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RW Bro Peter Lowndes, who was installed as
Deputy Grand Master by the MW The Grand Master
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Quarterly Communication
Grand Master's address to Grand Lodge
10 March 2004
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Deputy Grand Master
RW Bro Iain Ross Bryce has been a Grand
Officer for 21 years, which includes eight
years as Provincial Grand Master of the
Province of Yorkshire,North & East Ridings
and 12 years as Deputy Grand Master.
In addition to the extensive duties attached
to the offices he has held, Bro Bryce has spent
a considerable amount of his time working
with and co-ordinating the Masonic charities.
His chairmanship of the committee
which decided the future of the Foundation
for the Aged and the Sick in 1988, and of the
Sick Fund in 1989, which later developed
into the New Masonic Samaritan Fund, was
followed by his work on creating the Charity
Festival Matrix in 1992. More recently he
chaired the committee looking at the
allocation of Grand and Provincial ranks.
He intends to remain active in Masonry
and is currently the founding Master of
Bridlington Bay Lodge No. 9778, which
was consecrated in November 2003. Bro
Bryce will continue in office as Second
Grand Principal in the Royal Arch, so his
experience and advice will not be lost to us.
President of the Board of
General Purposes
RW Bro Earl Cadogan has been a Grand
Officer since 1969 when he served as Senior
Grand Warden. His 34 years as a Grand
Officer include 11 years as President of the
Masonic Foundation for the Aged and the
Sick, six years as President of the Masonic
Trust for Girls and Boys and four years as
President of the Board of General Purposes.
Brother Lord Cadogan first joined the
Board as an appointed member as long ago
as 1983. He served on the Finance
Committee from then until he became its
chairman in 1991, and relinquished this
office only when he became President in
1999, having also acted as Vice-President of
the Board in 1991 and 1992.
The Craft owes both these brethren an
immense debt of gratitude for their hard
work, which they have undertaken over so
many years, and their dedication to
Freemasonry. We thank them for
everything they have done for us and wish
them many more happy and rewarding
years in Freemasonry.
This year’s Address
I normally attend the Craft Annual
Investiture and take the opportunity of
addressing Grand Lodge. This year I shall
attend the Annual Investiture of the Royal
Arch on 29th April, and it is my intention to
address Supreme Grand Chapter. I want to
take this opportunity, therefore, of dealing
with some important issues which affect the
Craft in particular.
Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London
It was a great pleasure to me to be able to
take part in the ceremonies at the Royal
Albert Hall last October, setting up both the
Metropolitan Grand Lodge and
Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.
It was a magnificent occasion and reflects
great credit not only on the staff of London
Management, who worked long hours for
many months in preparation for the event,
but also the volunteers of the London Grand
Rank Association.
We also owe a debt of gratitude to those
in the Grand Secretary’s office, without
whose dedication and support no great
occasion of Grand Lodge would be possible,
and in particular to the Assistant Grand
Secretary for his work on the complex
changes to the Book of Constitutions.
Praise is due also to Brother John Wright,
who acted as overall project manager, and
his team of stewards under the leadership of
Brother Andrew Wingram, and, of course,
to the Grand Director of Ceremonies and
his deputies, who conducted the ceremonial
activities of the day so smoothly.
It will take time for the new structure to
bed down, because it is the biggest change in
Freemasonry for almost 200 years, but there
are already welcome signs that a new spirit
of co-operation and companionship is
beginning to transform the newest Masonic
venture into something of which we will be
very proud.
continue...
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