District Grand Meeting 2024

Royal and Select Masters from across the constitution descend on Bath for the 2024 Annual District Grand Meeting.

Keith Surry the District Grand Master address:

May I start by thanking you all for supporting the meeting today. Remember it is the District AGM of your District, Somerset & Wiltshire so to our own members many of whom have travelled some distance to be with us today, a very warm welcome to Bath.

My plan has always been to move the venue for the AGM around the District, and where possible, holding the AGM at Masonic Halls where our Councils meet. I am delighted to say that, so far, the host Councils have taken ownership of the hospitality aspect of the day, and I hope you will all feel that today, the members of Wessex Council, which meets here in Bath, have made you welcome.  

On reviewing the archives, I see that the last time the District AGM was held in Bath was in 2002 when the Grand Master, Col Hind, installed Right Illustrious Companion David Hartley as District Grand Master. I remember the day well as I was temporarily promoted to Grand Chauffeur and collected the installing team from the Bath Spa Hotel before the meeting and then delivered them to the railway station after lunch. 

I would also like to welcome all of our guests, many of whom have also travelled many miles to be with us,  and thank them for their support.  Today is our opportunity to return the very generous welcome and hospitality I and the other Officers who represent our District receive during the year as we travel round the country.

As you will probably be aware, a new Provincial Grand Master for the Province of Warwickshire is being installed today and I have received many apologies from both our own District members, and other visitors who would otherwise be with us but are attending the event.

Companions it now comes to the point in the meeting where I welcome our Distinguished Visitors and Guests.

Initially I welcome the Deputy Gand Master, R Ill Comp Paul Norman and the Grand Director of Ceremonies, R Ill Comp Graham Seaman and thank them for their support today.

From the District of Essex we are joined by the District Grand Master R. Ill. Comp. Robert Potts.

From Hertfordshire we are joined by the District Grand Master R. Ill. Comp. Gp. Capt. Peter Brindle. 

From Cheshire and the Marches we have the District Grand Master R. Ill. Comp. Bryan Hughes.

From the North Midlands District R. Ill. Comp. Stephen Bradford the District Grand Master

From the District of East Anglia we have the District Grand Master R. Ill. Comp. Geoff Spencer and you are accompanied by your District GPCW Ill. Comp. Michael Scanes.

From Devon and Cornwall we have R. Ill. Comp. Gary Peard, the District Grand Master and you are accompanied today by your DDGM Ill. Comp. George Field  Ill. Comp Michael Daniels, your DGPCW, Ill. Comp. Mark Bajona Past Gd Standard Bearer, (also a Companion of Somerset and Wiltshire) and Rufus, Ill. Comp. Roger Lillicrap DGStandard Bearer and Ill. Comp. Tony Nicholls DGConductor of the Council.

From Lancashire we welcome R. Ill. Comp. Geoff Caterall the District Grand Master

From the District of Surrey we have R. Ill. Comp. Bill Caughie the District Grand Master and you are joined by Ill. Comp. Terry Carpenter your District Grand Recorder.

From the District of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, we are joined by R. Ill. Comp. Phillip Purves the District Grand Master.

All the way from Northumberland we welcome V. Ill. Comp. John Tomlin the Deputy District Grand Master.

And from The District of Derbyshire we welcome V. Ill. Comp. Brian Tynan the Deputy District Grand Master.

A warm welcome to our neighbours Dorset, Hants and Isle of Wight in the persons of Ill. Comp. Robert Brown the Deputy District Grand Master. You are accompanied by your District Grand Recorder Ill. Comp. Anthony Nailer and Ill. Comp. Stephen Brown your Past DDGM.

And from Warwickshire we have Ill. Comp. Christopher Denley the District Grand PCW. You are accompanied by Ill. Comp. John Hayward the District Almoner.

From Wyvern an old friend and supporter of our District Ill. Comp. George Brown the Past Deputy District Grand Master.

From our own District of Somerset and Wiltshire R. Ill. Comp David Nelson PDGM and R. Ill. Comp John Phillips  PDGM of Sussex and a Custodian of the Ninth Arch. R. Ill. Comp. John is also here representing the District Grand Master of Sussex R. Ill. Comp. Bernard Marchant.

Finally, our distinguished guests R. Ill. Comp. Christopher Maiden PG Chancellor  the Grand High Priest of The Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests and Order of Holy Wisdo

Having been through one of the most difficult times in our recent history with the dreadful covid 19 virus, it is good to see that some four and a half years since the pandemic hit us, our masonic life is gradually returning to normal with better and better attendances at our meetings. Many of you, like me, have been turning out at every opportunity to support both our Craft, Royal Arch and Mark meetings, as these lodges produce the pool from which we fish for members. Thank you all for your efforts.

You will all be aware from the initiatives flowing from UGLE that our craft Provincial Grand Masters and Royal Arch Grand Superintendents have not only been tasked with stemming the reduction in numbers but also to grow membership. As an increase in craft membership leads to an increase in members for the progressive orders, we must all do our best to give support.

As the Recorder’s report mentioned we have had a successful year with some excellent candidates who, from feedback I have received, have been impressed with the ceremonies they have experienced. Much of this success is down to the quality of the ceremonies you have carried out.

