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Quarterly Communication
Speech of the Pro Grand Master, the Marquess of Northampton
9 June 2004
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Brethren, because we do not normally have
very much business at the June Quarterly
Communication, I thought you might be
interested to know something about the
overseas visits that the Rulers have made
to our Districts during this past year.
Last November, the Assistant Grand
Master, accompanied by the Grand
Secretary, visited our Districts of Sri Lanka,
Madras, Bengal and Bombay & Northern
India. They also attended the Annual
Assembly of the Grand Lodge of India in
Bangalore, which marked the first time we
have been able to visit our daughter Grand
Lodge for some 10 years, and helped cement
the friendship which has been re-established
since our re-recognition of the Grand Lodge
of India.
Last month, the Assistant Grand Master
also visited our District of South America,
Southern Division, to install the new
District Grand Master, RW Bro Ernest
Steven. The ceremony was held in the
Masonic Temple of the Grand Lodge of
Argentina and during his visit, the Assistant
Grand Master was able to meet not only the
Grand Master of Argentina but also those of
Uruguay and Chile, all of whom are hoping
to visit us here in London before too long.
The Assistant Grand Master was also able
to visit our only Lodge in Chile, Lodge of
Harmony in Valparaiso, which happens to
be the Mother Lodge of Bro Bosanquet,
Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies,
who accompanied the Assistant Grand
Master on this visit. Bro Williamson was
impressed by their commitment to English
Freemasonry, the quality of their work
and their hospitality. However, he also
mentioned that their meeting times were
somewhat later than he was used to, as he
rose to reply to his toast at ten minutes past
midnight! [laughter]
I myself have just returned from a 10-day
tour of our Districts of Eastern Archipelago,
and Hong Kong & the Far East,
accompanied by the Grand Secretary.
We started in Singapore with a television
interview and a question and answer session,
together with an outing to visit our Brethren
in Johore.
We then flew to Kuala Lumpur where
the Grand Director of Ceremonies joined us
for the remainder of the trip. We attended a
Chapter Installation meeting in Seremban,
followed by the 10th Anniversary meeting
of Joseph Eu Lodge, which I had had the
pleasure of Consecrating in 1994.
We then flew to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah,
Eastern Malaysia, where I dedicated a brand
new purpose-built Masonic Hall in the
morning and Consecrated a new Chapter to
meet there in the afternoon.
I was pleased to be able to greet the
Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of China
(in Taipei), who had flown in for the
occasion, having generously contributed
towards the cost of the Hall. The next day
we flew to Hong Kong where I installed
RW Bro David Fok as our new District
Grand Master and Grand Superintendent for
Hong Kong & the Far East.
Everywhere we have visited we have
received a truly Masonic welcome and I
would like to record my thanks, and those of
the Assistant Grand Master, to our Brethren
in the Districts we have visited, for their
hospitality and friendship.
It is important to remember that our
Districts and Lodges overseas are as much a
part of the United Grand Lodge of England
as our Lodges in England and Wales. They
may be far from us in geographical terms,
which makes it difficult for the Rulers to
visit them as often as we would wish, but
what visits we do make are greatly
appreciated. It also gives us the opportunity
to cement our friendly relations with our
sister Grand Lodges and other more distant
Grand Lodges around the world.
I might add that at the end of September
the Deputy Grand Master will be going to
Ghana, accompanied by the Grand
Secretary, to install Bro Quansah, our new
District Grand Master and Grand
Superintendent there.
Brethren, as this is the last time we shall
meet before the summer recess, I wish you
and your families a relaxing and enjoyable
time until we meet again in September at the
start of another Masonic year. [applause]
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