PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER MAY 2009 - A GREAT SUCCESS

Companions from around the Province gathered at the Epic Centre on the Linconshire Showground on Wednesday 13th May 2009 to attend Provincial Grand Chapter.

The day started with Provincial Grand Chapter in the morning which was graced by the presence of the 2nd Grand Principle, Most Excellent Companion George Pipon Francis. Following this a splendid luncheon was provided which was attended by 456 Companions and Brethren. In the afternoon it was the turn of Provincial Grand Lodge where the numbers in attendance reached some 600!

The 2nd Grand Principal, M.E.Comp George Pipon Francis (left) with the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, E.Comp Graham Ives at Provincial Grand Chapter.

Address to Provincial Grand Chapter by the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent
on the 13th May 2009

Companions, it is wonderful to see so many of you here today supporting Royal Arch Masonry in Lincolnshire at our magnificent new venue.  I have already welcomed our Distinguished Guests and Heads of other Orders.  I sincerely hope that all the Companions here have a very happy day.

Companions, you will be aware that for many years Provincial Grand Chapter has been held at a different venue each year.   This had obvious advantages.  However, each year was in effect a step into the unknown so far as the Provincial Secretariat and the Provincial Grand Directors of Ceremonies were concerned.  We have always received magnificent support and assistance in the arrangements for our meetings from all the Companions throughout the Province.  Every meeting I have attended has always been happy and successful.   However, we are of course now blessed with this wonderful venue which is in the centre of our large Province.  The fact that Provincial Grand Chapter is held on the same day as Provincial Grand Lodge will help to reinforce the inextricable link which there is between Craft and Royal Arch Masonry. 

I am very fortunate to have a cheerful and supportive team.

I extend my deep gratitude to the Provincial Grand Scribe Ezra, Excellent Companion David F. Brown and his team, for all their hard work during the course of the last year and in the weeks leading up to this meeting. 

As always the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, Excellent Companion David C. Bird, and his Deputies, have excelled throughout the last year and of course today. Their efficiency and poise is there for all to see today.   

I thank the Companions of the host Chapter, the Chapter of Concord No. 297, for their hard work in the arrangements for today, and of course all other Companions who have contributed. 

Music is of course central to the success of our meetings.  I am sure that you would wish to join with me, Companions, in thanking Excellent Companion John Pemberton, the Provincial Organist for his rousing and inspiring playing today.   

I have continued to receive all the support I would expect from the Supreme Grand Chapter Officers including representing me at Installation Meetings and reporting to the office thereafter.  The role of the Liaison Officer in each Chapter is of course very important. I do know that the Chapters enjoy the attendance of the Liaison Officers and the reports and assistance they provide me with are invaluable.

I congratulate all of those who have been Invested today either by way of Appointment for the first time or Promotion.  It has been a great pleasure for me to see so many of you present and clearly enjoying the day.  Your new Rank is a reward for all your hard work in the past and also with an expectation from me that you will continue to work for the Royal Arch in the future. 

I was delighted to attend the Investiture Ceremony last month of Supreme Grand Chapter which was presided over by the First Grand Principal, His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent. I was delighted to witness the Deputy Grand Superintendent, Excellent Companion Colin A. Wells, being promoted to Past Grand Sword Bearer.

I was particularly proud to see Excellent Companion David A. Sprawson, promoted to the senior Rank of Past Assistant Grand Sojourner.  I was similarly proud to see the Provincial Grand Scribe Ezra, Excellent Companion David F. Brown receive first Appointment as Past Grand Standard Bearer and Excellent Companion W. John Hockin receive first Appointment as Past Grand Standard Bearer.  I was very sad that Excellent Companion Keith Slater passed away on the 13th April last and was not able therefore to receive his much deserved first Appointment as Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies.  However, I do know that he was delighted to be appointed to that Rank and I had a very happy telephone conversation with him when he received his letter from Supreme Grand Chapter at the beginning of March. He was already very ill at that time.   

I confirm that I, together with my Deputy, Second and Third Provincial Grand Principals, have continued to make official visits to the Chapters regularly.  We have always been warmly received.  We have enjoyed the hospitality and friendship of all the Companions throughout the Province and I trust that the Chapters have enjoyed our visits. All of the Chapters have received an Official Visit from the Second or the Third Provincial Grand Principal.  My Deputy and I have also made Official Visits to a large proportion of the Chapters.

