Prov.G.M Address - EEC No.1044 - March 23
Brethren, I shall start by thanking all of you for your support once again today.
To those brethren I have invested (with Prov.RAMGR), I thank you all for the hard work, commitment and support you have contributed over the years to your respective Lodges and to our Province to warrant this promotion. Please wear your collarette with pride and take every opportunity to explain to others what it represents.
Remember, though, with honours come responsibilities. Please continue to take an office in your Lodge, continue to deliver ritual where you can, go back in the Chair if necessary and continue to encourage new members to our Order. Thank you also for attending today to receive your honour.
Brethren, as is the case every year this is my first opportunity in an open Provincial Meeting to thank all those who attended the Annual Grand Assembly of Royal Ark Mariner in December and to congratulate those brethren who received Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank from the Most Worshipful Pro. Grand Master.
They were:
Our Provincial Senior Warden W. Bro Gordon Maclean
Our Provincial Junior Warden W. Bro Robin Morley
Our Provincial Master Overseer W. Bro Terry Nixon
And our Past Provincial Director of Ceremonies W. Bro Mick West
Congratulations to you all.
Moving on, brethren, we have now held three Provincial area based awareness events and each one has seen around twenty new candidates for the Mark and eventually, I trust, the same number for the Royal Ark Mariner Degree. I thank W. Bro John Finlay and all those who took part and encouraged our Craft colleagues to attend as well as the hosting Lodges for their support. Our next event is taking place at Orsett on the 4th October so please do your best to support this event as well.
To those Lodges still struggling, you don’t need me to say candidates won’t come to you, you need to find them, and supporting these events and inviting brethren from your Craft Lodges is one way of doing so.
Moving on to the usual parish notices, I first remind those of you who use Facebook to please consider signing up to our Facebook page, you can request to become a member via the Facebook page at “Essex Mark and RAM Masons”, we have over 400 members and would be wonderful to reach 500!
The location and date of this year’s Officers Mess has now been decided. In keeping with your request to move the Mess around the Province I can report that it has been agreed to hold it this year at the Colchester Masonic Centre on Friday 24 November. Before I hear too many groans about parking we have negotiated with the military to allow us to use the Officers car park behind the Masonic Centre as overflow parking so there will be plenty of space.
Brethren, we all know that, from time to time, Lodges find it difficult to fill all the Lodge offices and need support. Over the past few years we have been able to help those Lodges with our Ritual Support Team whose members have travelled up and down the Province lending a hand where they can. The time has now come, brethren, when the Support Team needs some new members to share the load. If that is something you think you can help and take part in please let the Provincial Deputy D.C., W. Bro Phil Richardson, know after the meeting today or drop him an email. If you have a speciality part, specific ritual or office in either Degree please consider joining the team.
Whilst talking about ritual I remind you all we now have a bi monthly Provincial Lodge of Instruction which takes place at Chelmsford, on the 3rd Sunday of the month. The next meeting will be held on the 16th April, details are on the website.
Moving on, I intend to say a bit about the MBF and our Festival later but I remind you that purchases can be made today in the foyer for our special bonus ball and Mark Banners etc.
Lastly brethren, I want to update you on this years’ Annual General Meeting, which will be taking place on Thursday 1st June 2pm.
Brethren, for the past 23yrs or so we have enjoyed the facilities and surrounds of the Felsted School but, due to their increased costs, we can no longer afford to meet there. Last year the meeting cost in the region of £11,000 which included all the meals. The actual hire of the facilities, rooms etc came to around £6000. This year they have had a restructuring of their pricing model and have asked, including the meals, for an increase of over 100% to £27,000! That is a figure I am not prepared to pay or ask you to contribute to in your fees.
We have, therefore, been looking at several alternative locations and last week signed a contract with the New Hall School at Boreham. For those not been there it’s a wonderful location and the school was originally built by
Henry VIII for Mary Tudor. So it is more than steeped in history and gives a wonderful back drop to our meeting. It will be different because the schools are not the same in layout but I can assure you that the staff at the school have been so accommodating, helpful and friendly that I am confident we will not be disappointed.
New Hall is just off the A.12 at Boreham so should be easier for most to get there and if we stay there next year there will be a train station within walking distance.
The school is a boarding and day release school for girls and boys having originally been a girls boarding school run by nuns. Students will not be on the premises as our meeting is in the half term week.
Brethren, I don’t want to disclose the cost of hiring the school for obvious reason but can assure you it is a fraction of the cost of Felsted. You will also enjoy a five course meal with drinks for only £35 each. So please, please, do try your utmost to attend and support the meeting, the school and those receiving an appointment or promotion, let’s make it a bumper year. As ever, all Mark Master Masons are eligible to attend of whatever rank or experience, so do encourage all the members of your Lodges to come and support the event.
We are in the process of sending out individual invitations to every member of the Province and are looking to encourage all Mark Master Masons to attend. If you have not received your email invitation by the end of the month it means that the Province does not have a current email address for you.
If that is the case please update us by either speaking directly to the Provincial Dep. Grand Secretary,
W.Bro Geoff Newman or the Provincial Grand Secretary designate, W. Bro Rob Sandy, or send them an email via the website link. Those not on email will get an invitation via the post.
So, before I close I thank the secretariat and ceremonial teams for their work in putting today together, in the run up behind the scenes, in the temple and the festive board. They always do such a wonderful job, and I am very grateful, thank you.
Brethren, I thank you for your attention, congratulations again to those who received their Provincial Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank. Please continue to enjoy your day and I look forward to seeing you all at New Hall!
