Address by the Provincial Grand Summus to the Annual Meeting of Provincial Grand Senatus
Well Companions of Surrey, we finally made it. There have been many worrying occasions when I thought this meeting would never actually take place other than as a Virtual Business Meeting and although we are a little short on numbers it’s great to be back with face-to-face Freemasonry after two years since our last active Senatus.
My first job is to welcome everyone here this morning and thank you all for attending, especially our
Most Distinguished Grand Summus, making it such a special occasion for me.
I must congratulate those Companions who have received First Appointments or Promotion in
Provincial Grand Senatus today. It has been an absolute pleasure to invest those present whilst I
hope to invest those unable to be here today on my visits round the Province. I must also
congratulate those to be honoured with Grand Rank in Grand Senatus on Thursday 2nd September
2021 and those chosen to receive 4th and 5th Grades, details of which are on our website. All these
honours are extremely well deserved, so wear your regalia with pride and I expect you to continue to
give your full support to our wonderful Order.
It is no secret that I am keen to promote greater visiting between Consistories and to this end I shall
be making Official Visits to all four Consistories within my second year having been unable to do so
last year, and inviting all my Active Officers and any other Companions to accompany me. As most
of the Consistories do not operate ceremony rehearsals, I honestly believe that such visits could do
nothing but help in improving the standard of ceremonies throughout the Province.
I must now thank two Companions who have contributed greatly to the success of today's meeting.
Firstly, our Recorder Distinguished Companion Chris Eley. In my address last year I described his
work rate as truly phenomenal and nothing has changed. Apart from his usual duties,
Distinguished Comp Chris was the instigator of the Surrey Cord which we have now issued over the
last 6 months so that we could keep in touch with our members during lockdown and I hope you
have enjoyed its content.
I am so delighted that our Director of Ceremonies, Distinguished Companion Ian Parsons, is also
with us today. You may not be aware, but he has health problems for which he is receiving ongoing
treatment and if that wasn't enough, he is in the process of moving to Yorkshire. Thank you, Ian, for
your support today, and I hope both your problems have happy endings. I shall be there to
congratulate you when you receive 5th Grade later in the year.
At our last Annual Senatus, held as a Virtual Business Meeting, in my Address I stressed the
importance of increasing the number of members in our Province. As a means of doing so it was
my intention to visit all OSM Conclaves when our Right Worthy Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler
was making an Official Visit but sadly due to Covid19 only one visit was possible. However, at that
meeting I was able to announce that Distinguished Companion Len Hillier had accepted my offer to
take on the unofficial post of Scarlet Cord Representative for the Province and to prove his
capabilities in the job he signed up two Candidates. Distinguished Companion Len always has
plenty of forms available and is more than willing to help if any member has a potential Candidate
interested.
I cannot stress the amount of help our Right Worthy Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler has given
us over the past twelve months to increase our membership and for that I am extremely grateful.
Hopefully, in our working partnership we can come up with other ideas which could be to the
benefit of both our Orders.
Companions, I am sure that with your support we can progress this Province from strength to
strength. Finally, I wish you all well for the future and look forward to visiting your Consistories,
enjoying your company again and, in particular, working together to further develop our Order
May the God of our Fathers have you all and your loved ones in his Holy Keeping now, and evermore.
R. Dist. Comp Arnold Long
Provincial Grand Summus
18th August 2021
Click here to download this address.
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