R W Bro Jeffrey Gillyon
Provincial Grand Master
Provincial Grand Superintendent

Address to Provincial Grand Lodge

Many of you will have been at our Chapter Convocation this morning and heard me describe this, the Nunthorpe Suite, as an unusual venue. Let me assure you I was not being disparaging for the accommodation is of a good standard and the staff at the Racecourse have, as always, been extremely helpful – the problem is purely one of size and the fact that many brethren are unable to attend as a result. We did, however, ensure that every lodge had the opportunity to be represented here this afternoon, and it was good to see so many Masters processed in earlier. I do not underestimate the task facing them brethren, as they try to re-energise their lodges after such a long period – after all, going to lodge is a habit and if some brethren have got out of that habit, we will need encourage them to return. We can only do that by keeping them informed about what is happening in their lodge and impressing on them how much they are missed.

At this point I would normally welcome my predecessors as Provincial Grand Master, but unfortunately John Malcolm Raylor died during the last year and it represents the sad loss of a good man and a good mason. My immediate predecessor Richard Anderson cannot be with us, but he has asked me to tell you he is fit and well and fully expects to be at our next Provincial Meeting.

The Distinguished Guests from Other Provinces are fewer in number this year, but the quality is plain to see brethren. As they were all introduced on entering earlier, I do not intend to repeat the process, other than saying as I did this morning that RW Bro Ian Craigs is an old friend from the time we were both Deputies. RW Bro David Pratt from our Sister Province of the West Riding, despite being only an adoptive Yorkshireman, nevertheless always refers to our two Provinces as Yorkshire United.

Yet again we have with us several Heads of Other Orders and I would invite them to stand and be recognised (applause). Like me, many of you enjoy membership of the other Orders and I would recommend them to you, once you have completed your journey in Pure Antient Masonry.

Whilst there were no Investiture ceremonies in either April 2020 or April 2021, UGLE nevertheless continued to bestow honours. In 2020, Ian Johnson my APGM, and John Davey received First Appointments and James Newman was promoted to PJGW. In 2021, Allan Armbrister, another of my APGMs, Bill Glanville and Mark Tann received First Appointments whilst David Greendale and Denis Stubley was promoted. Could I ask all the brethren who received preferment in Grand Rank to stand and Brethren I think we should recognise their achievement (applause).

The last 18 months created unparalleled challenges for both society and individuals – challenges never previously experienced in living memory during peacetime. During the varying, and sometimes confusing, lockdown regimes I made it my duty to ensure that those Lodges wanting to meet were given every encouragement and support to do so and those who did not, received our understanding and reassurance. I would like to thank all brethren for their commitment to Masonry during these difficult times and especially the Masters and other Officers who have had to serve in their respective positions for an additional term.

As we return to our lodges, there should be no shortage of ceremonies in many of them, owing to the large number of applications received through the internet during lockdown. I believe this renewed interest in Freemasonry is largely down to our community work during the dark days of the pandemic and the increased media profile of UGLE by way of the Grand Secretary’s television appearances. Additionally, however, UGLE is to launch a Digital Marketing Campaign later this month and it is hoped that introductions via social media will increase even more greatly. The large number of candidates expected will first be interviewed by our team of Area Membership Officers to assess suitability before being referred to lodges for interview. They will no doubt only be referring candidates to lodges that have posted a Lodge Profile on their website and have a full team, including a Lodge Membership Officer they can deal with, as we think that will provide the best chance of the candidate being referred to the right lodge and becoming fully engaged. Adopting the processes of the relaunched Pathway Initiative will ensure we attract the right men, place them in the right lodges and begin a process of continuous engagement. It is only by working together that we will reap the benefits of the UGLE Marketing Campaign and attract, engage and retain the new masons we need to continue to build a vibrant, growing Province, fit for the 21st century.

