PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER AND PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE PROVE A GREAT SUCCESS - YET AGAIN.

A bright, sunny day welcomed over 600 Lincolnshire Freemasons and distinguished guests from other Provinces to the May 12th, 2010 meeting of Provincial Grand Chapter and Provincial Grand Lodge at the Epic Centre, Lincolnshire Showground, Grange de Lings, Lincoln.

Provincial Grand Chapter took place at 10.15 in the morning. and was followed by luncheon for over 400 Brethren. Provincial Grand Lodge then took place in the afternoon.

During the Chapter meeting, the Provincial Grand Superintendent made special presentations of his Certificate of Merit to E.Comp Cyril E. Peters DFC and E.Comp J. Michael Clarke for their outstanding contributions to Royal Arch Freemasonry in Lincolnshire.

At lunch the Grand Superintendent / Provincial Grand Master paid a glowing tribute to W.Bro R. Carroll Preston, the outgoing Provincial Grand Secretary and took the opportunity to present him with the gift of a glass decanter from the Province along with flowers for Mrs. Margaret Preston.

W.Bro. R. Carroll Preston receives gifts from the Provincial Grand Master on a special and emotional day. We wish him well!

The Provincial Grand Lodge meeting commenced after lunch and during the ceremony the Provincial Grand Master was pleased to award further Certificates of Merit to W.Bro. R. Carroll Preston and W.Bro. Dr. John Birch for their outstanding services to Craft Masonry in Lincolnshire. All the recipients of the certificates were unaware that they were to be so honoured.

ADDRESS TO PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER
BY THE MOST EXCELLENT GRAND SUPERINTENDENT
ON THE 12TH MAY 2010

Companions, it is a great delight to see so many of you here today at our annual Provincial Meeting. I have already welcomed our Distinguished Guests and Heads of other Orders. I sincerely hope that all the Companions here have a very happy day.

I congratulate all of those who have been invested today either by way of Appointment for the first time or Promotion. It has been said before, but it is very true, that your new rank is a reward for all your hard work in the past but it also carries the responsibility of continuing to work for the Royal Arch in the future. I very much look forward to joining hands with you in promoting the Royal Arch in Lincolnshire in the years to come.

I have already Invested Excellent Company Anthony Bridges and Excellent Companion Richard Garn with their Past Principals' Jewels. They have been well earned over the last three years and I have enjoyed excellent support from them. I know that the Chapters have enjoyed all their visits and both of them have made a considerable contribution to the Royal Arch in Lincolnshire during the past three years and before that. I intend to keep them both involved in Executive matters within the Order in the future. Hence, they will not be retired completely.

I am also looking forward to working with the two incoming Principals, Excellent Companions Peter Brooks and Excellent Companion Des O’Neill.

The Grand Superintendent flanked by E.Comp Peter Brooks (left), Provincial 2nd Grand Principal and E.Comp Des O'Neill (right), Provincial 3rd Grand Principal.

At the Annual Investiture Ceremony of Supreme Grand Chapter last month I was delighted to see Excellent Companion John Adams, the Provincial Grand Treasurer, promoted to the senior rank of Past Assistant Grand Sojourner. I congratulate Excellent Companion John Clements and Neville Blake on receiving their First Appointments to Supreme Grand Chapter Rank. Both of these appointments were well deserved and well earned. Excellent Companion Bert Blake, aged 96 years, was very proud to be present at Supreme Grand Chapter to see his son Invested by the Pro Grand First Principal.

During the last year the Second and Third Provincial Grand Principals have made Official Visits to all the Chapters between them. The Deputy Grand Superintendent and I have also made many visits. We have been met with much friendship and we have always enjoyed our visits. On my visits I have been accompanied by the remainder of the Provincial Team. We have had an excellent year together and all our visits have been very happy occasions. I sincerely thank the outgoing team for all their help and support during the last year and I am very much looking forward to working with the new team in the year ahead.

As always I have enjoyed all the support I would expect to receive during the last year from the Supreme Grand Chapter Officers including those who represented me at Installation Meetings and reported to me thereafter on a formal basis. Each Chapter has a Liaison Officer and the role of the Liaison Officer is extremely important. I am well aware that the Chapters do appreciate the support and attendance of the Liaison Officers and I value very much the assistance they provide to me and also I am always interested to read their reports.

