Some words from the Provincial Grand Chaplain.
Right Worshipful Brother D. Gerald Rowbottom RIP
We were all deeply saddened hearing of Gerald’s passing, for each of us remember our Provincial Grand Master with great affection. Remembering him In so many different ways as he has touched each of our lives. A man that we respected and held in such high esteem. A man of deep faith that showed forth in his life, his actions and his words. Always remembering each of us, with a kind word, a thought. He was a real example to us all both as Freemasons and men as we live out our lives, responding to each other showing kindness and concern.
I have put together a prayer for our friend and brother to commemorate him and commend him into the care of our Great Architect of the Universe. Spend a moment or two in quiet reflection holding your own thoughts of Gerald before you pray this prayer.
Great Architect Divine, we give you thanks for the life of our friend and Right Worshipful Brother D. Gerald Rowbottom. We give you thanks for the many times shared together, in fellowship, companionship and Service. We give you thanks for all that he means to each of us.
We remember too his close friends and family at this difficult time.
We commend him in these our prayers for him today into your loving care in that Grand Lodge above. We pray that we may continue to live our lives in faith, love and service that we may meet Gerald again in your presence in the vastness of your eternity.
We commemorate Gerald a friend, brother, a mason truly ‘Lived Respected and Died Regretted’
So mote it be.
A poem that often helps in times of sadness and sorrow, reminding us of the Lord’s presence, ‘Footprints’ from the poem of Mary Stevenson ‘Footprints in the Sand.’
One night a man dreamed a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to him and one to the Lord.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that at many times along the path of his life, there was only one set of footprints. He noticed that it happened
at the very lowest and saddest times of his life.
This really troubled him, so he questioned the Lord about it.
“Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You’d walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.”
He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trial and suffering.
When you see only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you.”