This Autumn has seen the launch of our Provincial Liaison Officer initiative and it could not have come at a more opportune time, given the challenges that face Freemasonry in this decade. I suppose in certain cases, one could describe a Provincial Liaison Officer as a guide, philosopher and friend, but it is perhaps more accurate to see it as a partnership between two equals, striving to improve the information flow from Lodges and Chapters to the Province and vice-versa. Their overriding purpose is to act in the capacity of an objective friend and mentor to your Lodge, offering advice and guidance when required or requested. The emphasis is on being supportive and helpful. Mutual trust, understanding and confidentiality is an essential requirement of this relationship. Over fifty brethren have been appointed and allocated and I anticipate them attending their respective individual Lodges and Chapters two or three times each year, though not as my personal Representative with all the protocols that entails. I very much hope that a Provincial Liaison Officer will be seen as a natural asset to each lodge, and that every individual member, whatever rank he may be, feels able to speak to him in confidence at any time. The initiative will be reviewed periodically and, as always, I would appreciate your views through the normal channels.

Over the course of the last eighteen months the charitable efforts of Brethren and Companions has been exceptional and those efforts have been significantly enhanced by the close working relationship with FCYNER / CIO. Such has been the impact of Lodges and Chapters directing their charitable giving via our charity that we hope that this will continue as we put in place a mechanism whereby individuals, Lodges and Chapters, can make regular donations in the knowledge that these monies are ring fenced to an individual Lodge or Chapter which can direct where their monies go. Administration of the approach will be by the charity but, be assured, that the Lodge or Chapter is in the driving seat in terms of where their funds are distributed.

We have three new lodges to consecrate in the coming months, two of them in October. The Lodge of Diversity in the North of the Province and Juno, the University Scheme Lodge, in the South. These will be followed by consecration of a Widows Sons Lodge, to cater for bikers, early next year. There will be those who question the consecration of new Lodges whilst other Lodges are struggling for numbers, but it has always been so throughout the 300 years of Freemasonry. New lodges have energy brethren whilst, unfortunately, a few existing lodges do not.

It was so good to see so many brethren on the floor of Provincial Grand Lodge this afternoon. As a result of lock down they have been able to assume their new rank and wear their new regalia for some time, so they could easily have stayed away. I really do appreciate them coming along and allowing me the pleasure of personally recognising them.

Brethren, be proud of being a mason as I am proud of you. We have been through some very dark days and are now hopefully returning to some sort of normality, but the virus is still out there so do please take care. As Provincial Grand Master I regard you all as part of my extended family.

Address to Provincial Grand Chapter

And welcome to this Convocation in the somewhat unusual surroundings for us, of the Nunthorpe Suite. I am very happy to see you all here at a Provincial Meeting after such a long time and there would, of course, have been many more if the size of the room had allowed.

It is good to see our Chapters so well represented today and to see the First Principals processed in at the beginning of proceedings. As First Principals they have a heavy responsibility in the year ahead, but more of that later.

It is with great sadness I report the loss of our Past Grand Superintendent, John Malcolm Raylor, during the year. John was a much-loved Grand Superintendent from 1991-1995 and will be greatly missed. I am pleased to report that my immediate predecessor, Richard Anderson, is fit and well and although he cannot be with us today, he fully expects to be at our next Provincial Meeting.

All our Distinguished Guests were introduced on their entrance to Provincial Grand Chapter, so I will not repeat the process. However, I would like to say a special word of welcome to E Comp Ian Craigs, the Grand Superintendent of the Province of Northumberland – Ian and I have known each other a long time as we worked together when we were DPGMs in our respective Provinces and I regard him as a true friend of this Province and of me personally.

At this meeting I usually report on the Grand Officers I witnessed being invested in London, but of course, the pandemic has made investiture ceremonies impossible during the last two years although honours have still been bestowed. In 2020, my Deputy Jonathan Smith, together with Gavin Collinson, Stephen Robinson and Adrian Jessop received First Appointments whilst Tom Tomlinson was promoted. In 2021, Craig Heslehurst, Ian Moore and Garry Sunley received First Appointments and Mike Graham was promoted. Could I ask all those companions present who received preferment in Grand Rank to stand, and Companions l think we should recognise their achievement (applause).

