Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Hertfordshire

R W Provincial Grand Master's Address to The Provincial Assembly of Royal Ark Mariners

Introduction

Brethren, it is now my pleasure to address you, and for the last time as your PGM.

May I first start, by extending a very warm welcome to you all, and to say how much I appreciate seeing so many of you here supporting those brethren who, just a few moments ago, I had the pleasure of presenting with their ProvRAMGR collarettes.

I would also like to further endorse the earlier comments I made to our Provincial guest, RW Bro Peter, whom, I am particularly delighted was able to join us today. Bro Peter has been a strong supporter since we introduced the holding of a separate Provincial Assembly, and I am most grateful to him for taking the time to join us.

Brethren you are all most welcome, and trust you will take away pleasant memories of a rather special and enjoyable day.

Provincial Matters

Brethren, when we opened this Provincial Assembly of RAM, I am sure you will have noticed that we did so very differently to that associated with opening a lodge of RAM’s. This is on the recommendation of the Grand Master's Royal Ark Council, and I am delighted that the active Provincial Officers were able to assist me in this.

As some of you will be aware, the manner in which brethren are selected and invested with ProvRAMGR honours does differ from Province to Province, with just a few travelling this particular route of holding a separate Assembly. I am of the view that as the RAM is an individual separate sovereign body, it deserves recognition as such and, in so doing, I believe it provides a particularly special day for those brethren receiving this honour.

Within our Province we have progressed to the extent that to our forty Mark Lodges we now have thirty-two RAM Lodges moored. That, brethren, I believe, is quite a fine achievement. The highlight of this past year was, of course, the recent Consecration of the Stanstead Abbotts Lodge of RAM. The first RAM lodge to be consecrated, within this Province, for over fourteen years, and thus providing a welcome inclusion of this lovely Order to the Sawbridgeworth Centre. In this, I offer my congratulations to the Founders for their foresight, and wish them every success in their future endeavours.

When considering the formation of new lodges, perhaps it is appropriate if I re-iterate some of the considerations that need very careful thought before deciding to progress. Whilst consideration to the forming of any new lodge is to be welcomed, this must be tempered with the need for such a lodge in that area or at that masonic centre. I have to say that I would be less than honest if I did not express my concern with regard to one or two lodges, at some centres, where membership would, indeed, welcome a boost.
I am sure you will agree with me that there really is no point in seeking to form a new lodge where this is likely to have a detrimental affect on the membership, new or existing, of others. Stansted Abbotts Lodge has the advantage in that there is no other RAM lodge at the Sawbridgeworth centre, and is thereby able to draw membership from its own lodge; and being so close to the border with the Province of Essex and the Province of East Anglia, dare I say from across those borders as well!

For the year in question, the Prov Registrar reports a net loss of 10 members which, when broken down, shows a slight decrease in the number of brethren who were Elevated or Joined, and an increase of 1, to 35, in the number of resignations. Other losses are accounted for by death, exclusion and transfer to Honorary membership.

Perhaps I could take this opportunity to endorse the Registrar’s comments with regard to the completion of an Exit Form when a brother resigns. There are, of course, many reasons, most of which are quite valid, for a brother to resign his membership. For example, a study of the Exit Forms for the year in question, show that the vast majority of the 35 resignations recorded do not show a loss to the Order, but a reduction in subscribing membership.

As already said, completion of this form by Lodge Scribes and Almoners when a resignation is received, will enable me, or in this case my successor, to gain a clearer picture of the reasons for resignation and, if necessary, seek to develop policies to help mitigate this in the future.

We still have, on average, only some 30% of the membership of our Mark Lodges as members of the RAM. So we do have ample room to manoeuvre. I am well aware, of course, of the many reasons brethren give when asked to join another Degree or Order, but I do believe there is much we could, and should be doing, to ensure the progression of this particular Order that we all enjoy.

I also believe, brethren, that if we are to retain our membership then Lodges need to provide a programme of interest. If there is no candidate for Elevation, then instead of just dealing with administrative issues, seek to put together a programme that might stimulate some discussion.

A few years ago, you may recall that I introduced a programme with special emphasis of promoting the Order within Hertfordshire, and this we have undertaken in several different ways. Many of you will be aware of the success we have achieved with our programme of visits to Craft Lodges with the ‘Mark Meets the Craft’ project. As I reported last year, this has now been extended to include visits to Mark Lodges, ie: RAM meets the Mark, specifically aimed at advising and promoting the Degree of RAM.

A presentational programme, comprising some 20 minutes duration, has been drawn up by the DepPGM, WBro John Oakley-Smith, in which the history and details of the Order are explored. And to those Secretaries of Mark Lodges, I do urge you to get in touch with The Provincial G Secretary should you have no work planned for one of your meetings. He will be only too pleased to respond to a request and to arrange for this presentation to be given.

I would add brethren that, as in the Mark Meets the Craft, no expense is placed on the Lodge; those attending will be pleased to pay for their own dining.

This leads me on to the :-

Royal Ark Mariner demonstration

This year, brethren, those in active Prov Office again gave an excellent demonstration of the RAM degree within William Hamilton Underhill Lodge here at Letchworth. I am grateful to all those who took part for taking the time to re-learn or update themselves on the ritual, and particularly to W Bro Richard Walker of Berkhampstead Lodge of RAM who took the chair as Worshipful Commander and gave a faultless performance.

Royal Ark Mariner Tie

A visible means of promoting our Order, is by the wearing of an RAM tie. It was designed specifically for our Province and, from the comments I continually receive, I know it has been well received by you all. It is a tie for each of us to wear with distinction, and I would ask that it is worn at all RAM meetings. Should you so wish, I have no objection to it being continued to be worn at a follow-on Mark meeting.

Royal Ark Mariner Floor Cloth

Brethren, I am sure you are now all familiar with the Floor cloth appropriate to the Degree of RAM that we have taken into use.

It is a further visible means of demonstrating and promoting the individuality of this Degree, and I believe can only further enhance the beauty of our ceremony. Whilst I have heard the odd criticism against it, and some of these have been odd, I would ask that all RAM Lodges do please take it into use.

Directions on its use in relation to our ritual has been prepared by the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies and a copy forwarded to each Lodge DC

Appointments

This afternoon also gives me the opportunity to publicly congratulate those members of our RAM Province who received RAMGR at the Annual Grand Assembly in December last year. They are :-

Dennis Cope - Hemel Hempstead
Paul Lewis - Berkhampstead
Derry Preston - James Parsons
Bill Robinson - Gladsmuir
Warren Vinecor - East Hertfordshire

To them all, I offer the heartiest congratulations of us all.

May I also extend my congratulations to all those brethren whom I have had the pleasure of appointing to Provincial Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank here this afternoon.

Each of you is well worthy of the distinction given, and as I am sure you are well aware it is, in part, a recognition of the service already given to this Order but, perhaps more importantly, of the service yet to come.

You will know that such an appointment has to be earned, and as such, you will be able to wear the collarette of your new rank with distinction and satisfaction, and of the special part you have all played in promoting this beautiful Order.

Conclusion

Brethren, I think it only now remains for me to thank the Worshipful Commander and members of the Hertfordshire Installed Commanders Lodge, for having allowed me to facilitate their meeting in the way that we have.

Worshipful Commander, I am most grateful to you, both for your individual support and for allowing me to hold a Provincial Assembly of Royal Ark Mariners in your Lodge; the stature of this Lodge has undoubtedly added to what I think has been a particularly special meeting.

And to you brethren, I thank you for listening to me.

Given at Letchworth on 3rd June 2008

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