On Wednesday 30th April, a large number of Brethren from Northumberland attended the Annual Investiture at Grand Lodge.
It was a distinct pleasure to see that all the newly appointed and re-appointed Provincial Rulers were recognised by Grand Lodge for their past – and in anticipation of their future – hard work on behalf of the Province.
The Deputy Provincial Grand Master, John Bruce, was promoted to Past Grand Sword Bearer, and accordingly he is now a Very Worshipful Brother.
The four Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, David Armstrong, David Southern, Geoff Morrison and Ray Dryden were all promoted to the rank of Past Senior Grand Deacon.
In addition, our hard working Provincial Secretary, Stuart Cairns, was rewarded by promotion to Past Junior Grand Deacon; the Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden, Treasurer of the NMCA and now Treasurer for the Provincial Grand Chapter, Peter Smith, was appointed to the rank of Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, as was our Provincial Grand Charity Steward for the Craft and the Chapter, Paul Winship.
Absolutely blown away by his appointment to the Acting Grand Rank of Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, our Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies, Gavin Wales, will undoubtedly relish the opportunity of showing the Grand Lodge DC Team how it should be done!
These appointments and promotions are all thoroughly well deserved and I hope they continue to enjoy their new ranks in their busy masonic lives for many years yet to come.
The following day at Supreme Grand Chapter, Northumberland fared equally well with a number of appointments and promotions.
Excellent Companion Philippe Pagès, the Deputy Grand Superintendent, was promoted to the rank of Past Grand Sword Bearer; Excellent Companion Paul Ryder, the Provincial Third Grand Principal, was appointed to the rank of Past Grand Standard Bearer; and Excellent Companion Gary Breach, our Past Provincial Grand Membership Officer, received appointment to Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in recognition of his success in improving our membership numbers, after the Most Excellent First Grand Principal authorised additional Grand Ranks to reflect the hard work done by the Provinces in this area.
Indeed, although he was unable to preside over Grand Lodge the day before, all the Companions present were delighted to receive the Duke of Kent when he presided over Supreme Grand Chapter, and greeted him with thunderous applause as he was escorted by the Grand Director of Ceremonies to take his place on the First Grand Principal’s Throne.
Pictures courtesy of WBro Ronnie Amar