Given at the Divisional Meeting 18 November 2023 in Louth
Distinguished Guests, Worthy Knights all,
The time has come, the Walrus said to speak of Trumpets and fanfares and many other things.
Where do I start - well Worthy Knights, that’s not a problem as there is really only one essential start point at such a meeting like today and that is to sincerely welcome everybody who has taken the time and the trouble to be here and to stand here before such a gathering as the Intendant-General is without doubt a real privilege.
Busy men lead busy lives and a lot of Freemasons undoubtedly lead even busier lives than most.
Whilst I have already welcomed our Distinguished Guests, may I take the opportunity to reiterate just how wonderful and important it is to have you all with us today - I have to say many congratulations on having found us….despite the various postcodes that the venue has been given!
Your presence and zeal to travel long distances, particularly at this time of the year, adds so much to our meetings and highlights the deep and fraternal friendship that exists between us as Red Cross Freemasons generally, but amongst the Intendants-General in particular, people whose friendship, counsel, and humour, I personally value so much.
We always, without fail, receive such a warm and convivial welcome when we visit you, that it is a delight and a real honour to have the opportunity to reciprocate this fellowship and I hope that this feeling has been apparent to you all since you arrived earlier and throughout your stay with us.
Thanks also to all the Knights of our own Division - it is your meeting Worthy Knights, but the support that you have given to the Division, not only today but throughout the year, has been tremendous and as the Intendant-General, I personally value it immensely.
Especial thanks to those who have served as Active Officers – the ‘Team’ meetings have been very well supported and we have been warmly welcomed everywhere and have been privileged to witness some excellent ceremonies.
The highlight though has probably been the visit of our Most Illustrious Grand Sovereign to Thornton Abbey Conclave to present a 50th year Certificate and Jewel to V.Ill. Kt. Gordon Smith, one of only 10 I believe that has been issued.
Gordon, Sir, thank you for all your effort and contribution over the years you have been a member of our Order, it is a delight to see you here today and long may you continue to be an inspiration to us all.
I had a random thought when I was writing this address and wondered just how many Knights you have delivered the 3rd point of the AO ceremony to - it must be a fair few by now.
Coincidentally, I will also have the personal honour to present such a Certificate and Jewel next week to Ill. Kt. Bryan Robinson at his home.
Brian is now 98 years old and sadly is housebound, although his intellect is still very sharp - not much passes him by and he maintains a keen interest in all things masonic and I am sure that he will be delighted to receive the certificate and meet old friends again.
Worthy Knights, on the whole, I am starting to believe that we, as a Division, may have turned the corner, particularly with respect to our membership, after the trials and tribulations of the Covid effect and its ramifications.
Thankfully all our Conclaves have remained reasonably strong during this period, and this year we have managed to achieve a net loss/gain of zero, with every Conclave installing at least one new Knight, something that we as a Division haven’t managed for a good number of years. Let us take that forward Worthy Knights and build upon our strong base and what we have already achieved.
By kind permission of our Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, my Deputy and I have had the honour to deliver our introductory talk to four Chapters this year and these have all been well received and hopefully will bear fruit in the future - the introductory leaflet is a welcome aid as is the website.
Please continue to seek out quality candidates, they are there – perhaps we just need to ask.
Let us continue to give the candidates the ceremonies they deserve.
One of the beauties of our Order is the wording of the ritual itself with all its expression and symbolism and I believe that if we deliver this in a meaningful manner, this will only enhance the experience for our new Knights.
May I offer a warm welcome to our new Knights and may you have a long and happy time in our wonderful Order.
Whilst new members are always in our current thoughts, let us not forget all those who have sadly departed from us this year.
I mourn each one of them as friends and fellow Masons, who have touched and contributed to all our lives, but particularly Ill. Kt. Reverend Trevor Walker who was our High Prelate for more years than I care to remember – Trevor was a wonderful and popular Freemason in many different Orders in Lincolnshire, not least our own.
I had the privilege of being his secretary when he was the PGM of the Mark degree and I came to know him as a real friend and a mentor
Once again, we held a very successful Ladies’ Night at The Dower House along with yet another Church service followed by afternoon tea to celebrate the Festival of the Holy Cross. Both events were well attended and enjoyed by all and thanks to our Deputy Intendant-General and Divisional Recorder for all their time and effort in organising these events.
It is also the intention to further organise a social Divisional Sunday Lunch early in the calendar next year and further details will follow in due course - excellent food and convivial company amongst good friends – what more could we ask for.
I am sure that you would wish to join me in in congratulating those Knights who received preferment at the meeting of Grand Conclave in July - Ill. Kts. Ian Maxey and Martin Cooper who were both awarded the rank of Past Grand Chamberlain and Ill. Kt. Richard Rodgers as Past Grand Standard Bearer (C.) for their continued efforts in sustaining and rejuvenating their Conclaves.
First appointments were given to our very hard-working Divisional Recorder, Mike Allen, as Past Grand Standard Bearer (L.) along with our Divisional Marshal, Mike Lock, as Active Vice-Chamberlain.
Not forgetting P. Kt. Peter Mason who was appointed to the prestigious role of Deputy Captain of the Grand Sepulchre Guard and W.Kt. Wayne Lagden who has followed in his footsteps and taken up an appointment as a member of the Guard.
Congratulations also to all those Knights who have taken Office for the ensuing year and may I make special mention of our Sepulchre Guard who continue to give me and the Division unstinting support, turning out in such good numbers wherever and whenever - I look forward to a happy year with you all.
As Freemasons, Charity is obviously one of our fundamental tenets and this year, we as a Division have continued to support the Grand Sovereign’s Care for Children Fund as well as further pending donations to the 2025 Craft Festival, Teddies for Loving Care and Lincoln Dementia.
May I record particular thanks to P. Kt. Ivor Hallam, Bro. Mark Driffil and their good ladies who run the Lincolnshire Pre-loved Regalia for their continued and generous contributions to ourselves and the other Companion Orders – unashamedly, if you need regalia, see Ivor.
And hot off the press - as a bonus, we have just been awarded a donation of £2,500 from the Grand Sovereign’s care for Children Fund for the ‘Make them Smile’ children’s charity which is based in Grimsby.
The Charity provides support for children in the way of medical equipment to improve their quality of life, assisting with hospital travel costs and providing respite with holidays in specially adapted homes at Golden Sands in Mablethorpe and at Butlins in Skegness.
I am sure you will agree that this is a very worthy cause and we sincerely thank the Grand Sovereign and the trustees for the donation.
Finally, many thanks to everybody who has contributed to the meeting today and to the management of Louth Masonic Hall for accommodating us in such a warm and welcoming manner.
There are a multitude of tasks to undertake to pull it all together which requires a real team effort. My apologies for not naming everybody as we would probably be here all day and I am sure that the thought of a gin & tonic and a hearty lunch is probably now uppermost in all our minds.
Please continue to look after your Craft lodges and Royal Arch Chapters and do so with a smile – it is known to be infectious!
Worthy Knights all, thank you for your time and attention, may God bless you and your families and grant you all good health for the coming year.
Stephen Roberts
R. Ill. Intendant-General for Lincolnshire