The idea of a combined Province of Mark Master Masons of
the Channel Islands first surfaced around 1933. Amongst the
papers in a book of dues belonging to the Caesarean Lodge
of Mark Master Masons No 74, were a number of letters
addressed by Bro C.Gardner-Vatcher to the Lodge Secretary.
In the following extracts from two of the letters, he
details the current thinking on the subject.
What I think would be more to the point and would be
acclaimed by Grand Lodge if only our present Provincial
Grand Master in the Craft could be induced to become
Provincial Grand Master of a combined Province of Jersey
and Guernsey. Some years ago when about to cross for as
Provincial Grand Lodge at Jersey, I had an interview with
the Mark Grand Lodge Secretary who hearing of my intended
visit suggested my sounding RW the Provincial Grand Master
of Jersey as to whether he would not undertake the Mark
Provincial Grand Mastership of the two islands of Jersey
and Guernsey. At the same time the Mark Grand Secretary did
not tell me that some correspondence on the subject had
already been interchanged and turned down by the Provincial
Grand Master. The PGM was very angry with me for bringing
the matter up again.
When the Royal and Select Masters Lodge - La Hougue Bie
Council No 157 was mooted in 1988, the founders held a
dinner at La Buca restaurant in St.Helier. Present were
M.Ill.Comp T.W.Howard, Grand Master Royal & Select
Masters, RW.Bro P.Glyn Williams, Grand Secretary and RW.Bro
Col.R.K.Hind, Deputy Grand Master of Mark Master Masons.
During that dinner, views were asked of the Jersey brethren
on the formation of a Channel Islands Province of Mark
Master Masons. The following March, the Grand Master, MW
Bro His Royal Highness, Prince Michael of Kent decided that
such a Province should be formed. W.Bro D.G.Perrin was
invited to become the first Provincial Grand Master.
On the 28th September 1989 the new Province was
constituted by the Pro Grand Master, MW.Bro The Rt.Hon The
Lord Swansea at the Masonic Temple in St.Peter Port
Guernsey in front of 116 brethren including distinguished
representatives from a large number of other Provinces.
After the constitution of the Provincial Grand Lodge, W.Bro
D.G.Perrin was obligated, invested and installed as the
Provincial Grand Master. He addressed the brethren-
Attempts have been made in the past to form a Province of
the Channel Islands comprising Craft lodges, but the
success of those ventures has either been short-lived or
the attempts have been totally abortive. Now of course, it
is for us, the members of this new Province, to ensure that
there is no repetition of those earlier failures and I am
very mindful of the especial responsibility which now
devolves upon me and my Deputy and indeed every one of the
Brethren invested today with provincial Grand Rank, in
guarding against such an eventuality. This is certainly one
instance where we would not want history to repeat
itself.
Donations towards the new Mark Province exceeded
£5,000 with the result that it commenced life with a
healthy bank balance. Immediately a benevolent fund was
commenced, and it can be recorded that the Channel Islands,
one of the smallest Provinces, achieved fifth position of
all Provinces in their donations to the Mark Benevolent
Fund. The Provincial Grand Master marked his first year
with a visit to every Mark Lodge in the Province, and was
well supported by Provincial Grand Lodge. Within the first
year a stained glass window bearing the Provincial emblem,
was sponsored and installed in the north side of the Grand
Temple at Mark Masons Hall, at St.James' Street,
London.