Newsletter

Address from The Provincial Grand Master
R.W. Bro. Ian Wright

Dear Brethren,

Brethren, thank you for logging on and reading our Winter newsletter. Yet another year is rapidly heading to a close and the frenzy of the festive period will soon be upon us.

Mark Masonry continues to grow within the Province and membership numbers are on the increase. This is largely because we all enjoy our Mark Masonry and are happy to involve others. I would like to thank the Provincial Officers for all their support this year and I look forward to seeing you all in the new year.

We are rapidly approaching the Mark Benevolent Fund Festival of 2025 which we as a Province are hosting. This is much more than a social weekend; we will be showcasing our Province to the rest of the country and what better place to do that than in our beautiful City of Oxford. As a kick off to the final year I will do a sponsored walk from Banbury Masonic Hall to Henley Masonic Hall along the canal and river Thames. I would welcome your support, encouragement, and sponsorship and perhaps a carrot in front of me if I get tired! I have also just taken delivery of 50 Festival car stickers which will be available from myself at a cost of £10, the proceeds going towards the festival.

Festival Car Stickers are now available
from the PGM for £10.

Recently OMMBA have donated £5000 to SERV OBN Blood bikes. The MBF have supported this charity in the past but due to Covid the charity itself has been less able to fundraise itself and have had greater demands from the NHS. SERV OBN (our local group) need a new 4X4 vehicle and am sure that our donation will go a long way to help that achievement.

The cheque handover was held at Cardinal house and as you see your Provincial Grand Master is still able to cock his leg over a large motorbike! Not wishing to be overshadowed by his predecessor attending a similar event several years ago in Birmingham.

Brethren, have a Wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

R.W. Bro. Ian Wright
Prov. G.M.

Provincial Class of Improvement

Whilst the sessions of the Class of Improvement will be of particular use to those who may be still young in their Mark/ RAM Masonry and just starting out on the journey through the progressive Offices, all members of the Province (including Directors of Ceremonies and their assistants) are welcome to attend. Having a familiarity with the ritual assists in both learning, teaching, and delivery. We only get one opportunity to make a first impression which is both good and well received by the candidate. The Class of Improvement can help to supplement rehearsals as well as serving as a friendly atmosphere in which to get to know brethren from a wider circle of lodges across the province.

www.oxonmarkmasons.org.uk/province.html

Lodge MBF Honorifics So Far

Mark Lodge Meeting Dates

Calendar

Installation Dates are displayed in bold italic.

We have been advertising Lodge meeting dates on our social media exactly one week before a meeting takes place. In order to benefit from these helpful reminders, please ensure that you are following us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

RAM Lodge Meeting Dates

Calendar

Installation Dates are displayed in bold italic.

We have been advertising Lodge meeting dates on our social media exactly one week before a meeting takes place. In order to benefit from these helpful reminders, please ensure that you are following us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Upcoming Travelling Keystone/ Ark & Team Visits

Wednesday 20th December – Alfred RAM 247

The Travelling Ark will be handed over at Alfred Lodge on Wednesday 20th December. Please book in with the Scribe if you wish to attend.

Friday 23rd February – Thames RAM 1183

There will be a team visit to Thames lodge of Royal Ark Mariners on Friday 23rd February. This will be the first team visit of 2024, provincial officers should make every effort to attend and extra guests would of course be welcomed by the lodge. Please book in with the Scribe if you wish to attend.

Wednesday 6th March – Godstow Mark 1546

The Travelling Keystone will be handed over at from Abbey Lodge to Godstow Lodge on Wednesday 6th March. Please book in with the Secretary if you wish to attend.

Tuesday 26th March – Cherwell Mark 847

There will be a team visit to Cherwell lodge of Mark Master Masons on Friday Tuesday 26th March. Provincial officers should make every effort to attend and extra guests would of course be welcomed by the lodge. Please book in with the Secretary if you wish to attend.

Thursday 9th May – Provincial Grand Lodge of
Mark Master Masons of Oxfordshire

The Provincial Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 9th May. Newly advanced brethren are especially welcome to attend to receive their special lapel pin. Please support the brethren of your lodge who are being promoted to Provincial Grand Rank.

Saturday 18th May – University RAM 55

The Travelling Ark will be handed over from Godstow Lodge to University Lodge on Saturday 18h May. Please book in with the Scribe if you wish to attend. 

All The World's A Stage

Oxfordshire Mark Masons, their partners and friends, avoided a potentially damp and windy meeting with Storm Ciaran in Bournemouth, the venue for last year's Ladies' Festival weekend.

Instead, they travelled to the land of William Shakespeare, who would have been delighted to see sixty of us making merry at The Stratford Park Hotel.

During his after-dinner speech, in which he thanked the ladies for being at the event and for their support of their partners in their various Masonic endeavours, the Provincial Grand Master amusingly referred to the number of everyday expressions that may be attributed to 'The Bard'. The PGM sensibly avoided, in the presence of his wife, Wendy, quoting as follows:

"And though she be but little, she is fierce." [A Midsummer Night's Dream]

Later in the evening, this however would have been appropriate:

"He capers, he dances, he has eyes of youth ..." [The Merry Wives of Windsor]

This may not have applied to us, as we are mostly in our 'twilight years' ... but some of us made a jolly good attempt! Aching legs (and some sore heads) on Sunday were strong evidence of how hard we tried.

