January 2010 To be read in Open Lodge at the first opportunity.

Dear Brother Secretary,

At a recent committee meeting of The Staffordshire and Shropshire Provincial Mark Benevolent Association it was agreed that I, as President of our association,should write to all Mark and RAM Lodges within the Province on the subject of Masonic Charity.

It is well acknowledged and everyone in a Mark or RAM Lodge should be most proud of the fact that our Lodge members have been very generous in their support of various charitable events and causes. The recent Mark Festival. the St John Ambulances to each County, the Chair Lifts into Lodges where required and far from least the fantastic response you all made to the Provincial Grand Masters Air Ambulance Appeal was magnificient, are all excellent examples of what we in the Mark and RAM Degrees have achieved in recent years.

Your Committee are of the opinion that while we all should feel justifiably proud of our achievements we will continue to stand ready to assist where possible in any direction. However it's time we should look more inwardly. to encourage members of every Lodge, to help their own Brethren using Mark charitable funds to help Mark Masons. Therefore on behalf of the Provincial Mark Benevolent Association may I kindly request each Lodge, throughout our Province, to ensure, without exception, all their Brethren in every respect, are well cared for. If a Mark Mason is experiencing distressed circumstances, if he is in poor health or need any assistance where Mark Masonry can help, you are asked to contact your Lodge Almoner in the first instance who in turn may wish to contact the Provincial MBA who are known for acting kindly, in confidence and urgently to any request made of them.

May I in conclusion personally wish you all a very enjoyable and successful year in Mark Masonry.

Yours sincerely and fraternally,

W.Bro. Ian E.Paige P.G.S.D. President

Staffordshire and Shropshire Provincial Mark Benevolent Association.




Staffordshire and Shropshire
Mark Benevolent Association,

The Presidents Report 2009-2010.



I have regarded acting as President of the association as a great honour and privilege, an experience to cherish.
Anyone coming into this position in future should expect an active office a year of interesting involvement.

This last year we find lodges contributed more than generously to the Worshipful Provincial Grand Masters Appeal
towards the Midland Air Ambulance. It was a reaction of our committee to support, as ever, such an appeal,
to encourage Mark Degree members to display an enthusiasm
which quite often the Craft across the country often find hard to follow.

Your Charity Steward certainly heralded as the best in the Midlands has, as it will be revealed conducted our finances
in admirable fashion to the Prov.MBA advantage.

We have assisted brethren upon request, quickly, expertly and in strict confidence to the satisfaction of all involved.

We have contributed to various charities, those in which we have retained a long-standing interest for many years and
others that have come to the fore in recent years such as "Our Heroes"

Of your committee they have been great, most active and supportive, attending meetings with enthusiasm and
generating good ideas and I thank them most sincerely for their efforts through the year.

Our most recent endeavour has been to notify every member of a Mark Lodge, which will of course include
RAM Lodge Members, that having met various worthy targets it was now time to look inwards to our
lodge needs - are our individual members being well cared for. It is encouraging to hear the comments derived from
the membership on this subject.

Our Secretary W Bro Brian Hughes has kept us all on the ball so to speak and my thanks is due to him for his
lack of sympathy with my 'troubles' and thanks for his assistance there in keeping meetings progressing.

This last year we have lost one of our Past Presidents in the form of W.Bro.'Ted Walker who in his time worked
long and hard for the Mark degree. We are also sorry today to lose the service of W.Bro Harold Hampton who of his
own volition is to retire and who like the former will be much sadly missed by us all, he has worked tirelessly
for many years in our interests.

My thanks to you all for my year as President I wish the association continuing success.


W.Bro Ian E Paige