New Leader for Yorkshire West Riding

The recent ceremony of installation and investiture of John Kendall Clayton as the new Provincial Grand Master for Yorkshire West Riding was conducted by the Pro Grand Master, Lord Northampton, at the International Centre, Harrogate.
    The 1,200 visitors included nine Provincial Grand Masters, several of whom acted as Installing Officers. They included John Hale of Cumberland and Westmoreland, and Timothy Richards of Cheshire, who acted as Senior Warden and Junior Warden respectively.
    The Pro Grand Master spoke of his delight at being able to instal John Clayton. He said that Freemasonry needed to react to a changing world in which our numbers were falling. He emphasised that our affairs must be run as a business, although he acknowledged that there was concern at the impending increase in dues. He also mentioned that he had family links to Yorkshire, of which he was very proud, which gave added pleasure in attending this function.
    In his inaugural address John Clayton said that the recent past had not been easy, and that now was the time for reflection, a time to take stock. The Province needed to tackle the problems of declining membership. With that in mind, they were looking at the possibility of a mentoring scheme, where each new initiate had his own mentor to offer guidance and help. ‘We must exercise caution in our selection of gentlemen for initiation,’ he continued. ‘We should not fall into the trap of sacrificing quality for quantity. Do make sure that, as proposer and seconder, you get to know a candidate sufficiently well before proposing him.’
    With the 2007 Festival aproaching, the Province have already reached the figure of £3.1m. The target is £5m, and the Province is confident of reaching this figure.

MASONIC BIOGRAPHY John Kendall Clayton
1981	Initiated Pentalpha Lodge, No. 974
1987	Master of Pentalpha Lodge
1991	First Principal, Pentalpha Royal Arch Chapter, No. 974
1994	Provincial Scribe N Royal Arch
1996	Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden
	Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies
1999	Past Grand Standard Bearer Royal Arch
2000	Assistant Provincial Grand Master
2002	Chairman West Riding Masonic Activities

New Grand Inspector for Bermuda

A recent tour of the Northern Caribbean offices by the Pro Grand Master Lord Northampton culminated in the appointment of a new Grand Inspector for Bermuda, Robert Rego.
    The meeting was held under the auspices of the Lodge of Loyalty, No. 358. The Pro Grand Master took the chair, the Grand Secretary read the Grand Inspector’s Patent and Lord Northampton then congratulated the new Grand Inspector on his appointment.
    In his remarks to the Lodge, the Pro Grand Master spoke of the need for the Craft to adapt to changing social trends, and the way this was being addressed. He gave notice of the overall idea of the formation of a District to administer the overseas lodges in the area. This idea was well received, and there seems to be a groundswell of approval.
    The new General Inspector expressed his pleasure that the Pro Grand Master and the Grand Secretary had decided to visit Bermuda. He thanked his predecessor Charles Kempe for his efforts in the past, and pledged himself to continue to work for the good of Freemasonry.

MASONIC BIOGRAPHY Robert William Rego
1974	Initiated Atlantic Phoenix Lodge, No. 224
1981	Installed as Master of Atlantic Phoenix Lodge
1994	Overseas Grand Rank
2000	Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies
2004	First Principal Bermuda Royal Arch Chapter, No. 224
2005	Grand Inspector of the Bermuda Group of Lodges

Macedonian Grand Lodge Consecrated

The Pro Grand Master, Lord Northampton, with a team of Grand Officers travelled to Skopje in the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia recently to consecrate the three English Lodges there into the Grand Lodge of Macedonia.
    For over eighty years there had been no masonic presence in Macedonia. In 1996 a group of Macedonians approached the United Grand Lodge of England petitioning to become regular Masons in London Lodges. That eventually led to the establishment of three English Lodges in Skopje: Skopje Lodge, No. 9721, Unity Lodge, No. 9749 and White Dawns Lodge, No. 9765.
    The consecration, only the fourth time that the English Grand Lodge has been involved in the consecration of a new Grand Lodge, was a major international event. Nine European Grand Masters attended in person and five others sent special representatives, who were joined by representatives of the Macedonian’s mother lodges in London. After a Lodge had been opened the Pro Grand Master read out a letter from the Grand Master, HRH The Duke of Kent, wishing the new Grand Lodge well for the future. Having consecrated the new Grand Lodge, Lord Northampton then installed the Grand Master, Vladimir Sukarov, who appointed his Grand Officers. The moving and very happy ceremony was followed by a gala banquet attended by the ladies.
    The nine-year process of re-establishing regular Freemasonry in Macedonia, and the two day celebrations showed Freemasonry at its best. Many friendships were established despite the distances between individual participants. Other Grand Lodges in Europe have given an immediate welcome and support to the new Grand Lodge, and a number of those present gave immediate recognition. It was mentioned at the dinner afterwards that the easy part was now over, and the hard work now begins in establishing the new Grand Lodge’s traditions and standards.

Northants and Hunts New Provincial Grand Master

Barrie Hall was installed and invested recently as Provincial Grand Master for Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire by the Pro Grand Master, Lord Northampton. The Pro Grand Master was returning to his Mother Province, as he was initiated into Ceres Lodge No. 6977 in Northampton in 1976. Over 450 Brethren, including 20 present and past Provincial Grand Masters attended the ceremony.
    In installing the new Provincial Grand Master, Lord Northampton urged those present ‘not to work him too hard; in that way, he will last for many years to come!’
    In his inaugural address, Barrie Hall said that he intended that the Province should be contemporary and proactive in its thinking and its policy of openness would continue to be an important way of ensuring that they remained part of the wider community. He continued ‘We must find better ways of communicating what we stand for and how much we enjoy membership of our Order. This will help us with recruitment, for our initiates are the lifeblood of Freemasonry.’

MASONIC BIOGRAPHY William Barrington Hall
1972	Initiated in Leverhulme Lodge, No. 4438
1976	Perfected Peverel Chapter Rose Croix, No. 522
1976	Exalted Pemberton Royal Arch Chapter, No. 3039
1982	Master of Risdene Lodge, No. 6532
1986	First Principal Pemberton Royal Arch Chapter, No. 3039
1988	Provincial Grand Standard Bearer
1988	Most Wise Sovereign Peverel Chapter Rose Croix, No. 522
1992	Provincial Senior Grand Warden
1994	Inspector General Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire Rose Croix
1994	Installed Wendlynburgh Knights Templar Preceptory, No. 236
1994	Joined Three Counties Lodge, No. 9278
1995	Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies
1995	Master of Three Counties Lodge, No. 9278
1997	Assistant Provincial Grand Master
1999	Advanced Ferrers Lodge of Mark Master Masons, No. 1341
1999	Elevated Ferrers Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners, No. 1341
	Huntingdon Council Royal and Select Masters, No. 130
2000	Deputy Provincial Grand Master
2001	Grand Sword Bearer
2003	Past Assistant Grand Sojourner Royal Arch
2003	Member Royal Order of Scotland
2003	Preceptor Wendlynburgh Knights Templar Preceptory
2003	Founder Peterborough Council Royal and Select Masters, No. 243
2004	Commander Ferrers Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners, No. 1341