Provincial News
- Written by: Simon Key
The Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) have given Community Support and Research Grants to Lakelands Hospice and Thorpe Hall Sue Ryder Care to the values of £1,000 and £3,863 respectively.
- Written by: John Fergusson
On Sunday 11 December, Peterborough Cathedral was again the venue for the Province’s Annual Festival of Lessons & Carols. Peterborough Cathedral was filled by members, their friends and families from across the Province. The Mayor of Peterborough, Cllr David Sanders, was amongst the civic dignitaries in attendance which included the Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Cambridgeshire, Richard Barnwell as well as the Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Northamptonshire, Simon Leatham.
The Acting Dean of Peterborough, Canon Jonathan Baker, led the service itself, and the lessons were read by our Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro Max Bayes as well as the Heads of Orders from within the Province including the Grand Superintendent, E Comp Wayne Williams and the Provincial Grand Master for the Mark Degree, RW Bro George Bonham.
The choir of Peterborough Cathedral was absolutely first class throughout the service. Following the service, there were the usual mince pies and glasses of wine to enjoy which helped start the Christmas feeling for those who were in attendance.
From left to right, Cllr David Sanders, Mayor of Peterborugh, Richard Barnwell, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of
Cambridgeshire, RW Bro Max Bayes, Provincial Grand Master, Mrs Barbara Bayes,
W Bro Brian Binley, Alderman of County of Northamptonshire & W Bro David Burton, Assistant Provincial Grand Master
- Written by: John Fergusson
On Thursday 2 December, a party of five Royal Arch Masons, namely: the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, E Comp Wayne Williams, the Provincial Grand Master, E Comp Max Bayes PAGSoj, 2nd Provincial Grand Principal, E Comp George Clayton, PGStB, 3rd Provincial Grand Principal, E Comp Mark Constant, and E Comp Mike Green, PGStB, visited the Chapter of Charity, Bristol to experience an Exaltation ceremony, Bristol style! 
The Bristol Masonic Hall itself is a most impressive building, commanding a most imposing position in the old town. On arrival, the Northampton visitors were warmly welcomed by the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent in and over the Royal Arch Province of Bristol, E Comp Alan Vaughan and his Deputy, E Comp Christopher Williams. Following refreshments after the considerable journey, the party enjoyed an extensive tour of the building which was most impressive. Dating back over two hundred years, the building was almost totally destroyed by enemy bombing in 1940 when, a ‘’few burned out relics were recovered’’. Restoration of this very beautiful and unique building was finally completed in 1957.
The Chapter of Charity No. 187 (formerly No 9 prior to renumbering in the far and distant past) was consecrated in 1769 and is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, continuously working Chapters in existence. The current Bristol Royal Arch workings contain passages very reminiscent of surviving 18th century manuscript rituals, and every Exaltation ceremony includes a ceremony of ‘The Passing of the Veils’. Hence, the Bristol Royal Arch workings are not only very old but therefore unique and substantially different from all other English Chapter Workings.
The visiting companions from Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire were privileged to witness a truly outstanding Exaltation Ceremony, perfectly executed by the MEZ, E Comp Terence Cole and his team.
An unexpected item was the presentation (pictured below) of a certificate to Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, E Comp Wayne Williams, by his very good friend and fellow Grand Superintendent, E Comp Alan Vaughan, to mark his presence on this very special occasion. The Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, E Comp Wayne Williams, was delighted to respond to a very generous Visitors’ Toast, thanking all present, particularly the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, E Comp Alan Vaughan, and his Deputy for their welcome, their companionship and splendid hospitality throughout the day. The obvious special relationship that exists between the two Provinces is most apparent and long may it continue.
Above left to right:- Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, E Comp Wayne Williams, Provincial Grand Master, E Comp Max Bayes,
Most Excellent Grand Superintendent (Bristol), E Comp Alan Vaughan & Third Provincial Grand Principal, E Comp Mark Constant
Being a time for giving, and in the true spirit of Christmas, Delapre Lodge No.1911 recently contributed fourteen boxes to Operation Christmas Child, a charitable project run by Samaritan's Purse, a Christian charity.
Since 1990, more than 124-million boys and girls from over 150 countries have benefited from a shoebox of Christmas gifts donated through this project. Churches of several denominations and many schools have been involved from across the world.
Many of the recipients are children experiencing poverty and deprivation, either because they’re refugees, or because they’re living in war-zones, famine hotspots or other areas of need.
Taking this into account, it’s not surprising that Operation Christmas Child recommends that gift-boxes contain school supplies and basic toiletries in addition to toys. There are no strings attached to the gifts and, quite appropriately for Freemasons, the inclusion of anything of a religious or political nature is explicitly banned.
Delapre Lodge's initial contribution of £230 was proposed by WBro Mike Walsh and funded ten gift-boxes. He and Bro Lukasz Kusiak, also of Delapre Lodge, bought the gift-items, decorated the boxes and packed them.
A combination of canny buying together with further generosity by Delapre Lodge members/visitors took the final tally of boxes to fourteen.
Northampton as a whole contributes about two-thousand boxes to Operation Christmas Child - the above picture shows some of those boxes at the collection point in Brixworth