EIM/EEC No 1044 Virtual Business Meeting
Tuesday the 17th of March 2021 saw an historic event in the history the Essex Enthroned Commanders and Installed Masters Lodges. It was the first (and hopefully last) time they met as a Virtual Business Meeting.
With in excess of 70 members in attendance using a video conferencing platform, the EEC Lodge met first and was declared open by the Commander, W.Bro. Barry Coombes. It is usual for the Provincial Grand Master to use this meeting for the conferring of Provincial RAM Grand Rank but, by definition, he was unable to do so on this occasion. He did, however, take the opportunity to address the Brethren and the text of his address is shown below.
There were some business matters to attend to and the nominated next Commander, W.Bro. John Finlay, RAMGR & DPGM, was declared so Elected. The Installation meeting will, hopefully, take place at the next scheduled meeting in September.
Both the current Treasurer, W.Bro. Paul Thurgood, and the two Auditors, W.Bros. Colin Innes and David Wilson were all re-elected.
Because of the reduction in GPC meetings, it is also necessary to recommend the next Commander at this meeting. Accordingly, the PGM gave notice that W.Bro. Robert Neal was his recommendation. Bob Neal, Elevated into Grays Thurrock 16 years ago, is well known to us all, having been an Acting Asst. Grand DC as well as being active in many other Orders administered by GLMMM.
In the Installed Masters Lodge, there was also an amount of administrative business to carry out. Following a recommendation from the GPC, it was agreed that EIMM donate a further £1000 to the Craft 2022 Festival.
As he had not been installed this year, W.Bro. David Awcock was once more confirmed as Master Elect.
The Provincial Grand Master, anticipating a possible return to meetings later in the year, took the opportunity to update and inform all of some of the major events that were planned for post resumption. Of note were:
• The Consecration of the Southern Star Lodge of Mark Master Masons, the daughter Lodge of the Northern Star Lodge, which will meet as a daylight Lodge at Upminster.
• The Reponement (a "restarting") of the Isthmian Lodge to be a “United Services” Lodge.
• Two Banner Dedications, one for the Mark of Love and Remembrance and one for the Combined Stewards Lodge.
• A dedication of a new Provincial and 1044 Secretaries Table Cover, purchased from a donation from the late John Edwards.
• And, as a first for our Province, the 150th Anniversary of the Constantine Lodge.
As ever, full details of these events will be published in time for all to be able to attend and enjoy the meetings. It looks as if the Ceremonial Team will be busy burning the midnight oil for a while.
As the PGM said, “This is a busy and exciting time coming up, we have the opportunity to relaunch our Province and Lodges as soon as a resumption date is agreed and meet the challenges that the Covid 19 pandemic has set us. Throughout the crisis, Freemasonry has remained as relevant as ever; we may not have been able to meet, but our core values of Brotherly Love and Relief have enabled Almoners to keep in contact with those alone and needing a friend and Charity Stewards to agree significant donations to those charities and groups in need and you should all be proud of what you have achieved and meet the next challenges with continued enthusiasm.”
With in excess of 70 members in attendance using a video conferencing platform, the EEC Lodge met first and was declared open by the Commander, W.Bro. Barry Coombes. It is usual for the Provincial Grand Master to use this meeting for the conferring of Provincial RAM Grand Rank but, by definition, he was unable to do so on this occasion. He did, however, take the opportunity to address the Brethren and the text of his address is shown below.
There were some business matters to attend to and the nominated next Commander, W.Bro. John Finlay, RAMGR & DPGM, was declared so Elected. The Installation meeting will, hopefully, take place at the next scheduled meeting in September.
Both the current Treasurer, W.Bro. Paul Thurgood, and the two Auditors, W.Bros. Colin Innes and David Wilson were all re-elected.
Because of the reduction in GPC meetings, it is also necessary to recommend the next Commander at this meeting. Accordingly, the PGM gave notice that W.Bro. Robert Neal was his recommendation. Bob Neal, Elevated into Grays Thurrock 16 years ago, is well known to us all, having been an Acting Asst. Grand DC as well as being active in many other Orders administered by GLMMM.
