MINUTES. COMMUNICATION of GRAND LODGE

Transcription

1 The Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and its Districts and Lodges Overseas MINUTES of the COMMUNICATION of GRAND LODGE held on Tuesday, 13 March 2018 at 2 p.m. in the Grand Temple, Freemasons Hall 60 Great Queen Street, London, WC2B 5AZ PRESENT M.W.Bro. RAYMOND JOHN SMITH Pro Grand Master R.W.Bro. JOHN HERBERT PRIZEMAN Deputy Grand Master R.W.Bro. STEPHEN DAVISON Assistant Grand Master Past Pro Grand Masters M.W.Bro. B. Addy M.W.Bro. R. V. Wallis, JP Past Deputy Grand Masters R.W.Bro. M. E. Herbert R.W.Bro. H. K. Emmerson Provincial and District Grand Masters R.W.Bro. Revd T. J. Walker...Provincial Grand Master for Lincolnshire R.W.Bro. C. D. Radmore... Provincial Grand Master for Hertfordshire R.W.Bro. J. D. A. Platts...Provincial Grand Master for Bristol R.W.Bro. G. Craigs... Provincial Grand Master for Northumberland R.W.Bro. M. A. Cooper...District Grand Master for Germany R.W.Bro. P. A. Norman...Provincial Grand Master for East Anglia R.W.Bro. D. F. Ashbolt...Provincial Grand Master for London

2 R.W.Bro. P. M. Ball...Provincial Grand Master for Nottinghamshire R.W.Bro. C. M. Wilson... Provincial Grand Master for Sussex R.W.Bro. S. B. Cobham...District Grand Master for South & East Caribbean R.W.Bro. K. Hodgson...Provincial Grand Master for Cumberland & Westmorland R.W.Bro. J. Steggles...Provincial Grand Master for West Yorkshire R.W.Bro. J. Verbist... District Grand Master for Belgium R.W.Bro. B. R. Mansell... District Grand Master for Spain R.W.Bro. D. Thomas... Provincial Grand Master for Monmouthshire R.W.Bro. R. J. Olliver...Provincial Grand Master for Berkshire R.W.Bro. A. I. Torrance... Provincial Grand Master for Kent R.W.Bro. C. Cantrell... Provincial Grand Master for Derbyshire R.W.Bro. J. G. Morgan, RRC, TD, JP... Provincial Grand Master for Somerset R.W.Bro. K. J. Hicks...Provincial Grand Master for Cornwall R.W.Bro. I. N. Clark... Provincial Grand Master for Surrey R.W.Bro. Prof. D. K. Wilson... Provincial Grand Master for Durham R.W.Bro. D. R. Sellers... Provincial Grand Master for Cheshire R.W.Bro. His Hon. I. D. G. Alexander, QC... Provincial Grand Master for Oxfordshire R.W.Bro. D. R. Clancey...Provincial Grand Master for North & East Yorkshire R.W.Bro. K. A. Beardmore... Provincial Grand Master for West Lancashire R.W.Bro. F. J. Gillo... Provincial Grand Master for Gloucestershire & Herefordshire R.W.Bro. T. D. Sheern... Provincial Grand Master for Essex R.W.Bro. H. H. K. Tsoi... District Grand Master for Hong Kong R.W.Bro. D. E. Tremaine... Provincial Grand Master for Buckinghamshire R.W.Bro. E. J. Rymer...Provincial Grand Master for Worcestershire R.W.Bro. M. J. L. Whelan, JP... Provincial Grand Master for Dorset R.W.Bro. A. S. McLaren... Provincial Grand Master for East Lancashire R.W.Bro. D. A. Upton... Provincial Grand Master for Channel Islands R.W.Bro. G. J. Deacon... Provincial Grand Master for Hampshire & Isle of Wight R.W.Bro. T. R. E. Jones...Provincial Grand Master for South Wales R.W.Bro. P. J. Balsom...Provincial Grand Master for Devonshire R.W.Bro. M. R. Heenan...Provincial Grand Master for Staffordshire & Shropshire R.W.Bro. P. J. Mann...Provincial Grand Master for Leicestershire & Rutland R.W.Bro. K. M. Blackburn, OStJ... Provincial Grand Master for Isle of Man R.W.Bro. R. A. Stokes...Provincial Grand Master for Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire R.W.Bro. G. R. Hicks... Provincial Grand Master for Dyfed R.W.Bro. C. van Putten...District Grand Master for The Netherlands R.W.Bro. E. R. Garty...Provincial Grand Master for Middlesex Grand Officers of the Year R.W.Bro. A. J. Englefield...Grand Senior Warden R.W.Bro. J. A. Harrison... Grand Junior Warden V.W.Bro. C. L. Moore...Grand Master Overseer V.W.Bro. S. R. N. Fenton... Grand Senior Overseer V.W.Bro. V. J. Driver, P.G.J.O., Dep.G.Insp.Wks... as Grand Junior Overseer V.W.Bro. Revd B. D. Harry... Grand Chaplain V.W.Bro. W. A. Divall, P.G.J.O., Dep.Pres.Gen.Bd... as President of the General Board R.W.Bro. J. N. G. Howitt, P.G.S.W... Grand Treasurer R.W.Bro. His Hon. K. C. Cutler, CBE, P.G.J.W... Grand Registrar R.W.Bro. Dr J. L. W. Wright, RD, P.G.S.W... President of the M.B.F. R.W.Bro. R. A. Williams, P.G.J.W... Grand Secretary R.W.Bro. F. C. Spencer, P.Prov.G.M. (Worcestershire)...Grand Director of Ceremonies R.W.Bro. N. H. Matthews, RIBA, P.G.J.W...Grand Inspector of Works W.Bro. D. J. Boswell...Grand Sword Bearer V.W.Bro. W. A. Divall, P.G.J.O...Deputy President of the General Board 2

