Brethren today is not one for a long address from the Presiding Officer.
As many of you will know, today’s Installations are a first in the history of the United Grand Lodge of England with three Rulers being installed at the same Quarterly Communication. We are all very aware of the responsibilities which we are each assuming and are all very grateful for the messages of support and congratulations which we have each received. We will do our very best to maintain the high standards set by the Grand Master and, indeed, our predecessors. I am particularly grateful to the Past Pro Grand Master for presiding on behalf of the Most Worshipful The Grand Master over the first part of this communication and for installing me.
I would like to thank the Grand Director of Ceremonies and his extended team for the seamless way in which today has been managed with ceremonial of the usual exemplary standard. I should also like to thank particularly the Deputy Grand Secretary, the Assistant Grand Secretaries and all the staff in Masonic Services for managing the logistical challenges of this meeting, including allocating 2,200 tickets to this Communication in a very short period of time.
Today’s Quarterly Communication is overshadowed by the death last week of our beloved Sovereign. You have all paid tribute to Her late Majesty earlier in this meeting and, as you will appreciate, with the Royal Family being in Royal Mourning, the Most Worshipful The Grand Master is unable to attend today. I hope you will all agree it is appropriate that this Quarterly Communication send a message of condolence to The Grand Master in the following terms:
Your Royal Highness,
The members of the United Grand Lodge of England, in Quarterly Communication assembled, send their sincere and heartfelt condolences to Your Royal Highness on the death of Your Royal Highness’s cousin, and our Sovereign Lady, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of blessed and glorious memory.
Pro Grand Master
Wednesday 14 September 2022
The message will be despatched to The Grand Master this afternoon.
With the accession of His Majesty King Charles III, I have no doubt that Freemasons under the United Grand Lodge of England will show the same high level of loyalty and affection to His Majesty as they have done consistently to Queen Elizabeth the Second over the whole of her reign.
We are living through a period of history we will all remember and as we move forward there are many challenges ahead but much to be thankful for in the Society in which we live, and Freemasonry will continue to play its full part as life develops in the new reign.
It only remains for me to say
GOD SAVE THE KING
