The Provincial Grand Masters Annual Address to Provincal Grand Lodge - 25th April 2009

It is now my great pleasure to address you. It seems hard to believe that it was 12 months ago that I was standing here addressing you last. The year has just flown by probably because it has been another very full and active one in the Province as outlined in the Provincial Secretary’s Report. I would also like to say that I have been quite overwhelmed by the support, encouragement and kindness received from you all.

You will have noticed this year that there has been a change in the way in which the papers for this meeting have been disseminated in that we have incorporated all the reports and information into a special edition of the Devonshire Mason. The result of this is that every Brother in the Province of Devonshire should have received the documentation and therefore should now have a better appreciation of what is going on in the Province and hopefully feel more involved.
Another equally important by-product Brethren is the fact that it may reduce the length of this Address! (I did say may).

We are now just over 2 years into the 2012 Festival for the RMTGB and can I again thank Worshipful Brother Michael Codd for his Address to Provincial Grand Lodge today and I would ask him to kindly take back to London our own thanks to your President Worshipful Brother Mike Woodcock and your Chief Executive W Brother Les Hutchinson and their Team for the support and encouragement they have given us to date.

Thanks for the wonderful generosity of our Brethren we have now reached the current total of £1.817 million (to include all sums pledged as well as cash donations) Brethren now lets see if we can reach £2 million by the end of this year – what a challenge!

To date we have 1515 Stewards and I would like to encourage as many Brethren as possible who have still not availed themselves of the opportunity of taking out a Gift Aid to do so. Unfortunately today’s difficult times make money tighter for everybody but the sad but inevitable consequence is that it also increases the demands on the RMTGB.

Would you all please make a special note of the date of Sunday 21st June for the Summer Garden Party in support of the Festival at Ugbrooke House (by kind permission of Lord and Lady Clifford). This will be a wonderful family day out with entertainment.

I would again like to repeat my sincere thanks to our Festival Chairman W Bro Bill Daw our Provincial Charity Steward W Bro Conrad Donaldson and their Teams for their continued and dedicated assistance in reaching the current total raised.

At the end of the day what better investment can we make for the future than in our own young people.

Although we are In Festival the Province has been able to maintain its support of local non Masonic charities.

Last year we held 2 meetings when a grand total of £42,000 was donated to the William Alexander Kneel Fund from 48 different local charities and good causes in the name of the Freemasons of Devonshire from The joy in the eyes of the beneficiaries was a delight to behold. After the distribution we all shared a very happy evening together. I feel this is another excellent item on display in our Masonic shop window which gives members of the public an idea of some of our works.

Last year I announced the launch of the “Teddies” scheme in our Province.

Since then I’m pleased to report under the excellent stewardship of W Bro John Adcock the scheme is running very successfully in the A&E Departments of the 4 main hospitals in Devonshire with 3000 teddies distributed already. Thank you so much W Bro John – I know you derive great pleasure from seeing how these teddies calm and comfort young children on their admission to hospital, Again another item on display in our Masonic shop window.

I also wanted to say a few words about mentoring I am sure that you are all aware that over the years there has been a significant decline in membership throughout the Order. Grand Lodge with our support has taken steps to remedy this and the principle of mentoring has now been adopted by Grand Lodge. Every Lodge will be required to operate a mentoring scheme. I and my Executive are whole heartedly behind this and I should emphasise that this is not an optional extra but it will be a part of the structure of the Order and one to be implemented as such.

I would invite you all to undertake these changes in the spirit of brotherly love with the greater good and continuation of Freemasonry as the ultimate goal.

A Grand Mentor has been appointed and I have appointed a Provincial Grand Mentor Worshipful Brother Ian Kingsbury of the Unity Lodge, who is well known to most of you.

A Provincial Education and Mentoring Committee is in existence consisting of two of my Assistant Provincial Grand Masters Worshipful Brother The Reverend Louis Baycock and Worshipful Brother Derek Webber together with the Provincial Mentor the Provincial Orator and a team of committed Brethren. They are working hard in setting up a communication network and training courses. These will be organised on a regional basis and I ask that each Lodge ensures that it’s Officers are made aware of and so far as practically possible attend the training when it is offered in their area.

I will be writing to all Lodge Mentors shortly giving more details of the support available.

I do hope that this initiative will enjoy your full support – inevitably it will bring some change but if we do not change some of our ways we will not catch and retain the interest of good men of honesty and integrity whose time in the modern age is precious and who expect Lodge proceedings and behaviour to be carried out properly and with a minimum of wasted time.

Brethren we face a challenge and I ask that you accept it and support these new changes so that we can enjoy our masonry even more through increased knowledge and understanding and hopefully ensure a steady stream of new members to our ancient and honourable institution which stands for the values so much needed in today’s world.

Brethren can I invite you all to visit our Provincial Website which has recently been “rehauled” and upgraded by our Webmaster W Bro Martin Heskins whom I have had the pleasure of appointing as PSGD this afternoon. It is a very useful resource to all members and an excellent “shop window” for the public.

