The 2018 Annual Meeting of the Provincial Priory of Surrey - Provincial Prior’s Address to Provincial Priory
Rt Emt Knights, Very Emt Knights, Emt Knights, Bro Knights, Pilgrims All. It seems such a short time ago that I stood before you in 2017 and presented the Provincial Address at Provincial Priory, which, for a number of reasons is an important Meeting in our diary. The one thing in life we cannot do is to ‘Store Time’, but we can reflect on how we spent that time and hopefully it will have been in the most positive and industrious manner. A lot has been achieved this past year within the Province in relation to Recruitment, Attendance at Meetings, Standard of Ritual, Welfare, Visitors attending from other Provinces. Annual Provincial Meeting and our Garden Party.
Official Visits within the Province conducted by myself, the Sub-Prior and Vice- Chancellor, have been extremely enjoyable. In addition, several ‘Full Team’ visits were undertaken, which were a great success. At one Preceptory Meeting the Provincial Prior acted as the Candidate in the absence of the Pilgrim who was due to be installed, but was taken seriously ill.
Throughout the Masonic year, members of the Executive, together with Knights from the Province had the opportunity to visit other Provinces. The welcome we all received, as individuals or delegation was always warm and sincere. If any Knight of this Province would like to visit another Province simply contact the Provincial Vice-Chancellor, who will, subject to the demands on a particular Province, make the necessary arrangements.
A Provincial Meeting serves to address many aspects of; the year completed and the year ahead; Is the Province in good heart; are we addressing the many challenges before us as Masons and Knight Templar; Membership, Finance, Welfare; developing a pool of talent who will, one day in the future, lead the Province in the many different roles and functions to be carried out.
That challenge must be shared by all and those who undertake a role as: Preceptor, Treasurer, Registrar, Marshal, Almoner and other Offices, whether at a Preceptory or Provincial level, should encourage other Knights to learn about these tasks.
Congratulations should be extended to several Knights within the Province for their Appointment in various arenas. Four Knight received Great Priory Appointments: E.Kt. David Thompson to PGtStdB(B), E.Kt. Graham Best to PGtH; and E.Kts Ron Brick and Tony Nunn to PGtADC.
Our Provincial Deputy Marshal, Emt Kt Mark Winchester was appointed Commander of the Grand Master’s Bodyguard and the Commander of the Provincial Bodyguard E.Kt Peter Vosser was appointed Assistant Provincial Grand Master in the Craft Province of Hampshire & Isle of Wight. The links between Provinces and role(s) associated with Templar duties are invaluable.
I have already said welcome and thank you to our visitors for taking the time to visit and share that Knightly friendship, good will and our festive board. Thank you all for the generous donations to the various Charities within the Province and especially donations to the Eye Hospital in Jerusalem.
Thank you to the Planning Team, comprising of the Sub-Prior, Vice Chancellor, Provincial Marshal (and other Knights) for making this gathering so successful. On a sad note we lost two Brother Knights who obeyed the Call of the Great Captain of Salvation to join him in Eternal happiness. May their souls and the souls of all the faithfully departed, Rest In Peace. I asked if members of the Province would wear a Black Black Tie at one Preceptory Meeting this Year in memory of those Brother Masons, many no doubt, Knight Templars, who gave their lives, suffered serious injuries, physical or mental, in that Conflict to end all Conflicts. The Nation promised never to forget fhem. Let us do our duty and pray that eternal light may shine upon them.
I suggest to you that the order of Knights Templar (and Malta) is more relevant and important to society today than ever before. The Order(s) encompass and embrace all the fundamental principles of good citizenship. In the lyrics of a song by Mike & The Mechanics say; ‘We can Listen as well as we Hear’. The Lord’s Prayer, which we should recite every day and the Precepts of our Order offer to us, in simple terms, words that have a profound meaning. Love, honour, forgiveness, loyalty, opposing wrong and injustice are characteristics we should display in a modest but sincere manner. Pilgrims, for that is what we are, ‘A Difference that makes no Difference is no Difference’. The grain of mustard seed when sown in the earth is less than all the seeds that are in the Earth. The difference is when it grows it becomes greater than all the other herbs and produces great branches that people, animals and even Birds can take shelter under its shadow.
What difference can we make to the Society we live in? Smile, offer the hand of friendship, perhaps the salutation of ‘Peace be With You’, where appropriate, understand the Parable about the man who, very late at night asks his neighbour for three loaves of bread to feed his unexpected visitors. Would we respond graciously to such a request, late at night? Yet, in our prayers we ask, ‘Give us our Daily Bread’. We will not always succeed in our endeavours BUT armed with the Shield of Faith and Breastplate of Righteousness, we as Christian Knights can and will overcome obstacles in our aspirations to help our families, friends, Bro Knights, strangers we meet, on that road that eventually leads to Eternal Salvation.
So let us smile, enjoy our day, be happy and loyal to our Precepts. May God Bless you and your families. Have a lovely summer and come back fresh and well.
