Chairman's Address given at the Group Meeting held on Friday 6th February 2009.

The letters to Brethren and Companions being offered first appointment or promotion to Provincial Grand rank were posted on the 16th January 2009. A full list of the Preston Group Honours has been posted on the Group Notice Board. As I indicated at our last October meeting, the Province was attempting to reduce the qualifying period of seven years after the chair to the First Appointment and in fact this has been achieved in 2009. Therefore we have seen two First Appointments in certain Lodges. We offer our congratulations to the Brethren and Companions of this Group and in particular the following who have received Acting Rank.

Craft:
W.Bro.Rev G. Halsall- Provincial Grand Chaplain.
W.Bro.E.O.Jones- Provincial Deputy Grand Superintendent of Works.
W.Bro.G.P.O’Hagan- Provincial Grand Assistant Grand Standard Bearer.
W.Bro.F.C.Conway, Provincial Grand Steward.

Holy Royal Arch:
E.Comp.P.Littlehales- Provincial Grand Steward.

I trust that these particular Brethren and Companion continue the practice that has been established over the past few years and attend Lodges and Chapter Installations and other special occasions, thereby enhancing their special year.

In total the Preston Group received the 4 Craft Acting Ranks, 10 First Appointments and 8 Promotions. Notable in the promotions is that of W.Bro.Peter Walker, who is to be promoted to the high Rank of Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden, a truly deserving Honour in recognition of his service to the Group, the Preston Masonic Study Circle and Winckley Lodge.

In the Holy Royal Arch, the Group received the 1 Acting Rank, 5 First Appointments and 6 Promotions.

I must at this stage express my disappointment at the lack of support that certain Lodges have given to Preston Masonic Hall. I am aware that each Lodge is autonomous, a fact that was stressed by the Pro Grand Master at the Investiture meeting of the Provincial Grand Master in July 2008, however loyalty in an important tenet in Freemasonry and to depart from Preston Masonic Hall knowing full well the consequent detrimental effect that this will have on the remaining Lodges and the viability of the Hall is, in my opinion, not in the true Masonic spirit. I must remind Lodges that Preston Masonic Hall is owned by you and that many Brethren are working hard on your behalf to ensure that you have a good facility for you to enjoy your Freemasonry. As I have stated many times in the past I am not sure if we all appreciate the facilities we have here in Preston when compared to many other Masonic Halls in this and other Provinces. Maybe the costs are higher than at other Halls but these are not excessive by current standards.

I can inform you that the Working Party that was set up by the Province to examine issues relating to the management of Masonic Halls and to assist those who have the responsibility in that area, have produced a Code of Practice, which I trust has been found to be useful. No doubt your Lodge Directors will be receiving details of this in due course.

I would wish to place on record my thanks to the Lodges and Chapters for the tremendous support we received at the recent Group Dinner and trust that the decision this year to open the Dinner to non Masons will be beneficial. I am sure that the address given by E.Comp.Harry Ross was well received by all who attended and I was heartened to be able to make a donation on your behalf from the Preston Group Charity Account to E.Comp.Ross for the Rhys Jones Memorial Appeal.

I am sure that many of you will be aware that the Group are to host the October 2009 meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge. It was originally intended that this meeting was to be held at the Guild Hall however due to the increase in the number of Appointments and Promotions this year it was estimated by the Province that Preston Masonic Hall would not be able to cater for the increased numbers wishing to dine, it has been decided to hold the meeting at the Winter Gardens with dining afterwards at the Hilton Hotel, Blackpool. To host Provincial Grand Lodge is an Honour for the Group and I have invited W.Bro.Tom Ashcroft to act as Captain of Stewards and W.Bro.John Sarti to be Vice Captain. To date a significant amount of planning has taken place and a number of Brethren and Companions have volunteered to act as Stewards at the meeting. I understand that additional volunteers are still required and therefore can I request that you encourage more of your Brethren and Companions to put their names forward.

At the Group meeting last October I did request for your cooperation to ensure that both the Installation ceremony and the Festive Board are conducted as efficiently as possible. I am pleased with the response to this request and most of the Attendees/Representatives have been able to leave at reasonable times. You will no doubt observe that they in turn have been limiting the time of their responses.

During this Masonic season we have once again experienced a steady intake of new candidates, perhaps not as many to date as last season but nevertheless an encouraging number. Another encouraging item to note is the continuing increase in Brethren being exalted into the Holy Royal Arch. Much credit for this is due to the efforts of the Group Vice Chairman, E.Comp.Stan Rigby and the support he has received from the Royal Arch contacts in each Lodge. Following the initial introduction of named Royal Arch contacts in Lodges in the Preston, Wigan and Leigh Groups, this system has been implemented throughout the Province.

One aspect in connection with the Royal Arch however is the lack of visits being made by Chapter Principals. A number of Chapters have taken initiatives and have introduced a system of providing subsidised dining fees for visiting Principals. Despite these initiatives, there has not been little significant increase in visits being made.

On 26th February, The Chapter of Unanimity is hosting a Joint Convocation which will be attended by the Grand Superintendent and Deputy Grand Superintendent. Participants at this event are Junior Companions from most of the Chapters in the Group. I would recommend this Convocation and urge the many Royal Arch Companions to arrange to attend.

With respect to other activities in the Group, we held another successful and enjoyable Carol Service last December at Broughton Parish Church. The Service was attended by the Provincial Grand Master and Mrs Hosker. I can inform you that the Service this year will be held at Christ Church Fulwood on 6th December and once again I would ask that anyone who would be willing to join the Group Choir to contact Ian Cuerden or indeed myself. Ladies in particular would be especially welcome.

The annual Group Quiz, hosted by the Preston Masters is being held here at Saul Street on 27th March.

I would give you early notice that a National Masonic Historical Records Survey is shortly being implemented. The Library and Museum of Freemasonry is compiling a complete inventory of all Lodge and Chapter records and archives across England and Wales for the approaching 300th Anniversary of the formation of the first Grand Lodge. This survey will be launched by the Province in spring of this year when further guidance will be given. Perhaps this is a good time to be checking out where your Lodge and Chapter records are held, particularly the Lodges who have been involved in amalgamations.

Ian Greenwood
Chairman