To those brethren I have invested (with Prov.RAMGR), I thank you all for the hard work, commitment and support you have contributed over the years to your respective Lodges and to our Province to warrant this promotion. Please wear your collarette with pride and take every opportunity to explain to others what it represents.
Remember, though, with honours come responsibilities. Please continue to take an office in your Lodge, continue to deliver ritual where you can, go back in the Chair if necessary and continue to encourage new members to our Order. Thank you also for attending today to receive your honour.
Brethren, as is the case every year this is my first opportunity in an open Provincial Meeting to thank all those who attended the Annual Grand Assembly of Royal Ark Mariner in December and to congratulate those brethren who received Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank from the Most Worshipful Pro. Grand Master.
They were:
Our Provincial Senior Warden W. Bro Gordon Maclean
Our Provincial Junior Warden W. Bro Robin Morley
Our Provincial Master Overseer W. Bro Terry Nixon
And our Past Provincial Director of Ceremonies W. Bro Mick West
Congratulations to you all.
Moving on, brethren, we have now held three Provincial area based awareness events and each one has seen around twenty new candidates for the Mark and eventually, I trust, the same number for the Royal Ark Mariner Degree. I thank W. Bro John Finlay and all those who took part and encouraged our Craft colleagues to attend as well as the hosting Lodges for their support. Our next event is taking place at Orsett on the 4th October so please do your best to support this event as well.
To those Lodges still struggling, you don’t need me to say candidates won’t come to you, you need to find them, and supporting these events and inviting brethren from your Craft Lodges is one way of doing so.
Moving on to the usual parish notices, I first remind those of you who use Facebook to please consider signing up to our Facebook page, you can request to become a member via the Facebook page at “Essex Mark and RAM Masons”, we have over 400 members and would be wonderful to reach 500!
The location and date of this year’s Officers Mess has now been decided. In keeping with your request to move the Mess around the Province I can report that it has been agreed to hold it this year at the Colchester Masonic Centre on Friday 24 November. Before I hear too many groans about parking we have negotiated with the military to allow us to use the Officers car park behind the Masonic Centre as overflow parking so there will be plenty of space.
Brethren, we all know that, from time to time, Lodges find it difficult to fill all the Lodge offices and need support. Over the past few years we have been able to help those Lodges with our Ritual Support Team whose members have travelled up and down the Province lending a hand where they can. The time has now come, brethren, when the Support Team needs some new members to share the load. If that is something you think you can help and take part in please let the Provincial Deputy D.C., W. Bro Phil Richardson, know after the meeting today or drop him an email. If you have a speciality part, specific ritual or office in either Degree please consider joining the team.
Whilst talking about ritual I remind you all we now have a bi monthly Provincial Lodge of Instruction which takes place at Chelmsford, on the 3rd Sunday of the month. The next meeting will be held on the 16th April, details are on the website.
Moving on, I intend to say a bit about the MBF and our Festival later but I remind you that purchases can be made today in the foyer for our special bonus ball and Mark Banners etc.
Lastly brethren, I want to update you on this years’ Annual General Meeting, which will be taking place on Thursday 1st June 2pm.
Brethren, for the past 23yrs or so we have enjoyed the facilities and surrounds of the Felsted School but, due to their increased costs, we can no longer afford to meet there. Last year the meeting cost in the region of £11,000 which included all the meals. The actual hire of the facilities, rooms etc came to around £6000. This year they have had a restructuring of their pricing model and have asked, including the meals, for an increase of over 100% to £27,000! That is a figure I am not prepared to pay or ask you to contribute to in your fees.
We have, therefore, been looking at several alternative locations and last week signed a contract with the New Hall School at Boreham. For those not been there it’s a wonderful location and the school was originally built by
Henry VIII for Mary Tudor. So it is more than steeped in history and gives a wonderful back drop to our meeting. It will be different because the schools are not the same in layout but I can assure you that the staff at the school have been so accommodating, helpful and friendly that I am confident we will not be disappointed.
New Hall is just off the A.12 at Boreham so should be easier for most to get there and if we stay there next year there will be a train station within walking distance.
The school is a boarding and day release school for girls and boys having originally been a girls boarding school run by nuns. Students will not be on the premises as our meeting is in the half term week.
Brethren, I don’t want to disclose the cost of hiring the school for obvious reason but can assure you it is a fraction of the cost of Felsted. You will also enjoy a five course meal with drinks for only £35 each. So please, please, do try your utmost to attend and support the meeting, the school and those receiving an appointment or promotion, let’s make it a bumper year. As ever, all Mark Master Masons are eligible to attend of whatever rank or experience, so do encourage all the members of your Lodges to come and support the event.
We are in the process of sending out individual invitations to every member of the Province and are looking to encourage all Mark Master Masons to attend. If you have not received your email invitation by the end of the month it means that the Province does not have a current email address for you.
If that is the case please update us by either speaking directly to the Provincial Dep. Grand Secretary,
W.Bro Geoff Newman or the Provincial Grand Secretary designate, W. Bro Rob Sandy, or send them an email via the website link. Those not on email will get an invitation via the post.
So, before I close I thank the secretariat and ceremonial teams for their work in putting today together, in the run up behind the scenes, in the temple and the festive board. They always do such a wonderful job, and I am very grateful, thank you.
Brethren, I thank you for your attention, congratulations again to those who received their Provincial Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank. Please continue to enjoy your day and I look forward to seeing you all at New Hall!
Posted on 29/03/23
