Address to the Brethren - PGL 2025
Prov.G.M R.W.Bro. John Finlay
Brethren, my address to you last year was somewhat longer than it will be this year! In that address last year, I said I was laying out my stall, the cornerstone of that was only change what was required to progress the Province for the benefit of the members. Brethren I do hope you feel that has been achieved. The Province is still the happy successful place it always has been, whilst the business functions tick quietly away in the background staffed by the best quality people. Our Secretarial, financial, and ceremonial teams have no equal in my opinion. My most sincere thanks go to them all, without you Brethren we would be lost.
To you the members, I wish to express my most sincere gratitude for your support in my endeavours over the last 12 months, and for your most wonderful friendly welcome and company on my visits to your lodges around the province. And to the active Officers for their support and company on the many visits that they have made with me around the Province and further afield, we have had some fantastic times together.
To all of you that I have invested with Provincial Grand Rank today, once again congratulations, your service to your lodges and the Province does not go unnoticed, be proud of your new ranks and status, you have earned them.
In a few days' time several of our brethren will be appointed to Grand Rank by the M.W. Grand Master, and in September more will be promoted within Grand Rank. We give hearty congratulations to all.
And in September several more of our Brethren will be promoted within Grand Rank. As I have said previously, with Grand and Provincial Grand Rank comes great responsibility, your brethren and peers look up to you, be the best you can be. Lead by example in your lodges.
Brethren, several long serving and senior Provincial Officers have stood down today, on your behalf I thank all of them for their past commitment and service. However, those who I have appointed to replace them are worthy successors. I wish them well in their new roles, I am sure they will be well received by you as they set to work on your behalf. And Brethren if any of you have aspirations to hold any role in the province don't be afraid to put your name forward, there is always room for eager, keen officers.
One of the major changes to our team is the appointment of an Assistant Grand Almoner. The Provincial Almoners team will now take on a much more proactive and holistic role within the Province. Their remit will now extend beyond the traditional Almoners role, and into areas of membership retention, working with our Recruitment, Retention and Reinvigoration team, and of course our Lodge Almoners.
I have spoken of Provincial Officers standing down today, but felt it was right to keep the following announcement separate. I have today re-appointed W.Bro. John Stannard as an Assistant Provincial Grand Master. However, John has indicated to me that he wishes to stand down when convenient to myself and the Province, he feels he has done his bit and now needs a rest. As many of you know John’s health has not been the best of late. John has been an outstanding servant of the Province. First as Provincial Secretary for 3 years, and for the last 3 years as an Asst.Prov.G.M. I shall always be thankful for John's wise counsel and sound advice. The best accolade I can think of for John is that he is an excellent Mason and one of life's true gentlemen. Brethren like me I am sure you wish John well for the future.
Of course, John standing down leaves a vacancy in our executive ranks. It gives me great pleasure to announce today that John’s replacement, is W.Bro. Rob Sandy, whom I will appoint as an Asst.Prov.G.M at the September meeting of 1044 at Saxon Hall. Rob is our current Prov.G.Sec, and is therefore well experienced in the workings of the Province and Grand Lodge, he is well liked and respected within our Ranks. I am sure his appointment will be well received by you. Brethren I can assure you that a finer replacement would be hard to find. The experience Rob brings to the job is second to none, and his quiet conscientious manner will serve both him and the Province well.
Change is inevitable as we have witnessed and heard today. Obviously, today's announcements will necessitate some changes to our Secretarial team. I also have plans for some more changes to our Provincial Officers and systems over the next year. As I said last year change for changes sake is undesirable, but I do deem some more are necessary to continue our progression. I do hope you approve of them when announced.
As we look back over the last 12 months we have had some milestones in the life of the Province, three Lodge Centenaries, a banner dedication, several brethren and Lodges reaching the milestone of Golden jubilee celebrations, the 125th anniversary of the Province, two fine Lodges saved from extinction by being repurposed into something to be proud of. A year I think we can all be proud of, particularly as we have seen a growth in our membership, modest but still going the right way.
Our Awareness and presentation teams have been busy promoting our order with great success, thereby reversing the damage caused by the Covid 19 pandemic which I think I can safely say is now behind us. Our Provincial LOI continues, and the Festival team continues to work tirelessly under the Dep.Prov.G.M. bringing much enjoyment to us with the array of events they regularly present to us. If the success of a festival was measured by effort, then 2030 would be the best ever! Well done all, we are grateful to you.
We have also continued to support the Mark Provinces who are also in festival. We completed our commitment to Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, and Warwickshire by donating £5000.00 to each. And will continue to support the festivals of 2028 and 2029 with similar Sums.
Looking forward, we have much to relish, starting with Grand Lodge in a few days' time, followed by our Provincial trip to Wales for the Zip wire challenge. Many family events for the Festival, and of course our own busy annual, schedule of Provincial meetings. Starting with our Installed Masters Lodge meeting in September at which we have the Installation of our new APGM and the Canon Portal Memorial lecture to be delivered by W.Bro. Dr. John Hawkins. The life of a busy Province is never dull.
Brethren, I am extremely proud and humbled to be allowed to serve as your Provincial Grand Master and once again I thank you for your support and trust, and I would like to end with two simple messages to you all, nothing too demanding but in my opinion vital.
First, Do not have meetings which are devoid of work, enjoy your time in the Lodge together, carrying out any work is better than no work. Enjoyment brings Success.