3 R.W.Bro. A. Morris, P.Prov.G.M. (Leicestershire & Rutland)...Deputy President of the M.B.F. W.Bro. J. E. Vause... Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies W.Bro. M. D. Hampson... Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies W.Bro. M. F. Golding... Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies V.W.Bro. V. J. Driver, P.G.J.O... Deputy Grand Inspector of Works W.Bro. R. N. Bedells... Deputy Grand Sword Bearer W.Bro. C. Copley...Grand Senior Deacon W.Bro. T. M. Jenkins...Grand Senior Deacon W.Bro. C. G. Maiden...Grand Senior Deacon W.Bro. K. Boon... Grand Junior Deacon W.Bro. J. L. Rose... Grand Junior Deacon W.Bro. H. C. H. Tsoi... Grand Junior Deacon W.Bro. A. J. White... Grand Junior Deacon W.Bro. Revd. J. T. Parker... Assistant Grand Registrar V.W.Bro. J. C. Roberts, P.G.J.O...Assistant Grand Secretary W.Bro. D. M. Heath...Assistant Grand Secretary W.Bro. A. E. Farrar... Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies W.Bro. P. Furness... Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies W.Bro. D. N. Hanson... Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies W.Bro. R.C. Neal... Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies W.Bro. G. H. Scaife... Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies W.Bro. R. A. Walton... Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies W.Bro. D. S. L. Lo... Assistant Grand Sword Bearer W.Bro. C. W. Hill... Grand Standard Bearer W.Bro. M. Rizzardi...Deputy Grand Organist W.Bro. C. R. Cook...Assistant Grand Standard Bearer W.Bro. G. King...Assistant Grand Standard Bearer W.Bro. D. C. T. G. Roberts-Jones... Assistant Grand Organist W.Bro. W. R. Barr... Grand Inner Guard W.Bro. P. R. H. Morgan...Assistant Grand Inner Guard W.Bro. G. R. Denman... Grand Steward W.Bro. E. N. T. El-Attrache... Grand Steward W.Bro. M. P. Farrell... Grand Steward W.Bro. T. Ford... Grand Steward W.Bro. C. P. Hall... Grand Steward W.Bro. G. R. Horstman... Grand Steward W.Bro. J. W. Linkin... Grand Steward W.Bro. J. F. K. Marzouk... Grand Steward W.Bro. G. Owen... Grand Steward W.Bro. D. B. Platten... Grand Steward W.Bro. J. S. Priestley... Grand Steward W.Bro. D. G. Rainsford... Grand Steward W.Bro. A. Robinson... Grand Steward W.Bro. D. M. Silver... Grand Steward W.Bro. D. C. Smith... Grand Steward W.Bro. A. H. Thomas... Grand Steward W.Bro. S. J. Trevalins... Grand Steward W.Bro. R. Ward... Grand Steward W.Bro. A. L. Wright... Grand Steward W.Bro. N. L. Yarde... Grand Steward W.Bro. L. J. Millings, P.G.S.D...Grand Tyler 3