The Executive has continued its established policies with regard to recruitment and retention. Each Craft Lodge has now appointed a Royal Arch Representative and I consider that this has been a very positive step in the right direction. The Registrar's Report indicates that our net numbers with regard to individual members has reduced by 3 only. I am content with the figures in this respect but I would hope that in the years to come the figures might increase on a net basis rather than decrease. Nevertheless if one examines the Registrar’s report in detail there have been 66 Exaltations and a healthy number of joining members. The average number of Exaltations per Chapter for the relevant year is therefore very close to two. Regrettably there have been a number of deaths and resignations. So far as the resignations are concerned some of these will have been as a result of ill health and some will have been as a result of migration; there is nothing that we can do about this. However, I fear that a proportion of the resignations will be caused as a result of losing interest in the Royal Arch. These are the Companions who we need to pay attention to in the future. Most of the Chapters have now appointed an Almoner. This is something which I am very keen on. The Almoner, and indeed all the Companions of the Chapter, have a responsibility to do what they can to make sure that all new exaltees are welcomed into the Chapter and encouraged to attend and enjoy themselves. If they cease to attend then I consider it is the responsibility of the Almoner, and indeed all the Companions, to do what they can to encourage that exaltee back into the Chapter.

It will be clear from what I have said that recruitment is not really an issue in Lincolnshire. We have a healthy number of Royal Arch Masons in proportion to Craft Masons. However, it is of course the completion of the journey through pure and antient Freemasonry. Often new exaltees embrace the Royal Arch immediately. However, sometimes exaltees have difficulty in understanding the link between Craft masonry and Chapter masonry. They have difficulty in understanding why it should be considered to be the completion of ones journey through pure and antient Freemasonry. We know the answer to that. The Royal Arch is of course very different from Craft. The Regalia is very different, the terminology is very different, and the Ceremonies are very different. I consider that this actually contributes towards the strength of the Royal Arch but sometimes it can cause problems with regard to retention. It is the responsibility of all of us to explain to the new exaltees the significance of the Royal Arch and in particular why it is considered to be inextricably linked with Craft Masonry. If a new exaltee is unhappy with Chapter he is likely to inform Master Masons who are not Chapter Masons that he is unhappy. This can have a negative effect. If an exaltee is happy with the Royal Arch he will encourage his Master Mason friends, who are not Royal Arch Masons, to be Exalted. We only have to look at some of the ritual to realise how important the Royal Arch is. It is described as "this Supreme Degree so truly denominated the essence of Freemasonry"; "at once the foundation and keystone of the whole masonic structure"; "so intimately blended with all that is nearest and dearest to us in a future state of existence." There is a responsibility upon all of us, Companions, to gently but persuasively, explain to all Master Masons why it is appropriate to join the Royal Arch. Thereafter there is a responsibility upon all of us to do what we can to ensure that those who are exalted enjoy themselves within our Order and support the Order thereafter.

It won't have escaped your notice that Excellent Companion Richard Garn has been Invested today as the Provincial Grand Charity Steward. I expressed the wish last year that all Chapters should appoint a Charity Steward taking into account the challenges of the 2014 festival. Most have done so. The Craft Festival for the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys is being supported positively by the Royal Arch and this will be exemplified by a presentation to be made to me by the Deputy Grand Superintendent this afternoon. Excellent Companion Richard Garn has been appointed by me to assist the Craft initiatives with regard to the Festival in relation to the Royal Arch. I do hope that the Chapters will do all that they can to support the Festival in the years ahead.

Companions, last year was the first year which we had held Provincial Grand Chapter and Provincial Grand Lodge on the same day and the first year we held our Provincial Meetings at this venue. I am sure that you will agree it is an excellent venue and I expect that we shall continue the same format throughout the terms of my offices as Grand Superintendent and as Provincial Grand Master. I hope that you will leave today feeling that the event has been a great success and a memorable and happy occasion. This could not have happened without the hard work of a number of Companions. I express my deep gratitude to the Provincial Grand Scribe Ezra, Excellent Companion David Brown and his team, for all their hard work in the weeks leading up to the meeting and of course today. I again thank Excellent Companion Michael Clark, the retired Assistant Provincial Grand Scribe Ezra, for all the work which he has carried out in support of the Royal Arch in Lincolnshire over many years.

