Every year, the month of October is always very busy, particularly as it is the month in which we hold our Provincial Grand Lodge meeting at Preston. As usual it was well organised, colourful and enjoyable. Furthermore, it was run and managed in accordance with our high standards

Those attending Provincial Grand Lodge will have noticed a number of changes which I had introduced. The most important change related to the ceremony of investiture when a significant number of Brethren were promoted. The ceremonial change was made for a number of reasons. For a number of years, I have been conscious that the stairs up on to the stage present many Brethren with mobility problems and, of course, it all takes time.

Accordingly, we constructed a dais at the foot of the stairs upon which I stood, and the Brethren were escorted forward, stepped up on to the dais and were duly invested. This was intended to be ‘user friendly’, so that all Brethren could be received and invested by me in the same easy manner. Although all Brethren were indeed honoured and invested with dignity, as in the past, it was felt that the procession of Brethren reaching me should be managed in a more timely mannner.

The significance and result of the changes meant that Provincial Grand Lodge closed one hour earlier than normal. This gives us therefore the opportunity of running and managing Provincial Grand Lodge even more efficiently and effectively. We are, therefore, looking at the possibility of beginning our rehearsals and procedures in the afternoon, with Provincial Grand Lodge opening at say 4.00pm. I am, of course, conscious that a full day at Provincial Grand Lodge is a major undertaking for many Brethren, particularly those who are working.

I was involved in a number of meetings during the month. The Royal Arch Cabinet met at the beginning of the month. One of the major items discussed related to Royal Arch Contacts. In the Royal Arch, we are anxious to move towards appointing suitable Royal Arch Contacts in each lodge. I believe that it will be helpful for each lodge to have such a brother and companion identified.

The Royal Arch Contact will be responsible for offering timely and informed guidance in respect of the Royal Arch at various stages of a brother’s progress through his lodge, but, most importantly, without appying any premature or inappropriate pressure. Because the Contact is in the Lodge, he will know the brethren in his Lodge and will be able to judge when the time may be right to encourage them to join the Royal Arch and thus complete their journey through pure antient Masonry.

I attended my first Group Chairmen’s Meeting at Leyland. Group chairmen are at the very heart of the Province and it is important that we work together as a team. I rely heavily upon them in running and managing the Province and I am very grateful to them for undertaking this most difficult task.

Many important matters were discussed and, in particular, we heard from each group chairman about his respective plans for the group events and activities in the coming months to support and promote the 2010 Festival. Roy Skidmore, the Chief Executive of the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity, brought the meeting to a close with a most helpful explanation of the early months of the charity, an explanation in respect of making applications to the charity and the future plans for the charity.

I chaired the first meeting of the new Provincial Planning and Development Committee. We defined our key areas of work and decided how best to action them. I will be reporting further on the work of this most important committee in due course.

October is also the month in which the Provincial Grand Master and various members of his Provincial Team undertake the Northern Tour.  The Northern Tour embraces the Lancaster and District Group and the Furness and South Lakeland Group. This year, on the first day, we visited Baldwin Lodge No 1398, which meets at Dalton-in-Furness. On the second day, we attended the Lancaster and District Group Dinner. They were both successful and happy occasions and we much appreciated the kind and generous welcome and hospitality that we received.

I cannot finish this section of my diary without mentioning our visit, on the morning of the second day, to the Devonshire Dock Hall Barrow in Furness, where the new generation of nuclear submarines are being built.  Three submarines are actually being built and a fourth one has been commissioned. It is so pleasing that this volume and quality of work has returned to Barrow in Furness, and impressively, that we have the skill and expertise there to manufacture them. The size and scale of the work is truly awesome, and I soon realised what a privilege and pleasure it is that Barrow in Furness is at the cutting edge of this programme.

I was privileged to lead the celebrations for two of our most respected and popular past high rulers. In the Lodge of Peace and Unity No 314, VWBro Tom Blackburn PGSwdB Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master celebrated 50 years in Craft Freemasonry, and in the Holy Royal Architect Chapter No 314, EComp Teddy Dickson PAGSoj Past Assistant to the Grand Superintendent celebrated 50 years in Royal Arch Freemasonry. For many years, I have looked up to Tom and Teddy with much respect and admiration, and with much brotherly love and affection, and to lead their respective celebrations was a very special privilege and pleasure for me.

At the very end of the month, I attended the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Isle of Man, held in Douglas. A special relationship exists between the Provincial Grand Lodges of West Lancashire and the Isle of Man, due to the fact that West Lancashire is the Mother Province of the Isle of Man. I greatly enjoyed the visit and I was most impressed with their Provincial Meeting.  

I still had time to visit and attend Heber Lodge No 4388 in the Wigan Group, Provincial Grand Stewards’ Chapter of West Lancashire No 8516 in the Liverpool Gladstone Group, and the Southport Charity Festival at the Floral Hall Southport. All three occasions were excellent and enjoyable.

My feet are now well and truly under the table and I thank all those who have helped and supported me.

Peter Hosker

 

PGM Profile

Address from Provincial Grand Lodge - 15th Oct 2008