4 Past Provincial & District Grand Masters R.W.Bro. P. H. Rollin, P.Prov.G.M., East Anglia ( ) R.W.Bro. R. J. Wade, P.Prov.G.M., Kent ( ) R.W.Bro. D. G. Hugh, P.Dist.G.M., South & East Caribbean ( ) R.W.Bro. R. S. H. Hussey, P.Prov.G.M., Surrey ( ) R.W.Bro. G. E. Bonham, P.Prov.G.M., Northants & Hunts ( ) R.W.Bro. P. Connolly, P.Prov.G.M., West Lancashire ( ) R.W.Bro. R. H. H. Croucher, P.Prov.G.M., Kent ( ) R.W.Bro. P. R. Clement, P.Prov.G.M., South Wales ( ) R.W.Bro. J. R. G. Hilditch, P.Prov.G.M., Oxfordshire ( ) Past Grand Wardens R.W.Bro. D. K. Williamson, P.G.S.W., 2002 R.W.Bro. Dr J. W. Daniel, P.G.S.W., 2007 R.W.Bro. J. Brackley, P.G.S.W., 2013 R.W.Bro. Sir F. W. Crawford, DL, P.G.S.W., 2014 R.W.Bro. A. E. Stewart, P.G.J.W., 2009 R.W.Bro. B. A. Vickers, P.G.J.W., 2011 R.W.Bro. J. E. Green, P.G.J.W., 2013 R.W.Bro. K. J. Jones, P.G.J.W., 2014 Heads of Orders R.W.Bro. P. R. Clement, P.Prov.G.M. (South Wales) Grand Master KT R.W.Bro. A. J. Englefield Sovereign Grand Commander Ancient & Accepted Rite R.W.Bro. Sir F. W. Crawford, DL, P.G.S.W. Lt Grand Commander Ancient & Accepted Rite R.W.Bro. D. K. Williamson, P.G.S.W. Grand Chancellor Ancient & Accepted Rite R.W.Bro. K. J. Jones, P.G.J.W. Grand Master RSM W.Bro. C. G. Maiden Grand High Priest KTP R.W.Bro. M. E. Herbert, P.Dep.G.M. Grand Master KBHC BELGIUM V.W.Bro. M. J. Sale, P.G.J.O. V.W.Bro. F. Clarembaux, P.G.J.O. W.Bro. D. Shields, P.G.J.D., Dep.Dist.G.M. W.Bro. G. E. A. Denys, P.A.G.D.C. Bro. C. Katharios GERMANY W.Bro. A. Morecroft GHANA W.Bro. I. O. Hood, P.A.G.D.C. HONG KONG V.W.Bro. D. A. Fok, P.G.J.O. W.Bro. H. C. H. Tsoi, G.J.D. W.Bro. P. R. Whitmore, P.A.G.D.C. W.Bro. R. W. Bull, P.A.G.D.C. W.Bro. M. Yip, P.A.G.D.C. W.Bro. J. Lee W.Bro. L. Cheung Overseas Brethren 4

5 ITALY W.Bro. M. Ferrari, P.Dist.G.I.G. W.Bro. R. Testa W.Bro. M. Ghezzi JAMAICA AND CAYMAN ISLANDS W.Bro. W. A. Morgan SINGAPORE W.Bro. D. S. L. Lo, A.G.Swd.B. SPAIN W.Bro. C. R. Cook, A.G.St.B. From Romania: Bro. R. S. Ocos The Mark Internet Lodge No (Monmouthshire) From Zambia: W.Bro. N. Sothylingam Itawa Lodge No (Unattached) And a number of Past Grand Officers, Masters, Wardens, Overseers, Past Masters and other Brethren. 5