The experienced Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, Excellent Companion David Bird, and his Deputies, have also worked hard in the weeks leading up to this meeting and of course today. I thank them very much.

I thank the Companions of the host Chapter, the Hugh of Avalon Chapter No: 1386, for their support and help today and indeed all other Companions who have contributed to make the day such a success including other Companions from Lincoln and the members of the Provincial Grand Stewards' Lodge. As always I am grateful to the Provincial Grand Organist, Excellent Companion John Pemberton, for the wonderfulmusic which we are enjoying during the course of the Ceremony.

Companions, it continues to be a great honour and pleasure for me to serve this Province as Grand Superintendent. I am having the time of my life. Please continue to enjoy your Royal Arch Masonry in the years ahead. I certainly shall do so. It is a truly wonderful and colourful Order. I am very fortunate to lead a very happy and vibrant Royal Arch province. I thank you all very much for attending, listening to me, and I do hope that you will enjoy the rest of your day.

ADDRESS TO PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE
BY THE RT. W. PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER
ON THE 12™ MAY 2010

Brethren, it is heartwarming to see so many of you here today at this 217th meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge. I have already welcomed our Distinguished Guests and also the Heads of other Orders in the Province. Brethren, I now welcome you all and hope that you are enjoying your day as much as I am.

The highlight of a masonic year for me is to Invest so many brethren to Provincial Grand Rank either by way of First Appointment or Promotion. Today has been no exception. I have been able to recognise and reward the excellent service which brethren have given to the Province already but as always I expect that the Appointments and Promotions will encourage them to undertake further work for the Province in the future. I congratulate you all and look forward to seeing you in the future and working with you for the benefit of Craft masonry in this Province.

Left to right: The new Provincial Senior Grand Warden, W.Bro. John Moulson and new Provincial Junior Grand Warden, W.Bro. Tony Greswell - both clearly delighted at their appointments.

The outgoing Wardens, Worshipful Brothers Terry Little and John Crutchley, have Officially visited all the Craft Lodges in the Province between them. I know that the Lodges have enjoyed their attendances and they have had a wonderful year. I am grateful to them for not only representing me at Regular Meetings but also in providing very helpful and comprehensive reports. I also thank the Grand Officers who have represented me at Installation Ceremonies and for their essential work as Liaison Officers. I could not manage without their support.

The outgoing Provincial Team and I have had a very happy year. The Deputy, the two Assistants, and the two Wardens make their own Official Visits but this is the first year that I have invited the remainder of the Provincial Team to accompany me on my Official Visits. We have very much enjoyed each others' company and I believe that the Lodges have enjoyed us visiting them in larger numbers than has been the case in the past. I thank the outgoing Team for their friendship and support during the last year and I very much look forward to working in the same way with the new Team in the year ahead. During all my Official Visits I have been met with enthusiasm and friendship from all the brethren and this has made for me a very happy year.

Last month at the Annual Investiture Meeting of Grand Lodge, presided over by the Most Worshipful Grand Master His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, two of our brethren were honoured by First Appointments to Grand Rank. Worshipful Brother Barry Topliss was invested as Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies and Worshipful Brother Trevor Clingan was Invested as Past Grand Standard Bearer. Their Appointments were well deserved and I look forward to utilising their strengths and commitments to the Craft in the years ahead.