In the Installed Masters Lodge, there was also an amount of administrative business to carry out. Following a recommendation from the GPC, it was agreed that EIMM donate a further £1000 to the Craft 2022 Festival.
As he had not been installed this year, W.Bro. David Awcock was once more confirmed as Master Elect.
The Provincial Grand Master, anticipating a possible return to meetings later in the year, took the opportunity to update and inform all of some of the major events that were planned for post resumption. Of note were:
• The Consecration of the Southern Star Lodge of Mark Master Masons, the daughter Lodge of the Northern Star Lodge, which will meet as a daylight Lodge at Upminster.
• The Reponement (a "restarting") of the Isthmian Lodge to be a “United Services” Lodge.
• Two Banner Dedications, one for the Mark of Love and Remembrance and one for the Combined Stewards Lodge.
• A dedication of a new Provincial and 1044 Secretaries Table Cover, purchased from a donation from the late John Edwards.
• And, as a first for our Province, the 150th Anniversary of the Constantine Lodge.
As ever, full details of these events will be published in time for all to be able to attend and enjoy the meetings. It looks as if the Ceremonial Team will be busy burning the midnight oil for a while.
As the PGM said, “This is a busy and exciting time coming up, we have the opportunity to relaunch our Province and Lodges as soon as a resumption date is agreed and meet the challenges that the Covid 19 pandemic has set us. Throughout the crisis, Freemasonry has remained as relevant as ever; we may not have been able to meet, but our core values of Brotherly Love and Relief have enabled Almoners to keep in contact with those alone and needing a friend and Charity Stewards to agree significant donations to those charities and groups in need and you should all be proud of what you have achieved and meet the next challenges with continued enthusiasm.”
Address from R.W. Bro. T. D. Sheern, Provincial Grand Master
“Brethren, I thank you all once again for your attendance today. I know we can all get “zoomed out” from time to time but, like you, I think it is important for us to show our support to those receiving their Royal Ark Mariner Provincial Grand Rank as of today. Under normal circumstances I would have brought a full team procession into this Lodge to underline the importance of the occasion; and, as I have said on previous occasions, it has always been the tradition in this Province to use this March meeting of The Essex Enthroned Commanders Lodge to bestow this promotion.
This Lodge is an incredibly special Lodge with senior brethren of the Province as its members. For those of you not aware, both our 1044 Lodges have the largest membership of any Installed Masters or Commanders Lodge in the whole constitution anywhere in the World. For that matter it also has a membership larger than some Provinces or Orders in total. In my view that means this meeting has the necessary authority and status to hold this Ceremony. Before I continue, I think it would be appropriate if we were reminded who the recipients are:
W.Bro. Charles Ager White Stone Lodge No. 864
W.Bro. Kelvin Bowles Saxon Shore Lodge No. 1319
W.Bro. Roderick Bradley Battlesbridge Lodge No. 1415
W.Bro. Paul Busby Viking Lodge No. 1564
W.Bro. Steve Joslin St Katherine’s Lodge No. 1026
W.Bro. Laurie Kavanagh Flanders Lodge No. 1966
W.Bro. Michael Kropidlowski Wyven Lodge No. 1333
W.Bro. Vincent Pole Tudor Lodge No. 1092
W.Bro. Roger Smith West Ham Lodge. No 467
W.Bro. Paul Snoad Mark of Industry Lodge No. 1413
I do, sincerely, thank you, the recipients, for all the support you give to our Lodges and to the Province. You will, of course, be aware of the added responsibilities of your new rank especially now as we move towards the resumption of our meetings. I would like you all to think about how your Lodge prepares for a new beginning and will rely on you specifically to help your Lodges and its members to prepare for this. By ensuring that we do this, when we do start back the members of your Lodges will be keen to return and will see a purpose in doing so. We must also to ensure the Ceremony of Elevation is the best experience for new members, ensuring we retain them, and they recruit others to join us.
