Address To The Companions At Provincial Grand Chapter
Thursday, 3rd June 2010.
Companions, as always, I am pleased to begin my address by congratulating those Companions who were appointed or promoted to Provincial Rank today. It is your day and you have every right to be proud of yourselves. It certainly gave me great pleasure, to invest you all and being a relatively small Province I knew everyone of you and the opportunity to acknowledge the contribution you have made to the Royal Arch is something I look upon as one of the highlights of the year.
Companions, let me remind you however that your new ranks are not only recognition of your past efforts, but carry with them the expectation that you will continue to use your knowledge and experience, in your own Chapters and in the Province, for the good of Royal Arch Masonry.
You have the added responsibility to help promote our Order by encouraging Master Masons in your Craft Lodges to take the final step in pure Ancient Masonry and become Royal Arch Masons.
I also congratulate those Companions who were recently appointed or promoted in Supreme Grand Chapter. Our Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, E Companion Bill Rhymes was appointed to the acting rank of AGDC….E Companion Philip Wharton our Provincial Grand Organist was promoted to PAGSoj. and E Companion Ivan Greenwold was promoted to PGStdB. All three are in recognition of their services to their respective Chapters and to this Province.
Companions we still have much to do in promoting our Order and that is quite evident from the statistics on pages 8 / 9……I am delighted that during the year 51 Master Masons have been exalted, which is the highest number for several years, however, the area in which there is some cause for concern, is that we have suffered some 61 resignations. No doubt many of these were for understandable reasons. But we must do all we can to reduce resignations by making sure that our Order is attractive to both new and existing members alike, so that they understand it’s principles and it’s meaning and thereby make it enjoyable to be a part of.
As you are already aware, we have in place, Chapter Mentors to look after the new Companions and we have Chapter Almoners, part of whose role is to keep in touch with those Companions who have not been to their Chapter for some while. ……and we have for some years, encouraged work sharing to make the ritual that much easier to learn and to listen to……… and in order to help our members understand the significance of the ritual….we have re-produced a booklet given to us by the Province of Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire and which, in turn, came from Yorkshire & West Riding, which explains the Exaltation ceremony in plain English and it outlines the link between the preceding three degrees in the Craft and the Royal Arch …. I believe this will be of great benefit to Companions and the Booklet will be sent to all Chapter Scribes E for presentation to each newly exalted Companion……. and existing Companions too…….will I am sure, find it very useful.
Companions, I make no apology for repeating that recruitment and retention will require considerable and sustained effort and this will continue to be a great challenge for us all.
May I, at this point, welcome a number of Companions who have been exalted during the past twelve months, I trust that you will derive much pleasure from your membership of the Royal Arch and that you will have an enjoyable day with us.
Companions, as you know, we have supported the PGM’s 2011 Festival for the RMBI, since it was launched in March 2006. This time last year I told you that we had raised £66,000. I am now delighted to be able to tell you that this amount has risen to over £85,000…… this is a tremendous figure and I am very grateful to all of our 38 Chapters, thank you for raising such a huge amount…….Now Companions, I’ve never mentioned this before…….but we are not that far off it……do you think we could possibly reach the £100,000 mark ???….now wouldn’t that be something...Let’s go for it….. we have just under a year to go, so I say to every Chapter, have a look at your Benevolent Account. Do you have more money sitting there than you require for your immediate needs?? If so, consider donating whatever you can, in an effort to reach that magical figure….I leave it to you Companions and I know I can rely on you to do the best that you can.
Companions, if you look round the Temple today, you will see many varied and colourful Provincial ties…..We in Berkshire have never had a Provincial Tie and I’m bound to say that I’m rather glad that we haven’t because at Supreme Grand Chapter in April, the ME Pro First Grand Principal launched the long awaited Grand Chapter tie which many of us are wearing today. It is another example of the indissoluble link between the Craft and the Royal Arch as it can be worn in Craft Lodges, which I am very pleased about and I have no doubt that it will serve to greatly enhance the profile of the Royal Arch. The tie is on sale from the Provincial Grand Scribe Ezra at £10 and the small profit we make will go towards the RMBI 2011 Appeal…. Having said that, I must of course, emphasise that it is still perfectly permissible to wear the Grand Lodge or Black Tie.
The ME Pro First Grand Principal also said that…..as it had been far too long since we last had a Royal Arch celebration, he was delighted to announce the decision that we will celebrate the bi-centenary of the declaration of the Royal Arch as the completion of pure ancient Masonry, in 2013. The Grand Scribe Ezra will issue further details in due course and this Province will certainly join in those celebrations.
Companions, today sees the retirement of E Companion Keith Foster as Provincial Grand Treasurer. Keith was elected to that office in June 2000 and has served the Province diligently for the past ten years. I thank him for all he has done for the Province and wish him a happy retirement….He is succeeded by E Companion Richard Williams who is a member of Union Chapter. Richard is a Chartered Accountant and is Director of Compliance for a large international company in Reading and I have no doubt that our finances will continue to be in safe hands. Welcome Richard and thank you for accepting the Office, I look forward to working with you.
Today also marks the retirement of our Provincial Grand Almoner, E Companion Roy D’Archambaud… Roy was appointed in June 2001 and shortly afterwards was appointed Provincial Almoner in the Craft. He has done a wonderful job and like all good Almoners he has carried out his role quietly and unobtrusively, to the benefit of many Brethren and Companions. I thank you Roy for all that you have done for the Royal Arch and the support you have given to the Province. You will be a hard act to follow.
Roy is succeeded by E Companion Vic Bickers of Wellesley Chapter. I know Vic to be an experienced and caring Companion and I have no doubt that he will make a worthy successor to E Companion Roy D’Archambaud.
Before I close I must thank the outgoing Provincial Officers of the year who have supported me so well over the last twelve months. There have been various important convocations, as detailed in Provincial Grand Scribe Ezra’s report and each and every one has seen a very large turn out of Acting Officers. Their presence has added to the enjoyment of those visits and I feel sure that they have made lasting friendships during their year.
Companions, I am now in my fifth year as your Grand Superintendent and as time goes by, I realise more than ever that there are so many Companions to thank for helping to make this such a wonderful Royal Arch Province, too many to name them individually….. but I know who you are and I am truly thankful for all that you do.
Companions, I must make some exceptions. Firstly, I am most grateful to the Provincial Grand Scribe Ezra and the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies and their respective teams for all that they have done during the past year and their care and attention in making the arrangements for our Annual Convocation, today.
I also thank the members of the Provincial Executive who are always there to advise and guide me. We work as a team and their support is invaluable. I also wish to thank the Provincial Grand Master and his Team for the support they give to the Royal Arch which is greatly appreciated.
And finally to you, the Companions of Berkshire….. We always enjoy our visits to your Chapters and we are continually delighted at the standard of ritual and the enthusiasm and commitment that we encounter and are enormously grateful for the warmth of welcome you give to us.
It gives me a sense of well being to know that I and my team, have your loyal support and please be assured that we will do all we can to continue to earn your trust.
I look forward with great enthusiasm to the coming Masonic year and very much hope that you all enjoy the summer break and return refreshed to continue to promote and enjoy this wonderful Order of the Holy Royal Arch.
Companions, thank you all.
