© 2021 Provincial Grand Court of Wessex
Court of St. Germans No. 97
Meeting at Masonic Hall, The Parade, Liskeard, PL14 6AF
Regular meetings of the Court are held on the 1st. Thursday in May,
2nd. Thursday in August and 2nd. Friday in December (Installation)
CONTACT SECRETARY : W.Bro.Eric W. Jayne,
e-mail: jayne382@btinternet.com
Address: The Anchorage, Whitecross,
Wadebridge. PL27 7JB
Phone: 01208 815073
ORATION : Court of St. Germans` No 97,
18th January 2014
by W.& Em.Bro. Colin Lowther, Provincial Eminent Grand Prior of Wessex
Most Worshipful Grand Master, Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, Worshipful Brethren, Brethren.
When appointed to the office of say, a Provincial Chaplain, a Provincial Prelate or even a Provincial Eminent Prior, you might find
yourself called upon once during your period in office to prepare and deliver an Oration.
Not so in the Masonic Order of Athelstan, particularly in the Province of Wessex where growth is so rapid that in my short tenure as
Provincial Eminent Grand Prior, I have been called upon on no less than four occasions to prepare such an address.
An Oration requires some research. My research has involved the work of several reputable authors and whilst I have written this
Oration, I do not claim all of it as my own work, for I have used a number of sources. Some may call it Plagiarism, but I call it research
and no doubt you will draw your own conclusions.
Brethren, this is a happy occasion. Once again, we are gathered together in Cornwall, in peace and harmony and privileged to be
present at, and to participate in, the consecration of a new Court, the Eighth in the Province of Wessex, St Germans Court Number 97
on the register of the Grand Court of Athelstan in England, Wales and its Provinces Overseas.
The eighth Court in the Province of Wessex, the second Court in the County of Cornwall and, if my researches prove correct, the
ighth Masonic Order to be meeting in this building.
It is therefore an auspicious day in the Province of Wessex. It is also a very special day for those Brethren who are founders of this
new Court. In these days when so many of the older ideas are being cast aside and when so many of the older values are being
discarded, it is good to know that there are still those who consider that our honourable Order is worthy of support.
With the exception of Malmesbury Court, I have attend, and, even been part of, the consecration of the other seven Courts in the
Province. I therefore make no apology for some of the thoughts expressed in this oration or the use of the words that have been
spoken by myself and my predecessor on a previous occasion. Some of the words that have been used before are worth repeating.
On the 2nd April 2011 I was present at the consecration of Bricgstowe Court No. 75 in Bristol. I described that Court as the 75th brick
in the building of this Order and that it would not be long before we would see the laying of the 100th brick. Here we are, less than
three years later laying the 97th brick, consecrating the 97th Court.
When I was informed that a new Court of Athelstan was to be consecrated in Liskeard, I thought to myself Liskeard ?. Why Liskeard ?.
My first reaction when presented with a new problem is to consult Wikipedia or Google. It proved very interesting.
Brethren, in choosing Liskeard as your base and the name St. Germans, you have chosen well.
History, Anglo-Saxon history, exudes from the very ground you walk on. Although there is no evidence that Athelstan ever visited
Cornwall, it would be nice to let our minds wander and imagine that King Athelstan himself may well have walked the lanes and
crossed the fields surrounding this pretty, and very ancient town.
Liskeard has a long history.....There are indications of human activity in this area from the Stone Age, some 6500 years ago. Moving
on, it is recorded in the Doomsday Book as Lisscaret. At that time it was a typical village and boasted a market, a mill and 250 sheep.
Granted a Charter in 1240, it moved on from being a village to a small market town but the population still remained in the lower
hundreds. Today it is a flourishing market town and tourist destination with many fine buildings including this Masonic Hall.
You have chosen St. Germans as the name for this Court. Taking the name from St Germanus, the fighting Bishop who is supposed
to have landed in the neighbourhood when he came to England to suppress the Pelagian heresy in A.D. 429.
I say supposed, although the suggestion may be supported as there seems to be a creditable tradition that the church of St. Germans
was founded by Germanus himself.
Born in Auxerre in AD 380 into a wealthy family, he was well educated and practised law in Rome with great success. Appointed as a
Duke by Emperor Honorius with responsibility for the governance of Gaul, he lived a worldly lifestyle until he was informed that he
would one day become the Bishop of Auxerre after which, he changed his lifestyle, completely devoting himself to prayer, study and
charity.
