PGM's Address 2011

Brethren, a very warm welcome to you all. I find it most pleasing to see this room filled to near capacity and I thank you all for your continued support at this Provincial Grand Lodge. An extra 50 seats have been added this year taking the seating capacity of this room to its absolute maximum.

Although I have already formally welcomed our distinguished guests I again welcome, this time as my my personal guests, Rt. Bro. Peter Ribi, Past Grand Senior Warden of the GLMMM, the M.W. Grand Master of the GL of Switzerland, thank you for accepting my invitation. I also welcome W. Bro. Alan Shearer, ( who is not the retired footballer) and thirdly an old friend of this Province R. W. Bro. George Lee, always a pleasure to have your company.

May I now thank V. W. Bro. Barry Clark for deputising as Provincial Grand Chaplain at the beginning of this Provincial Grand Lodge and later our Deputy Provincial Grand Chaplain for standing in.

W. Bro. Fredrick Roschalub, Past Deputy Grand Chaplain, Provincial Grand Chaplain, has been unable to attend – his wife is seriously ill suffering with cancer, I send her my best wishes.

Twelve months ago I reported that our overall membership had dropped by 4. This year I am delighted to tell you that our total membership number has increased by 10, a complete turnaround in year-on-year figures. This is an excellent result especially when taking into consideration the current financial constrictions and that Masonry in general is losing members. But, Brethren I see an even greater potential for success : across the two Craft Provinces of Staffordshire & Shropshire there are over 2000 Brethren who are not Mark Masons.

To secure just 5% of that number, or 100 new members each year, would benefit every one of our Mark Lodges and uplift your Province to an even greater stability. However, if we achieve only 2%, or less, this time next year I fear the report is likely to see a fall in membership. I call upon you all to identify suitable candidates and, without undue pressure, invite them to experience the warmth and happiness of this Friendly Degree.

Amongst the annual return figures for this Province there is one which gives me concern: over 400 of our Mark Brethren are not yet Royal Ark Mariners. As my predecessor said on many occasions “If you are not a Royal Ark Mariner how can you possibly hope to gain high active office in the Mark Degree when you are unable to visit 20 of our Royal Ark Mariner Lodges ?”

I therefore encourage all Mark Masons to take that further step and join this attached, important and beautiful degree.

I now congratulate those I have appointed and invested this afternoon and wish you all a very happy and rewarding future in your respective new positions. Provincial Grand Rank is recognition of past services to our Order and at the same time an encouragement towards future commitment thereby ensuring that Mark Masonry continues to excel by your active participation, assistance and guidance.

This afternoon we have also obligated and invested a new Deputy and a new Assistant Provincial Grand Master. Both these Brethren are very experienced Masons across a number of Orders and the Mark Degree in particular. I wish them both every happiness and success over the months and years that lie ahead.

Our outgoing Deputy Provincial Grand Master, V. W. Bro. Sykes, has served this Province well over the past 9 years, 5 as Assistant Provincial Grand Master and 4 as Deputy. His administration work has been excellent, indeed faultless, and I now thank him for the time and effort expended in fulfilling the important duties of Office.

I also wish to thank all those active offices who this afternoon have stepped down and I look forward to their continuing active support whenever possible. Most particularly I thank the retiring Wardens, W. Bro. Peter Everall and W. Bro. Bob Sagoo. Both these Brethren have worked tirelessly, travelled many thousands of miles in the discharge of their duties and managed to cover every Lodge within the Province - as well as one or two outside of it ! Brethren- I thank you.

Our two new Wardens – W. Bro. Colin Albrow and W. Bro. Stuart Waring – have chosen to undertake a schedule which is breath-taking; over the next year there is hardly an Installation when both will not be present. Indeed the distances to be covered just attending these Lodges will be a serious challenge – Brother Senior Warden lives in Ludlow and our Junior Warden comes from Alsager - the two extreme ends of this geographically large Province. I wish them well and hope their cars can take the strain!

A number of Brethren continue in posts as active Provincial Officers, all hold key positions. I extend my grateful thanks to each for the tremendous amount of work they do in assisting to run this Province.

I have no need to mention each by name, they know who they are, and I am sure you do too, Brethren. However, there are 3 I particularly wish to thank. First, our Provincial Grand Secretary, W. Bro. Larry Knight, who is just brilliant. Secondly, the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies who does a splendid job. And thirdly, a Brother who works quietly and efficiently behind the scenes dealing with some very difficult circumstances encountered by a few of our members, and who, invariably, succeeds in bringing relief to their distress. Our Provincial Grand Almoner, V. W. Bro. Andrew Beckingsale. Thank you all.

At the Annual Investiture of Grand Lodge held in June seven members from this Province received first appointment to Grand Rank. W. Bros Howard Jenkins and Max Pipe, Past Wardens, both received Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies. W. Bro Kevin Bryant received the same rank through Worcestershire. W. Bros. Keith Downing, Bill Owen and Michael Woodcock were appointed Past Assistant Grand Standard Bearers and W. Bro. Peter Faulks received active rank as a Grand Steward. Many congratulations to all these Brethren.

