Lockdown Edition No. 2
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The Suffolk Freemasons Magazine 29th May 2020 FORUM Lockdown Edition No. 2... Dear All, ‘If you can keep your head when all about are losing theirs, and blaming it on you, if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for that doubting too’. A man, a mason and a poet wrote that in 1910 and is so applicable to many situations. Today would have been our Provincial Meeting, so instead we have launched another electronic version of Forum, to mark the day. In Suffolk, I have a team of individuals, making up my executive, that have helped propel this Province in the past and given us the opportunity to maintain that progress in the future. Please read the reports that follow from some of those Brethren and I think you will see what I mean. They are all committed, dynamic and tireless with their time and detailed work that they put into their tasks and this Province. They are ably assisted by their teams, which number many brethren across the Province and I wish to thank each and every one of them. I also wish to thank most sincerely all that are retiring and welcome all that are joining the executive. I will miss the dedicated detail of David Clarke our Deputy and his superb problem-solving attributes, as well as the enormous enthusiasm of our past Mentor and now retiring APGM Keith Huxley, both of which sat either side of me in perfect harmony. Our outgoing Treasurer followed his remit and his report explains how successful his role has been. I wouldn’t like to imagine how many hours Terry Lewis has spent dealing with his duties as Almoner and every one of them, to such tremendous effect. Our Orator has been inventive, entertaining as well as informative, founded a Lodge and travelled with his ‘Empty Chair’ all over the country and finally our outgoing assistant secretary Ralph who has been a great support to the Secretary. The rest of my executive will now be joined by Tim McCormick and Bob Lee, Robert Clubb, Jamie Gwatkin, Larry Bensusan and Trevor Tinley to push our Province with new ideas and enthusiasm further into the 21st Century. I also pay great respect and thanks to Dean Willingham and Kelvin Avis as their workload has been immense during the last few weeks. I also thank my secretary who has been challenged during this time and handled everything with great aplomb (with the exception of his lawn!). I also thank all the acting officers and others who supported the Rulers and Wardens on their many visits, we were all very grateful for that support. I would also like to thank all the Brethren as well as The Light Blues, that have been so helpful during this crisis and they will be mentioned in the future when I have all the details. The combination of the whole, be it a Lodge or a Province I believe is the secret, no man is an island. How many times have we seen newly installed Masters, with a teary eye, thank the Past Masters and Officers of the Lodge... “I couldn’t have done it without you”. So, my thanks go to you all for the part you have played and just as importantly, the part you are going to play. This could be tough for a little while, the waiting, the not knowing and judging and selecting the safest guidance for our future. However, patience as with so many things during our transitory existence, often provides the answer, which is not immediately obvious. With patience comes resilience and this we need, to stay faithful to our craft. Only the UGLE can direct our next move and we will adhere to those instructions, but rest assured, Suffolk Freemasonry will come back to prosper again. So let’s listen to Dame Vera and look forward, but wait patiently for that sunny day. R.W.Bro. Ian Yeldham Provincial Grand Master Report of the Provincial Secretary orogood has written and adapted ‘e Pilgrims Progress’ which was first delivered in February at Gainsborough Lodge, Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master and brethren, I again by Stewards Lodge, to much acclaim. have much pleasure in presenting my annual report for the Undoubtedly the Final Event which brought the 2019 Festival to year ending 31st December 2019. its conclusion was the highlight of the year with well over 400 It is very pleasing to see that once again our membership has brethren and their guests attending the dinner at the Royal increased over the past year, for the fifth time in the last six years; Hospital School in the presence of the Deputy Grand Master admittedly not by very many but compared with the national Jonathan Spence. Brilliantly delivered and stage managed by the trend we are performing well. ese increases do not happen on recently retired Provincial Charity Steward Neville Warnes and their own, we have to make them happen and there is no doubt his tireless team of assistants, far too numerous to mention, the that we