Brethren please wear you new regalia with pride and take every opportunity to explain what it represents to others. I am sorry we cannot meet allowing me to congratulate you in person today, but I trust the attendance of the other members on this zoom meeting will indicate to you the support you are receiving from around the Province, so “Congratulations to you all”.
Brethren, before we move on, can I just claim your attention for a few more minutes. As I said just now, we are, hopefully, moving back to some form of normality and can start to enjoy our Mark Masonry again. Although we are still waiting Government advice on when we can meet and in what circumstances, there is a strong view that if the “rule of 6” were to return, we as an Order may not lift the suspension at that point. Whilst a meeting of 6 had some relevance and usefulness previously, because of the current Virtual Business Meeting facility, I think we have learnt at the end of the day it doesn’t achieve much and certainly isn’t any way for a new Advancee to enter the Order. I also understand that some of our Masonic Centres would not be able to provide meals for us if only 6 members were present, as they need to consider staff costs and furlough schemes. So, being more realistic, I think it is more likely that meetings will start again in earnest in the final quarter of the year commencing in September or shortly thereafter. That being the case, what we must have in place for each Lodge is a return-to-work plan. How is each Lodge going to ensure that their return to meetings is going to encourage members to go to those meetings, remembering it will be nearly two years for some. We need to ensure that Lodges are worth attending and there is a plan to ensure the health of the Lodge. I am also aware there are a large number of candidates in the pipeline and so it is imperative they experience the best possible Ceremony, as they are the lifeblood of any Lodge. So, our Ceremonies must be of a good quality.
At a Provincial level we have asked Lodges to provide us with information about their first set of meetings and we will of course help where we can with any ceremonial or administration problems or support. The Provincial DC and his team will supply ceremonial support and advice and is running a three weekly Provincial LOI. The Provincial Secretary is in the process of producing an easy-to-follow guide on all things administrative from resumption of meetings, election of masters, dispensations, Masters or Commanders staying in chairs for a 2nd or 3rd year etc.
This will be circulated as soon as practicable. In the meantime I ask you all to go back to your Lodges and start to have similar conversations. Now is the time to make any changes you need to and to start putting into place other practices to ensure you are match fit. Have all the administrative processes been identified and dealt with? Are you confident in competently delivering the Ceremonies to be carried out, have there been LOI practices for officers that will be part of the return?
The Deputy and Assistant PGM’s have each been working with a small team developing a programme of work to assist Lodges under the three umbrellas of “Recruitment, Retention and Reinvigoration” and more details will be made available as it comes online. But please, don’t sit back and wait for that to arrive, be proactive and ask yourselves “what can we do to make our Lodge better and more attractive to its members and potential candidates?”.
Brethren, I really do believe we are entering a really important phase on our masonic journey and we need to get this right as our legacy to others. We have some moving and eloquent ritual in our two Degrees, we need to make the experience the best we can.
Lastly, Brethren, you may have seen my plea on Facebook about purchasing one of this years MBF lapel pins. If you haven’t bought one yet and feel you could please visit the website and make a purchase.
I thank you all for your attention and may the Great Overseer and Supreme Commander of the Universe look after you all."
