A message from the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, E Comp Wayne E Williams
"As you may know, the Craft 2013 Festival in support of the RMBI is progressing well and from total donations and contributions already received, the running total has now exceeded the £1.6m target. We, in the Royal Arch Province, can be rightly proud of our contribution in support of the Provincial Grand Master's Appeal – by mid-2011, our total will be fast approaching £20,000 and I convey my sincere appreciation to you all. Your generosity excels.
At that juncture, might I suggest that we in the Royal Arch will be able to ease down just a little in our contributions to the RMBI Festival Appeal. As Royal Arch Masons, the year 2013 is set to present us with yet another challenge and I have no doubt at all that we would all wish to make our contribution to another, very worthy charitable cause.
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By way of background, the Holy Royal Arch will be celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2013 following the Act of Union of 1813 between the two opposing Grand Lodges at that time, frequently referred to as the Antients and the Moderns. The date of union marks the full emergence and the formal recognition of the Supreme Degree by both sides as an integral part of Pure Antient Masonry and as evidenced to this day in the Preliminary Declaration as set out on Page 1 of the Book of Constitutions. |
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To celebrate such a major milestone, Supreme Grand Chapter has announced a celebratory Convocation to be held in the Grand Temple at Great Queen Street on 16th October 2013 prior to which lunch will be taken in the Grand Connaught Rooms and followed in the evening by dinner at the Savoy Hotel over which the First Grand Principal, HRH The Duke of Kent, will preside. The logistics of those to be invited, seat availability, cost etc for Companions will be advised in due course.
However, to provide a permanent memorial of our bicentenary celebration, Supreme Grand Chapter has announced a fundraising initiative to provide a Research Fund in the name of the Royal Arch for the Royal College of Surgeons which will be administered alongside the Craft's existing 250th Anniversary Fund, set up in 1967, which provides funding for the Fellowship Scheme. In addition to the Anniversary Fund, the Craft has been associated with the College since its foundation in 1800.
To meet this new Royal Arch initiative, we calculate that if every subscribing Companion of every Chapter kindly agrees to donate the sum of £10 spread over a three year period, together with Gift Aid Tax Relief where appropriate, a sum in excess of £1m can be raised to mark our Bicentenary with a unique fundraising event in the name of the Holy Royal Arch and for such a worthy cause.
The Royal College of Surgeons is a registered Charity, receiving no central support through the NHS and relying on the generosity of its supporters by way of voluntary donations, legacies and trusts.
Freemasonry has enjoyed a long and close relationship with the College for many years. We can be justly proud to be recognised as its major benefactor where we have helped to support many important research projects in specialised fields that have helped to save lives and improve the quality of life for so many, not least our own dependents, children and grandchildren.
The winter edition of Freemasonry Today contained an explanatory article by the ME Second Grand Principal and a donation leaflet for your consideration. A Relief Chest has been established at the Grand Charity to which all donations received will be directed in due course indicating both the donor's name and specifying the Royal Arch Province. In the first instance however, may we ask that all donations and covering donation forms are forwarded to our own Provincial Grand Charity Steward, E Comp Mike Green.
E Comp Mike will be keeping a close check on all donations received, liaising with the Grand Charity for donations which may have been made direct and to ensure that Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire and its 1,285 Royal Arch Masons are credited for all that is due.
Towards the end of this current Masonic year, E Comp Mike will also be making contact with our Chapters to seek their support and to encourage Companions to consider favourably such a very worthy cause, but yet for such a modest, individual commitment. I have no doubts that we in this Province will once again lead the way and meet every expectation of us.
My grateful thanks to you all.
Wayne E Williams
Grand Superintendent"