Patrick P Crossan
Provincial Prior of Surrey
Rt Emt Knights, Very Emt Knights, Emt Knights, Bro Knights, Pilgrims All. It seems such a short time ago that I stood before you in 2017 and presented the Provincial Address at Provincial Priory, which, for a number of reasons is an important Meeting in our diary. The one thing in life we cannot do is to ‘Store Time’, but we can reflect on how we spent that time and hopefully it will have been in the most positive and industrious manner. A lot has been achieved this past year within the Province in relation to Recruitment, Attendance at Meetings, Standard of Ritual, Welfare, Visitors attending from other Provinces. Annual Provincial Meeting and our Garden Party.Official Visits within the Province conducted by myself, the Sub-Prior and Vice- Chancellor, have been extremely enjoyable. In addition, several ‘Full Team’ visits were undertaken, which were a great success. At one Preceptory Meeting the Provincial Prior acted as the Candidate in the absence of the Pilgrim who was due to be installed, but was taken seriously ill.
Throughout the Masonic year, members of the Executive, together with Knights from the Province had the opportunity to visit other Provinces. The welcome we all received, as individuals or delegation was always warm and sincere. If any Knight of this Province would like to visit another Province simply contact the Provincial Vice-Chancellor, who will, subject to the demands on a particular Province, make the necessary arrangements.
A Provincial Meeting serves to address many aspects of; the year completed and the year ahead; Is the Province in good heart; are we addressing the many challenges before us as Masons and Knight Templar; Membership, Finance, Welfare; developing a pool of talent who will, one day in the future, lead the Province in the many different roles and functions to be carried out.
That challenge must be shared by all and those who undertake a role as: Preceptor, Treasurer, Registrar, Marshal, Almoner and other Offices, whether at a Preceptory or Provincial level, should encourage other Knights to learn about these tasks.
Congratulations should be extended to several Knights within the Province for their Appointment in various arenas. Four Knight received Great Priory Appointments: E.Kt. David Thompson to PGtStdB(B), E.Kt. Graham Best to PGtH; and E.Kts Ron Brick and Tony Nunn to PGtADC.
Our Provincial Deputy Marshal, Emt Kt Mark Winchester was appointed Commander of the Grand Master’s Bodyguard and the Commander of the Provincial Bodyguard E.Kt Peter Vosser was appointed Assistant Provincial Grand Master in the Craft Province of Hampshire & Isle of Wight. The links between Provinces and role(s) associated with Templar duties are invaluable.
I have already said welcome and thank you to our visitors for taking the time to visit and share that Knightly friendship, good will and our festive board. Thank you all for the generous donations to the various Charities within the Province and especially donations to the Eye Hospital in Jerusalem.
Thank you to the Planning Team, comprising of the Sub-Prior, Vice Chancellor, Provincial Marshal (and other Knights) for making this gathering so successful. On a sad note we lost two Brother Knights who obeyed the Call of the Great Captain of Salvation to join him in Eternal happiness. May their souls and the souls of all the faithfully departed, Rest In Peace. I asked if members of the Province would wear a Black Black Tie at one Preceptory Meeting this Year in memory of those Brother Masons, many no doubt, Knight Templars, who gave their lives, suffered serious injuries, physical or mental, in that Conflict to end all Conflicts. The Nation promised never to forget fhem. Let us do our duty and pray that eternal light may shine upon them.
I suggest to you that the order of Knights Templar (and Malta) is more relevant and important to society today than ever before. The Order(s) encompass and embrace all the fundamental principles of good citizenship. In the lyrics of a song by Mike & The Mechanics say; ‘We can Listen as well as we Hear’. The Lord’s Prayer, which we should recite every day and the Precepts of our Order offer to us, in simple terms, words that have a profound meaning. Love, honour, forgiveness, loyalty, opposing wrong and injustice are characteristics we should display in a modest but sincere manner. Pilgrims, for that is what we are, ‘A Difference that makes no Difference is no Difference’. The grain of mustard seed when sown in the earth is less than all the seeds that are in the Earth. The difference is when it grows it becomes greater than all the other herbs and produces great branches that people, animals and even Birds can take shelter under its shadow.
What difference can we make to the Society we live in? Smile, offer the hand of friendship, perhaps the salutation of ‘Peace be With You’, where appropriate, understand the Parable about the man who, very late at night asks his neighbour for three loaves of bread to feed his unexpected visitors. Would we respond graciously to such a request, late at night? Yet, in our prayers we ask, ‘Give us our Daily Bread’. We will not always succeed in our endeavours BUT armed with the Shield of Faith and Breastplate of Righteousness, we as Christian Knights can and will overcome obstacles in our aspirations to help our families, friends, Bro Knights, strangers we meet, on that road that eventually leads to Eternal Salvation.
So let us smile, enjoy our day, be happy and loyal to our Precepts. May God Bless you and your families. Have a lovely summer and come back fresh and well.
Patrick P Crossan
Provincial Prior of Surrey
