Address by the MW The Pro Grand Master The Most Hon. the Marquess of Northampton, DL at the Quarterly Communication of the United Grand Lodge of England on 14 June 2006

Brethren, I have received many favourable comments following the MW Grand Master’s remarks at the April Investiture meeting on the question of Charity, and how important it is to make our charity multi-faceted by giving practical help as well as financial aid.  We have many small Masonic charities which do just that and next week the Grand Master is coming to my home in Northamptonshire for an event which is being run by the Masonic Trout and Salmon Fishing Club of which I am a Patron.  This charity, whose motto is ‘Smiling in the face of adversity’, organizes a day’s fishing with professional casters for handicapped and disadvantaged children at venues all over the Country.

It is important that we build on the foundations we laid with our Freemasonry in the Community week by arranging events which benefit our local communities.  There is no better way of ensuring the public and potential candidates have a good impression of what freemasonry is all about than by seeing us helping those less fortunate than ourselves.

Since our last Quarterly Communication in March I have made two trips overseas.  On 1st May I attended the annual meeting of the Grand Lodge of New York following which they installed their new Grand Master.  They kindly honoured me with their Distinguished Achievement Award which I understand is going to feature in the next edition of MQ.  On the last weekend of May I flew to Bermuda to inaugurate the new District Grand Lodge of Bermuda and install RW Bro Robert Rego as the first District Grand Master.  It was a most enjoyable occasion with many Scottish and Irish brethren attending the ceremony and supporting our brethren.  Tomorrow I fly to Dublin for the annual Tripartite meeting between the three Home Grand Lodges.

Bro George Francis, Senior Grand Warden, visited our District Grand Lodge and District Grand Chapter of Cyprus for their annual communication and convocation on 27 May.  He attended also the Grand Lodge of Ireland for their annual meeting on 1 June.

Brethren, we are coming to the end of another Masonic season which is a good time to reflect on what has been achieved during the past twelve months and make plans for next year.  I wish you and your families a happy and peaceful time over the summer and look forward to seeing you all again in September.