hughes, looking I must say,
in the picture of health and I know enjoying as much golf as he can manage
Lovely to see you R W Bro John.
So Brethren, as it says in
Agendum No 15
I am to address you all!
It is an old adage you know but one which I like and that is:
The Past may
be History
The Future a
mystery
BUT the
present is the real
gift!
So as I reflect on the past year
and I look to the future which I believe is bright and full
of promise
as we face the challenge of any new Masonic Year
The official launch of the Festival for the Royal Masonic
Trust for girls and boys is only two months away and preparations
are very much now underway
The Festival will conclude in 2013 just five years with much
to achieve
I have already- received tremendous
commitment and support for the on going work of the Royal Masonic Trust for
Girls and Boys-
from the Lodges and the brethren and I am
confident that Monmouthshire will rise to meet the challenging target which
has been mutually agreed with the Trust and the Province and so I thank and
welcome today on your behalf brethren two honoured guests in the persons of
two Senior Representatives from the Trust
W Bro Les Hutchinson , Secretary to the
Council
and W Bro Mike Woodcock Head of P R and a
member of the Council
who will be addressing us all after my sermon
! Sorry my address!
on the outstanding work of the Trust for Boys
and girls.
Now I know that to date
Lodges have greatly supported many local and commendable
charitable initiatives in their own communities and this is so very
important
and as The Pro Grand Master stressed at the Regional meeting
of PGM's in Bristol just a couple of month ago this is very valuable work
and should continue during festival periods involving the Local press to
promote what we are about!
And I stress that!
And brethren, with that in mind I have been
considering very carefully how we can manage and assist our local charitable
activities during the forthcoming Festival because Lodges will I know be
committed to this festival
through the various fundraising activities
and raffles etc not only at their Lodge meetings but at other Social events
too!
The Lodges here in Monmouthshire have built
up a fine reputation
and receive much acclamation for their
support of the more local voluntary charitable organisations
I was privileged earlier this year to present
a cheque for £5000
to Monmouthshire Scouting movement
to enable them to send more of their Scouters
to the Centenary Celebrations this year.
The Grand Charity awarded £5000 to the St
Woolas Cathedral restoration appeal and I was able to add an additional
£5000 to that from the Province and My Assist PGM and Provincial Charity
steward presented a cheque for £10000 last Wednesday evening to Dean Very
Revd Dr Richard Fennick at the Cathedrals-benefactors-Eucharist.
The details of that presentation are already
on the Cathedrals Web Site.
I feel that I can with some confidence say
that the Province will rise to meet the challenge of the New Festival
BUT Brethren at the same time I pledge that
the needs of our local Charities will be protected. and so therefore
commencing in 2008 my Deputy and I will be hosting an annual Local Charity
Presentation Event in November of each year with the assistance of the Asst
.PGM and the Chairman of the Masonic 1997 Masonic Trust W Bro Richard Davies
and others.
Each Lodge in the Province will be entitled
to nominate a single or multiple local Registered Charity to the Management
Committee for their consideration-for-financial assistance
Non Registered Charities will be also be
considered but at a lower level of financial assistance.
I must stress that the Management Committee
of the Fund must approve each recommendation within the very stringent rules
of the Charity Commissioners.
This will mean that in the five years of the
Charity Festival the capital investments of the Monmouthshire Masonic
Charity 1997 will be considerably depleted.
However, following completion of our
commitment to the Trust for Girls and Boys we shall have a period of 3-4
years which will restore the capital value of that Fund and at the same time
also to continue to support our Local Charities.
Lodges will be kept informed at all times by
the Provincial Executive
I also mention the fact that W Bro Richard
Davies Grand Officer,
who has been Secretary of the Monmouthshire
Trust since it’s inception ten years ago has now been elected as it’s
Chairman.
He has devoted so much time and energy with
others to it’s success
and he has now been succeeded as secretary
by W Bro Richard Bevan of the Llantarnam Lodge. I also mention that W Bro
Norman Wybron, my Deputy-Grand Superintendent in the Royal Arch and now my
newly appointed and invested Provincial Senior Grand Warden has retired from
the Trust
after ten years as it’s vice chairman and his
place on the committee has been taken W Bro Robert Fowler of the Henllys
Lodge .
And as I thank W Bro Robert for his
enthusiasm I also pay tribute to W Bro Norman Wybron for his wise counsel
and commitment to the Trust over the last 10 years and at the same time
thanking all the other Trust committee members. W Bro Neil Mounter My
Provincial Grand Treasurer now vice chairman and W Bro Ken Davies for their
invaluable work on our behalf!
Brethren all in my personal letter of
communication to all the members of the Province in August I outlined some
of the initiatives and changes which I was proposing to make and in
particular I mentioned the details of
the Initial Festival Committee
to be chaired on behalf of
myself and my Deputy
by my Assistant PGM
The Team whom I have drawn up represents only an initial
team
and I stress that as already I have made at least two
additions to that committee .
