Worthy Knights, it gives me great pleasure to stand here this morning and address you for the 6th time as your Intendant General.
I thank you all for taking the time out of your busy schedules to join us on this exceptionally warm day.
I would like to begin by expressing my gratitude to last year’s Divisional team. They accompanied my Deputy and me on the official visits to each of the Conclaves throughout the year. Their attendance significantly increased the numbers at those meetings and made each visit memorable for me, the Conclave and for the candidates who were received into our order.
I would now like to congratulate all those that have been appointed to or promoted in 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.
I have already greeted our official guests individually but I would like to especially thank them for their kindness and friendship when we attend their Divisional Conclave meetings. We always enjoy your meetings and I am glad to reciprocate today and hope you are having an enjoyable day here so far.
It has also been an honour for me to be invited to represent the Red Cross of Constantine at the Annual Meetings of many of the other Orders within the Province, for which I thank them all for their hospitality.
In just over a weeks time many of us will be attending the Grand Imperial Conclave meeting at Great Queen Street in London. At that meeting there are several members of this Division that will be honoured with promotion or first appointment. Those that are receiving honours are:
- Ill. Kt. Charles Aspinell promoted to active Grand Junior General (an office only given by the Grand Sovereign himself)
- Ill. Kt. Spike Bromley promoted to Past Grand High Almoner
- Ill. Kt. Robert Castle promoted to Past Grand Standard Bearer (L)
- P.Kt. Roger Curtis first appointment to Past Grand Prefect
- P.Kt. Kevin Smith. first appointment to Past Grand Warden of Regalia
These appointments and promotions are all well-deserved and follow many years of dedicated service to the Order.
I look forward to seeing them in London for their Investiture and I trust many of the W.Kts of the Division will also be attending to support them.
Last year I set a challenge to the Conclaves to bring in at least two new knights into the Order. Although not every conclave achieved this, many of the conclaves exceed the target. This has meant that since the AGM last year we have admitted 14 new Knights into the Order along with a couple of new joining members. This is excellent news but we need to continue recruiting to enable us to outweigh the losses that occur each year from deaths and resignations. I would like to see the Conclaves continue with that challenge and bring in another 2 knights into the Order this coming year.
We are all recruitment officers for this wonderful Order, as well as for the Craft and Royal Arch, as without members joining those orders we will not have any candidates for our Order. I know it is tough to recruit but just by making our Order know, as some masons still think the Red Cross of Constantine is a new Order, and expounding on the wonderful ceremonies that are to be experienced in our Order, I am sure we can achieve this target. I and my executive team are here to help if talks, recruitment presentations etc are needed, so please just call on us.
The centralisation of the Appendant Orders ceremonies with a team of experienced Knights has proven highly popular. Attendance has been excellent and candidates are greeted by a full temple, enhancing the overall experience. For those interested in participating in the next KHS ceremony in November 2026 at Holy Rood Conclave and subsequently in February 2027 at St Peter and St Paul Conclave, please contact the Divisional Recorder.
The Combined Christian Orders Church Service was held at St Cross Church, Winchester on Sunday 14th June. It was attended by nearly 90 members of the various orders along with their families, including most of the heads of all the orders in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The service was given by our High Prelate and the Master of the Church. Following the service, attendees were invited to the Brethren’s Hall for an exceptional High Tea. I thank everyone who attended. Your presence made this a memorable event at a special location and I look forward to joining you in 2028 for the next service.
Earlier we voted to make a donation to the 2027 MCF Festival, Divisional Marshal, please could you conduct V. Ill. Kt. Jon Whitaker, the Provincial Grand Master of the Craft, to me please.
V. Ill. Kt Jon, the Craft is currently in festival which is ending in 2027 and I hope you are making great progress towards your desired total. It gives me great pleasure to present a donation of £750 from the W.Kt’s of this Division to your festival. Don’t be disappointed when you open the envelope and don’t find a cheque, this is only symbolic as they don’t trust me with real money, and the funds will be transferred electronically. I and the Kt’s of the Division wish you all the best with your Festival and look forward to being with you in 2027 at your festival celebrations.
Additionally during the year we were very fortunate to receive two grants from the Grand Sovereign’s Care for Children fund, firstly for George’s Rockstars and then for Abby’s Heroes. Both these charities were very grateful for the kind donations from the fund and will be putting the money to good use assisting sick children and their families.
The collection today will go to our Divisional Relief Chest. I would like to thank all the W.Kts and the Conclaves who have made contributions to the Relief Chest during the last Masonic Year.
Worthy Knights may I thank you all for attending today. My thanks go to Robert, Roger and James for organising today; and the staff at Botley for the meal to come. 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. Steven Groeger
27th June 2026