are seeing the benefits of the number of Blue and White amazing sum raised of well over £1.5 million pounds took Tables being held around the Province, the introduction of the everyone by surprise and was a fitting send off for all of them Membership Pathway in the autumn of 2018 and the constant following five years of relentless efforts towards the RMBI. efforts of the Provincial Mentor Dean Willingham and e weather was once again very kind to us at the PGM’s annual Membership Officer Paul Taylor. Initiates BBQ, attended by nearly 150 brethren and their partners In April Suffolk Installed Masters Lodge celebrated its Centenary which gave the provincial executive the opportunity to meet the year by holding a special meeting at Ashlar House when guest newest members of the Craft and visa versa. Geoffrey Dearing, Past PGM for East Kent and now President of My congratulations on behalf of the Province go to those the Board of General Purposes gave an interesting talk on the brethren honoured with Grand Rank appointments and work of the Board and WBro Gordon Spindler presented a copy promotions this year, of his book on the history of the lodge to each member. First Appointments: WBro. Roger Nash, Past Assistant Grand In May Trevor White retired as Provincial Representative for Director of Ceremonies; WBro. Ralph Robertson, Past Assistant Group 8 after eight years of sterling service to be replaced by Grand Director of Ceremonies Mark Jepson. Trevor has now moved on to take up the role of Provincial Archivist following the retirement John Jarman. Promotions: VWBro. David Clarke to Past Grand Sword Bearer e Provincial Grand Lodge meeting at Holbrook was again a Reappointment: WBro. J.A.F. om, QC Deputy Grand Registrar very enjoyable occasion attended by a record number at the e PGM’s annual reception for ruling masters was held in ceremony itself and a capacity Festive Board. is was David November at Ashlar House, Bury St Edmunds and was attended Barker’s swan song as Provincial Director of Ceremonies and was by 160 guests who enjoyed an excellent buffet lunch in the executed with exacting precision that drew many highly company of the Provincial Grand Master and his executive team. complementary comments from our VIP guests. My sincere During the course of the year ten brethren were presented with thanks go to Ralph Robertson, Chris Warnes, Charlie Neil and certificates for Fifty Years membership of the Craft, one for sixty the Suffolk Stewards Lodge for all their assistance in making this years and one for an incredible seventy years service, an amazing event so successful. achievement. On this topic it would seem that Suffolk is the Province to visit as e three Rulers were again kept very busy this year representing I understand that the Provincial Grand Chapter meeting held at Suffolk at the PGL Meetings of the ten other Provinces within Greshams a couple of weeks earlier was also attended by a record our group. Between them they also made visits to almost all number of Companions including no less than fifteen Grand lodges within our Province, very often to help celebrate special Superintendents from other provinces. occasions which they all enjoyed enormously. My personal e Suffolk Masonic Clay Shooting Society hosted the National thanks go to them for all their support and encouragement to me Clay Shooting Competition at High Lodge on the 22nd June to enable me to carry out my duties. which was attended by our PGM and a record attendance of over e Provincial Grand Wardens also represented the PGM at 200 shooters from 18 different provinces. e weather was ideal almost sixty of the lodge Installation meetings during the year and the whole day ran according to the organisers’ plans with and their reports clearly showed that the lodges in this province many complimentary comments received following the event. take the quality of their ceremonies very seriously whilst e overall winner was Dan Bishop from Hampshire and Isle of combining this with strong friendship and good humour. Wight, team winners were West Lancs and I’m delighted that Brethren we are fortunate to have such a happy province brought Suffolk won the Ladies Team prize. e £6000 raised for charity about by the continued hard work of the lodge Secretaries, DCs at the event was also a record amount with the bulk of this being and other enthusiastic members of our lodges. donated to the 2019 Festival appeal. Finally we have a change within the Provincial Secretariat so can e Suffolk branch of the Masonic Fishing Charity has again I take this opportunity to welcome Richard Vickerstaff who will been very active with several very well organised days by the be assuming some of the duties currently carried out by Geoff lakes that have been thoroughly enjoyed by both the casters and Spencer and Trevor Tinley following their appointments to their charges.