THE MASONIC PROVINCE OF YORKSHIRE WEST RIDING

My Beloved Brethren,

“The month of May was come, when every lusty heart beginneth to blossom”.
Le Morte D’Arthur - Thomas Malory c: 1469

“The sun’s up above, it’s a glorious day to inspire my Brothers and to celebrate May”.
Personal Musings – ProvGM 2017

Provincial Grand Lodge –Harrogate 2nd May

Indeed! A Grand Day Out in magnificent surroundings at Harrogate with perfect weather.It was so pleasing to see the smiling faces and so many Brethren in attendance.
The presence of Masters and Master Masons who shared the experience was a delight for us all as these Brethren are the future of Freemasonry!

Congratulations to all who received rank preferment in Provincial Grand Lodge.
My thanks to the 2016/17 Team of Acting Officers and a big “Hello” to the 2017/18 Team.
As I presented the cheques to the worthy recipients of the major grants from the Provincial Grand Master’s Fund I was struck by the gratitude expressed by the recipients. Let there be no misunderstanding Brethren we make a huge difference in local communities. The lusty singing of “Jerusalem” made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end!

Provincial Grand Master’s Fund

Be it a small or major grant – They all make such a difference! This year there is £300,000 available so I would ask every Lodge (and Chapter) to pro-actively seek out local needs.
No absolute guarantees regarding support can be given, however we will always do our very best to respond positively to a qualifying request.

True Story from a recent visit to a Lodge:

PM to ProvGM: “We get nothing from the PGM’s Fund!”
ProvGM to PM: “Really? What have your recommended?”
PM to ProvGM: “We’ve never applied”

And the moral of this? I’ll leave this to you Brethren.

Support for Victims of the Manchester Bombing and their relatives

West Riding Masonic Charities Ltd has generously donated £10,000 to the Emergency Fund
set up by the Provincial Grand Master of East Lancashire. Thank-you Brethren – This is where we have acted quickly in response to a request from our nearby Brethren.
You will also remember that the Masonic Charitable Foundation has provided an additional
£3 million this year for local causes to celebrate the Tercentenary. Please look at this link
and make sure that your vote counts: https://mcf.org.uk/community-awards-vote/

May Diary Notes:

10th - A 60th Certificate presentation at Lightcliffe Lodge No: 3332. It is always such a
delight to celebrate long and faithful service. 60 Glorious Years worthy of great celebration!

20th - The Lodge of Charity No: 4105, Bradford hosted the Annual meeting of Lodges with
“Charity” in their names. A splendid occasion enriched by the attendance of Brethren from
all over England and also a deputation from a Lodge under the Grand Lodge of Ireland.

Right Worshipful Brother David

March – Spring appears to be “Springing” in this part of our glorious County.I felt exhausted last Sunday having beaten down the jungle that hid a lawn beneath!

West Riding Masonic Charities Ltd – Annual General Meeting at BarnsleyIt was a privilege to be in the company of such caring and generous Brethren. I do thank the Chairman, VWBro. Jack Pigott and his stalwart Team of Directors for their prudent and generous management of the Charity. C.H.O.I.C.E.S. is proving to be one of the most significant support programmes ever introduced in this Province providing speedy relief to our Brethren and dependents in urgent need of support. Well Done Team! We are all very proud of your efforts!

If you have not been able to attend an AGM – A visit to the 2018 AGM will confirm the enormous beneficial impact that our own Charity makes in our local communities.

Grand Lodge Tercentenary/Provincial Bicentenary CelebrationsActivities are starting to happen everywhere and I am most grateful to my Assistant Provincial Grand Master, WBro. Paul Clark, who has the responsibility of co-ordinating our Provincial response.
We have distributed nearly all of our Provincial allocation of tickets for the Royal Albert Hall event and there now is a waiting list for places at the celebration dinner in Battersea.

I would like to encourage the management of all Masonic Halls to open their doors to the general public on the 24th of June being the very date of the Tercentenary. We should be proud to show who we are and what we do. My thanks to the Masonic Halls who already have this matter in hand.
I note so much going on and my thanks to all organisers with my best wishes for memorable events.

RMBI 2017 Festival – Almost There!
The February figure has been released. I have asked not to be told anything more until the final
figure is actually revealed on the evening of the Festival Banquet at the Armouries, Leeds. I am sure that our Great Province of Yorkshire, West Riding will not be found wanting. My continued thanks to all the Brethren and their families for such tremendous support.
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Provincial Honours
The first Saturday in March is the scheduled date for the delivery of certain letters.
My congratulations to all who are due to receive their first appointment or promotion. Let me also say that if such a letter did not arrive for you that you are still a beloved Brother and special to me.
The transparent and robust system of assessment in this Province is scrupulously fair and consistent.
I am always inclined to apply the human touch of generosity wherever possible. On this matter, I
thought that it would be useful to have an article published in White Rose again providing a candid explanation of how the system works and it does work!

Finally, I am looking forward to the Annual Meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge at Harrogate.
Watch out for some changes in my address! With so much news so readily available, I intend to
dispense with matters already in circulation and concentrate on the celebratory nature of the event. I might even burst into song? Who knows? Trust me - It will be a splendid occasion!
It would be a delight to see Masters, Wardens and Master Masons in the body of the Hall.

My love and very best wishes to you and yours as always.
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RWBro. David S. Pratt - Provincial Grand Master