At the Grand Assembly of Royal Ark Mariners to be held in December three of our Brethren will receive Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank :

W. Bro. Bob Douglas, W. Bro. Bob Stoddard and W. Bro. John Caswell; many congratulations to each.

During the past year a number of Lodges hosted a full Provincial Visit. Without doubt the finest of these was the Consecration of the Roses and Castles Boater's Lodge No. 1922 held last December. My thanks to each for their hospitality and more especially to the Lodge Secretary's who had to deal with the extra workload. The ensuing year will see similar outings beginning with a Full Provincial Visit to Wrekin Lodge in December for a Banner Dedication, followed in February next year by a visit to The Wolverhampton Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners No. 186, for the celebration of its centenary. More information on these and other events can be found on our web site “mmmstaffsandshrops”.

Let me now thank W. Bro. Colin Bolton, our web master, for his work maintaining our web page and preparing articles for publication in the two Craft Province's News Letter. He is always looking for interesting snippets to promote this degree, if you have such material do please see him.

Love it or loath it electronic communication by email, attachments and similar, is here to stay. It is the most cost-effective means of circulating summonses, minutes and general Lodge business.

I am pleased an increasing number of our Secretaries are using this means of communication, it makes sound sense and I therefore recommend this form of transmission be considered as normal practice for all Lodge business. There is, of course, a very small minority of Secretaries and members who are not connected to the net. These Brethren, and others who may not wish to communicate by email, can continue to send and receive paperwork by snail mail. This recommendation does NOT mean that a Lodge Secretary has to relinquish his position just because he is without a computer. Far from it, every Secretary's work is appreciated and valued by me whether he is with, or indeed without, the aid of electronic assistance. Do also remember Brethren that all communication is a two-way system. There are very few excuses for not replying to a Lodge summons. Common courtesy requires each of us to respond to every summons and, thereby, to help make the Secretary's task that little bit easier.

It is clear that the success of this Order depends solely upon the health and well being of Craft Masonry. It is therefore very important that we all support our Craft Lodges whenever possible. Attending your Craft Lodge will afford fine opportunity to talk about Mark Masonry and also offer a favourable occasion for you to encourage suitable Brethren to join this very important Additional Degree.

You will have noticed I use the term “Additional Degree”. Please Brethren, when ever you are talking about Mark Masonry try to avoid calling it a Side Order. Mark Masonry is the largest and most popular Order beyond the Craft. It is not conferred on the side, neither is it an extra dish or side order to a main meal ! “Additional Degree” is possibly the best and most accurate way to describe this, and all other Orders, not covered by the Preliminary Declaration in the Craft Constitution.

The Staffordshire & Shropshire Mark Benevolent Association has received good funding this past year and I thank all who have made contribution. Do please continue to support our Registered Charity to the best of your ability and by Gift Aid if possible. The Provincial Grand Master's Discretionary Fund has also received excellent support over the same period and it continues with its good work assisting with installation costs of hearing aid loop systems.

This year we have completed two systems – one at Leek Masonic Hall and one at West Bromwich Masonic Hall. There remains sufficient funds for more projects of a similar nature and for the maintenance, repair and servicing of the Chair Lifts installed a few years ago. I welcome enquiries for financial assistance towards such practical aids so that we may help our Brethren in need across all the Orders. Do please continue to support The PGM's Discretionary Fund.

The Key-Stone Millennium Club Lottery also continues with its good work. I now place on record my grateful thanks to W. Bro. Howard Jenkins for all that he does towards the success of this fund. This is another good cause and a chance to win a cash prize – Tax Free !

Once again this year, sadly, I was not a winner, but I did take careful note the name of one Brother who was lucky enough to win twice !

Last year we staged, for the first time, a Sunday Luncheon at the Case Golf Club for newly Advanced, newly Elevated and new Joining Members to the Province. It was a resounding success with some 80 Brethren present, together with their Ladies and friends and with the support of a number of senior members. It was so popular that we are repeating the event this year on 20^th November. There are some places left, indeed, we may well exceed last year's numbers and at just £12.95 for a fine 3 course luncheon this is not only outstanding value but also an outing not to be missed! I thank V. W. Bro. Barry Clark, Past Assistant PGM, our organiser and who you should contact if you want to attend.

I am sure you would all wish to endorse my grateful thanks to those Brethren who have organised this Provincial Grand Lodge. The secretariat for diligence, patience and long hours in preparation; ...........

the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies and his dedicated team for the smooth running of today's ceremony; ......... to W. Bro. Bryan Hughes for transporting the furniture, and to all who have assisted in what ever way. Thank You !

Finally Brethren, do continue to enjoy your Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Masonry, and may the Great Overseer and Supreme Commander of the Universe be with you all.