News from around the Province
A Double Presentation to our longest serving Brother
W. Bro. Edgar Griffin, P.G.J.D., R.A.M.G.R., a member of Welchpool Lodge of
M.M.M. No. 1084 and Welchpool Lodge of R.A.M. No. 1084 was recently honoured
by the presentation of two Long Service Awards by the Provincial Grand Master.
R.W. Bro. T. Gareth Williams, on behalf of the M.W. Grand Master, Bro. H.R.H.
Prince Michael of Kent.
Edgar was Advanced over 61 years ago into Barnet Mark Lodge No. 947 on 13th May 1947. This Lodge met in No. 10 Duke Street, London SW1 and regrettably, some time later surrendered its Warrant and amalgamated with Mark Well Lodge No. 897 which now meets in Mark Masons Hall, St James's Street, and Edgar was installed as Worshipful Master in 1958,
Just four years after his Installation, in 1962 Edgar received the Grand Rank of Assistant Grand Inner Guard. It is interesting that there are only two other Brethren that have held Grand Rank longer than Edgar. Firstly, Sir Kenneth Maxwell Stoddard, the Past Prov. Grand Master of West Lancs. (and incidentally an Honorary Member of Maen Clo Lodge No. 1451 in this Province), who was appointed P.G.J.D. in 1960 (that's 47 years) and Bro John Henry Dresler who was appointed Grand Steward in 1961 (that's 46 years).
In 1992 he received further promotion to the rank of Active Grand
Junior Deacon.
W. Bro. Edgar Griffin was Elevated in the Degree of the Ancient and Honourable
Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariner on 31st August 1955 (52 years ago) in the
Barnet Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners No. 947. He was Installed as Worshipful
Commander in 1964. He was elected Holder of Provincial Royal Ark Mariner Grand
Rank in 1985 and received Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank in 1990.
After a period of years spent in Suffolk, and having been granted Honorary Membership of his Mark and RAM Lodges, he moved to Welchpool where he has continued his Masonic careers in our Degrees by becoming Worshipful Master in 2002 and Worshipful Commander in 2005.
The picture shows (from left to right), the Provincial Grand Master, W. Bro. Edgar Griffin, P.G.J.D., R.A.M.G.R. and Bro. Mark Nixon, the Worshipful Master of Welchpool Mark Lodge No. 1084.
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Staffordshire and Shropshire come to North Wales
St Giles Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners No. 760 was the host for a visit
of the Staffordshire & Shropshire Demonstration Team to Wrexham at their
February Lodge. They demonstrated the Ceremony of Elevation into the
R.A.M. Degree as practised in Scottish Chapter Lodges between 1826 and
1838.
The Demonstration was received very enthusiastically by an attendance of more tha 60 Brethren. The Charity Collection taken in the Lodge was presented to the Team for a Charity of their choice, but was most generously returned by the Provincial Grand Master for the Province of Staffordshire & Shropshire, R.W. Bro. David Edwards to R.W. Bro. Gareth Williams for the 2011 Festival.
The photograph shows (from left to right) W. Bro. Bernard Sole, RAMGR, Bro. John Murray (Team), R.W. Bro. David Edwards, Prov. G.M. Staffs & Shrops., W.Bro. Roland Morris, Worshipful Commander of St. Giles Lodge, R.W. Bro. Gareth Williams, W. Bro. Roy Lees, Prov.RAMGR (Team), R.W. Bro. John Henry Farrall, Bro. Mike Towns, (Team) and W.Bro. David Moores, Worshipful Commander of Wolverhampton Lodge of RAM No. 186 (Team)
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Farm Social in aid Of Mark Festival
W, Bro Keith Thompson, of St Mabon Mark Lodge No. 919, will be hosting
a social evening at his farm, Gardden Hall Farm, Ruabon, on June 21,
2008, in aid of the North Wales Mark Benelovent Fund 2011 Festival.
There will be a four-course dinner costing £20, including wine, and entertainment will be provided by the popular, Three Men in a Bow Tie from Shrewsbury.
According to W. Bro Thompson, "dress in accordance with a farm venue!"
It is open to Masons and non-Masons.
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Mark and Craft sing from the same Hymn Sheet!
On Saturday 22nd December 2007 St Mabon Mark Lodge No. 919 along with Wynnstay
Craft Lodge No. 3876 held a joint "Carol Concert" at Wynnstay Lodge Room .
The evening was organised jointly by W Bro Glyn Hughes and W Bro David Wright and proved to be both enjoyable and successful with W.Bro Glyn Morris on the Organ and W Bro Ralph Byrne introducing the Carols.
A fine Buffet was prepared by W Bro Glyn Hughes and his helpers, and some 40 Brethren with their Wives, families and friends enjoyed the spread.
The proceeds from the evening were shared by Wynnstay Lodge and St Mabon and St Mabon will be presenting a Cheque for £190 to the 2011 Festival at the next Lodge Meeting (on 25th February).
