Provincial Grand Master visits the Battlesbridge Lodges
Monday, 11th November saw the Provincial Grand Master, escorted by the ProvGDC and accompanied by Provincial Acting Officers and two Acting Grand Officers, attend the Battlesbridge Royal Ark Mariner and Mark Lodges at Saxon Hall.
The RAM Meeting took place first and saw a busy evening indeed, the first oder of business was to Elevate Brother Richard Hitchcock. This was done in fine form with all the officers involved (the Ceremony was carried out by WBro Rod Bradley) discharging their duties admirably; Richard said afterwards how impressed he was both with the Ceremony and its quality.
Not content with an Elevation, the Lodge was briefly called off before resuming for Installation with WBro. Bob Todd acting as Installing Officer. The new Commander, W.Bro. John Lavery, taking the Chair for the first time, was installed in fine form by all those involved and afterwards went on to appoint and invest his officers which included (by "strange" coincidence)
Bro. Richard Hitchcock as Warder.
After a break for a much needed tea or coffee and a biscuit or two, the Mark meeting was held. The Provincial Grand Master entered in procession with his Acting Officers. As is his custom, the PGM accepted the offer of the Gavel and took the Master's Chair for a while. He was pleased to introduce his Acting Officers to all and then went on to hold an informal information, question and answer session in which he updated all present with Provincial news and events as well as some sage advice as to how Lodges without a ceremony on any evening might make their meeting much more relevant and interesting.
Handing the Lodge back to the Worshipful Master, the PGM was then delighted to receive a most generous donation to the Essex Mark Benevolent Fund of £1,000. Not only was that a generous gesture but, as the PGM pointed out, it takes them only £1,500 short of becoming an MBF Grand Patron Diamond Award Lodge. The only unit that has achieved that so far is the Essex Installed Mark Masters Lodge so to be just that short as a smaller, private, unit is a magnificent achievement.
With all the Lodge business concluded, all retired to a Royal Ark Mariner Festive Board (which caught a couple out with the fire!) enjoyed by all.
The RAM Meeting took place first and saw a busy evening indeed, the first oder of business was to Elevate Brother Richard Hitchcock. This was done in fine form with all the officers involved (the Ceremony was carried out by WBro Rod Bradley) discharging their duties admirably; Richard said afterwards how impressed he was both with the Ceremony and its quality.
Not content with an Elevation, the Lodge was briefly called off before resuming for Installation with WBro. Bob Todd acting as Installing Officer. The new Commander, W.Bro. John Lavery, taking the Chair for the first time, was installed in fine form by all those involved and afterwards went on to appoint and invest his officers which included (by "strange" coincidence)
Bro. Richard Hitchcock as Warder.
After a break for a much needed tea or coffee and a biscuit or two, the Mark meeting was held. The Provincial Grand Master entered in procession with his Acting Officers. As is his custom, the PGM accepted the offer of the Gavel and took the Master's Chair for a while. He was pleased to introduce his Acting Officers to all and then went on to hold an informal information, question and answer session in which he updated all present with Provincial news and events as well as some sage advice as to how Lodges without a ceremony on any evening might make their meeting much more relevant and interesting.
Handing the Lodge back to the Worshipful Master, the PGM was then delighted to receive a most generous donation to the Essex Mark Benevolent Fund of £1,000. Not only was that a generous gesture but, as the PGM pointed out, it takes them only £1,500 short of becoming an MBF Grand Patron Diamond Award Lodge. The only unit that has achieved that so far is the Essex Installed Mark Masters Lodge so to be just that short as a smaller, private, unit is a magnificent achievement.
With all the Lodge business concluded, all retired to a Royal Ark Mariner Festive Board (which caught a couple out with the fire!) enjoyed by all.
The WM presenting the PGM with £1,000 for the Benevolent Fund
The PGM with Battlesbridge Lodge, Provincial and Grand Officers