6 Report of Proceedings 1. OPENING Grand Lodge was opened in Ample Form and the Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master was saluted under the direction of the Grand Director of Ceremonies. 2. IN MEMORIAM The M.W. Pro Grand Master referred with great regret to the number of Brethren called to higher service since the last Communication of Grand Lodge. He mentioned in particular the loss of R.W.Bro. John Escott, P.Prov.G.M. (West Lancashire); R.W.Bro. Gordon Lionel Bourne, P.G.S.W.; R.W.Bro. Michael Howard Lawson, P.G.S.W.; R.W.Bro. Brian Emmett, P.G.J.W.; and R.W.Bro. Howard Brian Smith, P.G.J.W. In all there were 122 Grand Officers detailed in the report of the General Board. The Brethren stood to order while the Grand Chaplain offered prayer. 3. CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES The Minutes of the Communication of Grand Lodge held on Tuesday, 12 September 2017, which had been circulated with the Summons, were taken as read, approved and adopted. 4. REPORT OF THE GENERAL BOARD The Report of the General Board of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons for the six months ended 31 December 2017, as printed in Appendix A of the Summons, was taken as read, approved and adopted. 5. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The Grand Treasurer presented the audited Financial Statements of Grand Lodge for the year ended 31 August 2017, as printed in Appendix B of the Summons, and stated that the results were in accordance with the budget. 6. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE MARK BENEVOLENT FUND The Grand Treasurer presented the audited accounts of the Mark Benevolent Fund for the year ended 31 August 2017, as printed as Appendix C of the Summons. 7. ELECTION AND PROCLAMATION OF THE GRAND MASTER Pursuant to the Notice of Motion given by him at the Communication of Grand Lodge held on Tuesday, 12 September 2017, W.Bro. Paul Wilding, Past Provincial Grand Steward, Province of Berkshire, proposed the re-election of the Grand Master as follows: Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master and Brethren, since the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons was formed 162 years ago there have only been nine Grand Masters. That degree of continuity has been bolstered by strong leadership to give us the Order that we have today happy, vibrant and thriving. Throughout his tenure, our Grand Master has worked tirelessly for the good of all Mark Master Masons, for which we offer our thanks, and wish him good health for the future. Therefore, pursuant to the Notice of Motion given at the last regular Communication of Grand Lodge, I propose the re-election of M.W.Bro. His Royal Highness, Prince Michael of Kent, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and its Districts and Lodges Overseas. The Proposition was seconded by W.Bro. David Wheeler, P.A.G.Swd.B., Province of Lincolnshire, and carried with acclamation, whereupon the Grand Director of Ceremonies proclaimed: 6

7 Be it known that HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE MICHAEL GEORGE CHARLES FRANKLIN OF KENT of Kensington Palace in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in the County of Greater London; A Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order; A Knight of Justice of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem; Honorary Vice Admiral of the Royal Naval Reserve; Honorary Colonel in Her Majesty s Army; Honorary Air Marshal of the Royal Air Force; Provincial Grand Master for Middlesex in the United Fraternity of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of England; Past Grand Scribe Nehemiah in the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England; Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33rd Degree and an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council 33rd Degree in the Ancient and Accepted Rite for England and Wales and its Districts and Chapters Overseas; Grand Master, etc., etc., etc., etc., has this day been elected and proclaimed Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and its Districts and Lodges Overseas and of the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariner; whom may the Great Overseer and Supreme Commander of the Universe long preserve. 8. ELECTION OF THE GRAND TREASURER Pursuant to the Notice of Motion given at the Communication of Grand Lodge held on Tuesday, 12 September 2017, the President of the General Board proposed that R.W.Bro. John Norman George Howitt, P.G.S.W., be re-elected as Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year. The proposition was seconded by the Grand Registrar, put to Grand Lodge and carried unanimously. 9. MARK BENEVOLENT FUND The President of the Mark Benevolent Fund advised the Brethren that the Trustees of the Mark Benevolent Fund had made grants, totalling 3,306,728 to the following Worthy Causes: SERV Norfolk Blood Car... 15,848 Derbyshire Blood Bikes (DBB) Motorcycle... 17,500 Outward Bound Trust Lake District... 34,680 Shelterbox Hurricanes Irma & Maria... 35,000 RNLI Lytham St Anne s Shannon Appeal... 80,000 St John Ambulance... 3,123, FEES AND ANNUAL DUES The Grand Treasurer proposed that the standard rate of registration and other fees payable by Lodges to Grand Lodge for the financial year 1 September 2018 to 31 August 2019 shall be as set out in the Schedule in the summons for this meeting. The proposition was seconded by the Grand Registrar, put to Grand Lodge and carried. 11. CALLING OFF The M.W. Pro Grand Master called off Mark Grand Lodge. 12. PRESENTATION FROM ST OSWALD S HOSPICE, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE The M.W. Pro Grand Master invited Ms Menisha Gela, Trust Fundraiser, St Oswald s Hospice, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, to address the meeting and give the Brethren an overview of the work being undertaken by St Oswald s Hospice, who successfully applied for a grant of 107,628 to fund the cost of refurbishing their kitchen. She concluded by thanking everyone for the donation and the continued support from the Order. The M.W. Pro Grand Master thanked Ms Gela for her presentation which met with the acclamation of the Brethren. 7

