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Province History Geographically the Province stretches from Highley to Evesham and from Malvern to Belbroughton, surrounded by Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Stourbridge, Warwickshire, Dudley and District and Shrewsbury and District Provinces. There are 27 Minor Lodges and the PGL Officers attend and officiate at all degree ceremonies, third and fourth by invitation as there is no Knights Chapter or Roll of Honour Assembly. The recipients of the two latter degrees choose their own Exalting Officers, Director of Ceremonies etc. It has long been recognised that the standard of ritual in the Province is high.
Founded as a District Primo Lodge in 1898 the Provincial Grand Lodge dispensation was granted in 1914. In the history of Worcestershire we have had only five Provincial Grand Lodge Secretaries. Bro. Billy Pawley ROH 1898 -1946, Bro. Joe Jones ROH 1946 -1979, Bro. Arthur Watkiss ROH 1979 -1989, Bro. Brian Harper ROH 1989 -2004 and Bro. Bob Bishop 2004 to the present. All previous secretaries having eventually being awarded Grand Lodge Collars. The Examining Council of the Province celebrated its centenary in 1998. In 1907 due to the efforts and foresight of Bro. Billy Pawley ROH the Widows and Orphans Board was set up in the Province , consisting of officers elected from a quarterly meeting, where all lodges were represented by delegates on the same lines as Provincial Grand Lodge is now. The format of it was changed in 1968 when the present Benevolent Fund of elected members are from Provincial Grand Lodge plus ex-officio members, meet monthly and deal in confidence with applications submitted to the Provincial Grand Lodge Secretary and presented under a case number. These social functions of the Province are many and varied, the three main ones being a Province Dinner which is becoming very popular on the "circuit". The Examining Council Annual Dinner and the Benevolent President's Charity Evening which is always held at Kidderminster Town Hall and is a very good night as well as raising funds for benevolent activities in Worcestershire. The Province has played host to Grand Lodge on several occasions, starting with the 7th Tri-annual Convention at the Foregate Hall, Worcester in 1903, Grand Lodge was in the Guild Hall in 1930 and at the Winter Gardens in Malvern in 1958 and 1976. Interest in the order at National level has always been high and we have provided over the years four Grand Primos. Bro. Bruce Wilcox 1942 Bro. George Smith 1945 who later became Grand Secretary Bro. Harold Johnson 1975 and Bro. George Husband in 1979. We have, prior to Bro. Gordon Stacey been fortunate in the acquisition of 26 Grand Lodge collars, a list of which appears elsewhere, reflecting the calibre and commitment of successive members of Worcestershire. It has become the practice in recent years for the Provincial Grand Primo to run an appeal in his year of office for a charity of his choosing. This is not a condition of office or competition, but a list of some of them appear in this souvenir edition. Again highlighting, "in all things charity", as well as being of good public relations exercise for the RAOB The Province Journal has existed in its present format since 1995 being produced bi-monthly, and is read and enjoyed by Brethren throughout the Order. Opened in 19?? The RAOB Club was in New Street, Kidderminster was run independently of Provincial Grand Lodge by a hard-working committee of members, providing a home for six Kidderminster Lodges, a Ladies Glade, Provincial Grand Lodge and its sub-committees, except for the Examining Council, and a meeting place where the Province played host to the Midlands Social Committee. They also ran a Christmas Party annually in the Town Hall that open to all senior citizens and their partners, together with widows from a whole of the Province. Sadly on May 27th 2006 the club closed its doors as Banks Brewery, the owners of the club, had decided to sell the site for redevelopment.
The Old R.A.O.B. Social Club, New Road, Kidderminster.
The Sutton Arms, Sutton Park Road, Kidderminster. On 20th June 2006 the Provincial Grand Lodge opened at their new Lodge at The Polish Ex-Service Mens Club, St Georges Terrace, Kidderminster, Worcs. DY10 1SQ but this was short lived and after only 2 meetings The PGL decided to move to The Sutton Arms, Sutton Park Road, Kidderminster It was with regret that following the closure at short notice of the Sutton Arms the Province had to seek new accommodation. Meetings were held at the home of the William Hanson and Conway King Lodges in Paddington House, New Street, Kidderminster. After meeting there on a month by month basis the decision to adopt this as its official meeting place was made in November, 2009. This then is a very brief picture of "Worcestershire", a Province that has, and will continue to uphold the highest ideals of our Order, both inside and outside our Lodges. Written by Bro. Arthur O. Morris ROH and updated by Bro Julian Davies CP. |
