Hundreds of Cornish Freemasons travelled from every corner of the Province to welcome the Assistant Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, David Medlock, to a special Cornwall Provincial Investiture Meeting on Saturday 26th November 2022, held at Redruth School, Tolgus Mount to witness David G. Maskell be installed as the 17th Provincial Grand Master of Cornwall.
The proceedings began by the Assistant Grand Master thanking Roger L. Cargeeg for all that he has done in leading Cornish Freemasons, since being placed in Charge of the Province in January following the retirement of the previous Provincial Grand Master, Stephen C. Pearn.
This was followed by the Assistant Grand Master obligating and investing David G. Maskell as the new Provincial Grand Master of Cornwall.
David Maskell’s appointment makes him the seventeenth Provincial Grand Master for Cornwall. The first Provincial Grand Master, William Pye, a Collector of Customs from Falmouth, who was invested in 1752.
David became a Freemason in 1989 when he joined One and All Lodge No330, which meets in Bodmin, and became the Master of the Lodge in 2002. Since that time David has enjoyed several promotions within Freemasonry including being an Active Senior Grand Deacon for the United Grand Lodge of England in 2019 as well as attaining the rank of Past Assistant Grand Sojourner is in the Royal Arch.
Following the Special Meeting of Investiture, a luncheon was held at the Penventon Hotel, where fitting tribute was paid to V. W. Bro Roger Cargeeg for his 22 years service to the Province of Cornwall as well as thanking David Medlock and the other distinguished members of United Grand Lodge of England, neighbouring Provincial Grand Masters, and the 150 Cornish Masons who packed into dining hall to enjoy and participate in the day’s events.
At the luncheon David Maskell said
‘For the future of our fraternity, we all have a major role to play, our mission being to make sure that we are a thriving organisation, one that people are willing to be part of and one in which those who join are willing to participate.
Importantly we must enjoy our Freemasonry and be ready and willing to tell everybody of the fun and enjoyment we all experience.
Brethren, as I said, exciting but challenging times ahead and I am greatly looking forward to leading our wonderful Province through these times.
I cannot however do this alone.
I need your help now as much as ever, from my Deputy and Assistants that I appointed today, from my Executive right through to our newest members.
Together we are stronger, and we can rise to and meet the challenges ahead.”
As custom, the Assistant Grand Master presented David Maskell with a ‘Kent Cube’ which is a present given to every new Provincial Grand Master at his Installation, from the Grand Master, His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent. Every “Kent Cube” is formed from Lucite, and are made in Canada. Embedded in each is a gold medallion embossed with the Coat of Arms of the United Grand Lodge of England on the front face and the signature of the reigning Grand Master on the reverse.
Under the leadership of the Provincial Grand Master, and his team, Cornish Freemasons can look forward to continuing making the difference in our local communities, whilst still enjoying the traditions, both new and old that binds us together.
