MINUTES

of

THE ANNUAL PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY

OF

THE ANCIENT AND HONOURABLE FRATERNITY OF

ROYAL ARK MARINERS OF WEST LANCASHIRE

at

LEYLAND MASONIC HALL, WELLINGTON PARK,

CHURCH ROAD, LEYLAND

on

TUESDAY, 20^th SEPTEMBER 2011

Provincial Grand Master:

W.Bro. PETER CONNOLLY, R.A.M.G.R.

Deputy Provincial Grand Master:

W.Bro. KEITH ALAN BEARDMORE, R.A.M.G.R.

Assistant Provincial Grand Masters

W Bro. MICHAEL JOHN CLARKE, R.A.M.G.R

W.Bro. Ian Douglas Nairn R.A.M.G.R.

Provincial Grand Secretary

W.Bro. GEOFFREY H. LEE

 ANNUAL PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF THE ANCIENT AND HONOURABLE FRATERNITY OF

ROYAL ARK MARINERS OF WEST LANCASHIRE

The Worshipful Commanders, or their representatives, of Royal Ark Mariner Lodges in the Province entered in procession.

The Provincial Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Peter Connolly, R.A.M.G.R., the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, W.Bro. Keith Alan Beardmore, R.A.M.G.R., the Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, W.Bro. John Michael Clarke, R.A.M.G.R. and W. Bro. Ian Douglas Nairn R.A.M.G.R. and other Provincial Officers then entered in procession.

The Provincial Grand Master took the Chair and then appointed Provincial Officers as per the following list:

The RW Provincial Grand Master welcomed everyone and then Provincial Grand Assembly was opened in due and antient form.

SALUTATIONS

The Provincial Grand Master, Deputy Provincial Grand Master and the Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, were all saluted with honours accorded to their respective ranks.

IN MEMORIAM

The RW Provincial Grand Master reported that sadly, fourteen Brethren had died since the last Provincial Assembly:-

Holders of RAMGR were W.Bro. Revd. Jack Jermy who was Deputy Provincial Grand Master between 1983 and 1987. Born 14th June 1922. Elevated into Adoniram Lodge No. 552 on the 31st October 1973 who died on the 7th May 2011 and

W.Bro. John Victor Shrewsbury. Born 30th August 1941. Elevated 15th September 1986 into Prince Setanta Lodge No. 1446. Died 22nd June 2011.

7 holders of Provincial R.A.M.G.R. have also died, namely:

W.Bro. John Edward Pilkington. Born 15/05/1935. Elevated into Semper Fidelis Lodge No. 880 on 25/01/1979 who died on 21/10/2010.

W.Bro. John Broadley. Born 09/10/1925. Elevated into Chorlton Lodge No. 394 on 02/12/1998 who died on 02/11/2010.

W.Bro. Harold Godson. Born 13/12/1921. Elevated into Edmund Taylor Lodge No. 296 on 20/02/1979 who died on 01/02/2011.

W.Bro. John Alexander Strange. Born 08/05/1924. Elevated into Chorlton Lodge No. 394 on 09/05/1978 who died on 30/03/2011.

W.Bro. Colin Ronald Fraser. Born 06/10/1933. Elevated into West Lancashire Lodge No. 65 on  15/02/1992 who died on 10/05/2011.

W.Bro. Eric James Wright. Born 25/09/1945. Elevated into Price Setanta Lodge No. 1446 on 17/09/1990 who died on 26/06/2011.

and W.Bro. Douglas Neil McLean. Born 15/12/1931. Elevated into St Austin's Lodge No. 479 on  18/04/1994 who died on 23/07/2011.

The list is sadly completed with the following Bro. Royal Ark Mariners:

John Creary. Born 15/12/1938. Elevated into Furness Lodge No. 375 on 17/11/2006 who died on 13/09/2010.

Eric Ian Horrocks. Born 15/03/1936. Elevated into Southport Lodge No. 473 on 05/10/1995 who died on 15/12/2010.

