"A Place in our Hearts"

 

The Three Principals

EComp William J Porter, PGSwdB, DepGSupt
EComp David Winstanley, JP, PGStB
EComp Robert H Rowden, PProvDepGReg

EComp David Thompson, installed his successor, EComp William J Porter, PGSwdB, Deputy Grand Superintendent, into the the First Principals Chair, at the Installation meeting of the Provincial Grand Officers' Chapter, No. 3747. EComp David Winstanley became the Second Principal and EComp Robert Rowden, the Third Principal. As one would expect the ritual was worked superbly. The members and Guests of the Chapter enjoyed an excellent ceremony before retiring for pre-dinner drinks.

MEZ with the IPZ, EComp David H Thompson, PGStB, PAProvGP

 

The Festive Board

 

The Festive board was excellent with lively conversation and repartee. Following the meal EComp Wes Marchant,the Second Provincial Grand Principal, responded to toasts 3, 4 and 5. He felt privileged as this was his first opportunity in that capacity to address the Companions, in such prestigious surroundings and after the auspicious events of the evening. He firstly spoke of our Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, EComp Jack Price, who was currently quite poorly and unable to be with us this evening. All were aware of the recent deterioration in Jack's health. He was at home with his family, his wife, Dorothy, loved and known by us all, and his Son and Daughter, Jonathan and Janet. Wes asked, if that was our usual practice, that we pray for both Jack and Dorothy, and for all of us to keep a thought and a place in our hearts for Jack and the family.

Wes then spoke of the Supreme Grand Chapter Bicentenary Appeal that we were supporting. EComp Jack Price and the Deputy Grand Superintendent had appointed Wes to look after the Appeal in East Lancashire (read more here). Their hope is that each Royal Arch Mason would donate £10 to the Appeal and collections are being arranged in each Chapter then amassed centrally. Some Chapters are choosing to make a general donation equal to the required sum and then replenishing reserves later, some are collecting from the individual Royal Arch Masons. Wes expressed his gratitude for the terrific support which has been generated so far.

EComp Wesley Marchant, Second Provincial Grand Principal

 

Also sharing their table were the Provincial Grand Scribe Ezra (Provincial Grand Secretary), EComp H Alan J Garnett and John Farrington. John will be succeed Alan as Provincial Grand Secretary at the Annual Meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge on 17th November. Provincial Grand Lodge is always a fabulous day of Freemasonry, made more special this year as we also look forward to the appointment of WBro Derek Thornhill, APGM, as the Deputy Provincial Grand Master. The quality of the floor work by the Provincial DC, WBro Norman Cope, his team and the acting Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge is superlative and will be a treat to behold.

Provincial Grand Scribe E, EComp H Alan J Garnett, PGStB, with the
Provincial Grand Scribe E Designate, EComp John Farrington

 

EComp David Thompson proposed the toast to the Three Principals. His speech was full of good humour and knowledge about the individuals concerned. Robert Rowden, a member of Ben Brierley Lodge and Chapter, will be celebrating 50 years in the Craft in 2013 and 50 years in the Royal Arch in 2014. He has known David Winstanley as long as he can remember; a regular worker in the Provincial Office (possibly been there since its construction in 1929). David is heavily involved with the machinations of Provincial Grand Lodge and Chapter. As far as this Chapter is concerned he has served as both Assistant Scribe E and Scribe E for a number of years. Finally her spoke about the First Principal, EComp Bill Porter. in 2004-5 they were both Assistants to the Provincial Grand Principals in the Royal Arch and David recalled the fun and humour they shared at Royal Arch Cabinet meetings (mainly focussed on teasing Trevor Thomas about his monogrammed cufflinks). David described EComp Porter as a great fellow, jovial, tremendous sense of humour, a delightful leader and said that it had been a great pleasure to install him tonight.

In response EComp Porter congratulated everyone concerned for the meeting tonight where the work had been of the highest order. Bill spoke of many activities within the Royal Arch including the availability of our East Lancashire Royal Arch Demonstration Team who have been entertaining both Craft Lodges and Royal Arch Chapters within the Province. On the 2nd December the ceremony of the Passing of the Veils will be shown for the first time in many years at Huntroyd Chapter of Installed First Principals. The Demonstration Team forms part of a tremendous array we have available to entertain and educate our Companions. Take a look at the materials available on the Provincial website to work in your Chapters. The Education and Development Committee are also working on a road-show - The Craft meets the Royal Arch. More about that in due course.

At the Carol Service at St Ann's Church the readings will all be given by members from the Royal Arch Province and we are all looking forwards to Provincial Grand Chapter on 17th March 2011.

The Three Principals

Although this was a Royal Arch event it was well supportive by members of the Craft Executive including VWBro Harold Woodward, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, and WBro Martin Caller, Assisstant Provincial Grand Master. Bill made mention of this referring to the indissoluble link between the Craft and the Royal Arch, the latter adding an additional spiritual dimension to the teachings of the Craft. We have 2880 + members in the RA in East Lancashire and the Craft is our recruitment ground. In 2009-10 we had 64 exaltees matched by a further 64 in 2010-11 (are we at a turning point?). 41 % of our Craft Masons are members of the Royal Arch, compared with the National average of 39% this is excellent.

The Craft has a hard job recruiting appropriate people into the Order and it is our job to recruit the most committed, masonically ambitious and adventurous of those into the Royal Arch. We will shortly be relaunching the job description for the Lodge Royal Arch Representative and hope to further cement that close relationship between the two Orders. Our APGMs and AProvGPs will continue to work together to stimulate interest in the Royal Arch but remember, it is you, the Companions, who are the best recruitment agents we have. Some are just waiting to be asked, for others the time may not be right; it is your jobs to discern.

Support from the Craft: VWBro Harold Woodward, Deputy Provincial Grand Master

 

The work within the Chapter meeting and at the Festive board tonight was exceptionally and well managed by the Director of Ceremonies, EComp Henri Lyons and his Assistants. EComp Porter made special reference to this during his response.

EComp Henri Lyons, ProvGDC, Director of Ceremonies, and his Team