Secretary's Report (September 2007)

Another new Masonic year is dawning and it brings with it the usual intense period of activity in the run-up to our annual Provincial Meeting. This year, it is on Monday 22nd October and, as usual, will be in the Grand Temple at Freemasons’ Hall.

All Master Masons are entitled to attend (Provincial Grand Lodge is opened in the third degree) so why not make the effort and support our Provincial Grand Master at this spectacular occasion? Whilst it would be nice if everybody dined after the meeting, it is not compulsory – just turn up and enjoy the meeting if you do not want to dine. I can remember when we filled the balconies in the Grand Temple as well as the main floor. Now, we barely fill the main seating!

Those of you who read the agenda for the September Quarterly Communications of Grand Lodge might have noticed and item giving Notice of Motion to change the rules with regard to Provincial appointments and promotions yet again. This will go to the vote at the December meeting and will, hopefully, come into force shortly after that. It will, however, require a change to the Book of Constitutions. As soon as I have the details and the effective date I will let all Lodge Secretaries have the information.

Whatever the outcome, it does not mean that promotions will be given away “en masse”. In Buckinghamshire, promotions, and in particular second and subsequent promotions, will still have to be earned. “New badges” will not be handed out just because a brother has been around for a further five years!

It does mean, however, that those worthy brethren who have “fallen off the bottom of the list” simply because we didn’t have enough “slots” to cover all first promotions will now be able to be considered.

In my last report, I said I would run the statistics for the period from 1st March to 31st May 2007 following a major updating exercise to our database. The new figures are shown first followed by the pre-update figures in brackets

I hope that this will encourage Secretaries to notify us at the earliest possible date any changes in membership. Furthermore, the records for one Lodge had over 50% of members’ addresses incorrect and several others were pretty close to that figure!

The last three-month period from 1st June to 31st August 2007 saw six initiates in the Province, together with three joining and rejoining members. Sadly, this was offset by 11 deaths and thirty-six resignations & exclusions, resulting in a net loss of thirty-eight. Total unduplicated membership in the Province now stands at 3813. We do, of course, expect a fall in initiations and joining members during the summer months whilst the losses keep on coming!