I have very much enjoyed being accompanied by the Provincial Team.  We have formed close friendships throughout the course of the year.  We have been very happy and enjoyed each others company.  I thank the outgoing team for all their support and I look forward to working with the new team in the year ahead. 

I was delighted to present a Sixty year Certificate to Excellent Companion Raymond Leonard Ringrose in January at St. Botolph’s Chapter in Boston.  Sixty years in the Royal Arch is a considerable achievement.  Also you will all be aware of the substantial contribution he has made during his masonic career not only in the Royal Arch but in other Orders as well.  He has held many high Offices.  His contribution towards freemasonry in Lincolnshire will never be forgotten and I am sorry that he is not able to be with us today. 

I also enjoyed during the last year a first for me.  Wellow Abbey Chapter celebrated 25 years since its Consecration at its meeting on Thursday the 16th April last.  It was the wish of the Companions of that Chapter that the ladies should attend.  I have to confess, Companions, that this was the first time I had attended a masonic meeting with the ladies.   The Provincial Team was in attendance as well. When the Chapter was called off, and the ladies were admitted into the Chapter Room, I was somewhat nervous in addressing the Companions and ladies, particularly with the intense and critical eye of Mrs Janet Ives upon me!  However, it was, I believe a very successful and happy evening. 

I have enjoyed all my visits throughout the Province and I am very much looking forward to the years ahead.  

The Executive has been very active during the course of the last year. Each master mason upon receipt of his Grand Lodge Certificate receives at the same time a personal letter from me which I hope will encourage him to join the Royal Arch as soon as he can.  We have also produced a short pamphlet to promote the Order.  I shall be adopting the practice of one of our neighbouring Provinces whereby a letter will be forwarded to all Deacons and Wardens of Craft Lodges who are not yet  Royal Arch Masons.  It will be a personal letter from me as Provincial Grand Master inviting the brethren concerned to reflect upon the virtues of the Royal Arch. 

Each Craft Lodge has now appointed a Royal Arch Representative.  This is an initiative which was encouraged and recommended by the Second Grand Principal when he presented a Working Group Report in November 2007 to Supreme Grand Chapter.  Excellent Companion  J. Terry Little has been asked by me to oversee the appointment of Royal Arch Representatives in Craft Lodges and also to explain to them what is required.  He has recently carried out meetings with the Representatives in the South, the North and the centre of the Province.  He has been supported at those meetings by my Deputy and/or the Second Provincial Grand Principal and/or the Third Provincial Grand Principal.  I understand that the meetings were successful and the purpose of them was to explain to the Royal Arch Representatives in more detail what is expected of them. I urge you, Companions, to support this very important initiative.  It is our duty to encourage all Master Masons to complete their journey through Pure and Antient Freemasonry by being exalted into the Royal Arch.   However, we should not be over vigorous, and we should also be sensitive to the needs of the other Orders.

The Craft Festival for the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys was launched last October and started this year.  I hope that the Royal Arch will play a positive role during the course of the Festival.  I have asked the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and the Provincial Grand Charity Steward to liaise with our newly Invested Provincial Grand Charity Steward concerning the role which we would expect the Royal Arch to take during the course of the Festival.  I urge all individual Chapters to support the Festival wherever they can.   It is also my wish that all Chapters should appoint a Charity Steward as soon as possible taking into account the challenges of the 2014 Festival.

Before he passed away Excellent Companion Keith Slater, the Provincial Grand Almoner in Craft, had suggested to me that there should be an initiative to bring together all the Provincial Almoners of the different Orders so that they could work together with a common aim.  I gave his initiative my blessing and he knew, and I knew, that it would take some time to implement such an initiative.  However, I am actively looking at the role of the Provincial Grand Almoner in Chapter and I sincerely hope that it can be more positive than perhaps it has been in the past. 

I indicated in my Address last year that it was my wish all Chapters should appoint an Almoner. Most Chapters have done so.   The Chapter Almoner has a very important role to undertake with regard to the important issues of retrieval and retention.  Also he will undertake the traditional role of an Almoner. 

I have been pleased to introduce during the course of the last year Certificates to celebrate Fifty years in the Royal Arch which is of course a considerable achievement.  Such Certificates have been formally presented to relevant Companions by senior members of the Province including me, my Deputy and Second and Third Provincial Grand Principals.  I believe that they have been very well received.  