The provisional date for next year's event is Saturday 21st December 2008 - so make a note in your Diary - ALL ARE WELCOME.
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The Provincial Grand Master is Installed as Worshipful Master!
All roads led to Ruabon on 26th of November 2007 when St Mabon Mark started their 75th Anniversary Year with the Installation of the Provincial Grand Master, Right Worshipful Bro T Gareth Williams into the Chair of the Lodge.
There were some 123 Brethren in attendance (54 Lodge Members, 46 Guests and 23 members of the Provincial team). The evening started well with the Provincial Grand Master presenting the Lodge with a new Gavel suitably engraved to mark the occasion.
He was Presented by R.W. Bro John H Farrall P.Pr.G.M. (an Honorary Member of the Lodge) and was Installed by W Bro J Michael Davies last year's Master who was promoted to P.Pr.A.G.D.C. by the R W. Provincial Grand Master at the completion of the Ceremony. (This was received with acclaim by all of the brethren present).
The Wynnstay Arms Hotel was the venue for the Festive Board - which, due to numbers present, necessitated the Dining taking place in both the Function Room and the Dining Room. Everyone present joined together for the Toasts after the meal and this rounded off a very pleasant evening.
The Celebration of the 75th Anniversary will be held on Friday 26th September 2008 when a talk will be given by V W. Bro Richard Gan, P.G.M.O., Dep.G.Secretary and the Festive Board will be held at the Wynnstay Arms Hotel.
Further details are available from the Secretary of St Mabon Lodge.
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North Wales supports Devonshire 150th.
Earlier this year our Provincial Grand Secretary received details of a planned Sponsored Motor Cycle Ride around Great Britain in aid of the 150th Anniversary Celebration for the Mark Province of Devonshire.
W. Bro. Barrie Owens, P.A.G.D.C. our Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, is a very keen motor cyclist (and incidentally is the Director of Ceremonies of the newly consecrated Motor Cycling oriented Joey Dunlop Lodge of Mark Master Masons) and was anxious to participate and show our support to Devonshire.
On 19th September Barrie met up with Derek Mills at Keele Services and presented to him a cheque for £150 as a donation on behalf of this Province to Devonshire's 150Th Celebration.
Barrie presenting the cheque to Derek Mills at Keele Services.
They then travelled together to Carlisle, where Derek headed north to Glasgow and Edinburgh before making his return journey to Devonshire, and Barrie made his way homewards via the Lake District.
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Principals of the Principality
Photograph by Chris Samuel. Editor, West Wales Mason.
The photograph above is quite unique in that it portrays the Provincial Grand
Masters for the four Mark Provinces in Wales. The occasion was the installation
at Carmarthen on the 23rd June 2007 by the Pro Grand Master, M.W. Bro. John
Hale and his team of Acting Grand Lodge Officers, of R.W.Bro. D. Nigel Adams
as the Provincial Grand Master for the Mark Province of Dyfed on the retirement
of R.W. Bro. Ivor Shuttleworth.
For the younger Mark Master Masons, the Province of Dyfed was until 1989, an integral part of the Province of South Wales, which extended from Aberaeron in the west, Rhyader in the north, and Cardiff in the east. (not forgetting Barry in the south !!) Our R.W. Prov. G. M. was the first Senior Warden of the new Province.
The photograph shows from left to right :- R.W. Brethren, Desmond Barnett, J.P. (South Wales) T.Gareth Williams (North Wales) D. Nigel Adams (Dyfed) and David I. James (Monmouthshire).
It was also an interesting point that our Provincial Grand Master was born and went to school in Carmarthen and took the opportunity of meeting up with many of his former schoolmates.
Official Team Visits September 2007 - June 2008
The Provincial Grand Master has decided to make the following Official Visits
during the next year and will be accompanied by the Active Officers appointed
and invested by him on June 16th 2007.
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Date
|
Lodge
|
Agenda
|
|
26th September 2007
|
St Eilian RAM Lodge No.360 (Amlwch) | Installation Meeting |
|
11th October 2007
|
Idris RAM Lodge No. 821 (Pwllheli) | Installation Meeting |
|
1st November 2007
|
St Giles Mark Lodge No. 760 (Wrexham) | Installation Meeting |
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26th November 2007
|
St Mabon Lodge No. 919 (Ruabon) | Installation Meeting |
|
16th January 2008
|
Y Geninen RAM Lodge No. 259 (Bangor) | Installation Meeting |
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16th February 2008
|
N.Wales Lodge of Inst. Masters (Rhyl) | Reg. Meeting (Lecture) |
|
20th March 2008
|
Dyffryn Clwyd Lodge No. 1647 (Denbigh) | Reg. Meeting (Advancement) |
|
19th May 2008
|
Holywell RAM Lodge No. 1394 (Mostyn) | Installation |
All Brethren are reminded that should they wish to attend any of the above
Meetings, they will be most welcome. They are required to inform the Provincial
Grand Secretary at least two weeks before the Meeting so that reservations
can be made for dining.
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