Worthy Knights this is the fifth occasion on which I have the privilege and pleasure of addressing you at our Divisional Conclave.
May I first pay tribute to all the members of this Division that were mentioned in our requiem earlier. Their devotion and dedication to this Order was immense. They were all well known to us, and many had served this order faithfully and diligently for a considerable number of years. I had put forward P Kt Alan Field for appointment to Grand Conclave Rank, it had been awarded, but he unfortunately passed to Higher Authority before he could be informed.
They will be greatly missed and remembered by us all.
I congratulate those who will be appointed to or promoted in Grand Imperial Conclave later this month at the Annual Assembly in London. They are:-
On promotion
Malcolm Ernest Slater to Grand Junior General.
John Lawrence Peer to Past Grand High Almoner a V Ill Kt
On first appointment
Anthony Lawrence Bargrove as Grand Prefect
Andrew Schoborgh Brass as P. G. Prefect (unable to be with us today)
Michael John Goody as P.G. Warden of Regalia
Guy Raymond Sudron as P G Warden of Regalia
James Munday as P G Vice Chamberlain
Ian Scovell as P. G. Vice Chamberlain
We were particularly pleased to see the appointment of Malcolm Slater as Grand Junior General. Despite all his other Masonic Duties he has been able to support this Division and his Conclave fully. It is a promotion so very well merited, in fact they are all very well deserved and follow many years of dedicated service to the Order. I look forward to seeing you all in London for your investiture and also I trust many of you who will no doubt be supporting them.
The membership figures in the Summons for this meeting are for the period up to 31st August 2014 and the number of memberships at the end of the period is 238 (not 261 as printed) a drop of 45. Clearly half of these were due to the transfer of Wiltshire to Dorset, but there were a considerable number of resignations. All had been followed up and were found to be for good reasons which included – Health; Finance; Multi Memberships. For our number of membership the number of deaths is proportionately very high. This is largely due to the age profile of our membership and, inevitably, will continue.
The current year up to the 31st August 2015, has by design, thus far been a year of consolidation. We have had a good number of new members some of whom are with us today;- Would you please stand as I call your names
W Kt Brett Skelton Naval and Military Conclave No 35
W Kt Mark Denton Rose Rose of Wessex Conclave No 236 (Guard)
W Kt Michael Upward `Forest Rose Conclave No 265
W Kt John Pearson Holy Rood Conclave No 319 (Guard)
W Kt Alan Tibble Mystic Rose Conclave No 464 (Guard)
W Kt’s of the Division of Hampshire and Isle of Wight, I introduce to you some of our new Kts. I trust you will give them a hearty welcome whenever you see them, and provide them with help, guidance and companionship in this wonderful Order. You will note that 3 of them have been appointed to the Guard.
Our recruitment has centred on the use of our Pop up Banner, which we have been present in Masonic centres when Royal Arch Chapters are meeting. This has proved successful and will continue. We also hope to have at least 2 open evenings during next year. I must remind you all that recruitment is very much the results of personal contact, and therefore relies entirely on your efforts, even for the open evenings. You are well aware that I have requested that Sovereigns and Viceroys make it their responsibility to each supply a candidate for the year they occupy those positions. But, it is still necessary for the other members of the Conclave to provide other candidates each year. I remind you that statistically it is quite clear that with our high death rate we need 3 candidates per year if a conclave is to grow. Recruitment must continues to be your major preoccupation in the coming years.
The Divisional Recorder has indicated in his report the visits that have been undertaken with our own Conclaves and also representing the Division with other Divisions (between us 21 Divisions this year) and also other Orders within our area. All these visits have been marked by the warmth of the welcome and hospitality and in the case of the Conclaves, the sincerity and warmth of the ceremonies we have witnessed. The visits within our own Division are enhanced by the support of the active Officers, the Divisional Guard and the many Grand Officers that attend with us. They all have my grateful thanks; their support has been nothing short of magnificent.
I wish to acknowledge the immense part played in this Division by my Deputy Ill. Kt. Larry Peer, the Divisional Recorder Ill. Kt. Stewart Taynton. They have worked tirelessly throughout the year. Their advice and guidance has been invaluable to me. Also the Divisional Marshall Ill Kt Kevin Todd and his Deputy Ill Kt Malcolm Lloyd who I rely on so much. I also extend my thanks to My Divisional Guard, The Captain of the Guard – P Kt Chris Davis and Deputy Captain of the Guard W Kt Mark Gannaway, who play such a substantial role with in this Division, not only on Official Visits but on all Appendant Orders Ceremonies. One of our senior team Ill Kt Lee Robinson has retired as Divisional Assistant Recorder at this meeting. He has been an exceptional Assistant Recorder as he undertakes a many tasks in that role. Lee it has been a great pleasure to have you as part of the team. Thank you for all that you have done.
