Once a Steward, Always a Steward |
| Dear brethren, I write today to let you know of a rare honour conferred on our Provincial Grand Master, Keith Beardmore. He is on the floor of a Mark Lodge, as a steward! I do not refer to his mother Lodge, Fylde Mark, or any of the other Mark Lodges in this Province of West Lancashire, of which he is a member. No Brethren, this Lodge meets at Head Office, 86 St James, London. Keith has been appointed as a steward of The Grand Stewards Lodge! |
| This may not mean he gets to carry a wand. This may not mean he serves the drinks at the Festive Board (although his generosity for buying us drinks is well known). He will certainly not be selling the raffle tickets. But it does mean he is on the floor of one of the most prestigious Mark Lodges in the world. It also means that he is very much closer to the Chair of that Lodge than he was last year. Only one year closer though, as preferment is conferred in strictly chronological order. The longest serving Grand Steward who has not been through the Chair previously will be offered progression through the offices, and then onto the Chair. And Keith’s turn has come! |
| Our Provincial Grand Master was a Grand Steward in the year 2001, and it has therefore taken him some 19 years to get on the floor. And yet he did not give up! By my reckoning we have 42 surviving past Grand Stewards in West Lancashire, who are still members of the Grand Stewards Lodge. We lost our oldest member recently, Jack Forsyth, who served as Grand Steward in 1977. He was the longest serving member, 4 years ahead even of Benjamin Addy, our Past Pro Grand Master, who joined in 1981. |
| The Grand Stewards only meet twice a year, at 86 St James, in the summer for a lecture, and again the day before the Grand Assembly of Royal Ark Mariners in December, for the Installation. When I tell you that one of the High Rulers usually performs the ceremony, and other past and current rulers deliver the addresses, you will be suitably assured of the quality of the ritual. I have been visiting this Lodge for some 10 years now, joining this meeting to the RAM meeting the next day, as the start to Christmas. Accompanied by a very enthusiastic brotherhood of fellow travellers, it has been one of the highlights of the Masonic year. |
| And now brethren, on to the big question. When will our Provincial Grand Master be WM? Again by my humble reckoning, there are 13 brethren ahead of Keith on the ladder to the Chair. I am unable, and indeed unwilling, to speculate on how many of those brethren will:- |
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| I have however looked at this years’ Grand Stewards, to gain some insight. There are 23 of them. Together they have amassed a total of 1431 years on this planet, so an average age of 62 years and 72 days. If we now add the 19 years it has taken Keith to get on the floor, onto this figure, they will be on average 81 years old. And of course, 72 days. Then add the 13 years on, once on the floor, and they will be on average 94 years old, and 72 days. |
| Having spoken to the undisputed source for all kinds of knowledge (Alexa) on the average life expectancy of a male in the UK, I have discovered this age is 86……….. |
| Thank Goodness our Provincial Grand Master was a very young Grand Steward! |
| #beardmore2024 - you never know, he may get elected again. |
| One thing is beyond doubt. When he attains the Chair of Adoniram in the Grand Stewards’ Lodge, he will be accompanied by many of us! |
| Words by Giles |