Next Wednesday I will be attending the Annual Investiture at Grand Lodge when a number of Brethren from this Province will be honoured by the Most Worshipful Grand Master with promotion and appointment to Grand Rank. Those who are to be promoted are Worshipful Brother David Bennett of Phillamon Lodge and Secretary of Devon Masonic Education Fund and Worshipful Brother John Winston of The Scout Lodge who is also the Provincial Grand Almoner for the Province of Somerset who are being promoted to the Rank of Past Junior Grand Deacon. The Brethren who are to be appointed to Grand Rank for the first time are Worshipful Brother Frank Handscombe of the Loyal Lodge of Industry and the Secretary of the Provincial Benevolent Fund, Worshipful Brother Peter Keaty of the Sir Joshua Reynolds Lodge the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, Worshipful Brother John Shepherd of the Quest Lodge the Treasurer of the Benevolent Fund and Worshipful Brother Gordon Smith of All Souls Lodge who are all being appointed to the Rank of Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies and Worshipful Brother Colin Gale of Dundas Lodge the Provincial Assistant Grand Registrar who is being appointed to the Rank of Past Grand Standard Bearer.

Brethren we offer them our warmest congratulations and wish them every happiness and great fulfilment in their new roles.

Similarly this afternoon I have had the very great pleasure of appointing new Provincial Grand Officers as well as those being promoted to or receiving a Past Rank for the first time.

I also offer them my warmest congratulations and I would remind them that receiving an honour is an acknowledgment and recognition of what you have already achieved but it is equally an encouragement to continue your good work and support of Freemasonry generally and within this Province.

At this stage I must thank all my retiring active Provincial Officers many of whom have supported me and my Executive so energetically and enthusiastically throughout the Province and I must thank them all.

I must particularly express my appreciation to the retiring Provincial Wardens Worshipful Brother David Purdie and Worshipful Brother John Sevieri. They have both undertaken their duties in an exemplary manner and the Executive have much enjoyed their company throughout the last year.

I must also extend a very large vote of thanks to my Deputy Provincial Grand Master W Bro Peter Galt and my Assistants for their dedicated and continued support, encouragement, friendship and wise counsel over the last year.

In closing I thank Worshipful Brother David Purnell our retiring Provincial Grand Secretary for his work and support over the last 5 years in that Office who has sadly resigned due to his increased business commitments and I know we all wish him well. Similarly we wish our new Provincial Grand Secretary Worshipful Brother David Lyne every happiness and success in his new post. Finally I would also like to thank Mrs Angela Pullman for her invaluable and cheery assistance in the Provincial Office.

I cannot conclude today’s proceedings without saying a special thank you to our Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Worshipful Brother Peter Keaty for the excellent manner in which he has organised the ceremonial aspect of the day along with his Team.

Finally can I thank all the other Brethren too numerous to mention by name for their help in setting up and organising today’s proceedings and the lunch to make it such a happy and I hope successful day.

Brethren I think you know I see team work is a fundamental of Freemasonry and the Provincial Team are looking forward to working with you all again during the ensuing year. I hope that you will all continue to find your Freemasonry happy and fulfilling and thereby enabling you to communicate and radiate happiness to others.

May the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe be with you all.

Thank you Brethren.

M T Penny
Provincial Grand Master
 

 

 
Report of the Provincial Grand Secretary to Provincial Grand Lodge 25th April 2009
 

Once again, it gives me great pleasure to submit my report for the past Masonic year. The first full-year under the guidance and stewardship of R.W. Bro. Michael T. Penny, Provincial Grand Master, and one that was every bit as exciting and busy as the previous ones that I have had the privilege to serve as Provincial Grand Secretary.
Immediately after the very successful meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge in April, preparations were being made for the biannual Service of Evensong at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter in Exeter on Saturday 7th June. Once again this was a colourful and enjoyable day. The sun shone early in the afternoon and many of those who attended the service also made the most of the fete that was being held on Cathedral Green. Unfortunately the rain did come but, luckily, the congregation was already assembled and the Provincial Grand Master's procession was waiting, in the dry, at the Cathedral door. The service, presided over by the Dean, was, once again, colourful and very enjoyable and the congregation enjoyed the thought - provoking address given by V.W. Bro. Rev. Dr. J.R.H. Railton, GChap, an old friend of the Dean and Rector of a Church in Wiltshire.
Perhaps the highlight of the Masonic Year was the special meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge, held under the Banner of The Lodge of Sincerity No. 189, at Mount Edgcumbe Masonic Hall, Plymouth, on Friday 30`h May. At this meeting the R.W. Provincial Grand Master appointed and invested sixteen Brethren of the Province with Past Rank which was made possible by the award of additional Past Ranks by the M.W. Grand Master to celebrate the Investiture of R.W. Bro. Michael T. Penny as PGM. This was a splendid occasion, which saw the Masonic Temple and dining tables filled to overflowing.
On a disappointing note, the membership of the Province has again fallen. This year the fall has been quite dramatic when compared with the same snap-shot for last year. The overall number of members has fallen from 6,169 in 2007 to 6,038 for 2008. This fall is in spite of an increase in the number of Initiates to 188 (from 181 last year). The reason for the fall is a large increase in the number of resignations to 246 (181 last year). Clearly, the number of resignations does not always mean that the Brother has resigned from Freemasonry as, this year, 58 members who resigned from a lodge retain membership of at least one other. There was also an increase in exclusions to 59 (from 49 last year), and the number of membership deaths has also increased slightly to 123 (from 120 last year). This continued fall in members is a particularly worrying trend as, apart from any other implications, once the membership falls below 6000 the number of Active Provincial Officers that the Province is entitled to appoint drops from 59 to 56 and there is a similar reduction in the number of Is' Appointments that the R.W. Provincial Grand Master can make. One can only hope that the retention initiatives that have been put in place will stem the downward flow but the bottom line is that we all have a responsibility to ensure that the members of our Lodge, and particularly the newer members, are happy and feel that they are a valued part of our Brotherhood.
This year has seen the culmination of the work started by R.W. Bro. Robin Osborn when he was Provincial Grand Master, and the time between becoming Worshipful Master of the Lodge for the first time to when you become eligible for consideration for Provincial Honours and promotions in subsequent years is now reduced to seven years across the board. It has been a considerable task as it is not a question of simply increasing the numbers who are given a 1st appointment. The Provincial Grand Master has had to work within the confines of the allocation of ranks made by Grand Lodge and this is very much dependent upon both the number of Lodge and the number of Brethren, within the Province.

