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ISSUE No: 3 October 2004
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Worcestershire Source
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The llewsletter of Worcestershire Freemasons
THE NEW RULES ON PROVINCIAL HONOURS he following is an extract from the address of the Provincial Grand Master given at the meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge on Saturday 19'n June 2004 which clearly sets out the new
still be after five years as at present but, as there will be too few appointments for the full number of lodges, it will inevitably
rules and procedures governing all appointments to Provlncial Grand Rank
Gradually this backlog will build up so that
withln our Province from now on. "As most of you by now know thls is the last occasion on which such numbers can
be invested in this Province, as Grand Lodge has ordained and the Book of Constitutions now enshrines a new quota system common to all provinces. And as Worcestershlre happens to have one of
the lowest ratios in the country
of members to lodges, we wlll suffer one of
the g reatest reductions. So there can be no misunderstanding in the future, let me spell out in detail what the changes wlll mean. Although the current Worcestershire system has been in place for decades, there is surprising ignorance of it. At present, every brother
who passes through the Chair of his lodge
can, unless he failed to pull his weight
when Worshipful Master or his attendance at lodge has severely
declined, expect a first appolntment to Provincial rank after five years. Six years later he can expect a promotion, again assuming that he has attended his lodge regularly and played a part in its progress. Thereafter promotion is entirely on merit.
In future a first appointment will inltially
mean that
have
a proportion each year
to wait to the
following
will
year.
in, say, three or four years' time a flrst appointment will not come until after six years, and after another four years or so until seven years, and so on. Secondly,
the automatic first promotion after
a
fufther six years will have to be abolished apart from those who have had as flrst
appointments active office and all promotions in future will be entirely on merit. But, here again, there will be insufficient available each year for a
fellow rulers wlll have the difficult task of choosing between lodges to achieve a balance of promotions. Thus it may be that you will have to submlt the same
brother's name two or three years running before he is selected. And thls is also where those eight additional criteria attendance
at
Provincial Grand Lodge,
membership of the Royal Arch, etc., etc. published by my predecessor will come in; we shall take them into consideration when having to make the invidious choices that we shall undoubtedly have to make.
promotion in each lodge; indeed, there will probably not even be enough for half our lodges. All will depend on the number of Masons in the Province at the
It is 'the hope of reward that sweetens labour' so we are told. And, as we all know, it ls Past Masters in small lodges (such as we currently experience all too often in this province) who have to work harder to sustain their lodges than do
time.
those In larger ones. They are therefore,
This is where you, brethren, and your
promotion; and yet the new system will
lodge committees come
operate in precisely the opposite manner. And so what can we do about it? For my part I will continue to voice my strong
it
in.
The
Provincial Office has for sorne years been
sending out a form with the installation returns asking for any recommendations
for promotion. Hltherto lt has voluntary; now
it
been
becomes mandatory,
requiring one name per submission, no chance
lodge
of one of
no
the
scarce promotlons. This will, incldentally,
have the beneficial effeci of
democratising the process to some extent. You in your lodges will be able to choose the brother you regard as most deservlng of promotion, and I and my
seems
to me, more
concerns
deserving of
to Grand Lodge
when
opportunity offers. For your part you can
each
do your best to increase the of your lodges and thus
strength
gradually build up the ratio of members to lodges again. But let us never forget that
we are all brothers on the square and that, rewarded or not, we support each other because we enjoy what we do; if we did not, then there would be little point In carrying on."
The Ladies'Gift Fund for Masonic Charities - Christmas Fayre Plans are well in hand for the 52nd Christmas Fayre that is to be held once more in November. The Fayre will be held on Saturday 13th November at 10.30. The venue will be The Clarendon Suite, Stirling
Worcestershire, Staffordshire and
Road, Edgbaston.
This makes for a very enjoyable social
raising events are always well suppofted
Each year the proceeds of our work raise substantial sums of money for charity. I would like to thank you most sincerely for
by the Rulers of the three Provlnces, and
all the support that you so generously
by many Brethren and their
gave last year to our fund raising events. We were once more able to generate sufficient money to donate 82,500.00 to each of the three Provinces. We also sent
Warwickshire Provinces, Our fund
families.
morning.
This year I am delighted to say
that
Wor. Bro. Richard G.H.Goddard
Rt. MA.
Provincial Grand Master for
Worcestershire officialopening.
will be performing
the
The "Ladies' Gift Fund" is a product of the work of the wives and ladies of Brethren of
Tickets have been circulated to all Lodge Secretaries and are available for you to purchase. We plan some new ideas this year, pafticularly some more attractions for children. Please come and support this enjoyable day.
a similar amount to The New
Masonic
Samaritan Fund.
I look forward to seeing as many of you possible at this year's Fayre.
Valerie Edwards - Chairman
as