MARK NEWS
Message from the Provincial Grand Master The resumption of our face-to-face Mark and Royal Ark Mariner meetings in September was a welcome step back towards normality, and whilst uncertainties remain in what we all may have to deal with in the months ahead, 2022 gives us good reason to be optimistic. Having suffered with Covid myself I feel that it is a good time to offer a gentle reminder and encouragement to please be careful when attending our meetings and festive boards. We can each adopt personal measures such as carrying with you and wearing, nose/ mouth coverings, elbow bumping instead of handshaking, and hand sanitizing. Perhaps choosing your own sensible degree of social distancing in our lodge rooms where there’s usually the scope to do so without creating any undue fuss. Now that the pattern and rhythm of our masonry is beginning to settle down, I am pleased to report that our membership levels in our two Orders in our province have thankfully held up very well over the last year and a half, and I am delighted to see a new growth of Advancees and Elevatees becoming members with more in the pipeline ready to do so.
Master’s Discretionary Fund. Please remind your brethren to let me or a member of the Provincial Executive know of any local or community cause that we might be able to support with funding, they do not have to be masonic or registered charities. The principle is, “modest disbursements can create big impacts”. A big thank you to the members of the Provincial Executive and the core teams of Officers who run our lodges for the hard work they have been doing over Regarding the Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank Honours for 2021, at the Annual Assembly in London in December, the Most Worshipful Grand Master Prince Michael of Kent will confer appointments to Grand Rank on Ian Clarke of Rutland R.A.M. Lodge No. 1051 and Richard Lambert of Howe R.A.M. Lodge No. 21. I congratulate them on their well-deserved preferments. I am very grateful for the generosity of our brethren in donating to the many good causes supported by Mark Masons, in particular the donations from lodges and individuals to the Provincial Grand
many months in getting the lodges ready for the resumption of regular meetings. Keep up the good work! Last but not least, Brethren, I know I can rely on your support in exercising the right degree of caution that our current circumstances demand of us all. Enjoy your masonry with a smile 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, Leicestershire & Rutland
50 Year Certificate Presentation At the installation meeting of the St. George’s Mark Lodge No.1133 on 3rd November, 2021, Michael Jacobs, Past Grand Junior Overseer, was presented with his certificate of 50 years of service to Mark Masonry by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Andy Lee. Michael was advanced into the Fidelity Lodge of Mark Master
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Masons No.491 on 5th October 1970 and became a joining member of St. George’s Lodge in March 1995. Michael virutally received his certificate from the Provincial Grand Master during the Lodge’s Virtual Business Meeting a year ago, but it was always the intention to phyiscally present it once face-to-face meetings resumed.