I am confident that the Province will achieve the target of
£750,000- over the next five year period. We are brethren we are living in
ever changing times
and so often we have to be Bold and Brave to achieve
stretching targets!
After all Brethren I was a Banker in a former life and spent
much of my career chasing the staff and targets!
And now in another life I enjoy seeing money assisting those
less fortunate than ourselves in stead of the shareholders!
And so for the next 5 years our prime focus is going to be on
raising the maximum sum we can achieve for this worthy and needy charity ,a
Charity that does so much to help our young people who through no fault of
their own find themselves in the most difficult and often distressing
circumstances. We must always keep at the forefront of our minds Brethren
that there is no better investment for the future than in our younger people
and especially those who may be disadvantaged through no fault of their own.
After my address we will learn more from the
Trust, I have decided to
start allocating funds from the Provincial Charity 2004 to the New Festival
as from 1st July this year. This will gives us a good start brethren to the
festival target prior to the official launch in January next year It will
also mean that several brethren who have a Gift Aid running, through out
the province, will qualify to wear that Festival Jewel from day one of the
festival."
BRETHREN
I stated last year at my Installation that I was very fortunate to have
inherited a Province from my predecessor in very good heart with an
excellent record of Festival achievement and with good and effective systems
of management and communication in place. I did effect one or two changes
earlier this year in the personnel to accommodate my being exceptionally
granted the appointment of an Asst PGM which The M W The Grand Master had
given me leave to appoint in view of my dual headship as PGM and MEGS and
with my Parochial responsibilities as a cleric in the Diocese of Monmouth.
and so earlier this year I was able to promote the ever diligent Provincial
Grand Secretary W Bro Robert Arundel and his promotion necessitated then
the appointment of a New Provincial Grand Secretary and I was pleased to
appoint W Bro Bob Jones to that office he has taken up the reins of the
administration of the Province with great efficiency commitment and
enthusiasm .This of course in turn meant that I had to find a new Provincial
Grand Director of Ceremonies and I thank W Bro Chris Evans and not to spare
his blushes for rising to the Challenge of his new responsibilities! All
these brethren have certainly risen to the challenge set before them and
compliment the executive . I am very aware that I am surrounded by so much
potential in the province!
There are however other areas that will be the subject of
further development.
And the first area is that of Education and Training. I am as keen, as my
predecessor was, to focus on Education and training to enable us all to
enjoy a better understanding of what we do as Freemasons,
Why we do it! and the historical context in which it is done.
And to this end there will be some new initiatives and
changes
And I take this opportunity of thanking W Bro David Ieuan
James The Provincial Grand Master in the Mark Degree for all his work as the
Education and training Officer over the past years and in thanking him. I
thank the whole committee for all that they have achieved
He is now stepping down and so today I am appointing
W
Bro Dr Robert Hugh Fountain as Education and Training Officer but with
special responsibilities for over seeing not only the mentoring and care
programme which has been initiated but also overseeing
the Newly created Provincial Grand Lodge Orator Scheme And to assist him I
have appointed W Bro Brian Medhurst as
The Provincial Grand Orator This is a new
Provincial appointment and reflects the appointment by Grand Lodge of The
Grand Orator.
It is an office which I have every confidence W Brian
Medhurst will discharge with distinction, charisma and a true
professionalism which that office will demand.
Brethren only the future library of Grand Lodge approved lectures can now
be used and there are already many fine lectures in circulation but it is
now mandatory that they all have to be approved by Grand Lodge to ensure
that there is a wide variety of informative and educational lectures
available to all Lodges within the Province Via this Grand Orator scheme-
The Province is also very fortunate to have within its ranks
some very able and distinguished academic Brethren involved in Masonic
research and who have produced very fine lectures.
These may be submitted to Grand Lodges via the Provincial
Orator for approval
Brethren, it is important for us to remember that making an
advancement in our Masonic knowledge is equally as important as the
ceremonies themselves, and I hope you will agree that the better
understanding we have of our Order and what is expected of us should lead to
more satisfaction and more enjoyment in our Masonry.
This should all link in with the active mentoring and care
scheme already introduced into our Lodges.
To Assist W Bro Dr Robert Fountain I will appoint shortly
a Recruitment and retention Officer and who will have specific
responsibilities in coordinating the mentoring initiatives and will report
to me directly
This will I hope help reduce and certainly I hope redress the
number of good and talented Brethren we lose each year and lead to a
positive increase in the numbers joining Freemasonry.
I realise that some Lodges find themselves in difficulty in recruiting new
Brethren and I am desirous of offering practical assistance, support and
encouragement to the Brethren of those Lodges.