On his appointment as Bishop in July 418, Germanus became another man. He lived with his wife as if she was his sister. He gave all
his worldly goods to the Church and lived as a pauper dressing in simple monastic clothes. But his previously learned administrative
skills served him well as a Bishop. Germanus visited Britain twice, in A.D. 429 and again in 446. On both occasions to suppress the
supporters of Plagiarism. His visits proved successful.
Freemasonry in Cornwall has a long history. The first Lodge, Lodge of Love & Honour No. 75 was founded in 1751, meeting in
Falmouth. However, it was over 50 years before a Royal Arch Chapter was linked to that Lodge. Since that date, Cornish Masonry has
gone from strength to strength with over 80 Lodges in the Province. Royal Arch Chapters, Mark and the other newer degrees are
thriving.
The Masonic Order of Athelstan is young by comparison. Yet, like Freemasonry some 250 years ago, the Order is thriving and, as
with the Craft, moving from strength to strength, growing month by month and year by year.
This Court, the Court of St Germans is the second Court of Athelstan to be founded in Cornwall. But, it must be remembered that the
Court of St. Germans does not form part of the Province of Cornwall. It is a part of the Province of Wessex. The original Wessex goes
back to the days of Athelstan although the Province of Wessex that we now know was founded in 2008 when Malmesbury Court was
consecrated.
We should remember, and I quote from the Grand Master's address at the Grand Court meeting in Leicester last year - The Masonic
Order of Athelstan is not the Craft, it is not the Chapter, it is Athelstan and it is unique.
As founders, you have been instructed into this wonderful Order. You have taken an obligation and listened to the history on which this
Order is based. Fact not myth.
Brethren, I exhort you to follow the guidance given during the course of your instruction earlier today. Remember your obligation,
wherein you swore, that you would uphold the honour and dignity of the Order, and the high character and usefulness of this Court, in
both your civil and private callings.
It is our duty as Masons to continue these practises. As Court Masons, we should be looking for like minded persons to join us in this
Order. Look for those who hold the same ideals as ourselves. A lot of good will come out of a simple conversation.
By uniting and spreading the ideals that we hold, we may contribute to making the world a better place, not only for ourselves but for
future generations. Remember that membership of this highly respected Order is by invitation only.
Today, you have been given the tools to work with. That Holy Book contains the greatest set of plans ever given to man. In it you will
find a plan to guide you, a plan to sustain you in fair weather and foul. The answer to every question you will ever be asked can be
found in that Holy Book.
As Court Master Masons, we are inspired by our leaders. They lead from the front. They are here today to watch with interest as you
are formed into a new Court. They will follow your progress as you grow and will attend your future meetings when time permits.
Under the watchful eye of our Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother Paul Johnston, who has travelled many miles to be with us
today, the Right Worshipful Brother Malcolm Burns, Provincial Grand Master for the Province of Wessex will guide you and encourage
you to make a further daily advance in your Masonic knowledge. Under his guiding hand this court will grow stronger as the years roll
by.
Let the prayers that we offer today be the prayers of us all as we consecrate this new Court which will go forward from strength to
strength, ready to promulgate those great truths and principals for which our Order is justly renowned.
Brethren, may the Supreme Being and Creator of all things direct all your endeavours and may you prosper under his
guidance from this day, and until time shall be no more.
18.01.2014 - Liskeard.
© 2021 Provincial Grand Court of Wessex
Court of St. Germans No. 97
Meeting at Masonic Hall, The Parade, Liskeard, PL14 6AF
Regular meetings of the Court are held on the 1st. Thursday in May,
2nd. Thursday in August and 2nd. Friday in December (Installation)
CONTACT SECRETARY : W.Bro.Eric W. Jayne,
e-mail: jayne382@btinternet.com
Address: The Anchorage, Whitecross, Wadebridge.
PL27 7JB
Phone: 01208 815073
ORATION : Court of St. Germans` No 97,
18th January 2014
by W.& Em.Bro. Colin Lowther, Provincial Eminent Grand Prior of Wessex
M
ost Worshipful Grand Master, Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, Worshipful Brethren, Brethren.
When
appointed
to
the
office
of
say,
a
Provincial
Chaplain,
a
Provincial
Prelate
or
even
a
Provincial
Eminent
Prior,
you might find yourself called upon once during your period in office to prepare and deliver an Oration.
Not
so
in
the
Masonic
Order
of
Athelstan,
particularly
in
the
Province
of
Wessex
where
growth
is
so
rapid
that
in
my
short
tenure
as
Provincial
Eminent
Grand
Prior,
I
have
been
called
upon
on
no
less
than
four
occasions
to
prepare
such an address.
An
Oration
requires
some
research.