The Provincial website at www.pgldevonshire.org.uk continues to provide a wealth of information about what is happening in the Province and I would like to thank the Provincial Web Master, W. Bro. Martin Heskins for all
his efforts.  I would recommend a visit to the website at regular intervals in order to keep up with the news. Lodges are welcome to submit their own articles and photographs for inclusion on the site: simply e-mail your news and interesting photographs to:
W Bro. Martin at webmaster1@pgldevonshire.org.uk

As most of you will now know it is my intention to retire from office at the annual meeting in April. I have had the honour, privilege and pleasure to serve as Provincial Grand Secretary for five wonderful years and this will be the sixth meeting at which I have officiated as Secretary. This office is one which has taught me a great deal, not only about Freemasonry and how it works, but also about people, and in particular, the people who contribute so much of
their spare time, freely and without thought of reward, to ensure that this organisation, of which we are all so
proud, runs as smoothly as it does. In particular, I speak of the Lodge Secretary whose work is, more often than not, taken for granted but without which there would be no meetings, no ceremonies and no Freemasonry. To you all I say, not only on behalf of the Province, but also on a personal level, a very big "Thank You" for your contribution and your dedication. It has been a
pleasure to work with you all over the past years and I have very much appreciated your support and assistance.

I could not finish this report without expressing my sincere and heartfelt thanks to the Office Staff and those who, again, give their time freely to ensure that the various office activities are properly looked after. In particular
I would like to thank W. Bros. Michael Walker and Richard Ebrey for all their contributions to the library and museum at the Provincial Office. It is a shame that more people do not make use of this excellent facility and I urge any of you researching some aspect of Freemasonry, or just showing an interest in all things Masonic, to pay them a visit and see what there is on offer. You will not be disappointed!
To W. Bro. Colin Gale must go the thanks and appreciation of the Membership for all the work he has done with the Provincial database. It has made the lives of the Office Staff very much more streamlined and efficient and has certainly lightened the load of the Lodge Secretary with the use of pre-printed forms and returns. Hopefully the next year will see this improve still further.
One of the most onerous of all the tasks undertaken by the Provincial Office must be the publication of the annual yearbook. For the past few years this has been under the organisational control of W. Bro. David Jonas and I thank him, on behalf of the Province, for all his efforts and for taking on this task with such a cheerful disposition. It is not easy and requires much organisation over the course of the year. I urge the Secretaries, Scribes, Recorders etc. of all the Degrees to ensure that they make their returns promptly and accurately so that this job can be completed with the minimum of effort.
I have used the analogy in a previous report but it is so apt that I can think of no better way of expressing my thanks to Mrs Angela Pulman, my assistant at the Provincial Office. I like to think of the office as the hub of a great big wheel with the 136 Lodges arranged around its rim, each connected to the hub by a spoke. It is Angela's dedication, unstinting co-operation and willingness that keeps that hub lubricated and the wheel revolving smoothly. Thank you Angela for all your efforts. It has been an enormous pleasure working with you.
As I step down as Provincial Secretary I am delighted that my Deputy, W. Bro. David Lyne, will be putting on the mantle. He has been an enormous support to me since he started in the role of Deputy Provincial Grand Secretary and I know him to be someone who is knowledgeable, willing and able to administer the Province in the future and to take it forward to new heights. I wish him the very best of luck and I urge you all to give him the same support, co-operation and assistance that you have
given me.
Finally, my sincere thanks go to R.W. Bro. Michael T. Penny, the Provincial Grand Master, and to his Executive. It has been an enormous pleasure serving you and I thank you for your guidance and support. It has been a challenging and exciting five years made easier by the knowledge that there is a wealth of Masonic (and non-Masonic), knowledge and advice to rely on. I wish you, and the Province, all the best for the future.

David J. Purnell PAGDC
Provincial Grand Secretary