Essex Mark Provincial Grand Lodge
New Hall 
​1 June 2023

​So, this year’s meeting was a tale of new beginnings! With the loss of our “regular” venue at the Felsted School, Essex Mark was looking forward to the first of those new beginnings in the new venue at the New Hall School, a historic and spectacular venue just outside Chelmsford. The second “new beginning” was the announcement made by our Prov.G.M., R.W.Bro. Terence Sheern, of his intended retirement, of which there will be more later.
​This year began early for some with the temple to be arranged, the seats allocated, the dining room sorted out and all the other myriad of “behind the scenes” essential tasks to be completed. The Ceremonial Team, led by the D.C. W.Bro. Tony Goater,  had a number of challenges to meet with the layout of the meeting room being wholly different to previous years, a challenge they met with great aplomb. Similarly, the Secretarial Team had timings to meet, words to learn and read all of which was ably met by W.Bro. Geoff Newman standing in as Prov. Secretary.
Arriving guests were met and marshalled by the car park team as well as the “meeters and greeters and direction givers!”, the usual “Companion Orders” displays were present with representatives there to give further information and advice (forms, of course, were also available!).
​That said, after a few last minute practices (Dep. D.C.s were seen with serious expressions and measured steps), the meeting began in earnest.
Acting Officers were received, Heads of Essex Masonic Orders and visiting Provincial Grand Masters and other visiting guests all entered to acclaim and the receptions culminated with the Provincial Grand Master entering in full ceremonial procession. Provincial Grand Lodge was then opened.
The Prov. G.M. went on to welcome all our guests in is usual style with a quip and an anecdote where deserved. Additionally, Mark Men having served fifty years or more were received as well as our recent centenarian, W.Bro. Dick Caldwell who had celebrated his 100th birthday the previous week. Dick is very well known throughout the South of the County and his efforts and energies in the Mark and R.A.M. Degrees over the past years would be hard to beat. Dick stayed for a while, also making a personal donation to the P.G.M. for his 2030 Festival Wing Walk. 
The various reports were dealt with and subsequently the Provincial Officers were appointed and promoted as appropriate. All very deserving of their rank. 
Then, on to the address from the Prov.G.M.
This was to prove the second “new beginning”, after the usual matters were covered, he was to surprise the attendees by announcing his intended retirement later this year. R.W.Bro. Sheern has led Essex Mark for the past eight years, through Covid, leading from the front and has never shied away from any of the challenges set him. He has maintained and engendered an approachable style, always prepared to listen to and give an honest answer to anyone with a question. Crucially, also, he has also begun a new era of understanding and communication with the Craft, the Royal Arch and other “non GLMMM” Orders.

He has encouraged members to think what can be done and do it; he has Consecrated Lodges, reponed and repurposed others and has always been open and receptive to ideas even if he had maintained the prerogative to say no or, rather, “why not try this instead?”. Whilst his exact date of retirement is yet to be decided, there is some good news insofar as many more mark men will now be able to keep the chocolates won in raffles and enjoy a chocolate or two with coffee!
That said, at the conclusion of an emotional address, he was unanimously greeted with a truly heartfelt and well deserved standing ovation from members of his Province and all guests. His successor has a hard act to follow!
 Moving on to the festive board, we were to receive an excellent, well thought out and well-presented five course meal with, of course, the trademark vodka sorbet pre main course and then cheese to finish. R.W.Bro. Sheern is well known for his “dislike” of “traditional masonic food!”.
​At the end of the meal, following the usual format we had a short toast list. With a break in tradition, however, whilst the new Prov.G.S.W. usually proposes the toast to the Prov.G.M., on this occasion the Dep. P.G.M. exercised the right to do so. The full text of his toast is also published on this article.

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Posted 04/06/23