We are grateful to Very Worshipful Brother Barry Prior, Deputy Provincial Grand Master for organising the event. We held a raffle (organised by Ray Harrison and Nick Walker) which raised £490 for the MBF Festival.

As may be seen from the accompanying photographs, a good time was had by all in a wonderful setting which we may visit next year, weather in general and storms in particular permitting.

'Ello 'Ello 'Ello
A Very Important Masonic Office

Outside Freemasons' Hall one evening, a police sergeant was instructing a young constable on how to increase his arrest rate.

He advised the young man that, after Masonic meetings, Brethren had invariably drunk too much and frequently attempted to drive home afterwards.

Sure enough, after a short wait, a man came staggering and swaying down the steps, almost fell, recovered, and lurched towards a parked car. His progress was slow and, while he was making his way to his vehicle, many other Freemasons passed on their way.

But our officers of the law had him in their sights and ignored all the other Brethren. Finally, he reached his car, took out his ignition keys after several attempts, managed to insert the key and lurched into the driving seat.

At this point the coppers pounced ... "You're under arrest for being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle," said the sergeant. The Freemason turned a stone-cold sober face towards the policeman and said, "But I haven't had anything to drink all day."

The poor sergeant, seeing this sober individual in front of him, was thwarted but puzzled. “But ... but ... you've been to a Masonic meeting and to the festive board haven't you?" Our man assented, but added, "Of course, I occupy a very important office in the Lodge ... I am Senior Decoy!"

Festival Events

The Provincial Grand Master and Festival President was keen that our MBF Festival should be fun for everyone in our Province and that events should be a way of getting Brethren together to enjoy each other's company.

23rd May 2024 - Festival Year Launch River Cruise

The final year of the MBF 2025 Festival will be launched with a Grand River Cruise on the New Orleans, one of the largest pleasure craft on the River Thames. Thanks to John Grout's charm and organisational skills, and the generosity of the Hobbs family, we can offer a four-hour cruise with afternoon tea for the all-inclusive price of £35 per person.

This is an opportunity to have some fun, cruising with your friends and family, while raising money for the Festival as a welcome by-product. To book your place, please contact David Cumming at hcc.david@gmail.com

VWBro Graham Ellis (Craft DepPrGM) and VWBro Barry Prior (Mark DepPrGM)
congratulate WBro John Grout on his 50 years in Freemasonry

50 Not Out!

During his illustrious cricket career for Hampshire, Somerset and the MCC, Worshipful Brother John Grout will have scored several half-centuries. But he has had to wait until this year to raise his bat to the Masonic pavilion, to signify his reaching fifty years in Freemasonry.

In what may be a unique occurrence, John was presented with his 50-year certificate by Very Worshipful Brother Graham Ellis (Deputy Provincial Grand Master in Craft) during a meeting of Thames Mark Lodge in Henley. The Oxfordshire Provincial Grand Masters of Craft and Mark were delighted for this presentation to be held at the meeting of Thames Lodge of Mark Master Masons, recognising the great work John has done.

VWBro Graham, in his warm address, made special reference to John's quiet but purposeful efforts in charity fundraising during his fifty years in The Craft.

All those present in the Temple loudly applauded John. Well done, Brother! This is a great achievement and your recognition is very well deserved.

How can I support the Oxfordshire Mark Festival?

A Mark Festival in support of the Mark Benevolent Fund (MBF) is hosted by a single Province for the year. The Mark Province of Oxfordshire will be hosting the celebratory dinner on Saturday 19^th July 2025 being the conclusion of our current fund raising efforts. At this event we also be receiving many guests from Provinces from around England and Wales together with a deputation from Mark Grand Lodge.

Donations and fund raising in support of the Festival can be as individuals, the Lodge, and the Province. All events held should be fun and enjoyable.

As Individuals

Purchase the Oxfordshire MBF Festival Stewardship Jewel. The application form may be downloaded here.

Now that the Craft Festival has finished you may wish to this opportunity of making the regular contribution by

         Standing order to the MBF.

         Ad-hoc single donations.

         The forms may be downloaded here.

         Arrange an event to raise funds.

A range of merchandise is also available, please contact your Lodge Charity Representative, your Lodge's Festival Area Representative or visit the website here.

The Lodge

Arrange an event or series of events to raise funds. Don't forget to invite other members and Lodges from around the Province.

Hold a raffle at the end of the meeting.

Province

A number of events to be held have been planned. The exact dates will be announced in good time to enable you to reserve the timing in your diary.

Details of Lodge and Provincial events will be publicised here.

The Oxfordshire Mark Masons Benevolent Association (OMMBA)

Where funds are raised through an event either as a Lodge or by an individual, our own charity OMMBA has agreed to match the funds raised to a limit of £1,000 per event for a Lodge or £100 for an individual.

Further information

Our dedicated Festival Website.

The motto of the MBF is "Bis dat qui cito dat" – he gives twice who gives promptly