Provincial Grand Chapter of Berkshire, 5th June 2008.
Address to the Companions.
Companions, I’m delighted to see so many of you here today.
Firstly, I congratulate those Companions who were appointed or promoted to Provincial Rank today. It certainly gave me great pleasure, to invest you all and the opportunity to acknowledge your hard work is something I look upon as one of the highlights of the year. Companions, let me remind you that your new ranks are not only an acknowledgement of your past efforts , but carry with them the expectation that you will also use your knowledge and experience, in your own Chapters and in the Province, in every way possible. You have the added responsibility to help promote this wonderful 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 promoted and appointed to Grand Rank…. Our Provincial Grand Master, E Companion Michael Hooton was promoted to PGSwdB…..Companions, despite his enormous responsibilities to the Craft he is a great supporter of his Chapters and of this Royal Arch Province and I am sure that I speak for you all when I say how delighted we were by his promotion. E Companion Brian Bicknell was appointed PAGDC in recognition of his services to his and other Chapters and for the support he has given, and I’m sure will continue to give, to the Province...
Companions, a Working Group, under the chairmanship of the Second Grand Principal, ME Companion George Pipon Francis, issued a Report on the subject of Recruitment and Retention of Royal Arch Masons, which was presented to Supreme Grand Chapter in November 2007.
I am pleased to say that WE along with many other Provinces 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.
BUT the challenge we all now have…. is to constantly make sure that these initiatives are working.
We still have much to do in promoting our Order and without wishing to sound too optimistic; I believe that we are seeing definite signs of an improvement. I am very pleased that we have Exalted more Companions than last year, although I am sorry to note that there are several Chapters who have not carried out any Exaltations during this time. There are more Joining Members than last year and I am heartened by the fact that the number of resignations are, yet again less than last year.
I hope the statistics as shown on pages 8 /9 of the Order Paper, however slight the improvement, will act as a spur to encourage us all to greater effort in the future and to seek out Master Masons who are not members of the Royal Arch and tell them what we have to offer. We must aim to ensure that every Chapter maintains a healthy intake of candidates and with the vigilance of the Chapter Mentors ensure that fewer and fewer Companions resign their membership. I also look to Almoners and indeed Mentors to make contact with those Companions who have not attended Chapter for some time and encourage them to return and indeed to take part. It will require considerable and sustained effort and this, as I have said, is a great challenge for us all.
Whilst talking about the need to encourage new members let me warmly welcome several Companions who are among those who have been Exalted during the last twelve months. This is, of course, their first meeting with us at PGC. These Companions are the future of our Order – look after them Companions and encourage them to gradually take part in your Chapters. I hope that they will derive much happiness from the Royal Arch and that they will have an enjoyable day with us.
With regard to Charity, we have of course, pledged our support to the PGM’s 2011 Festival in support of the RMBI, which was launched in March 2006. I am delighted to be able to tell you that this Royal Arch Province has already raised over £38,000. That is £1,000 per Chapter, Companions and there are still some Chapters who are yet to make their contribution. But I feel sure that they will! Only two weeks ago, after the close of Berkshire First Principals’ Chapter, we invited our Ladies and other guests into the Temple to receive a presentation from the Berkshire RMBI Road Show. It was a great success with over 170 people present and we were able to present a cheque for £1,000, and although we didn’t know before hand, that cheque tipped the actual total cash donations to over the one million pound figure! We congratulate the Provincial Grand Master and his Festival Committee and we are so pleased to be able to play our part in this success, Companions.
And as I have said, many times, although I appreciate that you have commitments in your own Lodges, I know you will continue to raise as much as possible in order to continue to help the PGM to attain and hopefully exceed his target.
Companions, today E Companion Dennis White has stepped down as Second Provincial Grand Principal. He became Provincial Grand Scribe Ezra in 1993 upon the sudden death of the then Provincial Grand Scribe Ezra, E Companion Eric Howells. He relinquished that post in 2000, had a year’s “sabbatical” and in 2001 was promoted to Third Provincial Grand Principal. He served in that office for three years, was given another “sabbatical” and was then promoted to Second Provincial Grand Principal in 2005. So you can see that although we gave him two relatively short breaks he has served this Province almost continuously since 1993. He received appointment as PGStB in 1996 and was promoted to PAGSoj in 2006.
E Companion Dennis I know I speak for the whole Province and the many friends you have made in other Provinces when I say, thank you for the wonderful service you have given to the Royal Arch in general and this Province of Berkshire in particular. Let me also pay tribute to the unstinting support that your dear wife Pauline, has given to you, please give her our grateful thanks.
I congratulate E Companion Bernard Greenwold on becoming Second Provincial Grand Principal. He has been an important member of the Provincial Team since January 2006 and in his former position as Provincial Grand Joshua he has given several interesting and well researched orations at a number of Anniversary and Banner Dedication, Convocations.
I also congratulate E Companion Richard Chandler on becoming Third Provincial Grand Principal. Although he may not be known to our guests he is certainly well known in the Province, having been an Assistant and Deputy Director of Ceremonies and acting Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah. He has worked tirelessly for the Royal Arch and I know he will be a great asset to the Province.
Today, we are also saying goodbye to E Companion Andy Cathcart who has been Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies for the past five years. He has done a first class job as ProvGDC and his lively, outgoing personality was such that he always got the best out of the Companions he was working with, whether they were from a private Chapter or from the Provincial team….and how he has put up with me for all that time I’ll never know. Thank you Andy for all that you have done for the Province.
E Companion Bill Rhymes is our new Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies. He too is well known in Berkshire and news of his impending promotion was met with acclaim by many Companions in the Province.
E Companion Bill, we wish you well and as you know, there is just a little matter of a Centenary Meeting coming up in July…..no pressure!
Before I close I must thank the outgoing Provincial Officers of the year who have supported me over the last twelve months. There have been several important meetings as detailed in Provincial Grand Scribe Ezra’s report and each and every one has seen a very large turn out of Acting Officers.
There are so many Companions to thank for “oiling the wheels” of this Royal Arch Province, too many to name them individually. But I know who they are and I am truly thankful for all that they do.
Companions, I must make some exceptions. Firstly, I am most grateful to the Provincial Grand Scribe Ezra, E Companion Lionel Higgins, it is his first full year in Office and I know it has been quite a steep learning curve but he has done very well. Lionel, I thank you and your band of helpers for all the care and attention in making the arrangements for today’s PGC.
I also thank our Past Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, E Companion Andy Cathcart and his team for their work today and their dedication over the past year.
Companions I also thank my Deputy, my Co-Principals and 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 to me.
And finally to you, the Companions of Berkshire….. I always enjoy my visits to your Chapters and I am continually delighted at the enthusiasm and commitment that I encounter and I am enormously grateful for the warmth of welcome you give to me.
It gives me a sense of well being to know that I have your loyal support and please be assured that I will do all I 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 your enjoyment of this wonderful Order.
