Author: Taff Hill

On Thursday 20th June 2024 the Chapter held its Enthronement meeting.

The Inspector General was warmly welcomed into the Chapter by E&P Bro S Brotherton the MWS who, with due respect to his obligation, offered the Inspector General his Chair and Baton. The Inspector General politely declined the kind offer, as he ’had not prepared for the Enthronement’ to the same level as the MWS……..

After confirming the Minutes of the previous meeting, 15 Chapter members and four Visitors were treated to a most enjoyable Enthronement of the new MWS, E&P Bro S Hillard 18°. Upon completion of appointing and investing his officers, the Inspector General gave the address to the Princes in his usual, enjoyable manner, and the new MWS presented a Past Sovereigns Jewel to E&P Bro Brotherton 18°.

The Chapter Recorder (and District Recorder) then had the honour and pleasure of presenting a Supreme Council Certificate to E&P Bro P Emmerson 18°. 

On completion of the Third Point and closing the Chapter, members and guests retired to the Refectory to enjoy a super, traditional Evesham Enthronement dinner of Asparagus & baked Gammon or baked Salmon. 

During the formal part of the dinner, III\Bro C Dyer 32°, & III\Bro G Jinks 32°, received a toast acknowledging  their recent promotion to the 32°. A lovely evening had by all.

I was humbled and overwhelmed to receive a letter from the Grand Secretary General, H. E. that the Supreme Council, at its meeting on 9 May 2024, considered my appointment as Inspector General for the District of Worcestershire, and has decided to extend my Patent to cover a full 5-year period.

I am delighted to accept this totally unexpected honour and sincerely pledge that with the help of every member I will continue to serve the District to the best of my ability.

Ian M Fothergill, 33^o Inspector General District of Worcestershire

A day that will long be remembered by Ill Bro Gerry Jinks, 32°. Not only did he receive his well-deserved Promotion he was also the Representative Candidate, which was a great accolade for Worcestershire.

In company with the Inspector General and Ill Bro Simon Jinks 30°, the trio travelled by train to London and then met up with Ill Bro Maurice Hume 32°. The IG treated them to a light lunch in the Cavendish Hotel. We were later joined by Ill. Bro Gordon Stacey 30°, who was attending as a  guest of Ill. Bro. Nick White, the son of V.Ill Bro. Dr. John H White, 33° a Past Inspector General of our District. Nick was receiving his 30°, through the District of Devonshire, where he also holds the Office of Intendant General in the Red Cross of Constantine.

At the dinner following the HD Meeting Ill Bro. Gerry was seated at the Top Table between the Sovereign Grand Commander and the Lieutenant Grand Commander. The rest of the Worcester Group were sat with the Devonshire contingent so many tales told of Dr. John.

A great and grand day for Gerry and we offer our congratulations to him.

On Friday 31^st May 2024, the Inspector General and District Recorder were warmly welcomed to the Chapter for their annual Enthronement meeting. 

With the unfortunate absence due to retirement of the MWS, III\Bro V Fogarty 32°, opened the Chapter. After confirming and approving the Minutes of the previous meeting, the next item was to Ballot for, as a joining member, V\III\Bro Dr R N Hoare 33°, a Former Inspector General for the District of Worcestershire. It was a very close call, nevertheless, the Chapter warmly welcomed their new member and are so delighted to have him on board. 

III\Bro C Hart 30° was then Enthroned as MWS of the Chapter by III\Bro Fogarty 32°, in a most impressive and enjoyable manner.

On completion of the Enthronement, the Inspector General gave a delightful address to the Princes of the Chapter. 

The new MWS completed the remainder of the business, carried out the Third Point and Closed the Chapter. Everyone then retired to the refectory to enjoy a hearty dinner completing a super evening.

Are you thinking about your next step in freemasonry? Around the world, the second largest order after the Craft is the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite, consisting of thirty-three degrees. In England and Wales it is known as the Ancient and Accepted Rite, and is often referred to as ‘Rose Croix’, because candidates join at the 18th degree, which has the formal title Prince Rose Croix of Heredom.

Building on what you have learnt in the three Craft degrees and the Royal Arch, the 18° ceremony considers the principles of brotherly love, relief and truth through deeper philosophical and spiritual teachings, guiding candidates towards a greater understanding of themselves and their connection to the universe. It is a ceremony unlike any other in freemasonry, and is often described by candidates as their most profound experience since Initiation.

As the Royal Arch draws on themes from the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), so the 18° draws upon various books of the New Testament, but you no longer have to be a Christian in order to join: the Order is now open to all Master Masons who will be of at least six months’ standing at the time of their ‘Perfection’, as the joining ceremony is known. The ritual uses the life and teachings of Jesus to illustrate masonic virtues, which Christians will recognise as the basis of their own faith, but these virtues are shared by all the major world religions and the teachings are of contemporary relevance to all, regardless of their faith.

Most Rose Croix chapters meet only three times a year, so membership is not a significant addition to your current masonic commitments, and the dues are among the lowest of any masonic Order. The regalia of the 18° consists only of a beautiful collar and jewel.

Interested? To find out more, please contact Lindsay (Taff) Hill, District Recorder of the District of Worcestershire at taff.hill@yahoo.co.uk , and he will be delighted to give you further details.