I want to talk about the quality of our meetings and ritual.  I don’t expect the Companions to be perfect in their delivery.  However, I do consider that it is essential we work hard at our ritual and the way in which we conduct our Ceremonies and the procedures at the Festive Board afterwards.   The Ceremonies are there for all to enjoy.     None of us want to see Companions being prompted continually.  We need to ensure that the procedures afterwards at the Festive Board are slick and efficient.  We all enjoy our Chapter Masonry even more when we achieve high standards.  That isn’t to say that I have seen difficulties in Lincolnshire throughout my visits.   I have generally been impressed with what I have seen and heard.  All I ask is that we continue to work hard so that we enjoy our Royal Arch Masonry to the full.  

In conclusion Companions it has been a great honour and pleasure for me to serve this Province as Grand Superintendent since I was Installed on the 24th June last.  My commitment to this wonderful Order should never be underestimated.  During my term of Office as Grand Superintendent and as Provincial Grand Master I shall do my best to ensure that Royal Arch Masonry continues to flourish in this Province throughout the years ahead.  Please do all you can to encourage Master Masons to complete their journey through Pure and Antient Freemasonry by being Exalted into Royal Arch Masonry.   Do your best, Companions, to ensure that they enjoy themselves amongst us and, above all, please make sure that you continue to enjoy your Royal Arch Masonry to the full.  We must all work together for the benefit of this wonderful Order.   I thank you very much for attending, listening to me, and I sincerely hope that you will enjoy the rest of your day. 

Centre left is 2nd Grand Principal, M.E.Comp G.P. Francis congratulating the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, E.Comp Graham Ives after Provincial Grand Chapter. Looking on are (left) E.Comp Tony Bridges the Provincial 2nd Principal and (right) E.Comp Richard Garn the Provincial 3rd Principal.

ISLE OF AXHOLME CHAPTER NO:1482 LEND A HELPING HAND TO ST ANDREW'S HOSPICE

The Companions of the Isle of Axholme Chapter No:1482, which meet at Crowle, showed their generosity by donating a cheque for £400 to St Andrew's Hospice, Grimsby.

Left to right: E Comp. Harry Cousins, Mr Mike Gresham - St Andrew's Hospice, E Comp Ian Wilkinson and E Comp Cliff Reeves hand over the cheque on behalf od the Companions of the Isle of Axholme Chapter.

St. Andrew’s Hospice offers care regardless of race, creed or ability to pay. They offer their services at no charge, relying mainly on the generosity and kindness of charity donations to provide a real home from home for patients and their families.

Visit the St Andre'ws Hospice web site by Clicking Here

ST LAWRENCE CHAPTER CELEBRATE LONG SERVICE AWARDS

Three members of St Lawrence Chapter No:2078 were presented with '50 Years in the Holy Royal Arch' certificates.

The first photograph taken last Thursday at the St Lawrence Chapter meeting shows E Comp A Bridges, Second Provincial Grand Principal, presenting a 50 year certificate to E Comp C.F. Hopkinson, Past Grand Scribe N.

While Provincial Grand Chapter has only recently started issuing these certificates to Companions that have achieved '50 Years in the Holy Royal Arch ' , E Comp Hopkinson was actually Exalted into the Holy Royal Arch on 12/11/1953 - so this is really to mark over 55 years in Chapter.

E Comp A Bridges presents the certificate to E Comp C.F. Hopkinson

The second photograph (below) shows Comp. Ken Green receiving his certificate from E Comp Alan Robinson. Comp Green was Exalted on 13/11/1958.

and thirdly E Comp Bob Wareing receiving his - again from E Comp Alan Robinson. E Comp Wareing was Exalted on 10/10/1957.

Unfortunately, both Comp Green and E Comp Wareing were unable to attend the St Lawrence Chapter meeting when E Comp Tony Bridges attended to make the presentations. E Comp Robinson was pleased to 'do the honours' for Tony as he has known both the recipients for a considerable number of years. The presentations were done in their respective homes.

Our congratulations go to all three of these Companions.

COMPANION JIMMY JACKSON M.B.E. OF LORD WORSLEY CHAPTER NO:3017 RECEIVES 50 YEAR CERTIFICATE

February 10th 2009 was a special day for Companion Jimmy Jackson M.B.E. when the Provincial Grand Third Principal, E.Comp Richard Garn, visited Lord Worsley Chapter No:3017 to present him with a certificate to mark his 50 years in the Holy Royal Arch.

