Dear Brethren and Companions
Welcome to the first Second Rising for 2022. We have seen a busy start to the year and it is nice to see Freemasonry returning to something like normality. Just a couple of weeks ago, we held a full Provincial Grand Chapter meeting and were fortunate to hear some very wise words from the Third Grand Principal around quality. It was an excellent meeting all round, and I again congratulate all those I had the pleasure to appoint or promote.
At the end of this month, there are the two Grand Investiture meetings, where a number of our brethren and companions are being honoured by the MW Grand Master and ME First Grand Principal.
There is still much to look forward to over the coming months. We have the much-delayed consecration of the Sir William Morris Lodge No 10003 on Saturday 7th May at the Oxford Transport Museum, Long Hanborough; a number of anniversary meetings and team visits. And I am being raised and then exalted in two special ceremonies in aid of the 2022 Festival. Please do support all these events.
You will also have seen the recent invitation to the End of Festival Gala dinner on Saturday 3rd September at the Town Hall in Oxford. That really does signal that we are in the last few months of our Festival and I hope that many of you will come along for what will be a superb evening’s entertainment. More about the Festival elsewhere in this edition of the Second Rising, but I hope I can count on every single one of you to make a last push to boost our Festival total towards and hopefully beyond £1 million.
As our Lodges and Chapters start to return towards something like “normality”, now is the perfect time to look to the future and consider what “normality” is. It is quite clear to me that we cannot just return to what we used to be. We must adapt to the new circumstances and each lodge and chapter should be discussing in committee the best way forward. The Craft and Provincial Executives are here to help and support, where we can, but we do not have a monopoly on ideas, and would love to hear from Lodges and Chapters their own thoughts and suggestions of how we move forward. But also remember that there are many tools available to help – Hermes is being implemented and will ease the Secretary’s and Scribe’s burden; Pathway has loads of good and best practice available at your fingertips; Social Media and the website are there to help spread our message.
Over the last few months, I have attended many vibrant meetings with excellent ceremonies being performed and it is clear that members are delighted to be back and that there are lots of candidates in the pipeline. But we have to continue to be cautious – COVID has not gone away – and I have been impressed by the sensible and mature attitude taken to date. But don’t forget those who do not feel able to attend meetings – do keep in touch with them.
Above all, brethren and companions, remember that freemasonry is fun and we should all enjoy our evenings in each other’s company. Keep safe and well, and I look forward to seeing you on my of my upcoming visits.
James Hilditch
Provincial Grand Master and Grand Superintendent