8 13. CALLING ON The M.W. Pro Grand Master called on Mark Grand Lodge. 14. ADDRESS BY THE MOST WORSHIPFUL PRO GRAND MASTER The Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master address Grand Lodge as follows: Brethren, a very warm welcome to this meeting of Mark Grand Lodge. A welcome that is certainly much warmer than some of the cold and snow most of us experienced at the end of February and beginning of March. The agenda today might be low on content but this is such an important meeting as we have again elected our Grand Master, and indeed how fortunate we are to have him as our Grand Master. He has served this Order as our Grand Master since years! His interest and knowledge of our Order is without bounds and we look forward to him presiding over our next meeting in June. Today, however, I have to bring you his apologies. His exceedingly busy schedule sees him occupied with other commitments but he has asked that his fraternal greetings be conveyed to you all. I would like to thank Worshipful Brother Paul Wilding for proposing the re-election of our Grand Master, Worshipful Brother David Wheeler for seconding the proposition, and you, Brethren, for so warmly supporting the proposition and showing your appreciation for all that our Grand Master does for us. It was as long ago as 2004 that both Right Worshipful Brother John Howitt and I were appointed at the same time to serve on the General Board. Since then we have worked well together and never more so than since his appointment in 2013 to be our Grand Treasurer. We are indeed most fortunate to have his services in that office. He dedicates many hours to our Order and indeed to the other Orders administered from Mark Masons Hall. I am very pleased that he has agreed to continue to serve as our Grand Treasurer and I thank you, Brethren for re-electing him. Indeed, the robust and healthy audited accounts for the year ended 31 August 2017, which have been presented today, owe much to his guidance and wise advice. This meeting in our Masonic year has in recent times focused on the work of the Mark Benevolent Fund. To have a representative from one of the charities that have received a grant from the fund come to visit us, talk to us and tell us of the huge difference our grant has made, brings right home the good that your donations make. Something, Brethren, you should quite rightly feel very proud about. In my role as Pro Grand Master I am fortunate to know first-hand the grants that are made, details of the charities that receive them and some knowledge of the effect the grant is likely to make. We are trying, through Mark Benevolent Fund news letters, to keep you informed and Worshipful Brother Darren Coleman-Heald, our Charities Manager, is making great progress in achieving this. He also ensures that much of this information is available on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites. The Worthy Causes Committee is also conscious to ensure grants are distributed across the country giving you in your Provinces the opportunity to be present when grants are presented, bikes are donated, ambulances are handed over or occasions when our members are invited to thank you celebrations. Our partnership with the Hope for Tomorrow charity is coming to its end in June this year, when at the Mark Benevolent Fund Festival in Lincoln, under the Presidency of the Provincial Grand Master for Lincolnshire, the Fund will celebrate 150 years since its founding by the Reverend Canon G. R. Portal. We have recently received a letter of intent confirming that the seventh mobile cancer care vehicle fully funded by the Mark Benevolent Fund will be going to the Airedale NHS Foundation Trust. I am sure many members of the Province of West Yorkshire will be keen to be present when this latest vehicle is handed over. 8

