With the members of the Installed Commanders Lodge greatly looking forward to hosting the 2020 Provincial RAM Assembly it was with tremendous disappointment that the meeting fell foul of the Covid 19 Pandemic which resulted in a virtual business meeting taking its place. Never the less 42 members of the Province booked into the business meeting which was opened by the Lodge’s Worshipful Commander Pat Leonard who acted as the Presiding Officer. The Worshipful Commander thanked the Provincial Grand Master and other active Provincial Officers of the year for attending and proceeded to oversee the business of the Lodge.
The Dispensation was read by the acting secretary, W Bro Mike Sanders, in the absence of W Bro Frank Hames who was unfortunately unwell. The Provincial Grand Master then delivered a eulogy to RW Bro Alan Brunning a past commander of the Lodge who passed to the Grand Lodge above on 22 August 2020. There followed the approval of the minutes of the last Lodge meeting held way back in December 2019. The Worshipful Commander then oversaw his own re-election as Commander of the Lodge for a further year and then in turn reappointed all his officers currently in office.
The treasurer, W Bro Mike Sanders, then submitted the annual accounts for approval that were duly endorsed by the brethren of the Lodge.
On completion of lodge business the Presiding Officer then invited the PGM to preside over the Provincial RAM Assembly. The PGM thanked everyone for attending the meeting and the minutes of the last Assembly were duly confirmed. The Obituary Roll was called by the Provincial Chaplin and the PGM added the names of RW Bro Richard Slade the past PGM of Oxfordshire and W Bro Ted Melber the past APGM for the Province of Surrey, who had died recently. The PGM commented on the calibre of all those who had passed away, mentioning their outstanding service to masonry and their significant loss to the Order.
The PGM then appointed W Bro’s Preston Bemis, James Dance and Colin Wills to Provincial Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank and commented that they were worthy recipients and that he was sorry he was not to be able to confer the honour in person.
With Honours conferred we then received the PGM’s address in which he emphasised the need to stay patient as there was now a light at the end of the tunnel towards normality and a resumption of proper meetings. In addition, he confirmed the next Assembly would be hosted by Linden Acre of RAM No. 1568 on 25th January 2022. The Provincial Scribe advised of the new date for the PGM’s reception that will now be held on the 16th April 2021 after which the Provincial Assembly was closed.
The Lodge Commander then received the BeMBA, Charity Steward and Almoners reports and after thanking, once again, all for attending closed the proceedings.
Despite the inability to meet in person the meeting was well attended by members of the Province and proved a chance to get together and show the fellowship and strength of this beautiful degree. Here’s hoping for better things in 2021.
M F Sanders (Acting Scribe)