On Wednesday 15^th May 2024 the Inspector General and District Recorder received a warm welcome to the Chapter for their annual ‘business’ meeting. 

Immediately after Opening the Chapter, the Recorder read the Dispensation authorising the change of date for the meeting. The reason for the change was to allow several members of the Chapter to attend the Centenary celebrations of All Saints Chapter RC No 217 in the neighbouring district of Staffordshire & Shropshire. 

The Minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed and III\Bro Robert Bennett 30°, was elected as the MWS for the ensuing year, III\Bro Peter Marks 30°, re-elected as Treasurer for the ensuing year, and the in-coming Generals were elected as the two account examiners.

Following the Third Point and Closing the Chapter, members retired to the Refectory where we were joined by 3 Master Masons who were given a very brief description and welcome to our beautiful Order by the Inspector General. Another fine dinner in super company was enjoyed by all.

Monday 14^th May 2024, the Inspector General and District Recorder received a very warm welcome to the Chapter, however in such sad circumstances. Unfortunately, this was to be the very last meeting for the Chapter. Due to circumstance beyond their control, it was to surrender its Warrant, and dispose of its Assets.

Immediately after opening the Chapter, the Chapter Recorder gave a Eulogy for III Bro Paul Woodward 30°, who sadly lost his battle with illness and passed to the Grand Chapter Above on 25^th March 2024. Paul was also to be the very last Most Wise Sovereign of the Chapter.

After approving the Minutes of the previous meeting and before the formal transaction of the business for the proposals for the Chapter closure process, the Inspector General presented a Supreme Council Certificate to E&P Bro Graham Lloyd in his usual delightful and informative manner. 

On completion of the Third Point, the Immediate Past Sovereign closed the Chapter for the final time. The rest of the evening spent in Harmony and Brotherly Love in the dining room with a wonderful roast beef dinner enjoyed by all.

On behalf of the District of Worcestershire, huge thanks to all St Edmund King & Martyr members for their kind generosity and consideration in the disposal of their Assets. We wish them well and hope that they will soon find alternative arrangements to continue to enjoy our beautiful Order.

On Friday 3^rd May 2024, 26 members and visitors including the District Recorder assembled for the Enthronement meeting. It was very pleasing indeed to see half of those present were wearing red collars.

After singing the opening hymn and opening the Chapter, the MWS gave a moving eulogy to E&P Bro Phillip E Read 18°, who sadly passed to the Grand Chapter Above on Monday 15^th April 2024.

After receiving the Minutes of the St Dunstan Chapter meeting held 100 years ago, The District Recorder had the honour and pleasure of presenting a Supreme Council Certificate to E&P Bro William J Hoe 18°.

The next item on the Agenda, the MWS, E&P Bro Bill Tucker 18°, Enthroned E&P Bro Phillip Abram 18°, in a most impressive, relaxed, and dignified manner. An Enthronement which Sovereigns both past & present would have been most proud.

The incoming MWS appointed and invested his Officers with the authority of their office, again in a most delightful, relaxed and at times, humorous way……… 

The Enthronement ceremony was completed with an Address to the Princes of the Chapter by the District Recorder.

On completion of the remainder of the Business, the new MWS conducted Third Point for his first time, in a very competent and impressive manner. The MWS closed the Chapter and everyone retired to the refectory and the rest of the evening spent in Harmony and Brotherly Love and enjoyed a super dinner. 

A wonderful evening had by all.

Also on Wednesday 1^st May 2024 some 16 members of the Order including the Inspector General, met at Rainbow Hill for the Enthronement meeting of the Chapter.

Due to circumstances III\Bro Maurice A. Hume, 32° was Proclaimed in the Chair for a second year.

Having thanked the Chapter for their continued confidence the MWS then appointed and invested his Officers with the authority of their office. Again, unfortunately due to ill health or work commitments a number of elected Officers were unable to attend but thanks to the support of Visitors all posts were filled for the evening.

The Chapter were then provided with an excellent Presentation of parts of the revised ritual, namely the Intermediate Degrees and Second Point including the Collar Jewel and Signs, by the Worcestershire team of the MRCCI accompanied by a commentary from the Inspector General. This was received with acclaim.

Following the conducting of the Third Point the Chapter was closed and the assembled company retired to the Refectory for a very pleasant evening meal.

The Chapter met on Wednesday 1^st May 2024 with some 15 members of the Order present, including the District Recorder.

The Business of the Chapter was to have included a Perfection ceremony and Enthronement but unfortunately the Candidate for Perfection was taken poorly the night before the meeting. The Perfection will now take pride of place on the Agenda at the July meeting.

Meanwhile prior his Enthronement, E&P Bro Richard Noakes 18°, gave a demonstration of the Intermediate Degrees.  The MWS, III\Bro S Cameron 30°, then performed a most impressive Enthronement ceremony, placing E&P Bro Noakes into the Chair. The new MWS then invested and appointed his Officers after which the District Recorder gave the Address to the Princes of the Chapter.

On completion of the remainder of the Business and the Third Point, the MWS closed the Chapter. 

Due to being unable to dine at the centre on this occasion, the members retired to enjoy a very pleasant Curry at a local Indian Restaurant.