31 December 2003

1 January 2004

27 )anuary2004

28 January 2004

29 )anuary2004

ISSUE No: 2March 2004

WorcestershireSource

The Newsl,etter of Worcestershire Freemasons

THE ROAD TO MALVERNBarrie Cooper stands down as Provincial Grand Master and Grand Superintendent.

Richard Goddard becomes the Deputy Provincial Grand Master in chargePGL office in Bromsgrove becomes the focus of planning and John McGann, Alan Pope, Henry France-Sergeant, Jenny and allavailable volunteers swing into action to organise the event. Due to it being term time, the usual meetlng place at theUniversity of Birmingham is not available so the Three Counties Showground at Malvern is chosen.The Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, W Bro. David Bell, and his deputies dust off files from ten years ago, poured overthe Rituals and correspond with Grand Lodge in London to ensure that everything is correct.Ticket applications are sent out, impoftant guests invited and replies collated, and the table plan and hall layout are organised.

All ready, nothing left to chance.

Snowl ! Blizzards hit the country and the M id lands grinds to a halt.A rehearsal is planned in Malvern at 6.00pm. In spite of the arctic conditions, everyone arrives safely!The Deputy PGM designate is dispatched to the railway station at 7.00pm to meetthe VIP guests from the London train.A frozen Deputy PGM designate returns alone at 9.00pm. The train has been delayed by snow and a dinner planned for B.30pmis eventually taken over an hour later when almost all have arrived.

The day dawns with clear blue sky, snow capped hills and great expectations.A final rehearsal is held at 9.00am for the team and main pafticipants.Nearly 700 masons make their way from as far afield as Derbyshire, Buckinghamshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, South Wales,Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and Herefordshire for the installations.At 11.30am E Comp Richard B W Price is installed as Grand Superintendent in and over Worcestershire Royal Arch Masons byM E Comp David Kenneth Williamson and his officers from Supreme Grand Chapter, at a Chapter Meeting in front of 500Companions, including ten Grand Superintendents and representatives from fifteen Provinces.A welcome interlude for drinks, chat and meeting friends is followed by lunch for over 500.At 3.00 pm Richard Goddard is installed as Provincial Grand Master at a Craft Meeting by the Assistant Grand Master R W Bro.David Kenneth Williamson, with over 650 Brethren suppofting the occasion.The Provincial Grand Master installs W Bro. Robeft Vaughan as his Deputy and advises that there is no truth in the rumour thatyou have to have a name beginning with "R'to achieve high officel So Worshipful Brothers Peter Band, Stuart Edwards andColin Young are installed as Assistant Provincial Grand Masters. The processions leave the hall to the rousing strains of Elgar'smusic played on the organ by W Bro. Adrian Leopard.At 4.30pm the official events of the day end and, with fair weather, all set off for home after experiencing a great day inWorcestershire's Masonic calendar, leaving everyone proud to be members of such a fantastic order.

NEW PGM: NEW GS: NEW EMPHASIS ON RA

1/t ongratulations to Richard Goddardf and Richard Price on their\r/ appointments as Provincial GrandMaster and Grand Superintendentrespectively in and over the MasonicProvi nce of Worcestershire.

Extracts from their addresses followingtheir lnvestitures on 29 January 2004 atMalvern are included in this issue.

It was made clear by the Past PGM that

with the reduction in the number ofProvincial Honours, new criteriawould be used in the assessment ofPast Masters and that one of thesemight be membership of a Royal ArchChapter.

In his address, Richard Price sets outthe new emphasis on Royal ArchMasonry generally, which has beenhanded downfrom Grand Lodge.

* ts*INSTALLATION OF THE PROVINCIAL RULERS

Richard pops the question

"W, Bro. Robert Christopher Vaughan,previously a Provincial Grand Steward andthen Provincial lunior Grand Warden in 1986,being rewarded by the Grand Rank of PastAssistant Grand Director of Ceremonies inL992. You were appointed an fusistantProvincial Grand Master almost exactly twoyears ago and immediately showed yourself tobe more than equal to the task expected ofyouin this Province. Your friendly presence, quietefficiency and attention to detail have becomemarked in whatever you have done, and I amdelighted to make you my Deputy ProvincialGrand Master, feeling fully assured of yourloyalty and support. I must neveftheless ask ifyou are willing and able to undertake that highoffice?"