Harold Spence. Born 18/03/1939. Elevated into Prince Setanta Lodge No. 1446 on 19/09/2005 who died on 12/03/2011.

Francis Regis Baxendale. Born 23/09/1941. Elevated into Leyland Lodge No. 1002 on 27/09/1996 who died on 18/06/2011

and Revd. John Charles Sharples. Born 26/09/1929. Elevated into Flixton Lodge No. 1224 on 03/02/2000  who died on 27/07/2011.

The R.W. Provincial Grand Master called upon the Provincial Grand Chaplain for prayer and the Brethren stood in a tribute to departed merit.

MINUTES

W.Bro.M.J.Clarke R.A.M.G.R., A.Prov.G.M., S.W., proposed, and W.Bro., I.D. Nairn R.A.M.G.R., A.Prov.G.M., J.W., seconded: - “That the Minutes of the Annual Provincial Meeting of The Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariners of West Lancashire held at Leyland on 21^st September 2010, as printed and circulated, be confirmed and adopted.”

The proposal was approved.

BANNER DEDICATION

The R.W.Provincial Grand Master then invited the Prov.G.D.C. to form a Deputation to introduce the Provincial RAM Banner into the Provincial Assembly.

The Provincial RAM Banner was then paraded around the Lodge and carried to the East.  The Provincial Grand Master delivered the Banner into the keeping of the W.C. of Philadelphia RAM Lodge, W.Bro. P.S.Coates, on behalf of the Province and authorised it to be displayed at every Installation meeting of Philadelphia Lodge of RAM.

The PGM then called upon the Provincial Grand Chaplain to deliver an Oration.  The complete text of the Oration is included as an Appendix with these Minutes.

PROVINCIAL GRAND SECRETARY'S REPORT

Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master and Brethren, my report today will be short and sweet which I am sure the Brethren will welcome.

The report is mainly concerned with the membership figures for the Province in which there are 24 Royal Ark Mariner Lodges.

The number of members today is 628.

During the last 12 months we have lost 14 members who were called to higher office and 23 by way of resignations.  21 new members were elevated.

5 of our brethren were honoured with the appointment to R.A.M. Grand Rank namely Michael John Clarke, Ross Kinder, Charles Alan Marlow, Christopher McNab and John Ward.

I must pay particular thanks to the Deputy Provincial Grand Secretary Bro. Arthur Robinson who has sadly resigned due to his health but I could not have survived without his help during the year.  My thanks are also due to the Provincial Assistant Secretary Bro. John Bicknell and the other members of the Secretariat Bro. Rod Bennison and Bro. Colin Mills for whose help I am eternally grateful.

Finally I confirm that the next Annual Assembly will be held on the 18th day of September 2012.

R. W. Prov. G. Master and Brethren I submit my report.

The report was accepted by the members present.

ALMS

A collection was taken for Charity.

THE PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER’S ADDRESS

Brother Royal Ark Mariners, I am delighted that there are over 160 members of our RAM Order here today.  I reaffirm the welcome I gave prior to the opening of this Provincial Grand Assembly and I thank each and every one of you for your attendance.

We are fortunate to have with us Heads of Other Orders whom I welcome:

Representing the Craft I welcome W. Bro. Michael Hedley Hill, DepPrGM, who has a very busy schedule and we are grateful for his continued support.  I am also pleased to welcome RW Colin Wright Past PrGM and W. Bro. Thomas Blackburn PDepPrGM.

W. Bro. Raymond Martland is an APrGM, and a loyal supporter whether  playing the organ or not.  It is good to see W. Bro. Tony Harrison my Past DepProvGM.  W. Bro. William Seddon PAPrGM has acted as DepDC on many occasions and I congratulate him on his pending appointment as District G. Prefect for West Lancashire in the Allied Masonic Degrees.  Canon Harry Callaghan a PAPrGM in the Craft Province and

W. Bro. Daniel Jones, PAPrGM of Mark & RAM is now an Asst. to the Pr.G. Principals in the Royal Arch.

Unfortunately W. Bro. Thomas Jackson DistGPref for the Allied Degrees and GSupt of the KTP is not present today but it is my privilege to be among the first to congratulate him at a Provincial meeting on the honour he brings to our Province by his pending appointment as the Grand Master of that Order.

