Sir,
May I, through the courtesy of your columns, have a little moan? I must state that this moan is my own, and that I have not canvassed any feelings from any friend or acquaintances.

To set the scene, may I first make a few (obvious) observations? At our meetings we carry out our ceremonies with decorum and stick to the ritual as closely as possible. Afterwards, at the Festive Board, there is a more relaxed atmosphere. True, there is a set pattern of ‘Toasts’, but this is only for guidance, and variations do occur. However, in these Toasts there has crept in what can only be described as a ‘piece of ritual’, and it is this ritual that is the subject of my moan.

I refer of course to “........thank you Brother Bloggs for the way in which you have proposed this toast, and you Brethren for the way in which you have received it!” This ‘ritual’ is heard after nearly every response to a toast, and to me it has become rather irritating. I would suggest that there are many different ways in ending a speech.

One has presumably thanked the proposer of the toast in ones opening remarks and therefore there is no need to repeat it in such a formal manner. The thanks to the Brethren etc would, I think, refer to their applause after the proposer has said his bit, and to the enthusiasm of their ‘fire’. And this could be argued to be in the gift of the proposer of the toast. I sincerely hope that I have caused no offence to any of my many friends in Freemasonry, as that was not my intention. I reiterate that this is purely my own ‘moan’. It may be shared by others, and there are those no doubt who totally disagree with my view. I may well be inundated with emails, or may on the other hand be dismissed as an old crank who has nothing better to do, and my moan will evoke no more than a sympathetic smile.

I will end by thanking you Brother Editor, for publishing my letter, and you Brethren, for the way in which you read it.

WBro T C Brooks PJGD
Union Lodge No.127

Sir
I recently visited Strode Park Foundation in Herne Bay, an independent voluntary organisation working to provide high quality services to meet the changing and individual needs of people with physical disabilities, and was in conversation with House Manager Sandra Juniper and the Foundation's Advocate Tony Paul.

Both asked me to convey through the ‘Provincial’ their grateful thanks for the generous support and financial contributions from the Brethren of Herne Bay and other Lodges. The Foundation is also grateful to Grand Charity for its recent contribution towards the new rehabilitation unit.

All contributions to the cause are thankfully received and faithfully applied for the benefit of the patients.

W Bro L G Shugrue PAGDC

Sir,
On Thursday 6th July at the Medway Family Court, Christine and I had the good fortune to be accepted as the adoptive parents of Luke, a seven year old boy who first came into our care as a one year old baby.

So many of the Brethren in the Province have been aware of our expressed intention to try to adopt Luke who was placed with us as foster carers, together with his Brother Liam, when their Mother experienced difficulties with their care. The Courts decided that Luke was of an age that would allow him to be adopted rather than spend the rest of his young life in care, and so the process began.

After a few potential families were unsuccessfully considered we decided we would put our names forward, being very conscious that our ages may prohibit our application, but we are both delighted to say that this was not the case and the result has been that he will, from now on, be with us permanently. Christine and I wanted to take the opportunity of putting this letter into the ‘Provincial’ to thank all of you who have, over the years, offered your support and good wishes and those many of you who have been kind enough to ask for a progress report whenever we have met.

We are both most grateful to you all and so pleased with the successful outcome.

If Des O’Conner can become a father at 72 it should be a piece of cake for me at only 49!
Christine and John Grumbridge

From Ed44, P13