Provincial Grand Lodge of Hampshire & Isle of Wight

Brethren, the Agenda now requires me to Address you, and it is a great pleasure for me to do so. I want to start by thanking you, each and every one of you, for supporting the Province on this very special day. This morning has been an uplifting experience largely because of the warmth of your support and fellowship. It’s a joy to see so many brethren, many of whom I have known and admired for many years, and who have been an inspiration to me throughout my Masonic career.

It is an enormous privilege to be entrusted with responsibility for the Craft within this Province. I am extremely fortunate that the Province has been so ably managed by my predecessor over the past seven years and I pay tribute to Brian for the leadership and indeed foresight which he has shown throughout his tenure. It was a pleasure to work with him. I also wish to thank Brian publicly for the great support which he has provided to me personally since my appointment as PGM designate was announced.

One of Brian’s key initiatives some seven years ago when he was Installed as Provincial Grand Master was the introduction of a Mentoring Policy. Mentoring, which is now taken for granted in the Craft, is firmly embedded in our Province’s culture, and I propose building on this with a view to reducing the level of resignations and exclusions which continue to have a marked effect on our numbers.

I relish the prospect of taking this Province forward. I intend to ensure that the Craft becomes an integral part of the wider community in the County – by which I include the Isle of Wight, as well as Bournemouth! Over the years we have endeavoured to educate the public in a number of ways – Open Days, non Masonic charitable giving and presentations, white table evenings, and of course through the publicity under the guidance of the Provincial Information Officer. Earlier this year the Province acquired a show trailer for exhibiting at shows within the Province and the exhibition trailer will have its first major outing at the New Forest County Show later this month. It is very much early days but this is the start of a much wider initiative with a view to the Craft being generally accepted within the local community as a force for good. An organisation where like-minded men can develop their own character whilst enjoying the fellowship and comradeship of their peers. That is the message which we need to get across to the wider community if we are to attract the younger man who is so important to the future of the Craft. The aim is for men to be attracted to the Craft for its own sake, rather than simply because of someone they know. If we are to retain such men in the long term we must involve their families who should be aware of the benefits of the Craft, not only in terms of tangible benefits through charitable giving, but the intangible spiritual benefit which all men derive from involvement in the Craft. A brother’s excitement and enthusiasm for the Craft will only bear fruit if it is understood and embraced by his loved ones.

I know that my vision for the future is shared by the brethren who I installed this morning as Deputy and Assistant Provincial Grand Masters. Each has given unstinting support to the Province over the years; and I know that this will continue and that the Province will be the beneficiary.

At our annual meeting this afternoon we will launch our Festival Appeal for the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys which culminates in 2016. We live in difficult and financially uncertain times which is just when those relying on the RMTGB most need our support. This is an important message to get across to the brethren and their families. The real benefit of the Festival system in this situation, is that the brethren have a period of years over which they can spread their contribution; but such is only beneficial if the giving commences at the very beginning of the Festival period. More of that this afternoon when I will also have the pleasure of appointing and investing those brethren who represent the future of our Province.

Before I call off this Provincial Grand Lodge, may I thank, on my behalf and on behalf of the entire Province, the Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master, for the friendly and sympathetic manner in which he carried out the Installation ceremony; the Grand Director of Ceremonies for his helpful guidance and advice, and of course his team, and the Assistant Grand Secretary and his team in the Grand Secretary’s Office, for organising what has been a splendid and memorable occasion in the annals of the Province. It was also an especial delight that the Assistant Grand Master found the time in his very busy schedule, not only to support his Mother Province on this great day, but also to act as Senior Warden. It is a great unique honour for this Province to have two Rulers taking part in the Installation. And of course, I thank the Met GM, a great friend of this Province over many years, for acting as Junior Warden and the RW brethren and guests from other Provinces, many of whom will have made a very early start to be with us today.

R.W Bro. Michael J. Wilks
Provincial Grand Master