Response on Behalf of the Visitors - Feb 2008

One of the joys of being Provincial Grand Master is getting to speak multiple times at nearly every meeting I go to. I do my best to say something interesting and relevant on each occasion. Sometimes I succeed and sometimes, sadly, I don't.

I thought it might be useful to share the first speech I gave which went really well and think about why it was better than some of the others.

1. Practice - Practice your speech out loud. I gave the speech several times in the lodge dining room with no one watching before the event. If you haven't got the opportunity to practice in the venue, at the very least when you arrive, go and stand where you are going to stand when you speak to get a feeling for the room and the view you are going to have.
2. Audience - Think about who is listening - say what they want to hear if you can.
3. Connect - Everyone wants you to do well - reach out to them with an ad lib or a quip if you can. Don't be worried if it doesn't go well, just crash on with your speech.
4. Content - Make sure you have included the stuff you're supposed to say. Any doubt - ask the DC.
5. Relax - you're going to get plenty of chances to speak at the Festive Board. Don't worry if you think it hasn't gone well, we're all our own worst critics!

Visitor Response at the Installation of W Bro Chris Harding, Cambrian Worshipful Master in 2008. I was Senior Warden of Cleddau Lodge, hence why I didn't see the Inner Workings. Chris was a Pilot in the Haven, hence the Nautical references.

•      Worshipful Master, Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Brethren,

•      Worshipful Master, firstly, may I, on behalf of all your Visitors congratulate you on attaining the Chair of King Solomon. It is a just reward from the brethren of Cambrian Lodge for your hard work and faithful service over the years. We all hope the day has turned out to be everything you hoped it would.

•      May I also say that the enormous number of Visitors here this evening bears witness to the tireless way you have represented your Lodge around the Province over the last few years. You truly are held in high estimation among all the Brethren of the Province and your fellows. I am deeply honoured to have been chosen from such distinguished company to give this response on behalf of the Visitors at this, the second most important Installation of this Masonic year!!!

•      Worshipful Master I have already thanked Sue for organising such a wonderful tea this afternoon, but I would also ask that the Brethren whose wives assisted Sue this afternoon pass on our thanks as well. I know that some of the Brethren’s wives were helping for the first time. I am sure that they were a little bit apprehensive and I hope that they enjoyed the experience and that they will look forward to coming to the Installation in the future!

•      May I also congratulate the Installing Master – Worshipful Brother Mike Wise on an excellent ceremony? I know I didn’t see the most important part of the proceedings, but I could see from the looks of approval on the faces of the Installed Masters that you had done an excellent job in that part too! Worshipful Brother Mike I know that you prepared long and hard for this ceremony last year. Very sadly you had a year longer than either you or the Brethren of Cambrian Lodge would have liked to perfect the Ceremony. You rose to the challenge of an extra year in the Chair with great fortitude and we thank both you and more importantly Gerry for the commitment that you have shown to the cause of Cambrian Lodge and Freemasonry in General!

•      The Brethren who presented the working tools were faultless, Worshipful Brother David Lowther on the Third-Degree tools, Worshipful Brother Tudor Thomas on the Second-Degree tools and finally the rising star Brother Andrew Wood on the First-Degree tools. I am sure that you are quite rightly enjoying the Festive Board with that inner glow you get from doing a good job.

•       Equally I am sure that the Provincial Officers who, it goes without saying, presented their addresses faultlessly are sitting there with that inner glow that you get from two or three large Scotches before Dinner!!

•       Finally, may I congratulate all the Officers appointed this afternoon, especially those of you who are heading in the direction of the Master’s Chair? I can tell you from personal experience that it is wonderful journey and I can tell from the look on the Worshipful Master’s face that arriving is even better!!

•      Brethren of Cambrian Lodge it is always a pleasure to visit you. On behalf of all your Visitors may I thank you for your welcome both today and over the course of the year. We have all thoroughly enjoyed you company and the excellent Festive Board provided by Lyn. Brother Junior Warden may I ask that you pass on our thanks and best wished to her please?

•      Worshipful Brother Chris. I know that you have been looking forward to this day for many years. I also know that the pressures of being a Pilot in the Haven mean that you have had to juggle lots of things to be with us today. Brethren, Worshipful Brother Chris had to make the difficult choice between working yesterday and working tomorrow. He chose working tomorrow because if the weather had been bad yesterday, he may have ended up in Holland or Falmouth because he was unable to disembark from the ship and consequently missed his own Installation.

•       As you know Chris has been taught to be cautious. To make sure he gets to work tomorrow on time and without being stopped by the Police, Chris has organised a lift to work in the morning. I suggested that perhaps if he felt unsure about driving a car, he shouldn’t be in charge of a 150,000 tonne Tanker in the busy shipping lanes in and out of Milford Haven. I have booked a table for lunch in the Jolly Sailor in Burton – I think I should get a good view from there?

•       Worshipful Brother Chris very many congratulations again on attaining the Chair of King Solomon. I thought I would leave you with a little rhyme I found which I thought expresses the feelings of all your friends here today rather well.

•      A Boater's Blessing from Yesterday:
May there always be water under your boat,
May she always be seaworthy, ever afloat,
May the bilge pump be certain to work night and day,
May the compass and charts always show the safe way,
May you find gentle harbour as every day ends,
May you lower your anchor amidst peace and good friends.

Brother Junior Warden – Congratulations on getting your first “Toast to the Visitors” under your belt. I thank you very much for the way you proposed our toast, and you Brethren for the way you received it!