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. 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 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 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 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.

Guide Dog Puppy Dawn

Following the very generous donation from our Mark Masons of £2,000 to Guide Dogs, our Guide Dog Puppy Dawn is shown here. Our donation is helping to sponsor Dawn through her puppy-raising stage until she starts “big school” at one of their training centres.

Mark Masons Donate £16,000 to Hospices

The Mark Province of Leicestershire & Rutland has made presentations on behalf of the Mark Benevolent Fund to the three hospices nominated by our sixteen Mark Lodges. Each lodge was entitled to nominate and donate £1,000 to a hospice having its facility in our Province.

Rainbows (£9,000) provides enhanced care for children and young people and improved facilities for those in need and their families. LOROS (£3,000) is the Leicestershire Organisation for the Relief of Suffering provides for terminally ill patients, their family and carers. Dove Cottage Day Hospice (£4,000) provides enhanced care and support to those with lifelimiting illness, and to their family and carers.

Phillip Mann, Provincial Grand Master said, “We are absolutely delighted that the members of the Province have chosen to support these three hospices. We are all aware of the toll that the pandemic has taken on charities across the country and through the generosity of our Mark Masons and the Mark Benevolent Fund, we are once again helping to bring much needed comfort to so many people across our local communities.”

Farewells

We are sad to announce the passing of the following Brethren to the Grand Lodge above and our thoughts go to their families and loved ones. Each one will be missed but not forgotten.

Nigel Makepeace Saint James’ No.8478

Frank Bassett Granite No.2028

Stefan Robertson Lodge of Friendship

Malcolm Tuff East Goscote No.7168 No.2865

John Penrose Guthlaxton Anthony Watling Wiclif Derek Ridgewell Humber Stone Colin Cranmer Reynard

Arthur Flint

Lodge of Friendship Brian Golland Rutland

No.7717 No.3078 No.7744 No.9285 No.7168 No.1130 Brian Craston Tudor House No.8481 Brian Thornhill Loughborough Lodge of Installed Masters No.8312 George Robinson Bradgate No.6596

David Williams Lodge of the Golden Fleece

Philip Thake

Newarke No.2081 No.6794

Thomas Hailstone Albert Edward No.1560

John Page

Uppingham in Rutland Graham Harvison Sir John Corah Rodney Thornton Rutland Gordon Smith Lodge Semper Eadem Walter Greenwood Commercial No.9119 No.7736 No.1130 No.3091 No.1391

Alec Braybrooke Rutland Kenneth Russell Morley

Cyril Smith

Knights of Malta Roland Johnson Gateway www.pglleics.org.uk LeicsFreemasons John Nixon Albert Edward No.1130 No.8320 No.50 No.6513 No.1560