Provincial
Grand Lodge of
Mark Master Masons of Bedfordshire
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Installation of the New Provincial Grand Master - 31 January 2007The Pro Grand Master, M. W. Bro. John Hale was present at the Keep, Kempston on 31 January 2007 to install R W Bro Christopher Martin Smith as Provincial Grand Master for Bedfordshire in succession to R. W. Bro Harry Arnold. The meeting was followed by a lunch for all those present at which the Pro Grand Master (seen below) wished the Province and its new PGM well for the future.
The ceremony was attended by many distinguished
guests from other Provinces and Heads of other Masonic Orders together with many
Mark Masons from Bedfordshire. In his inaugural address the Provincial
Grand Master referred to the importance of building "ships". The
“ships” he referred to were those of fellowship, relationship, membership
and mastership. He went on to say; "In our fellowships, we
should continue to support our Lodge and Provincial Almoners by keeping them
informed and by helping them to carry out their important duties.
Contacting a brother, who has not been at Lodge to see if he is well,
makes him feel valued and needed and we all need that from time to time.
My predecessors as Provincial Grand Masters have all laid great store by
the need to care for Mark Masons and their families and I make no apology for
committing myself to do the same. The second of my “ships” is our relationship
with the Bedfordshire Craft Province which I believe is vital for us both.
It is vital to us as we are all Craft Masons first and foremost and I
intend that we shall support our Craft Province in whatever way we can. I believe the relationship is also important as we often
bring together Masons from many different Craft Lodges in our own meetings –
this undoubtedly strengthens both Orders. The other relationship which is
important to both Mark and Craft is our links with the wider community – not
just by giving to charity but by taking a more active part in helping those less
fortunate than ourselves. I shall
return to this theme in the years ahead. Building both fellowships and
relationships will help us with our third “ship” – that of membership.
Both will help us to retain and interest our present members as well as
making it easier to attract new members. Seek
out those Craft Lodges, which have no Mark Masons and encourage them to widen
their knowledge and their friendships. In all of the work we do in our Lodges,
mastership of the ritual is important- Mark Masonry will only prosper if we
set ourselves high standards in all we do – to be mediocre is to fail.
We can and should improve our ceremonies and give ourselves, our
Candidates and our Lodges the satisfaction of a job well done!.
. As an individual, I look to each of you
to support your Lodges by mastering any office that you have accepted to the
best of your ability and by attending regularly.
I am especially keen to see visiting by Worshipful Masters to other Mark
Lodges - this is part of the duty of a new Master to act as an ambassador for
his Lodge. I look forward to seeing
you out and about in the Province. In conclusion he added: "Brethren, we consider it a privilege and an
honour to be Mark Masons. It is an even greater privilege and honour to be the
Provincial Grand Master of this happy Province.
Apart from that great honour, it is also a great responsibility – with
your help and support, I will be able to pass on this Province to my successor
in good heart – in the same way it was entrusted to me." During the ceremony, the Provincial Grand Master installed W. Bro. David John Picton PSGD as the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and W. Bro. John Luttrell as the new Provincial Grand Secretary. The PGM is seen below congratulating W. Bro. Picton on his appointment.
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Last modified: March 24, 2009 |