"W. Bro. Peter Charles Band, you wereappointed Provincial Junior Grand Warden in1993 and rewarded with Grand Rank as PastAssistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in1999. Only last June at our Provincial GrandLodge meeting you were appointed AssistantProvincial Grand Master in succession to W,Bro. Tony Hawkard who was emigrating toYorkshire. Since that time you have shownyourself to be well equal to the task andalthough I have no hesitation in re-appointingyou as an Assistant Provincial Grand Master Imust ask if you are willing and able to continuein the office?"

"W. Bro. Stuart Ian Edwards, you werenominated and elected Provincial GrandTreasurer in 1998, and were rewarded for yourlabours by appointment to Grand Rank as PastAssistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in2001, an honour you had richly earned forhaving handled the later stages ofAppeal 2000so successfully and in general for bringing thefinancial affairs of the Province in all its aspectsinto fine order. Your abilities in many of theOrders of which you are a member are wellrecognised, and I am delighted to havesecured your services as one of my newAssistant Provincial Grand Masters, However,I must flrst ask if you are willing and able toundertake that office?"

"W. Bro. Colin Verdun Young, you wereappointed Provincial Senior Grand Warden in1995 and given the Grand Rank of PastAssistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in2002. A former headmaster, youradministrative skills as secretary of severaldifferent Masonic bodies and your educativeskills in your lodge of instruction and elsewherehave already been duly noted, and I amdelighted that you have accepted the positionof Assistant Provincial Grand Master. I mustnevertheless also ask if you are willing and ableto undertake the office?"

faar

Feedback on Issue No 1

Thank you to all those Brethren who havegiven their comments on the first issue. Tosummarise the feedbac( everyone seemsvery pleased with both the concept of a

Provincial Newsletter and, I am relieved tosay, with its execution. Neither the Rulersnor I have received any negative comments.We all find this encouraging and I, for one,am grateful for your suppoft.

There was no prize for spotting editorialeccentricities! Several Brethren noticedthat the first two paragraphs of the articleon the New Masonic Samaritan Fund wererepeated. Mia Culpa!

Update on The BellsThe Commissionlng of the peal of 13 new bellsat St Mary and All Saints Church, Kidderminsterby the Rt. Revd. Dr Peter Selby Bishop ofWorcester took place on Sunday 29 February2004 in the BellTower with the dedication andoperation of the new bells being relayed to thecongregation by video link.

The souvenir brochure clearly acknowledgedthat No 4 'Deborah' was "donated by theFreemasons of the Borough of Kidderminsterand the Province of Worcestershire supportedby a major contribution from the FreemasonsGrand Charity"

The ceremony was attended by W Bro Cecil G

Cariss of the Lodge of Hope and Charity and Iam grateful to him for his follow up report andphotograph.

I am pleased to extend my apologies to WBro EG Hill ofTeme Lodge No8491. In thelast edition I gave his name as EdwinGwinnell in the list of Brethren to receivetheir 50 Year Certificates. Thank you to allthose many kind Brethren who spotted themistake and took the trouble to let meknow.

Why do I feel like a tabloid editor foundguilty by the PCC?

ISSUE No: 2

* *- ry-{l

"R. W Assistant Grand Master, DistinguishedBrethren, Brethren all. Before I embark on asuccession of'thankyousi may I set at resttheminds of the ambitious by assuring them that,despite what they may conceive to be the caseafter today's proceedings, it will not berequisite in order to hold the highest office inthis Province to change your forenames bydeedpoleto Richard.

R, W. Assistant Grand Master, the gratitude ofthe entire Province is due first and foremost toyourself for the kindly and most dignifiedmanner in which you have installed E.Comp.Richard Price and myself into our respectiveoffices today. And I naturally include in suchthanks all the members of the first rate teamthat you have brought with you from Londonand who never cease to set so fine an exampleof the highest standards of ceremonial, whichwe in this Province attempt to emulate. Andmay I offer my personal thanks to you for thetouching gesture of recalling to your team aformer Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonieswho, probably now more years ago than hecares to remember, sat at a desk just up theroad at Malvern College whilst I wielded thechalk over- possibly sometimes at- his head.

Secondly, may I thank our many distinguished

THE PROVINCIAL'GRAND MASTER'S ADDRESS

visitors for travelling in some cases a greatnumber of miles to be wlth us today, no lessthan fifteen other Provinces beingrepresented; your support is muchappreciated. There is no time this afternoon togreet you individually as is our usual custom; Ican only ask you please to return in June whenI will do so with great pleasure at our nextProvincial Grand Lodge.

