2023 Address
Good morning again
Firstly, I am very pleased to be here, many of you will remember that my poor health prevented me from attending last year’s meeting, little did I realise at the time just where that would lead. I am indebted to my Deputy, Ill Kt Jim Mulligan for standing in at short notice
A big thank you the outgoing Divisional Officers for their support during the past year, many of you have made a tremendous effort to travel throughout the Division, to support other Conclaves
My particular thanks to Ill Kt Geoff Watkins, our Divisional Recorder, who is standing down today after 5 years unstinting service in the role, he has worked tirelessly to keep our administration in good order
I also give grateful thanks to Ill Kt Jim Coxon, Divisional Treasurer, who, after 12 years, has decided to stand down. Jim has kept our finances in excellent shape and I thank him for all his efforts during his time in Office
We have a new Divisional Treasurer, P Kt Richard Gale and a New Divisional Recorder P Kt Mark Wainwright. It is convention that newly appointed Officers should be congratulated on their appointments, rather than thanked. However, on this occasion I would like to offer my sincere thanks to both of them for agreeing to take the offices
Congratulations to the new Divisional Officers, I look forward to your support. Apart from the Team Visits, please make the effort to visit Conclaves across the Division and continue to support them. The new Directory will give you all the dates of meetings
At the Grand Imperial Conclave meeting in July last year the Division had the honour of receiving 6 Grand Rank appointments and promotions. Ill Kt Jim Mulligan was promoted to P.G.Chamberlain and Ill Kt Dr Paul Mycock promoted to P.G.Orator. Newly appointed to Grand Office were Ill Kt Robert Vaughan as Grand Sword Bearer, Ill Kts Chris Hallam, Albert Dodd and John Thornton as PGPrefects, congratulations to all of you on your preferment.
I have already mentioned Jim Mulligan’s support as my Deputy Intendant-General, he has been a tower of strength during the past 12 months, attending many meetings when I have been unable to attend. Not only that, he has played a major role in organising today’s meeting, preparing temple seating and table plans, organising signage and printing the new Divisional Directory & Calendar.
He also assembled and collected much of the equipment for this meeting. My sincere thanks Jim for all that you have done. Thank you to the members of Morning Star and St Oswald Conclaves for their assistance in setting up the rooms late night and taking down today
You will have notice that we have a reduced number of Divisional Sepulchre Guards, to some extent this is the result of the lockdown with fewer new Knight-Companions joining the Order. I ask everyone to emphasis to new Knight-Companions who have taken their Appendant degrees, that they are eligible to join the Guard, it is a thoroughly unique and enjoyable experience with great esprit-de-corps. Thank you to the Divisional Sepulchre Guard for their work here today.
On the subject of Appendant Degrees, there has been an element of catching-up and we have performed four ceremonies in the past 12 months. I thank everyone who has been involved for their commitment and support.
I am often told that people join K.T. because they like carrying a sword and they like the charitable aspect of that Order; well Red Cross of Constantine offers the same opportunity, especially for members of the Sepulchre Guard. The West Midlands also has two members who are current members of the Grand Sepulchre Guard, which is a huge privilege, one of the qualifications is to have been an active member of a Divisional Sepulchre Guard
I will touch on recruitment. I have been told by members, on more than one occasion, that I have not found candidates for their Conclave. I can only agree, because that is not the role of an Intendant-General, it is the responsibility of each Conclave to introduce new candidates. I will always support the efforts of any Conclave in their recruitment campaign, but they must identify potential candidates and a personal approach is always the most effective method of generating interest.
I have produced a Power Point presentation, explaining who Constantine was and an outline of the Order, which, with help from the members of Dr Thomas Arnold Conclave, has gradually been fine-tuned. It has generated some interest when presented, but this needs to be followed up, otherwise it is like planting a flower border and then forgetting to feed & nurture it.
Jim Mulligan has arranged the production of a number of ‘pop-up’ Banners. These are available for display in Masonic Halls, when they are allowed, or other events where it would be appropriate to display them.
On the subject of candidates, we must support and promote the Royal Arch, we can only succeed and grow if the Royal Arch is successful. In some cases, it has lost members because they don’t ‘get it’, we should encourage them to stay, it does take time absorb the ritual, don’t let them walk away before they have given time to understand it.
We have had a few members who were reluctant to progress through the chair because they are worried by the ritual. Part of the problem is that we push people towards the chair too quickly, be careful that you don’t lose them because they feel pressured to progress.
There are Offices which they can take, without the need to have been enthroned as Sovereign; Treasurer and Recorder spring to mind. The Ritual can be shared and everyone should be encouraged to attempt to deliver it, but in their own time.
We shall have a collection for Charity at the end of this meeting. We continue to support the Grand Sovereign’s Care for Children Fund and part of today’s collection will be assigned to that wonderful cause. I would also like to make a further donation to The Royal British Legion Battle-Back charity, they continue to do incredibly important work, supporting ex-Military personnel who have suffered either physical or psychological injuries. Those who have visited their facilities at Lillishall will have fully appreciated the magnificent work they do. Please help us to support these two important charities
On a lighter note, we held a very successful Sunday Lunch at Wishaw, in May last year. We are holding another one on Sunday 14th May this year at the same venue. Every member of the Division should have received an invitation to this event, if not you can contact Ill Kt John Handley, whose details are in the Directory & Calendar, under Rose of Sharon Conclave. I strongly recommend you book early, last year was oversubscribed and the same is likely to happen this year. I have been asked to make this a fund-raising event, I am resisting this; it is not the purpose of the Sunday Lunch, it is a social event, with no Masonic involvement, very much as a thank-you to our wives and partners for allowing us to indulging our hobby.
Finally, I would like to mention V Ill Kt Desmond Jones, who those present at my Installation meeting in 2018 will remember, the Grand Sovereign presented Desmond with a 50-year Certificate and Breast Jewel.
Desmond completed 55years membership of this Order on 1st January this year, but has now decided to resign. He has been made an Honorary Member of Forum Conclave, of which he was a Founder. He will be 92 in 4 weeks’ time and having moved from Cirencester back to Northampton, he is reducing his Masonic activities. Having said that he is renewing full membership of his ‘Mother-Lodge’, where in May, he will complete 69-years membership of the Craft. I shall always be grateful to Desmond for proposing me into this Order, little did I realise where it would lead.
As I have already mentioned, due to the efforts and with grateful thanks to Geoff Watkins and Jim Mulligan, the 2023-24 Divisional Directory & Calendar some are available today. Please would the person responsible to their Conclave banner make sure that they take their Conclave’s allocation of Directories.
When we leave the Temple, please allow the procession and distinguished guests to leave first. When you get down stairs, we have a complimentary pre-dinner drink organised in Dining Room 2, my thanks to those who have volunteered to serve these drinks
It only remains to thank you for your attention and wish you a safe journey home, whether you are leaving now or staying to dine.
Good Morning