The special presentation took place at the regular February meeting of the Lord Worsley Chapter in Cleethorpes Masonic Hall - where E.Comp Garn also presented a Supreme Grand Chapter Certificate to Comp. Peter Teanby who has just started out on his Royal Arch journey.

Comp. Peter Teanby; E.Comp David Brown, Prov Scribe 'E'; E.Comp Rob Stevens, 'H' of Lord Worsley Chapter; E. Comp Richard Garn PGStB, the 3rd Provincial Grand Principal, E.Comp Gordon Cockerill, Acting 'M.E.Z.' Lord Worsley Chapter; Comp. Jimmy Jackson, E.Comp David Mackie, Acting 'J' of Lord Worsley Chapter; E. Comp Mike Clarke PAGDC, Prov. Assistant Scribe 'E'and member of Lord Worsley Chapter.

Comp Jackson, a young 80 year old, was Exalted into Royal Arch Masonry on the 11th December 1956 - actually making this his 53 year as a Companion. He is well known in the area as "Mr. Winter Gardens" which he managed so well for many years and which was used by both local Masons for Ladies Evenings, etc. and also for Provincial Grand Lodge on a number of occasions. He was awarded the M.B.E. in 2005 for services to the community in Cleethorpes.

During the presentation of the Royal Arch Certificate to Comp. Teanby, a young chap in his 73rd year, E.Comp Garn said that he looked forward to being there to present him with his 50 Years in the Holy Royal Arch Certificate!

It just goes to show that it is never too late to come into Royal Arch Masonry.

OLIVER CHAPTER NO:792 OF ROYAL ARCH MASONS MAKE DOUBLE PRESENTATION.

The Oliver Chapter No:792 of Royal Arch Masons donated the sum of £250 to both the St. Andrew's Childrens Hospice, helping sick children and their families, and the 'Wish upon a Star Appeal', assisting childen with difficulties make once in a lifetime trips.

Ex.Comp Alan Mason presents cheques to Mrs. Pat Wright (left) and Mrs. Yvonne Wright (right).

The First Principal of Oliver Chapter, Ex.Companion Alan Mason, prsented the cheques to Mrs. Pat Wright for the 'Wish upon a Star Appeal' and Mrs Yvonne Wright for St.Andrew's Hospice at the Grimsby Masonic Hall.

WHY JOIN THE ROYAL ARCH?

Four weeks after being raised to the Third Degree all Master Masons are entitled, and are strongly recommended, to be exalted to the Supreme Degree of the Holy Royal Arch.

This Supreme Degree has been described as both the foundation and keystone of the whole Masonic structure, and also as being the next step in Freemasonry after the Craft Degrees and the final step in pure ancient Masonry.

It is both an integral part of Craft Masonry as well as being its completion.

In Craft Masonry, a brother acknowledges a belief in a Supreme Being, but this is never explored. In the Royal Arch, a mason continues and completes his education and knowledge of Craft Masonry and is invited to consider his relationship and dependence on God. It can therefore justly be claimed to be the climax of Freemasonry and no brother can really consider his Masonic journey to be complete until he has joined the Royal Arch.

Chapter membership is a prerequisite for admission to certain other Orders of Freemasonry.

Just as Craft Masons meet in a Lodge, Royal Arch Masons meet in a Chapter and are known as Companions. Chapters usually hold three or four meetings a year and the
fees and annual subscriptions are generally smaller than those in the Craft.
As in a Craft Lodge, there is progression of officers towards the chairs of the three Principals who govern the Chapter.

The Royal Arch is the only other Order under the same Book of Constitutions as Craft Masonry and is administered by Supreme Grand Chapter, its principal officers and officials being mainly the same as those of the United Grand Lodge of England.
The Province is led by the Grand Superintendent, who is assisted by his Deputy and the Second and Third Principals.

As in Craft Masonry "to please each other and unite in the grand design of being happy and communicating happiness" is still an objective, but it is one which in Chapter we can view in a deeper and more rewarding light. Your enjoyment of the Royal Arch will be in proportion to your contribution to the happiness of your Companions.

Make up your mind to enjoy your Royal Arch Masonry as you do that of the Craft and you will come to understand that the Holy Royal Arch is the essence of Freemasonry.

REGALIA OF A ROYAL ARCH COMPANION

The regalia worn by Companions of the Order consist of a white apron with red and blue edging, a red and blue sash, and a breast jewel with white ribbon.

LOCATION OF ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER MEETINGS