whilst this upsets some it is as bad in my opinion to complain about an undeserving brother than complain that you did not get what you wanted yourself it certainly would not trouble me

I do agree honours seem to be handed out on a ratio of about one per lodge per year and with the lack of candidates it soon makes for more chiefs than indians

I know some do not like it but getting hundreds at a time up to GQS to recieve there honours and all the regalia that goes with it must be doing someone some good and it is not only FM every drug addicted rockstar and shamed politician seems to be honoured by the palace  so I think we have just got to live with it   

The trouble with being from outside UGLE and seeing all the chatter about honours is that it can lead to an erroneous picture, as in this case.

These honours, Janus, are awarded by the Provincial (or Metropolitan) HQ as recognition for the contribution made by the individual freemason in serving his lodge and or province. They are in addition to those awarded by Grand Lodge. They are nothing to do with the degree's beyond the craft such as Mark or KT.

To answer your question - very little time, if any, is spent on them in lodge.

I hope this helps

ago qualifies for consideration, [i.e. for the 2009 Honours the applicant must be an

Installed Master prior to the qualifying date of 1 January 2002].

This does not mean that he will receive an appointment after seven years; it only

means that he qualifies for consideration on the basis of length of service.

Each year the Provincial Grand Secretary furnishes the Assistant Provincial Grand

Master with the names of all the Brethren in their area who qualify under the “seven

+” year rule. In addition, applications from Lodges will be considered.

The Assistant Provincial Grand Master, together with his District Chairman, reviews

the names using a set criteria including:

• a Brother’s service in the Lodge,

• whether he has occupied one of the “administrative offices” such as

o Secretary,

o DC,

o Almoner,

o Treasurer etc,

• any ritual which has been undertaken by him,

• his attendance record, and

• whether he has made any contribution

o to his Masonic Hall or

o service to the community, etc.

Each Assistant Provincial Grand Master is allocated a number of Acting and Past

Provincial Ranks. He allocates these, using the above criterion, against the list of

qualified Brethren, awarding Acting Rank to Brethren who have shown particular

merit and Past Rank to others.

The highest Past Rank that will be given on the first appointment is usually Past

Provincial Senior Grand Deacon. To give a yardstick, a Past Master, who has given

average service and attends his Lodge at least 80% of the time, might be expected to

be appointed to Past Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies.

The only exception to these guidelines is the rank of Provincial Grand Steward. This

is kept to encourage particularly active and often younger Brethren and can be

awarded at any time after the Brother becomes a Past Master.

to 1 January 2001.

An application for consideration for Promotion can be submitted by any Lodge.

The criterion and Form used is similar to that used for Appointments.

It is possible, of course, for a Brother to receive more than one promotion during his

life as a Craft Freemason.

It is also possible not to receive an appointment to Provincial Rank if a Brother has

not contributed sufficiently to his Lodge after becoming a Past Master.

Likewise, it is possible for a Brother to receive no promotion if he has given little or

no contribution since his appointment to Provincial Grand Lodge.

Once the Assistant Provincial Grand Masters have completed their lists, they are sent

to the Secretariat where the lists are collated, checked for accuracy and then

considered by the Honours Panel, which then meets to confirm each recommendation

for Appointment or Promotion. Great care is taken by the Panel in examining the case

for each Brother as it is so important that we achieve fairness and reasonableness

against each decision.

All the Assistant Provincial Grand Masters are present at the meeting.

This means that at least one member of the Panel knows the background to the

Brother under discussion. The final list is then presented to the RW Provincial Grand

Master who, before giving approval, reviews the list very carefully.

The Honours system is really a meritocracy and is there to honour Brethren for their

service to our Order.

The level of rank is based on the quality of the contribution each Brother has made to

his Lodge, to his District and to Freemasonry generally.

There is no need for replies such as this.

Janus posted on here that he did not understand the Provincial Honours system. To help him I posted a page that appears on several Provincial web sites. If you do not agree that is is truthful you should take that up with the Provinces who publish it not just make disparaging remarks such as you have.

  Stephen   

Now, you may have noticed that the practice does not follow this theory.  Quite likely.  I can only speak from what I see myself, and frequently neither the theory or your frustrated experience are completely true.

Let's first consider the active posts.  Our DC is being awarded an active post of PrAGDC.  This means he accompanies the APGMs and is in charge of the "crushers" or PrGStewards on visits.  Like the crushers, of whom he was one a couple of years ago, he has to do perform this function a few times each month, and pay for his own meal.

This Brother was in the Chair in 2004, is extremely hard-working in his day job, as well as in his Masonry, and he deserves his dark blue apron.  I hope there is no disagreement on that.

Now, the Past Provincials ... After 5 years in this new active rank, the aforementioned Brother will be given a PPr rank (unless he is promoted to yet another difficult job!)

But the PPrs most objected to here are those which "come up with the rations" seven years from the Chair, with seemingly no qualification other than being there.  I understand the gripe, noting the Vm stated they are only elegible at  that time.  Yes, it is a shame, and I have seen a few who "qualified" by age alone.  However, there are positions in a Lodge, together with extra bits of work, which should be taken into consideration when awarding a Past rank: Charity Steward, Almoner, Treasurer or Secretary for instance.  (I have listed the jobs I prefer to stay away from myself, due to my innate laziness. ;) )  And there lies a truth - I would not begrudge a change of apron colour for anyone taking on such a job - successfully of course!

I am not in these stakes myself, being a minor player on the extra jobs scene, and my age is against me for an active rank, but at least I try to be of service to the Province in one or two areas, so if I ever get a dark blue, maybe I can kid myself it's not just for staying alive!

PM 5770

Middlesex