West Kent News - Issue 12 - Flipbook - Page 23
ISSUE NO.12 SPRING 2024 | WEST KENT NEWS
23
PROVINCIAL GRAND DIRECTOR
OF CEREMONIES:
DANIEL UNTHANK
The role of a Provincial Director
of Ceremonies for an Official
Visit
I’ve been asked a couple of times
over the last year or so about what
is involved in being the Provincial
Grand Director of Ceremonies, one
of the Deputies or Provincial
Assistant
Grand
Director
of
Ceremonies. With the Provincial
Honours meeting just around the
corner, I though I’d take advantage
and try to give some information on
one part of our duties.
The most frequent aspect of the role
is assisting the RWPGM, DPGM and
APGMs in carrying out their duties
when making official visits to
Lodges. I accompany the RWPGM,
the Deputy DCs escort the DPGM
and the Assistant DCs travel with
the
APGMs.
The
general
responsibilities are the same for
each, so I’ll allude to how an official
visit from the RWPGM works.
Everything starts with the RWPGM
notifies his intention to visit a Lodge.
That
galvanises
everyone
into
action, with the Provincial Office
informing the Lodge Secretary and
W Bro Chris Clark, the Escort Coordinator, making arrangements for
a suitable retinue of Provincial
Officers to act as escort. When the
RWPGM makes an official visit, he
does so with the Provincial Grand
Sword Bearer, Provincial Grand
Standard Bearer and four Provincial
Grand Officers. I liaise with the
Lodge Secretary and DC around the
finer points of the meeting, such as
the time, agenda and dining
arrangements. I will also arrange to
attend a Lodge of Instuction in order
to ensure the members are
comfortable with the ceremonial
aspect of the RWPGM entering the
Lodge.
This involves forming a deputation
with the Lodge DC, ADC, Deacons
and two nominated brethren of
Provincial rank. Once the deputation
is formed, it retires from the Lodge
and leads the Provincial delegation
escorting the RWPGM back into the
Temple. The entire escorting group,
now numbering at least twelve, reenters the Lodge and forms two
columns through which the RWPGM
makes his way to the East. The WM
offers the RWPGM the gavel
(normally politely declined!) and I
then dismiss the deputation. The
deputation is dismissed in a certain
way; the Provincial Grand Sword
Bearer is dismissed first, followed by
the Provincial Grand Standard
Bearer. Once they have set the
Sword and Standard and moved to
their seats, I then dismiss the
remainder of the deputation in pairs.
This is done by a slight nod to the
Brother on the right, then the left.
Once I have nodded to the Brother
on the left, both will pause, take a
step forward, turn to the East and
make their way through the column
to their reserved position in the
Lodge. This is repeated until the
deputation is fully dismissed and
back by their seats. I am now
positioned in the centre of the Lodge
and it is from here that I call the
Brethren to order to salute the
RWPGM. The salutation is the
Entered Apprentice sign seven
times, taking the time from me.
Once completed, I court bow to the
RWPGM, take my seat in the Lodge
and the WM continues with the
meeting. It may sound complicated,
but that’s why we practice with the
Lodge at a Lodge of Instruction.
My role during the meeting itself is
to attend to the RWPGM should he
have
any
requirements.
For
example, should he be delivering
any ritual, I escort him to the
suitable position in the Temple.
Once the meeting has finished, I
escort the RWPM to the WM
pedestal
during
the
Closing
ceremony so that he can close the
Volume of the Sacred Law. Once the
Lodge is closed, I form the
recession from the Lodge consisting
of the Lodge DC, ADC, Deacons,
the Provincial Grand Sword Bearer,
Provincial Grand Standard Bearer,
WM accompanying the RWPGM,
Lodge Wardens and any other
dignitaries (e.g. Grand Officers,
Invicta Award holders, reigning WMs
etc). At the Festive Board, I escort
the RWPGM and WM into the dining
room, announce Grace, the first
wine
takings
and
RWPGM’s
response to his toast.
These are the basic duties that both
I and the other Provincial DCs carry
out for official visits. Each Lodge is
different,
and
we
endeavour,
wherever possible, to adapt to any
idiosyncrasies. Above all we strive
to make the ceremonial part of the
official visit to be as much of a
spectacle as possible and for
everyone to enjoy the show!