Author: Henry

Super Saturday at St. Francis of Assisi Chapter No. 711

On Saturday 23rd September some 60 memebers of the Order met at Freemasons Hall, Kings Heath for a very special meeting/

The Chapter were honoured to welcome the M:.Ill:.Bro. Nicholas Bosanquet, 33^o , the Grand Chancellor escorted by 4 Visiting Inspectors General, 3 District Recorders and of course their own 3 Inspectors General who are members of the Chapter and the District Recorder,

The meeting commenced with the Grand Chancellor presenting a Supreme Council Certificate to E & P Bro Nathan Plant,18^o followed by the Proclamation of Ill:.Bro Gerald Jinks, 31^o as MWS for the ensuing year who then appointed and invested his Officers.

There then followed the focal point of the meeting. The Presentation of a 50 years of Service to the Ancient & Accepted Rite to Dr, Nicholas N. Hoare, 33^o the Past Inspector General for the District of Worcestershire and the second Candidate to be Perfected into the Order on 27/9/1973.

The presentation commenced with a brief resume of Richard’s life by the District Recorder and then the formal presentation of the Certficate by the Grand Chancellor. This was greeted with much acclaim.

There then followed a brief paper given by the Chapter Recorder on the life of St. Francis which was followed by the Visiting members and members of the Chapter conducting the 3rd point, led by the Grand Chancellor.

Higher Degrees Meeting 18/09/2023

On Monday 18th September some 15 Members of the District set off by coach from Henley in Arden to attend the Higher Degrees Meeting at The Grand East.

The District Recorder had arranged the coach to drop the party off at Mark Masons Hall, where we were met by the Inspector General, and we then went to the Duke of Connaught Room for a very good Soup and Sandwich Lunch before walking to No. 10 Duke Street for the 30^o Investiture Ceremony, 

We offer our sincere Congratulations to the 5 Members of our District. Ill. Bro’s Baylis, Hadden, Parrack, Pritchard and Snape who received their well deserved promotions.

On completion we returned to Mark Masons Hall for a very good Dinner before departing on the coach back home.

Reports from those participating suggest it was a most enjoyable day. 

Car Parking at Stourbridge

Brethren please note THAT WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT – 

ARGUS FIRE & SECURITY DO NOT ALLOW ANY MASONIC PARKING ON THEIR PREMISES

St, Nicolas Chapter No. 198

On Friday 1st September the Chapter held its Enthronement Meeting at Freemasons Hall, Kings Heath.

This saw Ill. Bro. Cliff Johnson, 30^o once again Installed into the Chair. Unfortunately neither the Inspector General or District Recorder attend due to other Masonic Commitments.

Breme Chapter No. 862

On Wednesday 6th September the Chapter held its last meeting ot its own Calendar year but the first of the 2023/4 season at the newly renamed Freemasons Hall.

Thanks to the air conditioning in the Temple the attendance of 99% of its members was a tribute to this small Chapter’s enthusiasm. Indeed it would have been 100% had the final member not been stuck in heavy traffic tring to exit London. With 4 Visitors includoing the District Recorder and the newest Deputy Preceptor of the MRCCI, Ill. Bro. Lindsay “Taff” Hill, it proved to be a very good evening witnessing the Annual Elections, which saw E & P Bro. Richard Noakes, 18^o once again being elected as MWS. This was followed by the delivery of an excellent paper originally written by Brig. A. C. F. Jackson describing the meaning of the Third Point.

On completion of the meeting the members moved from the benefit of an air conditioned Temple to a very warm Dining Room to enjoy the challenge of Stilton & Brocolli Soup, Fish, Chips and Mushy Peas and Profiteroles. The challenge was very well dealt with but in shirt sleeve order.

A very enjoyable evening of Rose Croix Masonry

District Seminar

On Thursday 7th September some 27 members together with the Inspector General and District Recorder met at the Masonic Hall, Halesowen for the Annual Seminar.

