Royal Craft

The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master has reluctantly accepted the decision of V.W.Bro. H.E. Roy Woodward, PGSwdB to retire from the high office of Deputy Provincial Grand Master, with effect from 31st December 2018. Brother Woodward has served our Province with great distinction as our Deputy for over 5 years and at Executive level for many years before that, and his leadership and wise counsel will be greatly missed.

In consequence, the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master will be pleased to appoint W.Bro. William E. Jenkins, PSGD to succeed Brother Woodward as Deputy Provincial Grand Master.

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master Designate will be appointed and invested at the regular meeting of Hendre Lodge No. 3250 in Cardiff Masonic Hall on Thursday, 24th January 2019.

Holy Royal Arch

Following the Deputy Grand Superintendent’s appointment as Deputy Provincial Grand Master, the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent is pleased to announce that E.Comp. C. Hugh Thomas, OStJ, PGStB, Third Provincial Grand Principal will succeed Companion Jenkins in that high office. E.Comp. Phillip A. Aubrey, PGStB, ProvGSE will succeed Companion Thomas as Third Provincial Grand Principal.

The Deputy Grand Superintendent Designate and Third Provincial Grand Principal Designate will be appointed and invested by the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent at the regular meeting of Lord Swansea Chapter No. 8364 in Swansea Masonic Hall on Friday, 8th February 2019.

Secretariat

As a result of Companion Aubrey’s appointment to the Royal Arch Executive, the Provincial Grand Master and Grand Superintendent have decided to appoint W.Bro. and E.Comp. Ben Gait ProvAGSec/PPrAGSE to the roles of Provincial Grand Secretary and Provincial Grand Scribe E. Brother Gait will be appointed to the former role at Hendre Lodge and to the latter at Lord Swansea Chapter.

Given at Swansea; Friday, 30th November AD2018 AL6018

In the Autumn edition of Freemasonry Today, Assistant Grand Master and Chairman of the Improvement Delivery Group Sir David Wooton explained how a new online service will allow members to access the learning resources necessary to enjoy Freemasonry to the full. The requirement to learn ritual by rote and then present it without any attempt at providing the most basic of context and understanding fails the candidate, because it overlooks the important messages that lie within. Member surveys have also highlighted learning as a major unmet need and a potential reason why members leave.

The new online service is Solomon – an accessible searchable repository of ‘Nuggets’, presentations, papers, demonstrations and quizzes to stimulate interest and meet current and future needs. It also offers practical guidance for lodges and chapters to plan and deliver learning materials. It will see its official launch at the Quarterly Communication of UGLE on 12th December.

Our Province recognise that Masonic learning is a key aspect of member development and is for everyone not just new members. As such, we want to encourage and support each member along his own personal journey into Freemasonry. Solomon complements our existing learning & development strategy and will be accessible either directly or through #PROGRESS, where it aligns with our other learning & development initiatives like the presentation team, the research group and library and the learning and development workshops. It should form a critical part of your individual masonic development plan.

These initiatives have all been developed alongside and are inter-twined with the Members’ Pathway and mentoring framework.

This week, lodges and chapters will be receiving information and guidance to help them encourage their members to engage with masonic learning and how to use Solomon. Why not contact your Secretary / Scribe E. and get involved in making that happen?

For further information, please contact orator@nullsouthwalesmason.com or membershipHRA@nullprovince.org.uk

The Chairman of the South Wales Masonic Benevolent Fund (MBF) is delighted to announce two significant grants in pursuance of the Fund’s principal aim of providing assistance to aged and infirm brethren in the Province of South Wales.

Grant 1: £52,000 to provide disabled facilities at Penarth Masonic Hall; specifically, a lift to allow easy access to the first floor temple and changing rooms as well as disabled toilet facilities.

Grant 2: £75,000 to provide several lifts for Swansea Masonic Hall to allow brethren of all ages and physical abilities to access every level of the building from the entrance to the main temples.

The Chairman, V W Bro Andrew Gretton PGSwdB, said: “These grants, which fall squarely within the objects of the MBF, will make a huge difference to our brethren who, for reasons of age, infirmity or disability, find it difficult to attend Swansea or Penarth meetings. Brethren in both centres have been working hard to improve facilities for local members and I hope that, in providing this money, the MBF will be helping those efforts and making a real difference for brethren now and in the future.”

In making his announcement, V W Bro Gretton was keen to emphasise that the MBF would be willing to consider further applications from other Masonic centres which could clearly demonstrate that a grant would make a positive contribution to the comfort and enjoyment of aged and disabled brethren.

The Provincial Grand Master, R W Bro Gareth Jones, said: “This is a major step forward for the MBF and I am most grateful to the Chairman and his hard working committee for their foresight in realising that, in addition to the excellent work the Fund does for others, our own brethren need assistance too. These grants will make a tremendous difference to many brethren who find it difficult to attend their lodges. In recognising that we are all getting older and living longer, I am sure they will also make a difference for many of us for many years to come.”