Due to the suspension of Masonic activity the Annual Meeting of the Provincial Grand Senatus of South Wales and Monmouthshire was held as a Virtual Business Meeting on Saturday 1st May using the Zoom video conferencing tool. Attending the meeting was the Grand Summus, M.Dist.Comp. Ian Stanley Currans; Deputy Grand Summus, R.Dist.Comp. Francis Charles Spencer; Assistant Grand Summus, R. Dist. Comp. Howard Saul Markham; and the Grand Recorder, R.Dist.Comp. Ryan A Williams.
The meeting was attended by many members of the Provincial Grand Senatus of South Wales and Monmouthshire, and Provincial Grand Summi and Companions from a number of other Provinces.
From Surrey there was our Provincial Grand Summus, R.Dist. Comp. Arnold Long; Past Provincial Grand Summi, R.Dist. Comps. Michael Barnes and Louis Keats; Deputy Provincial Grand Summus, Dist. Comp. Nigel Thomson; Past Deputy Provincial Grand Summus, V.Dist.Comp. Ian Smith and our Provincial Grand Recorder, Em.Comp. Chris Eley.
By 10.45 a.m. 165 Companions had joined the meeting. R.Dist. Companion Keith Berwick Ferguson, V, Provincial Grand Summus of South Wales and Monmouthshire, declared the meeting open and the Provincial Grand Recorder, V.Dist.Companion Neil Matthews, P.G.Lec., read the Permission to hold a Virtual Business Meeting.
The Provincial Grand Summus welcomed all the guests and visitors from Grand Senatus, Provincial Grand Senatus and from other Orders within the Province who had travelled far from their breakfast tables to go onto their computers.
The Provincial Grand Summus asked the Provincial Grand Recorder to read the names of the Companions appointed to and promoted in Provincial Grand Rank following which the Provincial Grand Summus congratulated those who have received appointment or promotion in the Provincial Grand Senatus of South Wales and Monmouthshire. The Provincial Grand Summus then addressed Provincial Grand Senatus.
He said how delighted he was that all Consistories had met their usual meeting dates by Virtual Business Meetings and thanks to all at MMH for their hard work over this difficult time. He thanked all his Officers who have remained in office and congratulated all those honoured in Grand Senatus.
The Provincial Grand Summus invited the Grand Summus, M.Dist. Comp. Ian Stanley Currans, to address the meeting. He said how much he had enjoyed the meeting and how happy he was to be with everyone on the 1st May, not only as it was his birthday but also that soon Scarlet Cord face to face meetings can recommence. Most importantly he was looking forward to the Grand Senatus meeting on the 2nd September.
The Grand Recorder, R.Dist.Comp. Ryan Williams, said how glad he was to be back home and updated the Companions on the work being undertaken at Mark Masons Hall to plan for the resumption of Masonic activities. He is looking forward to the future and the return to face to face meetings, when everyone feels it is right to do so. The Virtual Business Meetings have been very successful and will continue for some form for administration and committee meetings. He ended by thanking the Provincial Grand Summus and his team for all their support for Mark Masons Hall.
The Provincial Grand Summus then thanked everyone for attending and declared the meeting closed.
Article and photos by Chris Eley, Provincial Grand Recorder
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