This event is designed to encourage every Chapter to send representation to be updated on what is happening within the District and to ask them to provide an appraisal of their own position covering the last Masonic Year and looking forward to their future plans.

One of the most disturbing elements this year was the number of Resignations, 26 of which have arisen from the Surrender of Warrants by St. Kenelm and St. Theodore Chapters. It is hoped that a major Recovery operation will take place to encourage them to Join other Chapters in the District.

With very comprehensive reports from each individual Chapter it was agreed that in an effort to boost recruitment the District provides a Personal “Callin Card” to encourage a face to face approach to prospective Candidates and leaving them with a brief outline of the Order and the name and contact details of those giving out the card.

Once again it proved to be a very successful evening.

KEVII CoI Demonstration

Saturday 1st July was a beautiful sunny day when 12 members of the District and the Inspector General went to the Berkshire Masonic Centre at Sindlesham to witness the KEVII demonstration of the 15th and 16th Degrees.

We were very warmly welcomed by the Inspector General and Officers of the District of Berkshire and able to enjoy tea/coffee and biscuits and obtain bacon & sausdage rolls at the bar before donning our regalia and entering the main Temple.

The KEVII team then expertly presented the 15th Degree – Knight of the East and 16th Degree – Prince of Jerusalem in front of a full temple and on conclusion the assembled Brethren retired to the Refectory for an excellent 2 course dinner.

All who attended thoroughly enjoyed the occassion and are looking forward to next year when the District host the demonstratiion team who will conduct the 17th Degree.

This is not a meeting to miss and details will be promulgated once everything is confirmed.

Breme Chapter Regular Meeting

On the 5th of July 2023, Breme Chapter No. 862 held its summer meeting in the Kidderminster Masonic Rooms. There were 80% of the members of the Chapter in attendance covering all their respective Offices, in addition 5 guests including the Inspector General to witness a perfect Ritual in the Opening, the Third Point and in the Closing by the MWS.

The main items of the Agenda were to demonstrate the presentation of the Collar, Jewel and the Signs by the First General 18th Degree, in order to ascertain a complete set for the qualification for promotion, and to present 2 SC Certificates, one to the MWS (a rare use of Rule 33) and the other to their newest Perfectee, which was not only done in extenso but was also further embellished with detailed information.

The IG took the opportunity of the available time to remind the Brethren, in a sincere and gentle way, with few items of instructions from Supreme Council and his own pet subjects, e.g. the MWS should be addressed with his full Title and not just ‘Most Wise’, the careful attention, at the Third Point, to the pronounciation of the Sacred Name: ‘Emanual’, and to hold the 3rd Sign until the Goblet is sequentially handed over.

The evening was concluded with a hearty ‘Dinner’, and once again the Brethren were reminded that SC do not use the expression Festive Board and that the Fire should be ‘spoken only by the Brother proposing the Toast’, and not the D.C. 

All in all it was a feast of A&A Masonic treat in Ritual and Instruction.

Passing of Ill:.Bro. W. A. B. Sherlock, 32*

It is wirth much sadness that we report the Passing to the “Grand Chapter Above” of Ill. Bro.W.A/B (Bill) Sherlock 32^o . Bill was a well known character within the District and played the organ for several units in a number of Orders. 

He was Perfected in St. Nicolas Chapter No. 198 in 1973 and Promoted to the 30^o in 1986, the 31^o in 1986 and finally to the 32^o  in December 2019.

Bill was a committed Freemason and will be sorely missed. 

May he now rest in Peace and Rise in Glory.

Another Successful Sunday Lunch for Halesowen Chapter

On Sunday 25th June some 54 members, partners, family and guests were once again treated to an excellent Sunday Lunch organised by Halesowen Rose Croix Chapter.

The focus of the lunch was on an excellent talk given by John Chapman featuring “The Girls of Bletchley Park” and where once again we were delighted to welcome Mrs Betty Webb, MBE, a remarkable 100 year old lady who played a significant part in the Bletchley success.

Many will know of Bletchley through the Enigma Machine.