Provincial News
- Written by: John Fergusson
A date for your diary, at the First Principals’ Chapter on Thursday 3rd September 2015, we will welcome the demonstration team from the Province of Bristol who will perform the Ancient and Original Passing of the Veils. This is not a ceremony that you see very often because it is rarely performed outside of the Province of Bristol.
This meeting will be open to all Companions and is certain to be very popular. This poster has further details and booking forms from the Provincial Grand Chapter office will follow very shortly.
Our Grand Superintendent, E Comp Wayne Williams, commented:
We are privileged to be hosting the Bristol Demonstration team at our FIrst Principals' Chapter in September. Space will be limited but ALL Companions are invited to attend.It will be a unique occasion for us and a unique demonstration, rarely seen outside the Province of Bristol and who are the only ones allowed to perform it. Check out the history of the Veils ceremony; there was early reference to the "veils" from the 1750s onwards as practiced in the Province of Bristol as a preliminary to the Exaltation ceremony. Since then, the Royal Arch ceremony generally has seen many changes and with a revision of the English ritual in 1835, the "Passing of the Veils" ceremony was removed. Bristol however managed to escape most of the changes so that, today, the Province is the proud possessor of some very old Royal Arch ritual which it will demonstrate and perform for us on Thursday 3rd September at Sheaf Close. Try and be there!
- Written by: Gerry Crawford
On Friday 12 December 2014, at the regular meeting of Petriburg Lodge No. 8767, W Bro George Martin received his Jubilee Certificate from WBro David Burton PAGDC.
W Bro George was initiated on 10 December 1964 in St Peters Lodge No 442 having been proposed by his father and seconded by his uncle.
In 1977 he became a founder member of Petriburg Lodge, held office as Assistant Secretary in 1979, progressing through the Deacons and Wardens chairs to become Worshipful Master in 1984. Whilst in the chair he proposed and initiated WBro David Burton, a connection mentioned during the presentation.
In 1995 WBro George became a founder of the Richard Sandbach Lodge of Research No 9600, held office as Senior Deacon and Junior Warden before taking on the role of Charity Steward from 1997 to 2003.
He joined the Holy Royal Arch and became a member of the Gildenburg Chapter No 2533 in 1984, was MEZ in 1995 and held office as ADC from 1997 to 2003.
In the Craft and Holy Royal Arch he currently holds the position of Past Provincial Grand Registrar.
- Written by: John Fergusson
Our Chapter Executive will be changing at Provincial Grand Chapter in June. E Comp David Jackson who has contributed and supported the Holy Royal Arch in this Province over many years will be stepping down with E Comp Mike Coleman being promoted from 2nd Provincial Grand Principal to Deputy Grand Superintendent.
E Comp George Clayton is promoted from 3rd Provincial Grand Principal to 2nd Provincial Grand Principal. Our new 3rd Provincial Grand Principal will be E Comp Mark Constant.
Following the announcement that E Comp Trevor Boswell will become Deputy Provincial Grand Master, his place as the Holy Royal Arch’s Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies will be taken by E Comp John Payne. Our sincere congratulations to them all and we know that they can count on your support.
Our Grand Superintendent, E Comp Wayne Williams, commented:
The Annual Convocation in June will be a sad occasion in many ways - why break up a winning team you may ask and it will be an awful loss to me personally to see David Jackson stand down. He has been with me from the very outset and has been an absolute rock throughout. He has been my Deputy for almost 8 years but we are charged with the responsibility of ensuring a future succession line and this has to be seen as one of the early steps in that direction. Rest assured, David will still be involved in the Royal Arch in some form of executive role – his experience is too great to lose. I congratulate those who will be moving up the line and welcome to the team, E Comp Mark Constant as 3rd Provincial Grand Principal - he will prove a great addition.
- Written by: Russell Laxton
At a boat naming ceremony held at the Peterborough City Rowing Club on a snowy Saturday morning on the 31 January 2015 WBro Bob Beeton, armed with the traditional bottle of champagne, named a single scull boat "On The Level.” The boat is for the benefit of the juniors at the Peterborough City Rowing Club.
Members of Fitzwilliam Lodge No 2533, who had raised the money for the boat during WBro Mike Marshall's year in the chair of King Solomon, gathered to enjoy the occasion.
The Chairman of the Peterborough City Rowing Club, John Canton, thanked the Brethren for their very generous donation.
Each boat costs in the region of £2,000. The total raised during the year amounted to £2,417.12. The balance will be used to supply oars for the boat. The Peterborough City Rowing Club is a registered charity and apart from subscriptions relies heavily on donations to fund it's operations.
The boat made its maiden voyage on the rowing course with the son of WBro Marshall at the helm.