Brethren, these great ceremonial events donot just happen; a vast amount of planningand hard work goes into their organisation.Today is no exception; indeed, it has beenmade doubly difficult by the fact, firstly, thatthis is not our normal venue and, secondly, forthe very few week that have been availablefor putting it all together - a period,incidentally, which of course also included theChristmas and New Year holiday. Brethrenwho have readily given their time and effort invarying capacities are numerous and I thankthem all. But in pafticular may I single out thetwo who have borne the brunt of theorganisation - the Provincial Grand Secretaryand the Provincial Grand Director ofCeremonies.

I also wish publicly to thank the ProvincialGrand Organist without whose skills, andorgan, today's proceedings would have beenimmeasurably duller. Brethren, I trust it hasnot escaped your notice that he has, at myrequest, played a good deal of Elgar - for threereasons: because from my earliest days I haveloved his music; because, after all, theinspiration for many of his greatest workscame to him on or around these hills; and,thirdly, in tribute to my mother, now in her onehundredth year and very proud of this day, andwho knew Sir Edward in the 1920s. We shallshortly be leaving this hall to the rousingstrains of 'Land of Hope & Glory' and I trustthat in true and various Worcestershire Lodgestradition you will help to raise the roof - theR.W Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire,who is the solicitor to the Three CountiesShow, has confirmed that the building isproperly insured.

Although not present, I wish to put on recordmy thanks to my predecessor for bequeathingto me a sound and happy Province. Brethren,

we owe a great debt to the leadership of R.WBro Barrie Cooper, and we shall be marking hisretirement in suitable manner later in the year.I personally am gratefulto him for his guidanceand support over the past two decades.

Above all, brethren of Worcestershire, mythanks to you for attending these proceedingsin such large numbers and for sending me somany letters and messages of goodwill andsuppoft. For my paft I pledge that I will serveyou and lead this fine Province of ours to thebest of my ability. As we journey further intothe twenty first century we must be preparedto listen to the voices of the youngergeneration, to adapt to the changingcircumstances of our modern society, butnever to lose sight of the abiding Landmark ofour Order nor be afraid of demonstrating toothers in every walk of life the principles wehave ourselves been taught. I also pledge mysupport for our new Grand Superintenden! beassured that, although the leadership of Craftand Royal Arch is now wisely divided, we shallwork closely together for our mutual benefit.

Brethren, I wish to end with a challenge. On1st December last R.W Bro. Barrie Cooper, BroStuart Edwards and I paid a visit to the VeryReverend the Dean of Worcester who hasalways been a good friend to us. Mypredecessor wished to express in tangible formhis appreciation for his ten years in office bypresenting a cheque for f10,000 to help kick-start the f5m appeal that the Dean is shortly tolaunch on behalf of Worcester Cathedral. Heasked me to continue that support and I readilyagreed. The annual family ser,vice in theCathedral on the first Sunday in July has longbeen the highlight of our Provincial calendar.When we meet beforehand for lunch this year,hopefully with the Dean as our guest, I wouldlike to be able to present him with anothercheque and double that sum. Brethren, if eachlodge in the Province would consider givingone alms collection to that cause between nowand then we should easily reach the target.Please give generously to a worthy cause longsupported by our forebears.

R.W. Assistant Grand Master and Brethren, Ithank you all and I wish you a particularly safejourney home."

N4ARCH 2OO4

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Companions,

A lewis aged 26, it is some 43 years since I wasinitiated by my Father, a fine ritualist, for whomI had the greatest affection and respect. In1961 he was then the Worshipful Master of thelYasefield Lodge and he later Exalted me intothe Royal Arch.

Two very emotional and moving experiences,almost overwhelming!

I venture to say Companions that my feelingsat this moment on this occasion, are notdissimilar.

The solemnity of the ceremony and the calmdignity with which it has been today conductedby the Presiding officer M.E. Comp David K.

Williamson and his team from Supreme GrandChapter is not only impressive to the onlookerbut particularly moving for those to whom it isdirected.

We shall ever be grateful to you, for this and forthe friendly warmth with which you have goneaboutyourduties. It isa dayl shall notforget.

I am delighted at the prospect of workingclosely alongside our new Provincial GrandlYaster designate Richard Goddard, for whom Ihave great regard and respect, developed overmany years that he and I have been membersofthis and other orders.

THE GRAND SUPERINTENDENT'SADDRESS ON INVESTITURE

I am very proud to be Grand Superintendent inand over the Province of Worcestershire. It is

a fine Province with a fine Royal Arch tradition.