We have once a year an Executive meeting. It involves myself with the Dep IG, Div Eus; Div Rec; Div Mar; Div Trea; and Div Asst Rec acting as minute secretary. I find this meeting invaluable. We deal with Grand Ranks, Divisional Ranks, future activity and the day to day running of the Division and it is a means by which the senior officers have an input to all major items effecting the Division. At this meeting I also debrief the senior team on what has arisen at the Annual Intendants- General Meeting, held at MMH with the senior members of the Order.
As you well know we also have once a year the Divisional General Purposes Committee meeting. It involves the Grand Officers, Divisional Officers and the Sovereign, Viceroy, Recorder, Marshall, and Treasurer from each Conclave. The Recorders, Marshalls and Treasurers have pre-meetings before the GP starts with their Divisional Counterparts – Div Rec; Div Mar; Div Trea – to discuss items in their specific areas. The GP involves reports from the Conclaves on their activities and any problems; discussions on future activity within the Division; reports from myself and Divisional Senior Officers; and closes with an open discussion on anything any one wishes to raise. I find this meeting just as invaluable as the Executive meeting as it provides a means of information and ideas exchange between the Division and the Conclave members.
My other method of communication at a senior level is through our Sovereign’s Conclave -St Peter and St Paul. This is not a working conclave in the ordinary sense, it does however provide a forum for discussion and ideas emanating from anyone in the Division. Consequently, I encourage all Puissant Knights in the Division to join this prestigious Unit and to make their voices and opinions heard.
We have had 2 very successful functions this year.
The divisional Ladies Night at Winchester was a resounding success. Enjoyed immensely by all present, with excellent musical entertainment. My grateful thanks go to Ill KT Lee Robinson the Div Asst Recorder who made all the arrangements so excellently.
The bi-annual Christian Orders Family evensong took place this year on the 14th June 2015, at the wonderful venue of St Cross Church near Winchester. St Cross Church was built at the same time as Winchester Cathedral and by the same stone masons. It is part of the oldest active Alms Houses in the Country.
We were supported by the other Christian Orders, and I extend my grateful thanks to them for assisting with the costs involve. About 125 attended the service with approximately 100 joining us for High Tea afterwards in the Alms House Refectory. It was a wonderful afternoon very much enjoyed by all present.
I congratulate all those that have been appointed to office today. It is an honour that is well deserved by you all. I look forward to working with you during the next year. I would remind you all that you are expected to attend as many official visits as you can, that also includes those promoted to a Past Divisional Rank, as we treat you all as active for this year.
Individual Conclaves and the Divisional Relief Chest have made many donations to Charities this year. The Relief Chest made a final donation to the Craft 2016 Festival – with donations from Conclaves the Division and its members have donated £1500 to the Festival. A Donation to St Cross Church was also made from the Relief Chest. Donations from Conclaves and the Divisional Relief Chest have also gone to the Grand Sovereigns Fund for Children, which will also receive the collection today via the envelops and the relief Chest
You are all well aware that 2015 will be a very special year for the Order. The Church service, to be held at Lincoln Cathedral on Saturday 19th September 2015, is I hope in your diaries and I trust that many of you have booked to be there. I look forward to being with you and your families on that occasion. Please ensure that you notify the Divisional Recorder that you are attending and who with. I can now inform you that a commemorative Jewel is being issued that all members of the order can wear. If you attend Lincoln you get a discount on the purchase price.
Worthy Knights, the last year as you’re Intendant-General, has been stimulating, encouraging, challenging and above all most enjoyable. You are all well aware that we are a truly Christian Order and it should be emphasised throughout our sojourn as a member of this order. In fact we should emphasise it in our recruitment so that no candidate should ever arrive at his installation in any doubt as to the relationship between the Order and his Christian beliefs.
Worthy Knights may I thank you all for attending today. I look forward to working with you in the next year and we part with the watchwords of our wonderful Order
FAITH UNITY and ZEAL
God bless you all
R.Ill.Kt. Roger Charles Bricknell
June 2015.