The Council DCs have continued to indulge my request for ‘one on one’ ceremonies for each candidate wherever possible and the feedback has been very positive.  We all know that this Order has some stunning pieces of ritual.  In my view it is essential that each candidate receives a wonderful ceremony and is impressed with the experience. But please do not be afraid to take office and progress in the order.  If you do not feel able to deliver top class ritual for any reason, please say so, and the District can readily parachute in a companion who would love to help the Council to give an impressive experience to the candidate.

May I also take this opportunity to congratulate each of those officers who have been appointed this morning.  Thank you for all that you have done so far for the District and what you will do in the next year.

At this stage I must say that I am sorry that Illustrious Companion Tony Carter has had to cry off due to flu. Tony has been a very active member of the District team and was  promoted today to District Grand Chaplain. A while ago, Tony commented on our district banner, and offered to make us a new one.  Sadly due to having to test regularly for diabetes he takes blood from his fingers which makes them sore for sewing so the banner has taken longer than he would have liked. Last week, in his usual modest and apologetic way he showed me a photo of the banner and advised that if I did not like it he would add it to his personal collection. Like it, I loved it as did all who saw the photo. I am therefore hopeful that Tony can finish the banner in the next few months and that we can dedicate it at our next AGM.

I am pleased to report that the change from two or three Team visits each year, to supporting the Deputy District Grand Master, District Principal Conductor of the Work or me at Council installation meetings has proved to be successful with excellent turnouts from the District team. Thank you for the support.

Once again this year, I propose to set the Travelling trowel off on its journey around the District. Rather than start the journey today I will ask the District Recorder to produce a travel plan to start in the New Year.  Hopefully with the support of the District team, this will boost our numbers, especially for some of those Councils with low membership.  The District Recorder will give you plenty of notice and I hope that I can count on your support. 

At this stage, I feel I could not overlook the Thrice Illustrious Master degree also known as the Silver Trowel ceremony, which is performed in this District by King David’s Council of Reflection.  The degree is open to companions, one year after they have finished their time as Thrice Illustrious Master of their Council.  This year the candidates for the ceremony were Illustrious Companions Stephen Hughes in December 2023 and Illustrious Companion David Dixon in March 2024.

May I express my gratitude to all those who took part in the ceremonies and, in particular, Illustrious Companion Richard Cooper, our District Grand Director of Ceremonies who took the role of King David in December and Very Illustrious Companion Chris Court who took that role in March. I know that both candidates had a wonderful evening. 

May I recommend anybody who is given the opportunity to take this degree to seize the offer.  The ritual is superb.

At the Grafton Council meeting at Mark Masons Hall, Illustrious Companion Mark Bajona and Illustrious Companion Ian Maxey were candidates for the Excellent Masters ceremony in February.  I congratulate them both and know they (and Rufus)  thoroughly enjoyed the day in London. 

The Grand Master was pleased to honour this District with promotions to Grand Rank in April this year. First appointments for Illustrious Companion Ian Rea to Past Grand Sword Bearer and Illustrious Companion Geoff Ifill as Grand Standard Bearer. 

May I offer hearty congratulations to them both. The honours are not only a recognition of what they have done for the Order so far, but also to acknowledge the support they will give in future.

You will all be aware of the appeal our Grand Master launched in October 2023 to celebrate the Order’s 150th anniversary to raise £150,000.

Although various Orders within this District are also in Festival, I am delighted with the support you have given the appeal. As you will be aware we are a small district and so, when tasked with raising our contribution, as an accountant, I immediately prepared various calculations to establish the bottom line as to how much we would need to raise to meet our share.

I looked at a straight division of the target between the 25 Districts in England and Wales, then included the overseas districts. I then considered the number of members in the District compared to the number nationally, etc etc,  However, from the funds and pledges received, I am delighted to report that we have exceeded every permutation. Hearty thanks from the Order for your support.

Much of our funding came from charity funds held within Councils and I am pleased to advise that those Councils who have exceeded certain limits will be honoured as being Patrons of the Appeal.

Individual members of the District who have generously contributed personally to the Appeal will also be honoured as Patrons and Grand Patrons and I propose to present certificates to those members at my next visit to their Councils in the New Year after the Appeal has finished.

I must also acknowledge the generous contributions from the Somerset Mark Province, the Somerset Craft Province and Somerset Royal Arch, who gave £2000 between them.

At this stage may I thank our Deputy Grand Master for his efforts in coordinating the launch of the Appeal and promoting it throughout 2024. Such fundraising takes some organising and we are extremely grateful for the time and effort he has put in.

It was the Grand Master’s intention at the outset that the funds should be distributed in small grants to local charities.  Of course the large charities are very worthy causes, but whereas £1,000 to them is a drop in the ocean, a £1,000 grant to a local good cause could really have an impact. I mention £1,000 but that is only by way of example.

I have asked on several occasions for the Councils to nominate charities to whom funds from this appeal should be distributed and you have all been given the opportunity to have a say. I now need those nominations please.

I think I have gone on for long enough and there is a fine lunch awaiting. However, I cannot finish without saying a huge thank you to all who have been involved in the organising of the meeting today. I will not name names, in case I miss anybody, but you know who you are and your efforts are greatly appreciated.

The Trustees of Bath Masonic Hall have also arranged for one of our volunteer tour guides to be on hand after lunch for anybody wishing to take the tour of the building.

May I in closing thank you all for your support today, your support over the past year and your commitment to the order for the future. I look forward to joining you all for a drink before lunch. For those not able to stay to dine, may I wish you a safe journey home. May your God keep you in his care.