I am also mindful that I am the first GrandSuperintendent in this Province, for thifiyears not to have the dual role of ProvincialGrand Master.

Not since 1973, when the then most excellentGrand Superintendent, the late F.E Griffithstook on the additional office of ProvincialGrand Master.

During this period of 30 years, there has beenconsiderable growth in the number of Lodgesand Chapters in the Province.

I would here, like to pay tribute to mypredecessors during this thirty years and tocomplement them on their sagacity, inchoosing as their Deputy GrandSuperintendents, such able and loyalCompanions.

Two of them covered over 20 years service.They are both here today. I mean, of course,E. Comp Dr. H lohn White and E. Comp T VictorCondlyffe, the latter of whom, I have todaybeen pleased to reappoint for his eleventh, andhetells me, his lastyearin office. Iwould alsomention E. Comp Michael Verduyn, ProvincialSecond Principal until his dreadful accident inChina lastyear.

Membership numbers have held remarkablysteady over the last 5 years and always at over35% of our Craft Membership.

These are difficult times. Candidates forinitiation are less plentiful, with theconsequent effect on candidates forExaltation.

We are all aware that proposed changes areafoot, both in the Royal Arch ritual and inqualification necessary for the PrincipalsChairs. I have only recently been party tothese. My nature is to be cautious aboutchange. I need to be reassuredthatitisforthebest and will achieve the desired result.

I do however understand, and applaud, the

motivation behind the proposals. I stronglybelieve that all candidates, when interviewedbefore initiation, should be made aware fromthe outset; that Antient Freemasonry consistsof three degrees, namely the EnteredApprentice, the Fellow Craft and the MasterMason including the Supreme Order of theHoly Royal Arch and that they are notComplete Freemasons unless they havebecome, are and remain subscribing membersof a Royal Arch Chapter.

For far too long have some members and sadly,some long serving and even Past Masters ofCraft, got away unchallenged with advisingyoung masons against the need to join theRoyal Arch.

The Pro Grand Master last year described theCraft and Royal Arch Masonry as being'indissolubly linked'

I am glad to say that both Richard Goddard andI share these views and Companions you maybe assured that we shall work together tofufther promote these precepts.

Freemasonry both Craft and Royal Arch wasborn in difficult times, has survived periods oftremendous turmoil, war and persecution butbecause it is true it will always survive as a

haven from the pressures around us.

We are privileged, as Royal Arch Masons, tobelong to something that stands for all that isbest in this world, our relationship with ourfellow beings and our God.

Masonry and particularly the Royal Arch, is ,Ibelieve to be enjoyed, by all that pafticipate,and Companions it should be seen to beenjoyed.

I hope that our objective will be to impart toothers our enthusiasm for the Royal Arch, sothat they may share the greater reward andsatisfaction it offers, of communicating themysteries of Royal Arch in the happy companyof our Companions as we carry on with vigourthe High and Glorious Traditions of our order.

Companions, I thank you for your support andattention.

ISSUE No: 2

f{On Wednesday 17th December 2003, R W Bro Barrie Michael Cooperperformed his last official duty as our Provincial Grand Master. He waspresiding officer at the installation meeting of Worcester Lodge No. 280.W Bro William Stallard had the honour to propose his toast for the last timeaS PGM.

"I rise to propose a Valedictory Toast to the Provincial Grand Master,marking as we do this evening the Right Worshipful Barrie MichaelCooper's impending retirement after a decade as Provincial Grand Masterof the Province of Worcestershire.

My preparations for this Toast have provided some insight into Barrie'ssuccess in his Masonic career. He made a precocious start with hisInitiation in 1951 at the age of 21 years when I was still in shofts at myPrep School.

He was appointed a Provincial Warden of the Year in 1968, not long after Igot into long trousers. When some of us were preoccupied in Round Table

the Wardens and addressing the Brethren as to their respective duties on a

* G

with such cultural events as Worcester Sauce Night, he was exhortingchequered floor.