This Lodge is an incredibly special Lodge with senior brethren of the Province as its members. For those of you not aware, both our 1044 Lodges have the largest membership of any Installed Masters or Commanders Lodge in the whole constitution anywhere in the World. For that matter it also has a membership larger than some Provinces or Orders in total. In my view that means this meeting has the necessary authority and status to hold this Ceremony. Before I continue, I think it would be appropriate if we were reminded who the recipients are:
W.Bro. Charles Ager White Stone Lodge No. 864
W.Bro. Kelvin Bowles Saxon Shore Lodge No. 1319
W.Bro. Roderick Bradley Battlesbridge Lodge No. 1415
W.Bro. Paul Busby Viking Lodge No. 1564
W.Bro. Steve Joslin St Katherine’s Lodge No. 1026
W.Bro. Laurie Kavanagh Flanders Lodge No. 1966
W.Bro. Michael Kropidlowski Wyven Lodge No. 1333
W.Bro. Vincent Pole Tudor Lodge No. 1092
W.Bro. Roger Smith West Ham Lodge. No 467
W.Bro. Paul Snoad Mark of Industry Lodge No. 1413
I do, sincerely, thank you, the recipients, for all the support you give to our Lodges and to the Province. You will, of course, be aware of the added responsibilities of your new rank especially now as we move towards the resumption of our meetings. I would like you all to think about how your Lodge prepares for a new beginning and will rely on you specifically to help your Lodges and its members to prepare for this. By ensuring that we do this, when we do start back the members of your Lodges will be keen to return and will see a purpose in doing so. We must also to ensure the Ceremony of Elevation is the best experience for new members, ensuring we retain them, and they recruit others to join us.
Brethren please wear you new regalia with pride and take every opportunity to explain what it represents to others. I am sorry we cannot meet allowing me to congratulate you in person today, but I trust the attendance of the other members on this zoom meeting will indicate to you the support you are receiving from around the Province, so “Congratulations to you all”.
Brethren, before we move on, can I just claim your attention for a few more minutes. As I said just now, we are, hopefully, moving back to some form of normality and can start to enjoy our Mark Masonry again. Although we are still waiting Government advice on when we can meet and in what circumstances, there is a strong view that if the “rule of 6” were to return, we as an Order may not lift the suspension at that point. Whilst a meeting of 6 had some relevance and usefulness previously, because of the current Virtual Business Meeting facility, I think we have learnt at the end of the day it doesn’t achieve much and certainly isn’t any way for a new Advancee to enter the Order. I also understand that some of our Masonic Centres would not be able to provide meals for us if only 6 members were present, as they need to consider staff costs and furlough schemes. So, being more realistic, I think it is more likely that meetings will start again in earnest in the final quarter of the year commencing in September or shortly thereafter. That being the case, what we must have in place for each Lodge is a return-to-work plan. How is each Lodge going to ensure that their return to meetings is going to encourage members to go to those meetings, remembering it will be nearly two years for some. We need to ensure that Lodges are worth attending and there is a plan to ensure the health of the Lodge. I am also aware there are a large number of candidates in the pipeline and so it is imperative they experience the best possible Ceremony, as they are the lifeblood of any Lodge. So, our Ceremonies must be of a good quality.
At a Provincial level we have asked Lodges to provide us with information about their first set of meetings and we will of course help where we can with any ceremonial or administration problems or support. The Provincial DC and his team will supply ceremonial support and advice and is running a three weekly Provincial LOI. The Provincial Secretary is in the process of producing an easy-to-follow guide on all things administrative from resumption of meetings, election of masters, dispensations, Masters or Commanders staying in chairs for a 2nd or 3rd year etc.
This will be circulated as soon as practicable. In the meantime I ask you all to go back to your Lodges and start to have similar conversations. Now is the time to make any changes you need to and to start putting into place other practices to ensure you are match fit. Have all the administrative processes been identified and dealt with? Are you confident in competently delivering the Ceremonies to be carried out, have there been LOI practices for officers that will be part of the return?
The Deputy and Assistant PGM’s have each been working with a small team developing a programme of work to assist Lodges under the three umbrellas of “Recruitment, Retention and Reinvigoration” and more details will be made available as it comes online. But please, don’t sit back and wait for that to arrive, be proactive and ask yourselves “what can we do to make our Lodge better and more attractive to its members and potential candidates?”.
Brethren, I really do believe we are entering a really important phase on our masonic journey and we need to get this right as our legacy to others. We have some moving and eloquent ritual in our two Degrees, we need to make the experience the best we can.
Lastly, Brethren, you may have seen my plea on Facebook about purchasing one of this years MBF lapel pins. If you haven’t bought one yet and feel you could please visit the website and make a purchase.
I thank you all for your attention and may the Great Overseer and Supreme Commander of the Universe look after you all."
