As you know, today would have been the date of our Provincial Grand Lodge meeting and I was very much looking forward to joining with you, and your families and friends, in this very important Provincial event. Given the unprecedented circumstances in which we find ourselves, we have sadly had to cancel this year’s meeting.
Whether as a spectator or as part of the Provincial team, I have always considered this day as the pinnacle in our Masonic calendar and have never missed an opportunity to attend and support the Province, since being qualified to attend this prestigious event over 30 years ago.
It is not only an opportunity to share in all that is good about being a part of the Province of West Kent but, especially, to rejoice and those who receive preferment – whether a first appointment or a well-deserved promotion. My thoughts, of course, are especially drawn to those who, having purchased the regalia of their new Provincial rank, were due to be invested today with their guests and family in attendance.
Those of you who received letters of appointment and promotion from me in December will be pleased to know that their new rank applies as of today’s date, in spite of the fact that the ceremony of investiture has been cancelled. In addition, our new officers who are today beginning their term of active office, will take up their functional responsibilities with immediate effect.
I was so looking forward to congratulating WBro Eric Hampson at the conclusion of his successful term as Assistant Provincial Grand Master – we would have also obligated and invested WBro Daniel Spencer as his successor. Daniel will assume all administrative activities of the role and oversee those Lodges based in Bromley as of today’s date, and I look forward to the opportunity of obligating and investing him formally at a later date.
Let us hope that the suspension of our Masonic meetings will be lifted in the near future and look forward to sharing meetings with you all again as soon as the opportunity arises.
Kindest regards
Yours sincerely and fraternally
Mark Estaugh
Provincial Grand Master