9 The formal handover of the blood bikes purchased mainly from the proceeds of last year s very successful Parks Walk will take place at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham on 17 August. So far we have 19 of the cars and bikes purchased by the MBF secured to attend the event. Details will be circulated shortly. The MBF also donated 80,000 towards the new Lytham St Anne s lifeboat, the naming of which will take place in April within the Province of West Lancashire. The Trustees of the MBF recently approved a grant to the Dogs for Good charity to fund the purchase and training of a golden retriever puppy. Earlier in this meeting I reported on the passing of Right Worshipful Brother Michael Lawson. Brother Lawson had for many years been a Trustee of the MBF as well as assisting on many of the Committees at Mark Masons Hall. To mark the enormous contribution Brother Lawson made over many years and to acknowledge his great love of dogs I believe he had six or eight of his own the puppy is to be named Lawson. The puppy starts his two year training shortly and his progress will be regularly reported to you. Six Provinces have now had their official St John ambulance handover and currently six more are due before the end of May. On 23 June the four vehicles to be donated to Provinces in Wales will be dedicated and handed over to the St John Priory of Wales at their Centenary Celebration Service in Llandaff Cathedral in the presence of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester. The Mark Benevolent Fund Trustees have indeed been extremely busy. Some travel all over the country assessing the many applications for assistance that are received and I, in particular, thank Right Worshipful Brother Tony Morris who along with Janet, his ever supportive wife, cover many hundreds of miles on behalf of the Fund. The Grand Lodge of Mark Master Mason is there for its membership. For it to succeed it requires dedication in each of our Provinces and Districts and dedication from each of the Provincial or District Executive Committees under the leadership of our Provincial and District Grand Masters. Centrally, leadership relies on the commitment of those members serving on the several Committees and Boards that provide the management of our Order. Members of those Committees also travel many miles to attend meetings and give up many hours of their time to serve this Order. I thank them all. I rely on the support of all of you but in particular the support of the Deputy and Assistant Grand Masters. On this occasion I must express my great appreciation to the Deputy Grand Master who very recently, on 3 March, undertook the consecration of the Alexandru Vaida Voevod Lodge of Mark Master Masons No in Bucharest in the presence of some 200 Brethren. For personal reasons, and at very short notice, I was unable to travel and our Deputy Grand Master stepped in and undertook the duties of Consecrating Officer and by all accounts carried out a very impressive ceremony. This was the first Mark Lodge to be established in that country. The impetus for forming this Lodge was born out of Romanian Brethren joining the Monmouthshire Mark Internet Lodge and under the watchful eye of Right Worshipful Brother Derek Thomas, Provincial Grand Master for Monmouthshire, the enthusiasm of a large number of Romanian Craft Masons has been channelled into this, the newest Lodge in our Constitution. Two further Mark Lodges are to be consecrated for our Romanian Brethren later this year; one in June which will be consecrated at Mark Masons Hall and one in October in Romania but outside of Bucharest. At our last meeting I referred to the new website that is being developed. This has been reviewed by members of the General Board, minor changes are to be made and its expected launch is not far away. I would again like to thank Very Worshipful Brother Bill Divall and Brother Julian Trought for their considerable efforts which have enabled our vision for a proactive and modern website covering all nine Orders administered from Mark Masons Hall to be realised. 9