My
research
has
involved
the
work
of
several
reputable
authors
and
whilst
I
have
written
this
Oration,
I
do
not
claim
all
of
it
as
my
own
work,
for
I
have
used
a
number
of
sources.
Some
may
call
it
Plagiarism, but I call it research and no doubt you will draw your own conclusions.
Brethren,
this
is
a
happy
occasion.
Once
again,
we
are
gathered
together
in
Cornwall,
in
peace
and
harmony
and
privileged
to
be
present
at,
and
to
participate
in,
the
consecration
of
a
new
Court,
the
Eighth
in
the
Province
of
Wessex,
St
Germans
Court
Number
97
on
the
register
of
the
Grand
Court
of
Athelstan
in
England,
Wales
and
its
Provinces Overseas.
The
eighth
Court
in
the
Province
of
Wessex,
the
second
Court
in
the
County
of
Cornwall
and,
if
my
researches
prove
correct, the ighth Masonic Order to be meeting in this building.
It
is
therefore
an
auspicious
day
in
the
Province
of
Wessex.
It
is
also
a
very
special
day
for
those
Brethren
who
are
founders
of
this
new
Court.
In
these
days
when
so
many
of
the
older
ideas
are
being
cast
aside
and
when
so
many
of
the
older
values
are
being
discarded,
it
is
good
to
know
that
there
are
still
those
who
consider
that
our
honourable
Order is worthy of support.
With
the
exception
of
Malmesbury
Court,
I
have
attend,
and,
even
been
part
of,
the
consecration
of
the
other
seven
Courts
in
the
Province.
I
therefore
make
no
apology
for
some
of
the
thoughts
expressed
in
this
oration
or
the
use
of
the
words
that
have
been
spoken
by
myself
and
my
predecessor
on
a
previous
occasion.
Some
of
the
words
that
have been used before are worth repeating.
On
the
2nd
April
2011
I
was
present
at
the
consecration
of
Bricgstowe
Court
No.
75
in
Bristol.
I
described
that
Court
as
the
75th
brick
in
the
building
of
this
Order
and
that
it
would
not
be
long
before
we
would
see
the
laying
of
the
100th brick. Here we are, less than three years later laying the 97th brick, consecrating the 97th Court.
When
I
was
informed
that
a
new
Court
of
Athelstan
was
to
be
consecrated
in
Liskeard,
I
thought
to
myself
Liskeard
?.
Why
Liskeard
?.
My
first
reaction
when
presented
with
a
new
problem
is
to
consult
Wikipedia
or
Google.
It
proved
very interesting.
Brethren, in choosing Liskeard as your base and the name St. Germans, you have chosen well.
History,
Anglo-Saxon
history,
exudes
from
the
very
ground
you
walk
on.
Although
there
is
no
evidence
that
Athelstan
ever
visited
Cornwall,
it
would
be
nice
to
let
our
minds
wander
and
imagine
that
King
Athelstan
himself
may
well
have
walked the lanes and crossed the fields surrounding this pretty, and very ancient town.
Liskeard
has
a
long
history.....There
are
indications
of
human
activity
in
this
area
from
the
Stone
Age,
some
6500
years
ago.
Moving
on,
it
is
recorded
in
the
Doomsday
Book
as
Lisscaret.
At
that
time
it
was
a
typical
village
and
boasted a market, a mill and 250 sheep.
Granted
a
Charter
in
1240,
it
moved
on
from
being
a
village
to
a
small
market
town
but
the
population
still
remained
in
the
lower
hundreds.
Today
it
is
a
flourishing
market
town
and
tourist
destination
with
many
fine
buildings
including
this
Masonic Hall.
You
have
chosen
St.
Germans
as
the
name
for
this
Court.
Taking
the
name
from
St
Germanus,
the
fighting
Bishop
who
is
supposed
to
have
landed
in
the
neighbourhood
when
he
came
to
England
to
suppress
the
Pelagian
heresy
in
A.D. 429.
I
say
supposed,
although
the
suggestion
may
be
supported
as
there
seems
to
be
a
creditable
tradition
that
the
church
of St. Germans was founded by Germanus himself.
Born
in
Auxerre
in
AD
380
into
a
wealthy
family,
he
was
well
educated
and
practised
law
in
Rome
with
great
success.
Appointed
as
a
Duke
by
Emperor
Honorius
with
responsibility
for
the
governance
of
Gaul,
he
lived
a
worldly
lifestyle
until
he
was
informed
that
he
would
one
day
become
the
Bishop
of
Auxerre
after
which,
he
changed
his
lifestyle,
completely devoting himself to prayer, study and charity.
