Grand Superintendent’s Address to Provincial Grand Chapter – 5th June 2008.
The Grand Superintendent opened his address by congratulating those whom he had appointed and promoted to Provincial Grand Rank. He emphasised that by accepting Provincial Rank, they were taking on added responsibilities within the Province. He urged the Companions to use their knowledge and experience to aid and assist their own Chapters and the Province and to promote this wonderful Order. He continued by congratulating those Companions who had been appointed and promoted to Supreme Grand Chapter Rank.
He then referred to the Working Group Report issued under the chairmanship of the Second Grand Principal on the subject of Recruitment and Retention of Royal Arch Masons which was presented to Supreme Grand Chapter in November 2007. The Grand Superintendent was please to announce that we, in Berkshire, were already carrying out its main recommendations. We have a Royal Arch representative in every Lodge, we have a mentor in every Chapter, we have an Almoner in every Chapter and we have an excellent and informative Royal Arch website. He then stressed the importance of making sure these initiatives were working.
He then turned to the subject of the statistics for the Province, pointing out that they showed a slight improvement in both the number of new Companions and those joining and he stressed that this improvement should act as a spur to encourage greater effort in the future. He pointed out that we must aim to ensure that every Chapter maintains a healthy intake of candidates to ensure the future of our Chapters. He continued by welcoming those new Companions who had been Exalted in the last twelve months.
Turning to the subject of Charity he announced that the Royal Arch Province had now raised the sum of £38,000 in support of the PGM’s Appeal in aid of the RMBI Festival. He was pleased to report that, at a recent meeting of the Berkshire First Principal’s Chapter, attended by our Ladies and other Guests, a cheque for £1000 was presented which tipped the total raised in Berkshire to over one million pounds. In thanking the Companions he also appealed for their continued generosity in the coming year.
He then took the opportunity of congratulating E Comp Bernard Greenwold on his promotion to Second Provincial Grand Principal; E Comp Richard Chandler on his appointment as Third Provincial Grand Principal and to E Comp Bill Rhymes on his appointment as Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies.
The Grand Superintendent concluded his address by thanking E Comp Dennis White, who was retiring after many years service to the Royal Arch in Berkshire, having served as Provincial Scribe Ezra, Third and Second Provincial Grand Principal. In addition he thanked E Comp Andy Cathcart, the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, who was retiring after five years service to the Province. He also thanked a number of individuals who had given their support, in particular, E Comp Lionel Higgins, the Provincial Grand Scribe Ezra. Finally, he thanked all the Companions of the Province for their enthusiasm and commitment and wished them an enjoyable summer break.
To read the Address in full press here.