One of the special days in our Provincial Royal Arch calendar is the November day out in London to visit Supreme Grand Chapter. Of course, we all missed out last year, but normal service will be resumed on Wednesday 10th November, so please get that date in your diaries. This year we will not be eating on the ship but in the Royal National Hotel which is close to Freemasons’ Hall and specialises in functions for Freemasons. Companions, as you will not be leaving a ship at the end of the afternoon, you will be unable to claim that any unsteadiness was caused by the motion!

I said earlier that First Principals will bear a heavy responsibility in the months ahead and that is because some will work under difficult circumstances. Companions, the age profile in the Royal Arch is significantly higher than that of the Craft and elderly brethren, many with underlying health conditions, may initially be reluctant to return. Of course, no pressure should be put on them to do so, but it is essential that they are kept fully informed about what is happening in their Chapter and left in no doubt that we miss them. Some Companions may wish to wear masks whilst others do not, and that is very much a personal decision for each of us to make as an individual – whatever that decision, the Companion will no doubt be warmly welcomed into his Chapter. The other problem facing some First Principals in the short term will be one of numbers, as we have sadly lost many Companions in the last 18 months. Whilst I believe losses in the Craft will be quickly replaced as internet activity has resulted in many candidates being in the pipeline, the same cannot be said in the Royal Arch, for we are dependent upon selling the concept of Royal Arch Masonry in our Craft Lodges and those lodges have not been meeting to allow us to do so.

So, what are we going to do to convince existing Craft masons and the many waiting to be initiated that the Royal Arch is for them? Well, firstly I have appointed E Comp Mark Green to be Provincial Chapter Membership Officer and, together with E Comp Andrew Temke, he will lead a team to work with individual Chapters, providing support and guidance with the emphasis not only on attracting new members, but also on planning for the future, engaging existing members and retrieving those who are beginning to drift away. Provincial initiative such as Chapter meets Craft presentations and Chapter Learning Circles have recently been launched or relaunched. Our new Provincial Website is presently being launched and will have far more Royal Arch information on it, with 50 Royal Arch Questions and Answers listed and a structure introduced to clearly demonstrate to Craft members the unbroken link from Initiation, through Passing and Raising, to exaltation. Very importantly, a new Address to the Master Mason has been written and we are recommending that it is not read to him immediately after Raising when he is overwhelmed by everything that has happened to him during the evening. We would like it to be read to the new Master Mason at the meeting immediately following his Raising when, as part of the Order of Business, he can be brought onto the floor of the lodge, be the centre of attention, and be hopefully more receptive. Mark and his team we will also be making Zoom meetings available to interested and enquiring Craft masons through our Membership Provincial Management Group.

It is not all bad news about numbers companions, for despite the losses we have suffered, we are still one of the strongest Royal Arch Provinces across England and Wales in terms of percentage of Craft members who have been exalted, but you will I know appreciate that action has to be taken to stem the falling numbers if we are to remain so.

Companions, there is no doubt that the Royal Arch Representatives in our lodges need to ensure their presence is more fully recognised and understood. I suggested to Grand Lodge in one of my Annual Reports that they should allow the Royal Arch Representative to wear his sash in his Craft Lodge, not only to make him easily identifiable, but also perhaps to stimulate the interest of the more curious among the brethren. My suggestion appears to have been too radical as it has fallen on stony ground.

Despite all our efforts Companions, it is perhaps inevitable that a few Chapters with a very small number of members will reach the conclusion that it is just not feasible to continue. If such is the case, please talk to us at the earliest stage possible, rather than just deciding to hand in your Warrant, and let us together consider whether amalgamation with another local Chapter is a better option.

I know that the Companions on the floor of Provincial Grand Chapter this morning have been entitled to wear their regalia for some time owing to lockdown, but it has, nevertheless, given me great personal pleasure to recognise them individually.

Companions, I have missed you all a very great deal over the last 18 months and consider it a privilege to be your Grand Superintendent.