Page 7 - Keystone Summer 2020 Issue 5

A day in the life of our Grand Secretary

From Wands to Quills

Whether by design or accident, I have always tended towards
ceremonial duties in all of the active offices I have held over the
years so when, in 2015, I was appointed Deputy Grand Secretary,
many of my D.C. colleagues pointed out that I was going to ‘the
dark side’.

With two years’ secretariat experience under my belt, I was
appointed Grand Secretary in 2017, but nothing prepares you for
the challenges and opportunities that the top job brings.

I hold the equivalent office in all ten Orders administered from
Mark Masons’ Hall and although this creates a fair degree of
complexity, it also makes the role very interesting and never
boring!

The responsibilities of the Grand Secretary are administrative ranging from advising on constitutional
matters to foreign affairs while ceremonial duties involve official visits at home and abroad including
representing Mark Masons’ Hall at the annual communication meetings of other Grand Lodges
around the world often in support of one of our Rulers.

A typical day (if there is such a thing) often begins early with me working through the many and
varied emails that will have arrived overnight from home and abroad. This will be interspersed with
phone calls from Provincial and District Heads of Orders as well as discussions with our Grand
Masters on subjects such as upcoming events, appointments and promotions, Petitions for new
Units and so on.

Most days require attendance at one or more of the many Committees responsible for developing
policy and strategy for each of our Orders, deciding upon recommendations for appointment to and
promotion in Grand Rank or working with external provides on a range of projects such as IT.

Operationally, the Grand Secretary is responsible for the management of the commercial activities
of Mark Masons’ Hall too, which is home to over 500 masonic Units with an associated
administrative and Hospitality staff.

So it’s a busy job, but I wouldn’t change it.

IN MEMORIAM

W Bro Fredrick Henry Hodge Exmoor Lodge 697 Died 3rd January 2020

W Bro Terence Harrison Carmarvon Lodge 119 Died 8th January 2020
W Bro Ronald Tuttiet William De Irwin Lodge 162 Died 21st January 2020
W Bro Francis Edward John Cross Monument Lodge 1295 Died 10th February 2020
W Bro Collin William James Neagle Fidelity & Unanimity Lodge 348 Died 16th March 2020
W Bro Derek Anthony Shailer Nailsea Lodge 1548 Died 24th March 2020
W Bro Robert Ernest Biggs Eldon Lodge 807 Died 2nd April 2020
W Bro Frank Cottle Royal Cumberland Lodge TI Died 15th April 2020
Bro Rex Liddon Williams Royal Sussex Lodge 177 Died 23rd May 2020

Summer Issue 2020 Page7