W. Bro Glyn Jackson Davies Past AProvGM of this Mark Province and head of the Royal and Select Masters.

W Bro. Frederick Hargreaves is DGMM for the Operatives in Lancashire and gives us most active support, not least as Scribe of Ormskirk Priory RAM.

W. Bro. Melvyn Cross is the Grand Master Designate of the Order of St. Thomas of Acon and I am delighted that he is to continue as our Provincial Tyler in the Mark degree.

Bro. Ark Mariners I am grateful to all the members of Philadelphia Lodge of RAM Installed Commanders for hosting this meeting.  Will you W.C. Bro. Peter Coates accept my thanks and congratulations on their behalf.  I particularly thank your Scribe, W. Bro. Bryan Humphries, who has made the administrative arrangements for our Provincial festive board today.  I hope W. Bro. Bryan you have a supply of Joining Forms for all the WCs who processed into this Assembly-  whom I am glad to remind - are now eligible to join this prestigious lodge, and where I know they will be most welcome.

At this meeting last year I advised you of pending changes to our ritual - principally the removal of the blindfold in the Elevation Ceremony.  This came about and the Province provided every RAM Lodge with a copy of the new ritual.  Since then 2 or 3 Provinces from the south of England have felt strongly that use of the blindfold should continue.  The Grand Scribe has said that if any RAM Lodge feels that strongly, they may continue to use the blindfold, if it is the wish of the majority.  My own opinion, as expressed last year, is that as a Candidate for the RAM must already be a Craft, RA and MMM, he must surely be trusted not to reveal any matter prior to his Obligation, and I personally prefer an Elevatee not to be blindfolded.

Since our last meeting I have been both honoured and delighted to Consecrate the new Progress RAM Lodge in Preston last March.  It was a colourful and spectacular occasions and I thank all the Founders for their enthusiasm in bringing this new RAM Lodge to life.

I now thank our new Provincial Scribe W. Bro. Geoffrey Lee for all the work he has undertaken in that role - and as our Mark Provincial Secretary,  Our new Provincial Office is working most effectively and I express my thanks to the volunteers, W. Bros. Rod Bennison, John Bicknell and Colin Mills for their support.

Sadly W. Bro. Arthur Robinson has had to retire as Deputy Secretary since taking ill on holiday.  I am relieved and delighted to report that he is making a very good recovery and it is wonderful to seem him here today.

W. Bro. David Emmerson has conducted his first Provincial Meeting with efficiency and aplomb - for which I am grateful.  He would like to acknowledge, as I do, the generous assistance of his predecessor W. Bro. Terence Maybury.

Bro. Ark Mariners it is a great delight in any Order to reward service and talent.  I am about to invest members of our Order who have so qualified with Prov RAMGR and I thank them for their work and support in our RAM lodges.  I know they will keep up their good work.  I charge THEM, as I do all of you, to ensure all our Mark friends have the same opportunity to enjoy this beautiful degree – as we do – by proposing them for elevation.

I now ask the Provincial Grand Scribe to read the names of those Ark Mariners who are to receive this Provincial Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank honour and will you Provincial Grand Director of ceremonies please present them to me for Investiture.

APPOINTMENT AND INVESTITURE OF PROVINCIAL ROYAL ARK MARINER GRAND RANK

Apologies for absence had been received from W.Bro. Douglas Little, Leyland RAM Lodge No 1002 and W.Bro. Robert Keith Morrison, Ormskirk Priory RAM Lodge No 1019.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

The Secretary reported apologies for absence from RW Bro J Escott, P.Prov.G.M. Apologies had also been received from 9 Holders of R.A.M.G.R., 11 Holders of Prov.R.A.M.G.R., 6 Commanders, 10 Past Commanders and Brethren

CLOSE

There being no further business, the Provincial Grand Assembly of Royal Ark Mariners was closed in due and antient form at 12.36 p.m.

