On Wednesday, members of the Grand Sovereign’s Conclave travelled to the Taunton Masonic Centre for their annual April meeting which is always held in the Most Puissant Sovereign’s Division, and with R.Ill.Kt. David Palmer, K.C.C., the Past Intendant-General for Somerset and Bristol being in the chair this year, the meeting was scheduled for Taunton.
Since covid, a tradition has started that there will be a get-together on the Tuesday Night before at a restaurant local to the venue, and after an early trip to a local hostelry, 17 knights & two of their ladies convened at a Miller & Carter and had a thoroughly good and enjoyable evening.
For a number of us, we were staying only 25 yards away at one of the national hotel chains, which meant an easy journey to our beds.
For those of us staying at that particular hotel, rather than drive to the Taunton Masonic
Centre, we used the benefit of a local Park & Ride and can be seen waiting for a bus to take
us into Taunton – what a fine body of men we were.
Arriving at the Masonic Centre, there was some consternation amongst the ranks when the Centre appeared shut, but following a knock on the front door by the Acting Marshal, R.Ill.Kt. Steven Groeger, a local knight came out of the next door building and welcomed us in. It was agreed by all that the bacon & sausage rolls awaiting us were some of the best on the circuit, and very reasonably priced. The meeting started at 11 a.m. and after opening, tributes were given to R.Ill.Kt. Paul Cooper, K.C.C., a Past Intendant-General for Somerset & Bristol by the Most Puissant Sovereign, and by the Most Illustrious Grand Sovereign to R.Ill.Kt. David Adams, K.C.C., who was not only the Past Intendant-General for East Anglia, but was the current Grand Organist, having been appointed to that post in July 2015.
The highlight of the meeting was a most interesting and illuminating talk by the Grand High Prelate, the Revd Steven Hawkings, who is a member of the Division of Somerset & Bristol, entitled “The main dangers in life are the people who want to change everything……..or nothing”. Steven referenced a number of occasions which had particularly stuck in his mind as both a cleric in Holy Orders, and his time as a Freemason, with specific reference to his love and enthusiasm for the Military & Masonic Order of the Red Cross of Constantine. The talk was wide ranging, and whilst he stuck to his allotted time, it was clear that the knights could have listened for far longer to his presentation.
Prior to closing the Conclave, the knights confirmed that as well as the alms from the meeting, they would also donate the sum of £2,000 from the Conclave’s funds to the Grand Sovereign’s Care for Children Fund, which makes very valuable donations to small local charities who support young children. Together with 19 Intendant-Generals from across the whole of England & Wales, there were a number of Past Intendant-Generals present, and are shown in the photo below together with the speaker, the Revd Steven Hawkins.
The Festive Board afterwards (which was superbly organised by the Divisional Recorder, Em.Kt. Mike Page) was a most enjoyable affair, with an excellent lunch rounded off by toasts to The Most Illustrious Grand Sovereign, who suitably responded before giving the toast to the Most Puissant Sovereign, who having regaled the knights with stories about “Clotted Cream” then thanked them for travelling to Taunton and wishing them a safe journey home. For many of us the first part of the journey home was to catch the bus back to the Park & Ride to collect our cars – I doubt Taunton has ever seen so many “undertakers “ travelling by bus!