Dear Brethren,
On the instruction of our Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother HRH Prince Michael of Kent, GCVO, I sent a letter to Right Worshipful Brother Paul Raymond Clement, OStJ, inviting him to be our next Pro Grand Master, in succession to Most Worshipful Brother John Herbert Prizeman.
I am delighted to inform you that I have received a positive reply from R.W.Bro. Clement accepting the appointment, and that his investiture will take place on Tuesday, 9 June at the communication of Mark Grand Lodge at Freemasons’ Hall, Great Queen Street.
R.W.Bro. Clement is well known to many of us, not only through his work in the Mark but in many other Orders of Freemasonry. His distinguished Masonic journey has many high points. To give you a flavour of these, here are some of the key moments.
Paul was initiated into Freemasonry in Corinthian Lodge No. 4917, South Wales, in December 1978, and subsequently exalted into Corinthian Chapter in November 1980. He received his first Craft Grand Rank as Deputy Grand Organist in 1993 aged just 35. He now Holds the Rank of Past Grand Sword Bearer in the Craft, and Grand Superintendent in and over South Wales in the Royal Arch.
His Mark journey began in 1983, being Advanced into Neath Lodge of Mark Master Masons No. 1125 and he was later Elevated into Neath Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners in 1984. His first Mark Grand Rank came in 1989 as Assistant Grand Organist, followed by appointment to Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank in 1995. He served as Provincial Grand Master for South Wales from 2008 to 2016 and is a member of the Grand Master’s Royal Ark Council (Honoris Causa).
He is a member of, and holder of senior Grand Rank in, all the Companion Orders administered from Mark Masons’ Hall, plus several further afield. Most notably, having been Grand Supreme Ruler of the Order of the Secret Monitor from 2014 to 2017, a role he relinquished upon appointment as Grand Master of the Great Priory of Knights Templar in May 2017, a position he still holds.
In addition, Paul is a Sovereign Grand Inspector General 33rd Degree in the Antient and Accepted Rite, Knight Commander of the Priestly Orders in the Order of Knight Templar Priests, Adept of Christian Rosencreutz in the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia, and Provincial Grand Master for London and the Metropolitan Counties in the Royal Order of Scotland
With such a weighty Masonic CV behind him we will have a very skilled and knowledgeable Pro Grand Master, who brings together many of the important strands of Freemasonry, and one who will no doubt use that breadth of experience to help lead Mark Masonry into the next generation of our existence.
I’m sure you join with me in sending R.W.Bro. Clement our warmest congratulations on this thoroughly well-deserved appointment and wish him every success and happiness in the role.
Yours sincerely and fraternally,
R.W.Bro. Daniel M. Heath, P.G.J.W.
Grand Secretary