R W Provincial Grand Master's Address
to
The Provincial Assembly of Royal Ark Mariners
Brethren,
I extend a warm welcome to all of you to our Annual Provincial Assembly of Royal Ark Mariners and especially to our visiting brethren.
My heartiest congratulations to those brethren I have invested with Provincial Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank today. Your appointment is a recognition of the work you have done to advance the cause of Royal Ark Mariner Masonry in your respective Lodges, but it is also an earnest of the work we expect from you in the future.
Brethren, Provincial honours are not awarded lightly and nothing comes automatically. Considerable thought and discussion goes into preparing the list of recipients for honours and every brother has earned his appointment.
I also take this opportunity to congratulate those brethren who were invested with Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank at the Annual Investiture in December last year. It is a pleasure to see them wearing the insignia of their new rank.
Brethren, this has been a successful year for the Royal Ark Mariner degree. The new Stanstead Abbotts Lodge has started life strongly and has been elevating candidates. The number of memberships in the Province has shown a net increase of 19, although that has been boosted by the founders of the new Lodge. Not only have memberships increased but so has the number of individual members of the Order and even more importantly resignations are down compared with last year.
W Bro David Trumble is standing down as Provincial Grand Registrar at the Annual Meeting next week. He is in hospital, recovering from an operation, but I want to place on record, in this Assembly, my grateful thanks to him for all the time and effort he has put into this office during his six-year tenure.
Brethren, in order to maintain the interest of our members in this Order, especially those newer members who are absorbing the lessons of the degree and learning the ritual, it is essential that our ceremonies are well organised, and rehearsed and that every officer has learned his words. Nothing is more depressing to new candidates or more likely to drive them away, than to see books on every pedestal and the ritual read, and in many cases read badly.
Brethren, I have had an interesting and stimulating first year in office, but this would have been impossible without your help, support and encouragement. I hope you will all enjoy a happy and relaxing summer break and return in September invigorated and looking forward to the new season.
God bless you all.
Given at St Albans on Tuesday 7th July 2009
Top of Page
|
