M W Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Caribbean
Proclamation
PROCLAMATION
TO: ALL GRAND LODGE OFFICERS, ELECTED AND APPOINTED, PAST AND PRESENT, WORSHIPFUL MASTERS, WARDENS, PAST MASTERS AND BROTHERS OF THE MOST WORSHIPFUL PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE OF THE MOST ANCIENT AND HONOURABLE FRATERNITY OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF THE CARIBBEAN AND JURISDICTION. GREETINGS, Be it known that I, James V.S. Padmore, Grand Master of Masons of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the Caribbean and Jurisdiction by virtue of the authority vested in me and in accordance with Article V, Section 2, Paragraph 12 of the Constitution and Statues of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of the Caribbean and Jurisdiction do hereby SUMMON all Grand Lodge Officers, Elected and Appointed, Past and Present, Worshipful Masters, Wardens, Past Masters and Brethren of the Craft under this jurisdiction to attend the Seventeenth Annual Grand Communication to be held in Barbados, on Thursday, April 23, 2009, at the Savannah Hotel, Hastings, Christ Church, Barbados.
EVENTS OF GRAND SESSION
Members of the craft are requested to cease all labours on Sunday, April 19, 2009 and share fellowship with your brothers during the week 19th – 25th April, 2009. On Sunday, April 19, 2009 there will be the annual divine service (location to be announced). The Annual Grand Communication will be held on April 23, 2009. The Grand Master’s Banquet and Awards Ceremony will take place on Friday, April 24, 2009. The Grand Worthy Matron and Grand Worthy Patron, and members of the Rita G. Grand Chapter, O.E.S. are especially invited. Members of other concordant bodies within the Prince Hall fraternity are cordially and fraternally invited to attend all relevant events. LODGE REPRESENTATIONEvery Lodge is to be represented by the Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior Wardens. If a lodge is represented by proxy, Article X of the Constitution and Statues must be adhered to. REGISTRATION FOR GRAND SESSION Each Master Mason attending this Grand Communication will be required to pay a registration fee of, Barbados Two Hundred Dollars (BDS. $200.00 or US. $100.00). This price includes the cost of registration, morning and afternoon break, lunch and conference room rental charges on the day of the session. Each Lodge must submit completed registration forms for its Officers, Past Masters and Brothers with a cheque to cover the registration fee for each brother attending the session. The registration forms along with the relevant fees must reach the Grand Secretary on or before, April 1, 2009. ANNUAL REPORT OF LODGESAnnual reports of Lodges are to be completed on the prescribed forms, signed by the Worshipful Master, attested by the Secretary with the seal of the Lodge affixed and returned to the Grand Secretary on or before March 1, 2009. Lodges must settle all indebtedness to the Grand Lodge. Payment must be submitted along with the forms listed above. Failure to comply with these requirements will warrant such action as provided for in Article LIX of the Constitution and Statutes of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the Caribbean and Jurisdiction. CREDENTIALS COMMITTEEWorshipful Masters, Wardens and Past Masters who are eligible to vote at the Grand Session must have their names certified by the Credentials Committee before entering the session. The Credentials Committee will be on duty on Wednesday, April 22, 2009, from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and on Thursday, April 23, at 8:00 a.m. BY-LAWS, RESOLUTIONS AND GRIEVANCESBy-Laws, Resolutions and Grievances to be acted upon at the seventeenth Annual Grand Communication must be received in the office of the Grand Secretary on or before March 1st, 2009. A copy of the By-Laws of the Lodge must accompany any proposed amendment. Any proposed amendments must be submitted in triplicate. REPORT OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEESReports of all officers and committees covering the period April 30th, 2008 to March 31st, 2009, must be typed, double-spaced in triplicate on 8½ by 11 paper. They must reach the Grand Secretary on or before March 1, 2009. Please note that reports may also be submitted to the Grand Secretary by email or electronic media (diskettes, CDs, flash drives, etc). ASSOCIATION OF LODGESThe attention of all Lodges is directed to Article LXI, Sections 1&2. Paragraphs 369 and 370 of the Statutes, must be strictly complied with. Reports regarding all properties shall be forwarded to the office of the Grand Secretary no later than March 1, 2009, for referral to the Grand Board of Trustees. GRAND MASTER’S BANQUET AND AWARDS CEREMONY The Grand Master’s Banquet and Awards Ceremony will be held on the evening of Friday April 24, 2009. The cost off the banquet is BDS $150.00 (US$75.00) and must be paid for by April 1, 2009. Please note that no banquet tickets will be sold on the day of the banquet. HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONBlue Horizon (3***) Single: $ US 90.00 - without breakfast $ US 100.00 - with breakfast Double: $ US 105.00 - without breakfast $ US 110.00 - with breakfast Savannah Hotel (5*****) Single: $ US 170.00 - without Breakfast $ US 185.00 - with Breakfast Double: $ US 195.00 - without breakfast $ US 200.00 - with breakfast BOOKING OF HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONEach brother will be responsible for his own hotel booking and must do so directly to the hotel on or before March 1, 2009. As customary a deposit of one night’s rate will be required. When making bookings, members should indicate that they are attending the Grand Communication of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the Caribbean to obtain the special rates. District Deputy Grand Masters or Worshipful Masters outside of Barbados may also make bookings on the behalf of their brothers. Please be aware that rooms cannot be guaranteed for any one who books after the deadline date. Persons should make their bookings as soon as possible when rates have been finalized, rather than wait for the deadline dates. THIS PROCLAMATION MUST BE READ AT EVERY LODGE COMMUNICATION PRECEEDING, April 19, 2009. Given under my hand, and the seal of the Most Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of the Caribbean and Jurisdiction, this Tuesday, January 7, 2009, AL 6009.