On
his
appointment
as
Bishop
in
July
418,
Germanus
became
another
man.
He
lived
with
his
wife
as
if
she
was
his
sister.
He
gave
all
his
worldly
goods
to
the
Church
and
lived
as
a
pauper
dressing
in
simple
monastic
clothes.
But
his
previously
learned
administrative
skills
served
him
well
as
a
Bishop.
Germanus
visited
Britain
twice,
in
A.D.
429
and
again in 446. On both occasions to suppress the supporters of Plagiarism. His visits proved successful.
Freemasonry
in
Cornwall
has
a
long
history.
The
first
Lodge,
Lodge
of
Love
&
Honour
No.
75
was
founded
in
1751,
meeting
in
Falmouth.
However,
it
was
over
50
years
before
a
Royal
Arch
Chapter
was
linked
to
that
Lodge.
Since
that
date,
Cornish
Masonry
has
gone
from
strength
to
strength
with
over
80
Lodges
in
the
Province.
Royal
Arch
Chapters,
Mark and the other newer degrees are thriving.
The
Masonic
Order
of
Athelstan
is
young
by
comparison.
Yet,
like
Freemasonry
some
250
years
ago,
the
Order
is
thriving and, as with the Craft, moving from strength to strength, growing month by month and year by year.
This
Court,
the
Court
of
St
Germans
is
the
second
Court
of
Athelstan
to
be
founded
in
Cornwall.
But,
it
must
be
remembered
that
the
Court
of
St.
Germans
does
not
form
part
of
the
Province
of
Cornwall.
It
is
a
part
of
the
Province
of
Wessex.
The
original
Wessex
goes
back
to
the
days
of
Athelstan
although
the
Province
of
Wessex
that
we
now
know was founded in 2008 when Malmesbury Court was consecrated.
We
should
remember,
and
I
quote
from
the
Grand
Master's
address
at
the
Grand
Court
meeting
in
Leicester
last
year
- The Masonic Order of Athelstan is not the Craft, it is not the Chapter, it is Athelstan and it is unique.
A
s
founders,
you
have
been
instructed
into
this
wonderful
Order.
You
have
taken
an
obligation
and
listened
to
the
history on which this Order is based. Fact not myth.
Brethren,
I
exhort
you
to
follow
the
guidance
given
during
the
course
of
your
instruction
earlier
today.
Remember
your
obligation,
wherein
you
swore,
that
you
would
uphold
the
honour
and
dignity
of
the
Order,
and
the
high
character
and
usefulness of this Court, in both your civil and private callings.
It
is
our
duty
as
Masons
to
continue
these
practises.
As
Court
Masons,
we
should
be
looking
for
like
minded
persons
to
join
us
in
this
Order.
Look
for
those
who
hold
the
same
ideals
as
ourselves.
A
lot
of
good
will
come
out
of
a
simple
conversation.
By
uniting
and
spreading
the
ideals
that
we
hold,
we
may
contribute
to
making
the
world
a
better
place,
not
only
for
ourselves but for future generations. Remember that membership of this highly respected Order is by invitation only.
Today,
you
have
been
given
the
tools
to
work
with.
That
Holy
Book
contains
the
greatest
set
of
plans
ever
given
to
man.
In
it
you
will
find
a
plan
to
guide
you,
a
plan
to
sustain
you
in
fair
weather
and
foul.
The
answer
to
every
question
you will ever be asked can be found in that Holy Book.
As
Court
Master
Masons,
we
are
inspired
by
our
leaders.
They
lead
from
the
front.
They
are
here
today
to
watch
with
interest
as
you
are
formed
into
a
new
Court.
They
will
follow
your
progress
as
you
grow
and
will
attend
your
future
meetings when time permits.
Under
the
watchful
eye
of
our
Grand
Master,
Most
Worshipful
Brother
Paul
Johnston,
who
has
travelled
many
miles
to
be
with
us
today,
the
Right
Worshipful
Brother
Malcolm
Burns,
Provincial
Grand
Master
for
the
Province
of
Wessex
will
guide
you
and
encourage
you
to
make
a
further
daily
advance
in
your
Masonic
knowledge.
Under
his
guiding
hand this court will grow stronger as the years roll by.
Let
the
prayers
that
we
offer
today
be
the
prayers
of
us
all
as
we
consecrate
this
new
Court
which
will
go
forward
from
strength to strength, ready to promulgate those great truths and principals for which our Order is justly renowned.
Brethren, may the Supreme Being and Creator of all things direct all your endeavours and may you prosper under his
guidance from this day, and until time shall be no more.
18.01.2014 - Liskeard.
