MARK NEWS
Message from the Provincial Grand Master The news from Mark Masons’ Hall confirming the concessions being applied to Grand Lodge annual dues, registration fees, and also joining fees, has been very well received. Together with my Provincial Executive team, we have been considering what additional help we can make available to our Leicestershire & Rutland members. I am very pleased to report that we have decided the Provincial Annual Dues payable for 2020/2021 will be waived. As we slowly move towards a resumption of our regular meetings, the substantial cost savings these concessions will deliver to every lodge should present a timely boost for lodge accounts and provide a fighting fund to support our members and aid retention and recruitment. The spirit and enthusiasm with which our Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Lodges have embraced the Virtual Business Meetings initiative is one of the real good news stories to come out of the pandemic. Our Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Lodges have enjoyed tremendous benefits in progressing essential administrative matters which leaves them very well
Tony Avery re-appointed as Deputy Grand Chaplain. Geoff Hibbert is receiving a promotion to Past Grand Senior Deacon; with first appointments for Steve Finnigan and Mike Fahey as Past Assistant Grand Directors of Ceremonies, and . Rick Morris and John Reynolds as Past Assistant Grand Sword Bearers. I congratulate them all on their welldeserved preferments.
positioned ready to resume face-toface meetings and ceremonies. During April, the Assistant Grand Master, Steve Davison and I were pleased to accept an invitation from the Light Blue Club to join them at their virtual breakfast meeting to talk about the Mark and Royal Ark Mariner degrees and their importance in a Brother’s journey through Freemasonry. Our brethren will by now be aware of the Mark Grand Rank Honours for 2021. Steve Davison is re-appointed as the Assistant Grand Master, and
Finally, I must express my thanks to the members of the Provincial Executive for the hard work each of them has been doing over the last year. Most of their work goes unseen to the wider membership, but thanks to their collective efforts, our Provincial Grand Lodge and all its lodges are in fine fettle in readiness to resume regular meetings. Brethren, thank you for your support and kindness. Keep smiling and may The Great Overseer and Supreme Commander Of The Universe bless and keep you all safe and healthy.
R.W.Bro. Phillip J. Mann, Mark Provincial Grand Master for Leicestershire & Rutland
Mark Masons Donate £2,000 to Guide Dogs At a 2019 meeting of The Progress Lodge of Installed Mark Masters No.1786, the Master, John Reynolds held a raffle which raised £300 with the intention of donating it to representatives from Guide Dogs. The representatives were due to pay a visit to the April 2020 white table meeting to talk about the wonderful work that the charity does. Sadly, the impacts of the pandemic prompted a postponement.
30
Leicester Square SPRING 2021
Now, arrangements are being made to
When a date is finally confirmed for
host Guide Dogs as soon as it is safe to
Frank, his colleagues and dogs will
do so, and the Provincial Grand Master
pay their visit to Progress Lodge’s
Phillip Mann, having supplemented
next meeting, it promises to be a
the £300 by a further £1,700 from
heart-warming gathering, followed
the Provincial Grand Master’s
by a luncheon. The Provincial Grand
Discretionary Fund, sent a donation of
Master expresses his thanks to all
£2,000 to Frank Lynn, who represents
our Mark Masons whose generous
the Guide Dogs Volunteer Group in
contributions to the Discretionary
this area.
Fund have made this donation possible.