10 It is now my pleasure to welcome our distinguished visitors and members from overseas and, Brethren, we will show our appreciation for their presence when I have completed the introductions: Firstly, I welcome the Heads of other Orders: R.W.Bro. Paul Clement The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master of the Great Priory of the United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple; R.W.Bro. Kessick Jones Grand Master of the Grand Council of the Order of Royal and Select Masters; R.W.Bro. Michael Herbert, our Past Deputy Grand Master Grand Master of the Grand Priory of the Knights Beneficent of the Holy City; W.Bro. Christopher Maiden Grand High Priest of the Grand College of Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests and Order of Holy Wisdom; V.W.Bro. John Paternoster Supreme Magus of the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia; R.W.Bro. Alan Englefield, our Grand Senior Warden Sovereign Grand Commander of the Ancient and Accepted Rite; R.W.Bro. Sir Frederick Crawford Lieutenant Grand Commander of the Ancient and Accepted Rite; R.W.Bro. David Williamson Grand Chancellor of the Ancient and Accepted Rite and Past Assistant Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England. It is a particular delight to have with us a duo of Past Pro Grand Masters, M.W.Bro. Benjamin Addy and M.W.Bro. Richard Wallis, and our Past Deputy Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Keith Emmerson. From our Districts overseas I welcome: From Germany, where I will be visiting later this year: R.W.Bro. Michael Cooper, District Grand Master, and W.Bro. Allan Morecroft; From the South and East Caribbean: R.W.Bro. Stephen Cobham, District Grand Master, and R.W.Bro. Derek Hugh, Past District Grand Master; From Belgium, R.W.Bro. Jean Verbist, District Grand Master, accompanied by four members of his District: V.W.Bros. Martin Sale, P.G.J.O, and Francis Clarembaux, P.G.J.O.; W.Bros Daniel Shields, P.G.J.D., and Gilbert Denys, P.A.G.D.C.; and Bro. Christos Katharios. From Spain: R.W.Bro. Barrie Mansell, District Grand Master, and W.Bro. Chris Cook, this year our Assistant Grand Standard Bearer. From Hong Kong: we have a wonderful delegation from this District which has been so kind and generous in its hospitality to me. I am delighted to welcome: R.W.Bro. Herbert Tsoi, District Grand Master, V.W.Bro. David Fok, W.Bros Hak Tsoi, G.J.D., Paul Whitmore, P.A.G.D.C, Robert Bull, P.A.G.D.C., Michael Yip, P.A.G.D.C., Joseph Lee and Lucas Cheung. From the Netherlands: R.W.Bro. Cornelis van Putten, District Grand Master; From Singapore: W.Bro. Derek Lo, A.G.Swd.B.; From Italy: W.Bro. Mario Ferrari, W.Bro. Roberto Testa and W.Bro. Massimo Ghezzi. From Romania, where our Deputy Grand Master very recently consecrated a new Mark Lodge: Bro. Razvan Ocos, a member of the Mark Internet Lodge. From Zambia: W.Bro. Nagalingam Sothylingam, a member of Itawa Lodge No. 1442, one of our unattached overseas Lodges and it meets in Ndola. Please take all our best wishes back to the members of your Lodge. 10

11 From Ghana: W.Bro. Isaac Hood, P.A.G.D.C. We are very pleased to have you with us today. From Jamaica and Cayman Islands: W.Bro. Wade Morgan, District Grand Almoner. I hope the weather here is not proving too difficult to adjust to coming from the Caribbean! We also have present and warmly welcome R.W.Bro. Dr Jim Daniels, P.G.S.W., who earlier this year presented the first of the Canon Portal Lectures marking the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Mark Benevolent Fund. R.W.Bro. Daniels, I apologise for being unable to be present on the occasion of the Lecture but I know that, despite initial technical difficulties, the Lecture was much appreciated and enjoyed by all those present at what was a very special occasion. Lastly, but certainly not least, R.W.Bro. John Brackley, Past Grand Secretary, whose company we are always pleased to enjoy. Brethren, I hope I have not missed anyone out, but, if I have, I ask that they now share in the welcome and appreciation you are going to show. Brethren, thank you for your attention. I have no wish to keep you any longer apart from thanking the Grand Secretary and all the team from Mark Masons Hall for all that they have achieved since our last meeting. I also thank our Grand Director of Ceremonies and his team, not just for today, but for all their support in the many meetings we have had recently at home and abroad, and the active Grand Officers of this year for the support they have given on those official visits and meetings. And, finally, I thank you all for your attendance and I look forward to seeing you all, I hope, at our next meeting in June when we hope that our Grand Master will preside. Brethren, thank you and may God bless you all. 15. CLOSING Grand Lodge was closed in Ample Form. 11

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