Mark News

Virtual Annual Business Meeting

The Virtual Annual Business Meeting of the Mark Provincial Grand Lodge took place on the evening of Wednesday 28th October, during which as Presiding Officer, I was pleased to address over one hundred of our Mark Masons. The meeting was honoured by the presence of the Assistant Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Steve Davison, the Grand Secretary R.W.Bro. Ryan Williams, and several Heads of other Orders meeting in this Province.

During my Address I talked about the significant events, a very few of which I can but summarise here, that have featured in the life of our Province since the advent of the General Suspension in March.

In stressing the most important priority of all - that of the health and well-being of our members, loved ones, and our widows - we are reminded of the great success of the Keystone Boxes that did so much to lift the spirits of our most vulnerable back in the spring. I yet again express my heartfelt gratitude to our Mark Masons for their wonderful and unstinting generosity in the cause of charity, and many disbursements have been made from our charitable funds with the most generous being to Devonshire Court (£5,000), The East Lancashire M.B.F. Festival 2021 (£3,000), the M.B.F. through the sales of T@3 mugs (£462), a further £2,000 towards the Craft’s 2022 Festival and £2,000 support for the Freemasons’ Hall, Leicester Appeal.

Whilst two Mark and one Royal Ark Mariner meetings have taken place since the lifting of the suspension in July, the alternative of holding Virtual Business Meetings is proving very popular

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HAIR & BEAUTY

with Lodges in formally dealing with their essential administrative Lodge business, as are the informal and more frequent virtual social get-togethers of face-to-face Lodge meetings now suspended for the time being, I have been encouraging all Lodges to use the virtual medium to regularly meet together and maintain contact - and why not invite Advancees and Elevatees in waiting to join in? I do ask that you make a special effort that those unable or unwilling to use this

on Zoom. Sadly, with the holding Uppingham in Rutland Lodge Vale of Catmos Lodge Old Oakhamian Lodge Edward Sherrier Lodge technology be kept included please by whatever means you can, particularly for our more elderly and most vulnerable.

The meeting concluded with a very informative Address from the Grand Secretary, in which he reinforced the pro-active nature of the measures that Grand Lodge has employed to the adverse impacts on Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Masonry caused by the pandemic and is very encouraged by the positive response from the membership.

Brethren, Andy Lee and I thank you for your support and your wonderful commitment to our two Orders. Keep smiling if you can and may the Great Overseer and Supreme Commander of the Universe bless and keep you all safe

R.W.Bro. Phillip J. Mann, Mark Provincial Grand Master for Leicestershire & Rutland

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.

Alan Davis George Webster Brian Mee Kevin Williams Peter Hamblin Peter Newill Norman Small Ian MacDonald John Knew

Harry Bartholomew Mark Smith Albert Sanders Leonard Allen Paul Dutton Donald Williams John Stark Paul Henry Eric Sylt Reginald Morgan John Cull Paul Gladdle John Warner Charles Glover James Weir James McCracken Peter Towsey Raymond Mason Maurice Roberts William James Derek Powell Christopher Mansell Alan Hurdley John Gilbert John Soars

Edward Kerr Neville Harris Albert Attfield Roger Braithwaite

Newarke Lodge Lodge of the Flaming Torch Howe and Charnwood Rothley Temple Lodge Guthlaxton Lodge Lodge of the Chevaliers de Fer Lodge of the Holy Well Prince Rupert Lodge Lodge Semper Eadem St John’s Lodge Grey Friars Lodge Lodge of Gratitude Highcross Lodge John of Gaunt Wiclif Lodge St Peter’s Lodge Thomas Burton Lodge Knighton Lodge Rutland Lodge St Wilfrid’s Lodge Wayfarer Lodge Jason Lodge Grace Dieu Lodge Guthlaxton Lodge Vale of Catmos Lodge Edward Sherrier Lodge St Mary’s Lodge Lodge of Welcome Roundhill Lodge Reynard Lodge Reynard Lodge Ratae Meridian Lodge Lodge of the Argonauts Knights of Malta Guthlaxton Lodge from harm.

Highcross Lodge Lodge of the Argonauts Wayfarer Lodge Lodge of the Argonauts No.6794 No.4874 No.1007 No.7801 No.7717 No.9732 No.7827 No.7841 No.3091 No.9119 No.279 No.1265 No.6803 No.6514 No.4835 No.523 No.3078 No.1330 No.7007 No.4711 No.1130 No.8350 No.8679 No.7716 No.2428 No.7717 No.1265 No.6757 No.7164 No.5664 No.L8639 No.9285 No.9285 No.9673 No.8210 No.50 No.7717 No.8033 No.6757 No.4835 No.8210 No.8679 No.8210