And the second.
Strive to Elevate and Advance your candidates in Good quality ceremonies, they will thank you for it. Effort undoubtedly leads to Success.
Brethren thank you for your attention, and may your God bless and aid you in every way.
To you the members, I wish to express my most sincere gratitude for your support in my endeavours over the last 12 months, and for your most wonderful friendly welcome and company on my visits to your lodges around the province. And to the active Officers for their support and company on the many visits that they have made with me around the Province and further afield, we have had some fantastic times together.
To all of you that I have invested with Provincial Grand Rank today, once again congratulations, your service to your lodges and the Province does not go unnoticed, be proud of your new ranks and status, you have earned them.
In a few days' time several of our brethren will be appointed to Grand Rank by the M.W. Grand Master, and in September more will be promoted within Grand Rank. We give hearty congratulations to all.
And in September several more of our Brethren will be promoted within Grand Rank. As I have said previously, with Grand and Provincial Grand Rank comes great responsibility, your brethren and peers look up to you, be the best you can be. Lead by example in your lodges.
Brethren, several long serving and senior Provincial Officers have stood down today, on your behalf I thank all of them for their past commitment and service. However, those who I have appointed to replace them are worthy successors. I wish them well in their new roles, I am sure they will be well received by you as they set to work on your behalf. And Brethren if any of you have aspirations to hold any role in the province don't be afraid to put your name forward, there is always room for eager, keen officers.
One of the major changes to our team is the appointment of an Assistant Grand Almoner. The Provincial Almoners team will now take on a much more proactive and holistic role within the Province. Their remit will now extend beyond the traditional Almoners role, and into areas of membership retention, working with our Recruitment, Retention and Reinvigoration team, and of course our Lodge Almoners.
I have spoken of Provincial Officers standing down today, but felt it was right to keep the following announcement separate. I have today re-appointed W.Bro. John Stannard as an Assistant Provincial Grand Master. However, John has indicated to me that he wishes to stand down when convenient to myself and the Province, he feels he has done his bit and now needs a rest. As many of you know John’s health has not been the best of late. John has been an outstanding servant of the Province. First as Provincial Secretary for 3 years, and for the last 3 years as an Asst.Prov.G.M. I shall always be thankful for John's wise counsel and sound advice. The best accolade I can think of for John is that he is an excellent Mason and one of life's true gentlemen. Brethren like me I am sure you wish John well for the future.
Of course, John standing down leaves a vacancy in our executive ranks. It gives me great pleasure to announce today that John’s replacement, is W.Bro. Rob Sandy, whom I will appoint as an Asst.Prov.G.M at the September meeting of 1044 at Saxon Hall. Rob is our current Prov.G.Sec, and is therefore well experienced in the workings of the Province and Grand Lodge, he is well liked and respected within our Ranks. I am sure his appointment will be well received by you. Brethren I can assure you that a finer replacement would be hard to find. The experience Rob brings to the job is second to none, and his quiet conscientious manner will serve both him and the Province well.
Change is inevitable as we have witnessed and heard today. Obviously, today's announcements will necessitate some changes to our Secretarial team. I also have plans for some more changes to our Provincial Officers and systems over the next year. As I said last year change for changes sake is undesirable, but I do deem some more are necessary to continue our progression. I do hope you approve of them when announced.
As we look back over the last 12 months we have had some milestones in the life of the Province, three Lodge Centenaries, a banner dedication, several brethren and Lodges reaching the milestone of Golden jubilee celebrations, the 125th anniversary of the Province, two fine Lodges saved from extinction by being repurposed into something to be proud of. A year I think we can all be proud of, particularly as we have seen a growth in our membership, modest but still going the right way.
Our Awareness and presentation teams have been busy promoting our order with great success, thereby reversing the damage caused by the Covid 19 pandemic which I think I can safely say is now behind us. Our Provincial LOI continues, and the Festival team continues to work tirelessly under the Dep.Prov.G.M. bringing much enjoyment to us with the array of events they regularly present to us. If the success of a festival was measured by effort, then 2030 would be the best ever! Well done all, we are grateful to you.
We have also continued to support the Mark Provinces who are also in festival. We completed our commitment to Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, and Warwickshire by donating £5000.00 to each. And will continue to support the festivals of 2028 and 2029 with similar Sums.
Looking forward, we have much to relish, starting with Grand Lodge in a few days' time, followed by our Provincial trip to Wales for the Zip wire challenge. Many family events for the Festival, and of course our own busy annual, schedule of Provincial meetings. Starting with our Installed Masters Lodge meeting in September at which we have the Installation of our new APGM and the Canon Portal Memorial lecture to be delivered by W.Bro. Dr. John Hawkins. The life of a busy Province is never dull.
Brethren, I am extremely proud and humbled to be allowed to serve as your Provincial Grand Master and once again I thank you for your support and trust, and I would like to end with two simple messages to you all, nothing too demanding but in my opinion vital.
First, Do not have meetings which are devoid of work, enjoy your time in the Lodge together, carrying out any work is better than no work. Enjoyment brings Success.
And the second.
Strive to Elevate and Advance your candidates in Good quality ceremonies, they will thank you for it. Effort undoubtedly leads to Success.
Brethren thank you for your attention, and may your God bless and aid you in every way.
Posted 05/06/24