We also have to recognise on the other side of the coin that we may also
need to look to support the weaker Lodge. I would like to pay tribute to
W Bro John Hicks my Provincial Registrar, for all his
outstanding work especially with the production of the Directory and
maintenance of the data base assisted by W Bro John Court.
I thank to W Bro Dr Peter Grossi for all assisting the
Province with his valuable I T skills
Brethren W Bro John Hicks and W Bro Philip Godsell have also
expanded and updated the Provincial Web Site for which we are indeed very
grateful
I would also like to make mention too of the Provincial
Information Officer W Bro Edie Barrell who collates all the press releases
and information from Grand Lodge
In the Province I am also very happy that I enjoy and excellent relationship
with the MEGS and with the other Heads of Orders too and I am pleased to see
that they are representing their orders here today and especially the
Christian Orders
The M W The Grand Master has acknowledged the sovereignty of
the other Orders but of course at the same time brethren he was quick to say
that their growth is dependent on growth in the Craft
And speaking on behalf of the Craft and Holy Royal Arch in
this Province I can say that I very much appreciate the support and the
encouragement we receive from you all and I can assure you of my continued
support involvement and support to you and the Orders you may represent.
I know that we can achieve so
much more when we all pull together as a team.
or rather singing from the same hymn book-
Ancient and Modern of course.
As a Province we have a good system of communication will all the Lodges
through not only my Deputy PGM and Assist PGM BUT all the mandated Grand
Officers,
Provincial General Purposes Committee and Provincial Grand
Secretary, and
I through my Executive will always welcome comments and ideas from you all.
I am particularly pleased to see more Lodges sending out their minutes to
ALL their brethren. I hope other Lodges will emulate the example.
Communication in keeping brethren advised is vitally important
I am also conscious of the change in attitude of brethren
towards openness, following the 'Freemasonry in the Community' initiative,
and I will continue to encourage that attitude.
My recent meeting with His Grace, the Archbishop of
Canterbury-Primate of all England on behalf of UGL just a fortnight ago was
both positive and helpful and as the Arch Bishop said to me in his own
words-
Fr “The door is still open”
He also stated that he had observed much more openness with
the craft although some of the words which you use in your ceremonies
trouble me.
We made progress Brethren
Now Brethren
I know that I speak to the converted when I say that we are
all aware of the great privilege of belonging to our Great Order and the
excellent work that it does both in Lodge and in the charitable context.
However, brethren,
The best advertisement for our Order lies in the hands of
each and every one of us in our daily lives and how we deal with those with
whom we come into contact. If those people know that we are Freemasons and
they like and respect us, then surely they cannot fail but to have a more
positive view of Freemasonry.
Brethren I am extremely aware of the very great honour and responsibility of
being the Provincial Grand Master of Monmouthshire, and as I begin my second
year in office I am really looking forward to continuing in serving this
Province of Monmouthshire as your Provincial Grand Master and I am very
pleased and comforted to have as my Deputy PGM such an experienced and
dedicated and highly respected Mason as Very Worshipful Brother Anthony
Williams.
And also such an able, experienced and enthusiastic
Assistant Provincial Grand Master W Bro Robert Arundel
The Senior team and by that I also include all the executives
who work well together because each and every one of them has as our
priority what is best for Freemasonry in the Province of Monmouthshire.
I can assure you Brethren that for my part I will do my utmost to serve this
Province to the very best of my ability. I will always try and explain why
important decisions are made because I believe communication and mutual
understanding to be so important if I am to enjoy your confidence as your
Provincial Grand Master.
I think most of you are aware by now that I am firstly a Cleric and a Mason
secondly and I will need to crave your understanding and indulgence that on
occasions I may not be able to attend as many ordinary meetings as perhaps
my predecessors may have done. But I can assure you all that I will still be
actively involved at all times in the administration of the Province with
the assistance of my Executive officers
What is most important to me is that we all really enjoy every moment of our
Freemasonry and have great fun doing so; so much so that you will want more,
and encourage others to do the same.
In closing I thank all those Brethren who have worked so very hard and
tirelessly in the preparation for today’s meeting too numerous to mention
but I must make mention of my Provincial Grand Secretary, the Provincial
Grand Director of Ceremonies,
I thank too all the meeters and the Greeters today who have
assisted and guided our many distinguished guests and brethren. I thank the
School for all the facilities provided to but above all brethren I thank you
all once again for attending and making this day so special for the Province
I thank W Bro Philip Moles and W Bro John Somerin for
assisting the Provincial Grand Secretary and W Bro Ken Dixon for the
stewarding in the car park
All the brethren who have been responsible for the
preparations towards the Provincial Grand Lodge Meetings.,
I look forward to this coming year serving and working
together in peace, love and harmony and may the Great Architect of the
Universe direct guide and protect us in all that we do.
I thank you Brethren for your attention and God bless you
all.
RW.Bro. The Reverend Malcolm C G Lane JP

© Province Of Monmouthshire