Brethren, you are aware that I am very keen to promote the concept of Mentoring in this Province. I believe that we have now made considerable progress in this respect. Each Lodge has appointed a Mentoring Co-ordinator. Mentoring has taken off but there is still a lot to do. I am grateful to Worshipful Brother Geoffrey Hunt, the Provincial Grand Mentor, for all his hard work and also the support which he is given by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Very Worshipful Brother John Hockin.
We had three very successful meetings in support of the Provincial Grand Orator, Worshipful Brother the Rev. John Spriggs. The whole Provincial Team attended meetings of Pelham Pillar Lodge in Grimsby, Paulinus Lodge in Lincoln, and Sir Isaac Newton Lodge in Grantham. The Provincial Grand Orator delivered an Oration at each of these meetings with great aplomb and they were very favourably received.
Worshipful Brother Terry Little continues to manage the arrangements concerning Royal Arch Representatives in Craft Lodges. I consider that this is functioning well and is being dealt with in a gentle and discreet manner.

I thank Worshipful Brother Timothy Dodds for overseeing the Lodges of Instruction with the assistance of the Provincial Grand Secretary, Worshipful Brother John Warwick. The Lodges of Instruction are of great importance and I thank the Provincial Grand Officers who represented me during the course of the last year at the Lodges and provided a report to me thereafter.

The Historical Records Survey was completed in very good time by Worshipful Brother Reginald Brittan, the Provincial Coordinator. Lincolnshire was one of the first, thanks to his efforts, to complete the survey of the Lodges and Chapters in this Province. We have both been invited to a presentation later this month at Grand Lodge which will review the situation generally concerning the survey and which will include an address from the Pro Grand Master.

Worshipful Brother Stewart Oxborough has been Invested today as Provincial Assistant Grand Secretary. He continues to manage our excellent Provincial Website and he also edits the 'Masonic Lines' Magazine which has now of course come out in print with two editions already. We are in the early stages and we are all still learning. However, I do hope that you enjoy the magazine. It is self financing and it is delivered to every brother in the Province. Worshipful Brother Stewart Oxborough has been assisted by Worshipful Brother Jim Brackley and of course others. I thank them all.
I believe that the Provincial Website and the Lincolnshire 'Masonic Lincs' Magazine will have an important role to play in the future as will our Communications Officer, W.Bro. John Board. He is a very able communicator and I am grateful to him for all the work that he does with regard to important issues of communication.

The Provincial Social Committee continues to play a helpful part in the life of the Province, chaired by Very Worshipful Brother Raymond Powdrill Windsor. Despite the problems which he has had with his health he continues to ensure that the Committee moves forward with effectiveness, efficiency and with the usual Windsor humour! The Committee has a big role to play with regard to the 2014 Festival.

As usual, brethren, W.Bro. Mel Barrowcliffe has a stand this year selling second hand regalia. He recently handed to the Provincial Grand Treasurer a cheque for £600 for the New Provincial Benevolent Fund arising from sales. I understand that since he took over the regalia sales he has raised £6,450 for Provincial Charitable purposes. I am sure that you would want me to thank him for his hard work in this respect.

I thank again Worshipful Brothers Roy Eaton and Norman Hannigan in producing the Provincial Year book which I rely upon on most days. Worshipful Brother Norman Hannigan has not been able to be present today. 1 extend our deep gratitude to him upon his retirement from the Provincial Office after 20 years of sterling service and now aged 90 years.

Brethren, we are progressing well with regard to the 2014 Festival in support of the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys. However, I urge those brethren who have not already taken out a monthly gift aid contribution to do so as soon as possible. It is important that as many of us as possible contribute on this basis for as long as is appropriate. The brethren of Lincolnshire have always been very generous with their charitable donations and I know that you will continue to support the Festival so that it will be a great success. This is very important to me and also to Province of Lincolnshire. But it is of more importance to the boys and girls who rely upon us for their wellbeing and happiness. I am now a member of the Council of the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys and I have seen at first hand on the Petitions Committee how necessary it is for our support to continue. I again welcome the President of the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys, Very Worshipful Brother Mike Woodcock, and thank him for all his advice and assistance to me.

