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The month of September was a busy one and certainly set a demanding pace for the start of the Masonic season.

My first outing came on 9 September when I attended Grand Lodge for the Quarterly Communication. Interestingly, it was announced that there have been changes at the Connaught Rooms (next door to Grand Lodge) which are owned by Grand Lodge. A new tenant company has been found and it intends undertaking a major refurbishment programme. Most importantly, it seems that an understanding has been reached whereby the tenant company will use its best endeavours to cater, effectively and efficiently, for the many needs of Grand Lodge. The lunch after the Quaterly Communication was certainly a step in the right direction. In the afternoon, a useful meeting of the Provincial Grand Masters’ Forum was held. Although each Province is different in both size and make-up, it is helpful to hear the many different views expressed by my colleagues and thus learn more about what is going on in other Provinces. The day ended when I attended a cocktail party held on the invitation of the Pro Grand Master and the President of the Board of General Purposes.

Our first team visit took place on 12 September, when we attended the Installation Meeting of Broadwater Lodge No 9027 at the Fleetwood Masonic Hall. This was a splendid occasion with an excellent attendance. The lodges on the Fylde Coast are always warm and friendly and their charitable giving is outstanding. Broadwater is a good example of those attributes and virtues. My visit again reminded me that Fleetwood Masonic Hall is a much loved meeting place where the Brethren feel comfortable and happy.

The Northern Tour was undertaken on 23 September and 24 September. The tour is designed to achieve two objectives: first, to visit the two northerly groups in the Province; and, secondly, to bring together, at the beginning of the Masonic season, the new Provincial Team comprising myself, my Deputy, the local Assistants, the Provincial Grand Secretary, the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies and his three Deputies (including the new Deputy) and the two new Wardens. On the 23rd, we attended the Furness and South Lakeland Group Dinner at Barrow Masonic Hall, which was most successful. The question and answer session before the dinner was excellent, clearly revealing that the Brethren in the group are very much in touch with the challenges facing Freemasonry. I was pleased to note that Freemasonry in this group continues to be at the very heart of the community.The following morning was ‘at leisure’ and we visited the Laurel and Hardy Museum at Ulverston. It was good to see Freemasons actively involved with the planning and management of that public museum. After an enjoyable inspection of the memorabilia, we sat down and watched a classic L and H film, ‘Sons of the Desert’. Little did I know that a plan had been hatched to make me a Son of the Desert, complete with fez and sash. I wonder where the photograph will now appear. The Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies is quite certain that this is not a civic honour to be mentioned in Provincial greetings/salutations!! On the evening of the 24th, we visited Lancaster Castle Lodge No 5952 and witnessed a well worked Second Degree ceremony. The Lodge meeting and festive board were a most happy and fitting conclusion to the Northern Tour. In the past the Northern Tour has limited itself to Group Dinners and Installations. The changed format will enable us to visit many more different lodges in the future.

The month ended with two impressive events.

On the 28th, I attended Lathom Lodge No 2229, of which I am a member, to listen to RtWBro George Peake, the Provincial Grand Master for the Isle of Man, deliver an interesting talk entitled ‘Notes from a Small Island’, which meant that we heard about the history of Freemasonry on the Isle of Man. Many of you may not know that the Isle of Man is, in fact, our daughter Province and this relationship is very important to both Provinces.  

On the 30th, I went to Senatores Lodge of Installed Masters No 8966 for the visit of RtWBro George Francis PSGW, the Second Grand Principal of Supreme Grand Chapter. That evening, we all made a daily advancement in our Masonic knowledge, although understanding the relationship between the Craft and the Royal Arch (the subject of Bro George’s talk) can be confusing. I venture to suggest that until this relationship is better understood by potential candidates, so that they have a clearer picture of the purpose and meaning of the Royal Arch, we may well struggle to attract as many brethren into that Order as we would wish.     

The above activities and events represented a busy but enjoyable month, but there was more, in that there were three important meetings held in September, namely the Finance and Administration Committee Meeting, the Craft Cabinet Meeting and the Planning and Development Committee Meeting. The planning, management and running of the Province require much work, and these early meetings in the Masonic season are timely. During my first year as Provincial Grand Master, a five-year rolling plan for the Province was put in place (the plan is shown on our Provincial Website) and this has given us an improved structure and direction to build upon and develop. The new Marketing and Recruitment Strategy is starting to unfold and I am convinced that the time is now right to develop such a strategy, which concentrates, in a positive and managed way, on marketing our Order and promoting the recruiting of new members. That said, although this strategy will be an important piece of work, there is no substitute for brethren themselves finding and proposing candidates.   

Peter Hosker - Provincial Grand Master

Peter Hosker welcomes George Peake, Provincial Grand Master for the Isle of Man, to the meeting of Lathom Lodge.