He was appointed a Grand Lodge Officer in L976 and by 1980, 23 years ago, he was an Assistant Provincial Grand Master. I hazard a guess that he willhave represented Province in one capacity or another at Lodge Installations such as this on more than a thousand occasions, in the course of which hemust have experienced every possible variation to the Ritual and every degree ofcompetency. He will know better than any of us that every Ceremonyis different by reason of the change in cast, and I have never known him display anything other than sincere interest, wholehearted support andencouragement, not to mention his disarming charm, on his vislts to Lodges throughout his Province. I well remember the impression his first visit to280 as Presiding Officer made on me when I was a newly fledged Master Mason. It may have been the occasion I appeared resplendent in my blackvelvet jacket with fetching Swedish lace shirt and was subsequently carpeted for being improperly dressed. Barrie had recently been elevated to anAssistant Provincial Grand Master but, so overawed was I by his pefformance upstairs, his dignity and bearing and his confidence at the Festive Board,that I mistook him for the Provincial Grand Master of Cornwall.

He has never looked back. For thirty five years he has been an ambassador and principal standard bearer for this Province, notjust as a Masonic rolemodel and a senior ruler in the Craft and in Chapter, but in the communlty and the wider world. One would have expected no less of an Old Boy of KES

Birmingham and a former Lieutenant in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. He managed to combine the management of his family business andMasonic commitments with his service to the Magistracy, sitting as Chairman of the Bench for several years.

His achievements and the offices held in Masonry are too extensive to recite and many will be well known. Suffice to say he has been WorshipfulMaster of seven Lodges and MEZ of two Chapters and a high-flyer in other Orders on whose activities I can merely speculate.

He has devoted a large part of his time, energy, intellect and bath-time contemplation to the furtherance and development of the interests of thisMasonic Province of Worcestershire for the greater part of his life, culminating in his ten years as our Provincial Grand Master in the course of which hehas led by example and also with an inclusiveness born of consideration and consultation. He presided over what must have been one of the mostsuccessful Festivals marking the conclusion ofAppeal 2000, and now leaves the Province in good heart, strengthened by the devotion he has lavishedon it.

We have much for which to be thankful to him and now he is about to withdraw from the Provincial limelight and to hand over the reins to his Deputy,who will have learnt much from his leadership. He departs from the burdens of Office for a well-earned retirement, taking with him the gratitude,respect and admiration of allwho have been privileged to experience his Masonic service.

May I express, Barrie, on behalf of all of us, our good wishes for health and happiness in your retirement, and the hope that we shall be permitted towelcome you amongst us on future occasions."

NewshoundsIn the first edition, Barrie Cooper offered aprize for the best suggestion for the name ofthis publication.

He received a number of entries, a number ofwhlch demonstrated the quite warped thoughtprocesses and logic of masons in the Provinceas well as a great knowledge of the history andideosyncratic customs of the county.

Having submitted what Barrie judged to be thebest entry Mrs Steve Vaughan, the wife of ournew DepPGM, was presented with a bottle ofbubbly in a small but suitably sober ceremony.

Typical, we masons all exercise our minds andthe wife of a mason walk off with the prizehaving beaten usall!

As everyone will appreciate, whilst I love mymasonry and visit as much as I can, I cannotbe everywhere. Consequently, I am lookingfor Brethren to come forward who can act asmy eyes and ears to keep me informed ofwhat is happening and what is impoftant toBrethren at the different masonic halls. Allinformation can be on an attributable or nonattributable basis.

We all want this to be a relevant Source ofinformation to everyone. So please contactme to let me know that I can keep in touchwith you.

By way of example, you may be aware thatboth the Provincial Grand Master and theDeputy Provincial Grand Master haveaccepted invitations to become Patrons ofthe All Saints Community DevelopmentCompany Limited.

This project is a paftnership of All SaintsChurch with the All Saints Medical Centreand the All Saints Youth Project which aimsto create a new 'Centre for Healthy Livingand Spiritual Welfare' in the heart of KingsHeath.

Editor

MARCH 2OO4

*ll-

Out of Little Acorns ,..

To mark the occasion of fifty years in Freemasonry last December W Bro Ray Hollins decided to write a few short talk about the Craft to provide hisMother Lodge The Stechford Lodge No. 3185 with an alternative to a programme of demonstrating the Craft degrees without a proper candidate.

The venture has grown rather since its inception, with Ray writing 50 shoft talks on the Craft which he has published in five volumes!. MQ Magazineintend to publish a review in April and have asked Ray to contribute an article on masonic education and training for the summer issue.

There will be more information in the next issue of the Source.

