The Provincial Grand Master, Stephen James, made the following address to those who attended the Annual General Meeting on Thursday 31st October 2024.
Communication in all its forms, was the focus of my address when I was installed as ProvGM and GSupt. It still is.
In the 140 days since my investiture I have encouraged, supported, requested and directed communication at all levels. Starting with myself and the Leadership Team and all the officers of our Province that contribute to our success.
Communication is essential. Don’t re-invent the wheel, if your Lodge or Chapter has developed a good practice share it with others, our communications team are always ready to pass on good ideas.
The leadership team has met 5 times since June, we speak daily, we use the telephone, leave notes, email, WhatsApp, Facebook and even meet for coffee or a drink, and I always keep a weather eye on the horizon for smoke signals and semaphore. Brethren – Keeping in touch – Creates a Team. That’s a useful acronym!!
KIT Cat
The Membership Challenge -this Province is doing well we are now heading in the right direction with Brethren joining us, being initiated and exalted into the Royal Arch. Companion Orders are doing well. Why wouldn’t they? Brethren, the Members Pathway works, our dedicated team headed up by James Waddington is here to help. Use it.
More good news – the 2025 Festival total currently stands at over one million pounds raised. On behalf of the Province the Masonic Charitable Foundation and most importantly our members who have benefitted from your generosity. – Thank You.
Please remember the 26th of April 2025 is the Festival Finale at Weymouth Pavilion, booking details will be available after this meeting.
Please keep contributing to the festival. Give our final contribution a big push. To give an analogy a bit like running a 26-mile marathon and stopping half a mile from the finish line, lets dig in crash through that wall. (running terminology) and make this last few months’ count.
Brethren – The future, As part of the “Forging a Thriving Future” strategy, introduced by UGLE in 2022, charity featured in the service 3rd pillar, to support continuing efforts to make our fraternity a force for good in society. Here in Dorset with our support, Masonic charities and Lodges work hard with local charities to improve the lot of those less fortunate than ourselves. Recent initiatives involving both national and Local Masonic charities targeting Young Carers from around Dorset demonstrates our commitment to this strategy, whilst still supporting our own members who may need our help.
In the last year as well as being supported by our own Lodges across Dorset we have received donations to Festival 25 from the.
Holy Royal Arch (Province of Dorset), Mark Master Masons (Province of Dorset) Allied Masonic Degrees (District of Southern Counties), Royal and Select Masters (District of Dorset, Hants & IOW), London Dorset Lodge No 3221 (Metropolitan Grand Lodge), Dorset Masonic Care, The Dorset Quarrymen have pledged their support.
Brethren – Can I request that if your Lodge has money it intends to contribute to the festival, please give it now, as I am sure you are aware the money we donate is live, it is used as we donate it. Your money can help now!
I have decided to re-introduce the Provincial Grand Masters Discretionary fund to allow myself and my joint leadership team the opportunity to support worthy causes that are outside the remit of both DMC and the MCF. Watch this space, we will let you know more, in the near future.
Nominate 24 – If you haven’t already done so, please can you take 5 mins to participate in Nominate 24. This is your opportunity to influence how some of the money raised by Festival 25 gets used here in Dorset by voting for one of 33 different local charities. The voting is on-line and can be accessed by a QR Code or the link sent out in the 2nd Rising e-mail.
Dorset Masonic Care, DMC has given more than One Hundred Thousand Pounds in assistance to members, widows and their families in the last five years. Brethren, that’s your money well spent. Well, done.
Defibrillators, The DMC are now looking after them on all the building, after discussion and investigation the DMC decided in the interests of good practice, they would take over the management of the defibrillators where requested.
ASHLARS, Brethren – The third Ashlars Event was a great success this year, thanks to Phil Coxall and Jax for their continuing and vital support, along with the Ashlars team. It’s a great day out, very rewarding, next year its 28th August at the same venue.
Worshipful Brother Coxall was then presented with a ProvGM Special Award.
Brethren – The Armed Forces Covenant, is an important document signed here in Dorset by my predecessor on the 9th December 2021.
We are currently putting together strategy for the future to enable us to identify where and when both Freemasonry and The Armed Forces can mutually support each other. As a brief indication of our progress, we have identified that members both present and past offer us a source of candidates, like wise we can offer a safe space that most men who have served would recognise.
We had a very successful visit to the Veterans hub in Wyke Regis it is now my intention to consolidate Dorset Freemasonries association with our armed forces. Keep an eye open for more communications.
Hermes – Hermes is here, support you secretaries, make sure they all have your correct email address. Your email address in now recognised as your home address please make sure we know where you are.
Dorset Masonic Sports Association – the Dorset Masonic Sports Association is having a revival under the leadership of WBro Nigel House our 3rd Grand Principal after this meeting we will be producing a list of those organisations and events that may interest you.
Please keep an eye open for the information.
Masonic Buildings– Please share good practice, communicate. We all love our buildings, and we all know the time money and effort needed to sustain them. Let’s help preserve our Dorset Masonic Heritage in our buildings, after all we are masons.
Brethren, we are busy providing a future for Freemasonry in Dorset, please become part of that future.
Congratulations to W Bro Leon Mathews as the newest member of our Leadership team.
My special thanks to Terry Green our Provincial Grand Secretary this is his first AGM well done, and his hard-working team which appears to include half this room, Teamwork!
To our Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies and your team, well done.
To the Hamworthy Club for their support and cooperation to today’s success.
To our guests who have travelled to be with us today, my thanks
And finally, to all of you who have given up your day to support Dorset Freemasonry.
As communication is one of the main themes of the Provincial Grand Master RW Bro Stephen Andrew James, it is important that all members who were unable to attend the 2024 AGM have access to the Provincial Grand Master’s address, so he has authorised the Comms team to post this for you.
