West Kent News - Issue 12 - Flipbook - Page 20
WEST KENT NEWS | ISSUE NO.12 SPRING 2024
ASSISTANT
20
PROVINCIAL
GRAND MASTER:
DAVID HUNTLEY
It seems like 5 minutes since we
celebrated Christmas and like many
of us, it’s been a very busy time with
Freemasonry.
I was privileged to attend a meeting in
London to the Lodge of Regularity 91,
a Red Apron Lodge where our own
Provincial Grand Master R.W.Bro
Mark Estaugh became the Worshipful
Master.
It is a very high profile position and
this current year we (West Kent)
were very privileged to have 3
Grand Stewards active namely
Roger Friend, Anthony Gardner and
Geoffrey Whale.
I am sure we all wish our PGM a
wonderful and fulfilling year as a
Grand Steward when he is invested.
Last month, Gordon Rollo, myself
and our PGM visited the St. Mary
Scottish Lodge No 1 in Edinburgh, it
was very interesting to witness a
Passing ceremony where there are
a number of differences to our
ceremony.
Membership Challenge, we are all aware
of the downward trend in Membership
and since his investiture as Pro Grand
Master, M.W.Bro Jonathan Spence has
been consistent in his message to us all
that membership is the absolute priority.
He is looking at each Province and is
expecting results from the drive in
membership that we are all engaged in.
It is most important we take in the right
men into our Lodges; the interview
process is therefore an essential part of
this process.
When the Lodge are fortunate enough to
interview a prospective candidate, they
must do this rigorously.
Make the demands in time, finances and
commitment absolutely clear to the
candidate.
The candidate should also be made
aware that joining the Royal Arch is now
expected after their Raising ceremony.
For those who may not know, there
are 19 Red Apron Lodges in England,
from these Lodges, the W.M. of each
is voted to become a Grand Steward.
But above all, if you do decide to initiate
the candidate, your responsibility starts
then, you must look after them and keep
them fully included or risk losing him.
The explanation of the sign is given
in precise detail, so the candidate is
quite clear of the sign and words,
there are certainly things we can
learn from our Scottish Brethren and
reinforces that we never stop
learning in this fraternity.
Similar to the Provincial Grand
Stewards we have in our Province,
this elevated position serves the
M.W. Grand Master for a year
culminating in the Grand Lodge
Investiture where new Grand Officers
are invested.
I am a passionate Freemason, I talk
about it to my clients, to friends and
family and have been honoured to have
initiated my younger Brother and gave
the Obligation to my twin Brother in
Essex in his Lodge at his initiation.
Don’t be afraid to talk to your friends and
colleagues about our wonderful order, of
course when appropriate to your
circumstances, you never know what
may happen, you may end up with new
members!
Kind regards
David - APGM 4
On a completely different subject, all
of us will be more than aware of the