A DAILYADVANCEMENT IN MASONIC KNOWLEDGEFIFry SHORTTALKS ON THE CMFTR.J.Hollins: 5 Volumes Paperback. f4.50 perVolume (incl P & P) fromR.J.Hollins, The Briars, 69, St. Bernards Road, Olton, Solihull, West Midlands B92 7DF. United Kingdom44072t7067777:email Raymondhollins@aol.com Website forfull information : masonicshoftalks.com

fa-,

LIBRARY AND MUSEUMAPPEAL REPORT

Several months have passed since I gave youan update on the Library and Museum Appealand so I am confident that you will have allheard something about it. We are now about athird of the way through our Appeal, andalthough we haven't quite reached a third ofour f250,000 TARGEI we are steadily gainingmomentum.

Many Lodges have responded positively to theAppeal newsletter and have pledged f500 peryear for three years which is reallyencouraging. A number of Chapters have alsomade significant contributions, and I thankyou all for your support to date.

Merchandise sales are going well, particularlythe braces which have now reached Australiavia our link with thefreemason.com website.The green ties and handkerchiefs are provingvery popular but in order to be seen as "thecomplete, well dressed Worcester Mason" youneed to have a green striped shirt and ofcourse a pair of braces!

A full selection of items will be available atProvincial Grand Chapter in April and ProvincialGrand Lodge in June so please remember yourcheque books (or cash); unfoftunately we areunable to accept credit cards.

Do you still have your lottery application formin your briefcase or at home- waiting to becompleted? We have only 220 participants sofar so many of you are missing out on the fun ofthe monthly draw. It would make a substantialcontribution to the Appeal if we could increaseLottery membership to 500. Don't forget it isopen to family and friends as well as Brethren.

Finally, the refurbishment of the old coachhouse at Bromsgrove is now complete. We arehappy to accept Lodge and Chapter archives,which can now be properly stored, thanks tothis Appeal. If you wish to use this facility,please contact John Hart or one of his team atthe museum in Worcester.

Thank you again in anticipation of yourcontinued support.

Howard WilsonAppealChairman

Saturday 3 April 2004

Sunday 25 April 2004

Wednesday 28 Aprll2004

Thursday 29 April 2004

Thursday 3 June 2004

Thursday 10 lune 2004

Saturday 19 June 2004

Sunday 4 July 2004

Thursday 15 July 2004

DIARY DATES

Provincial Grand Chapter - Birmingham University

Initiates Lunch Worcester Masonic Hall

Grand Lodge Investiture London

Grand Chapter Investiture London

Provincial General Committee Meeting Kings Heath

WMCO Annual Meeting Kings Heath

Provincial Grand Lodge - Birmingham University

Cathedral Service Worcester Cathedral

Grand Officer's Mess Worcester Masonic Hall

Ladies Gift Fund forMasonic Charities

The Ladies' Gift Fund has had anothersuccessful year, culminating in the ChristmasFayre held at Stirling Road, Edgbaston. Thiswas opened by the Provincial Grand Master forStaffordshire, R W Bro Tom Lloyd, and wassuppofted by the Provincial Grand Masters ofWarwickshire and Worcestershire.

A splendid array of stalls, competitions, gamesand donations ensured a magnificent profit ofover [6,500.00, all in spite of clashing with thesemi-finals of the Rugby World Cup!

The Committee is delighted that the year'sefforts have now raised nearly 810,000.00 tobe distributed between the three Provincesand the New Samaritan Fund.

The next fund raising event is to be a SpringLunch at Moseley Masonic Hall, Kings Heath onSunday 25 April 2004. Further details areavailable from Freda Mac on 0t455220406.

Captain Brown Retires

W Bro Colin P T Brown decided, for personalreasons, not to continue as an AssistantProvincial Grand Master. We all thank him forhis unstinting work on behalf of the Provinceover the past years and we are all pleased tosee him returning to good health.

Colin held acting offices as Provincial GrandSteward, Provincial lunior Grand Warden andSenior Grand Deacon in the Craft and ThirdProvincial Grand Principal in Royal Arch alongwith high office in many other degrees andorders.

His mark has been left on the life of thisProvince and will endure for years to come.The fact that you are reading this issue is, inpaft, due to his vision and efforts.

We send Colin and Pat congratulations on theirwedding on 6 April and wish them both everyhappiness for their future life together.

Editor:

Published by The Provincial Grand Lodge of Worcestershire.Provincial Office, 94 Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, 861 ODF

Adicles may not be reproduced without written authority.Keith Blizzard would be pleased to receive articles, news and photographs for publication -

Blizzards, Crest House, 7 Highfield Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, 815 3EDTel 0121 456 4849 Email: kblizzard@blizzards.co.uk

Don't forget to log on to our new website,.,,... 'Worcestershirepgl.org.uk' ISSUE No: 2