Brethren, you are aware that each year the Trustees of the Lincolnshire New Benevolent Fund invite each Lodge to make a request for a grant in favour of a non masonic local charity or charities. We have budgeted to provide grants on this basis during the course of the Festival totalling between £40,000.00 and £50,000.00 each year. This has proved to be a success. Not only does it assist non masonic local charities but it enables the Craft Lodges during the course of the Festival to generate most of their charitable giving to the Festival. As I travel around the Province I do note that Lodges are still continuing to make separate donations of their own to non masonic local charities. That is obviously a matter for the Lodges concerned but I do hope that all, or most ofthe charitable giving, during the course of the Festival will be towards the Festival. Despite the fact that Lodges continue to give from their own funds donations to non masonic local charities it is of some concern that quite a large number of Lodges, perhaps some of these Lodges, do not make a request to the Trustees for a grant! Please therefore, brethren, examine and review your charitable policies within your Lodges.

Brethren, we are all charged with making sure that the future of Freemasonry in our wonderful Province is secure. One of my briefs is to select brethren for high Office. I have expressed concern about the fact that there are relatively few masons aged in their twenties, and thirties in our Province. Those are the brethren within an age group who, if they continue their commitment to masonry, will obtain the necessary experience in their masonic careers to undertake high Office later on. With this in mind I have asked Worshipful Brother Reginald Brittan, together with the support of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and Worshipful Brother Dr. Brian Roberts, with their experience in the educational world, to investigate in Lincoln whether a Receptor Lodge for University Students could be a worthwhile venture. Lincoln University is becoming an important and vibrant University. It is in a wonderful City. It has a great future. The intention of a Receptor Lodge would not be to change in any way the traditions or cultures of that Lodge. Quite the contrary. The intention would be to encourage suitable young men from the University to be initiated into Freemasonry within that Lodge. However, a Receptor Lodge can only occur provided that the support within that Lodge is 100%. I simply hope that we can investigate this and, if it is acceptable to the brethren of the particular Lodge, to move forward with it and wait and see what happens.

Last year, brethren, I stated in my address that we faced great challenges ahead. I believe that we are meeting those challenges and that we can go forward with confidence. We are privileged to have in this Province 21 centres, all with different characters and delights of their own. All the centres and Lodges are flourishing. There has been a reduction in net terms of members within the Province during the course of the last year but the numbers relating to each Lodge remain good. None of the Lodges are under threat of merger or closure. I am very confident about the future.
It is now appropriate that I should thank a number of brethren with particular reference to the arrangements for today. I have already paid tribute to our retiring Provincial Grand Secretary, Worshipful Brother Carroll Preston. It would have been easy, after a number of years in the Provincial Office, for him to retire at the same time as my predecessor. I am very grateful that he was so unselfish in continuing in office for the last two years to help me during my first two years. He is a very close friend of mine and will always be so. I thank the incoming Provincial Grand Secretary, my old friend, Worshipful Brother John Warwick, for all the work which he has carried out for the Province and with particular reference to the arrangements for this meeting and during the meeting. He is now very ably supported by Worshipful Brother Stewart Oxborough, the new Provincial Assistant Grand Secretary. Mrs Gene Reader has continued to provide invaluable assistance in the Provincial Office; nothing is too much trouble for her. I thank our Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, Worshipful Brother Robert Holland and his Deputies, Worshipful Brothers Tony Greswell, Bob Marwaha, Tony Bridges, for all their hard work in the weeks leading up to today and during today. As always we have enjoyed great support from the Provincial Grand Stewards' Lodge. I extend my wannest thanks to the brethren of the Lincoln Lodges and in particular the brethren of St. Hugh Lodge No. 1386. The music has been of an exceptionally high standard and that is of course due to Worshipful Brother John Pemberton. Very regrettably the Provincial Grand Organist, Worshipful Brother Eric Wayman, is not well and has not been able to attend today but he has been kind enough to provide us with his own organ. I extend my gratitude to him. The Ceremony would not be the same without music. Many thanks to Worshipful Brother Mark Goddard for his management of the sound system in a skilful manner.

In my address last year I stated that since I had been Installed as Provincial Grand Master my life had of course changed. I am now about used to it! I am having a wonderful time and I feel very privileged indeed. I am full of enthusiasm and optimism for the future. I could not do it without the support of you, the brethren of Lincolnshire, who are all dear friends to me.

Thank you very much for attending today. I hope that it has been as memorable for you as it has for me. I trust that you will have a safe journey home and God bless you all.