The first verse of the National Anthem was sung.

The Provincial Grand Master and his Officers retired in procession.

APPENDIX TO RAM ASSEMBLY MINUTES OF 20^th SEPTEMBER 2011

Banner Dedication by W.Bro. Revd. Graham Halsall Prov.Dep.G.Chaplain

R.W.Provincial Grand Master and Brethren, my first question is: What are we dedicating?

According to the Chambers Dictionary three definitions serve only to confuse us:-

•      A Banner - “A banner is a square flag bearing a coat of arms: a military symbol; a flag bearing some device often carried on two poles, used in processions; a military standard.”  So a banner can be a standard.  Look at the entry for ‘standard’ …

•      A Standard - “A standard is a flag or military symbolic figure on a pole marking a rallying point.”  So a standard is a flag.  Look at the entry for a ‘flag’ … 

•      A Flag - “A Flag is a piece of bunting with a design used as an emblem for military or naval purposes.  Signalling, decoration, display propaganda - a banner.” 

So a flag can be a banner, which is where we began.  In fact, according to this dictionary, a banner can be a standard - a standard can be a flag – and a flag can be a banner - which is where we just started.  It does not help us to remember that at some Provincial meetings the banner is carried in by the standard bearer!  To add to the confusion, according to one source of heraldry, that which we now call The Royal Standard - is actually a banner.  It may surprise us little if we note that the origin of this shape-shifting and unpredictable word is ‘baniere’ in the French, and, not surprisingly, its gender is female!  Was it not Oscar Wilde who said that ‘a metaphor is a way of teaching old words new tricks’?

Whatever it is, our banner bears a collection of symbols which descriptively mark our points of reference and allegiance: a pictorial reminder of our treasures.  The story, the lessons, the draw which calls upon our hearts, our brethren – in other words, our communal centrepiece: the ark, the rainbow and the triangle.  The Old Testament book “The Song of Solomon” has a beautiful verse, which identifies the household of Israel as the bride, and Jehovah the lover.  And in the midst of his virtuous pursuit of her love she exclaims, as she yields,

Let him lead me to the banquet hall,

and let his banner over me be love.                                                                               (Song of Songs 2: 4)

“His banner over me his love.”  With these three timeless symbols:

•      the ark of safety, from the righteous judgement of God against wicked people who have rejected his love;

•      the rainbow, an eternal symbol of God’s promise never to destroy the world again, and

•      the triangle, the reminder of the triune nature of God – not any God – but of the glorious and economic Trinity of love and power.

These three collide to unite our confidence with God’s Providence, our humility with God’s longsuffering patience, our frailty with His limitless resources.  Let us not fool ourselves: there is danger in disobedience, and salvation in submission.

Not only that, our banner identifies us as West Lancashire Royal Ark Mariners, and gives us a context, in place and history.  We are not the first, and we pray the Supreme Commander of the Universe, we will not be the last.  We recall those distinguished brethren whom we follow (let us spare a moment to recall them); at one end of the rainbow Provincial Grand Masters, and at the other, all new brethren.  Some will become distinguished in their time, and some will just enjoy themselves!

In this most impressive of stories, so faithfully told in this delightful Masonic degree, we are led onwards to look forward, and upwards, to another banner, another banner of love, that will not simply harness the creative and destructive nature of God, but his own singular remedy for the ills of the world and the hearts of men:

In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples;

the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.                                    (Isaiah 11: 10)

Not a dove bearing an olive branch, but a Saviour whose name is Prince of Peace.

Let him lead me to the banquet hall,

and let his banner over me be love.                                                                               (Song of Songs 2: 4)