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For many of us, October is invariably the busiest month of the Masonic season and October 2009 was no exception to this.

I begin by referring to our Provincial Grand Lodge Meeting held on 27 October at the Winter Gardens Blackpool for the very last time. This was a nostalgic farewell for a building which contains so many of our Provincial memories. If you look at our new and excellent Masonic Year Book for 2009 – 2010, at pages 18 and 19, you can read about some of the special meetings of the Province held at Blackpool over the years. For myself, as I look up at the photograph on my study wall showing the recession from Provincial Grand Lodge at the Winter Gardens on 28 July 2008, at the end of the special meeting when I was installed as Provincial Grand Master, I am saddened that this relationship has come to an end.

I am sure that many Brethren of our Province will remember, with pride, their own special day in the past when they were appointed or promoted in Provincial Grand Lodge at the Winter Gardens. Notwithstanding the final farewell, our October Meeting was yet another special day in the life of the Province.

I take great pleasure in leading the Investiture, being the highlight of our Meeting, because it gives me the unique opportunity of saluting and congratulating each celebrant personally as I collar him. The Brethren of this Province give excellent service in so many different ways and it is essential that we continually review and refine our practice and procedure for awarding Honours so that Brethren are appropriately recognised for their service.

The Ranks Committee, under the chairmanship of my Deputy V W Bro Brian Gillbanks, has recently incorporated more changes to the guidelines indicating, for example, that it wishes to be made aware of and give credit for service to all areas of the Craft in general. Further, in line with my own aims and objectives, service in and for the larger community can now be recognised where appropriate.   

At the October Provincial Meeting, I invested W Bro Jonathan Clipsham as my new Assistant Provincial Grand Master. He is man and a Mason of many talents, a Freemason working in the community, and he will bring to my Craft Cabinet the skills, expertise and youth which I believe will help our great Province to modernise, develop and move forward.

I make no excuse for saying once again that we must all, and this includes the High Rulers, continually involve and consult with the younger Brethren throughout the Province. We ignore them at our peril as they are the future of Freemasonry to whom we must hand on the torch. It is a salutary thought to remind ourselves that many of us were the ‘younger Brethren’ not so long ago. It is easy to think that only the ‘old hands’ can be involved in leading and developing our Province.

Back to the beginning - on 1 October I held my Royal Arch Cabinet Meeting and, in particular, I received the annual reports for the year 2009 – 2010 from my Royal Arch Assistants. Although I keep up to date with what is going on in the Royal Arch in our Province, the reports bring together the full story of the year.

The average membership of Craft Masons joining the Royal Arch in this Province is approximately 45%, which is slightly better that the average for all the Provinces under Supreme Grand Chapter. However, there is a wide discrepancy from Group to Group and whereas the Leigh Group is able to boast an astonishing 69% Royal Arch to Craft Masonry ratio, many other Groups are significantly below the Provincial average.

It is difficult to identify why there should be such a wide variation, but with the introduction of Royal Arch leads (at Group level) and Royal Arch contacts (in lodges), it is hoped that improvements will be achieved. Additionally, the Third Provincial Grand Principal E Comp Harry Ross is making a special effort to support and encourage our small chapters.

On 19 October I met with my Group Chairmen who had come together for their first meeting of the Masonic season. It was a good meeting and many topics were covered. Discussion ranged from the Mentoring Conference on 15 January 2010 through to the very important subject of the future direction of our Province following the completion of the 2010 Festival in May 2010.

The Group Chairmen and their colleague Group Officers play a key role in the running and management of the Province, they are at the grass roots, and I know that I can rely upon them to continue to discharge their duties with efficiency and effectiveness.

During October my Provincial Team and I greatly enjoyed visiting four lodges: Barlow Moor Lodge No 4525; Tranquillity Lodge No 3877; Eccleston Lodge No 7754; and Victoria Lodge No 2360. We also visited Lebanon Chapter No 86. On each of the visits the ceremonial work was of a high standard and the Festive Boards were most warm and friendly.

I am grateful to each of the lodges and the chapter for their warm welcome and generous hospitality. Prescot Masonic Hall (Lebanon Chapter) is one of the very few Masonic Halls in the Province which I have not visited before, and I could write a book about my eventful journey there in October. Fortunately, the Group Chairman W Bro Lionel Gornall came to rescue me, a poor and distressed Provincial Grand Master, in my hour of need!!

Peter Hosker - Provincial Grand Master