Author: Taff Hill

Monday 11th March 2024, the Inspector General and District Recorder received a warm welcome to the Chapter for their annual ‘business’ meeting. E&P Bro M Gohil 18° was elected as the MWS, and E&P Bro J Pegler re-elected as Treasurer for the ensuing year.

Ill\Bro A Bretherton 30° had the honour and pleasure of presenting the Immediate Past Sovereign Jewel to III\Bro J Pritchard 30°. 

On completion of the Third Point and after closing the Chapter, E&P Bro J Pegler 18° delivered a most interesting and comprehensive talk entitled ‘In the Beginning’ which was very enjoyable indeed. The rest of the evening spent in Harmony and Brotherly Love in the dining Room whilst enjoying a most delightful evening meal.

On Monday 4^th March 2024 the Inspector General and District Recorder enjoyed a very entertaining and relatively short meeting.

As an additional item on the Agenda, the Inspector General presented the Chapter with a transcript of all the changes contained in the 2024 Ritual. An excellent presentation indeed.On completion of the Third Point the members retired to the Refectory to enjoy another fine dinner.

27 February 2024

On Tuesday 27th February 2024 with some 17 members in attendance including the Inspector General and District Recorder, the Chapter held it annual ‘business’ meeting which saw the Most Wise Sovereign elected to remain in the Chair for a second year. An additional item on the Agenda was an interesting and informative presentation by the Inspector General entitled The Words of the 18°.

On completion of the Third Point, members retired for dinner which included a delightful cold meats, salad and hot new potatoes, followed by a raspberry tart and ice cream.

A lovely, relaxed, and enjoyable meeting in very good company.

On Tuesday 13^th February Ill\Bro Trevor Still, in company with the Inspector General, attended the Grand East for the Higher Degrees Meeting where he was Installed as a Knight Kadosh 30°, in an excellent ceremony conducted by the Members of the Supreme Council, 33°.

Ill\Bro Trevor was awarded his promotion in the summer of last year but work commitments prevented him from attending at an earlier date.

And more congratulations………………….

Congratulations also go to Ill\Bro Royston Foster 30°,  who has been elected to the 31° and will be Installed at Grand East on 9^th July. Both Royston & Trevor are members of St. Dunstan Chapter No. 12. Ill\Bro. Trevor being MWS in 2021 and Ill\Bro Royston is the Senior MWS having been in the Chair in 2001.

On Friday 2^nd February some 100+ members, including the Sovereign Grand Commander and 7 members of the Supreme Council, 33° of the Ancient and Accepted Rite (Rose Croix), mustered in Number One Lodge Room at Kings Heath, under the Banner of Evesham Chapter No.994, for the Installation of V\Ill\ Bro. Ian M Fothergill 33°, as the Inspector General for the District of Worcestershire.

The Most Wise Sovereign of Evesham Chapter, E & P Bro. Stan Brotherton, 18° Opened the Meeting, the Dispensation was read, and The Sovereign Grand Commander, Most\Puissant\Brother John Boyington, CBE, 33° and his team entered in procession under the leadership of the Grand Director of Ceremonies and duly opened a Supreme Council Chapter. An escort was formed to conduct the Inspector General Designate in Charge into the room and the Sovereign Grand Commander, and his team conducted the ceremony of Installation in their own immaculate way.

Following the Installation the Grand Secretary General conducted the Third Point on conclusion of which the members of the Supreme Council, the visiting eight Inspectors General and the new incumbent retired. The Chapter was closed, and some 80 members retired to the Refectory for a first-class Lunch. The new Inspector General was presented with an embossed and engraved pewter box by the Sovereign Grand Commander and in addition a magnificent glass Ghurkha Kukri filled with Gurkhali Rum was presented to him by Ill\Bro. Maurice Hume, 32°

In response to his Toast, the Inspector General presented the Sovereign Grand Commander and the Grand Secretary General with two of Worcestershire’s finest products, a bottle of the Provincial Sauce and an Evesham Design piece of Worcester Porcelain.

It was a truly remarkable and memorable day.

Thursday 1st February 2024. With some 20 members in attendance including the IG Designate, the Chapter were once again able to conduct a Perfection Ceremony to receive W. Bro. Mark Thevassayan Halliah, the son of Stanley Halliah who joined the Chapter last December. 

It is perhaps interesting to note that in both the Craft and Royal Arch it was Mark who introduced his father.

The MWS and members of the Chapter once again conducted a first-class ceremony, following which the annual Elections took place and E.& P. Bro. John G. Randle, 18° was declared as MWS Designate.

On completion of the Third Point the members retired to the Refectory to enjoy another of their preferred very good “Black Country” meals of Soup, followed by Faggots, Mushy Peas, and Chips.

It was another excellent evening of Rose Croix Masonry.

The Chapter held their first Regular meeting of the new year on Saturday 27^th January 2024.

Immediately after opening the Chapter Eulogies were given in respect of III Bro Allan Jinks 31°, and III Bro David William Old 31°.

A very interesting and informative paper entitled ‘Grand Patrons of the Order’ was given by V III Bro S W Fowler 33°, Inspector General for the District of Warwickshire and a Past Sovereign of the Chapter. The Most Wise Sovereign closed the Chapter and the rest of the afternoon spent in Harmony and Brotherly Love in the dining room.

The Chapter held the first Regular meeting of the new year on Friday 26^th January 2024.

After opening the Chapter and approving the Minutes, the main item on the Agenda was to hold comprehensive discussion regarding the immediate future and meeting options for the Chapter and the election of Officers for the May meeting.The Immediate Past Sovereign closed the Chapter and the rest of the evening spent in Harmony and Brotherly Love in the dining room.

The Chapter held their first Regular meeting of the new year on Monday 25^th January 2024.

Immediately after opening the Chapter Eulogies were given in respect of III Bro J C Jones 30°, and III Bro M J Bartels 30°.

The main items on the Agenda was to elect the MWS and Treasurer for the ensuing year. Once again at the first rising, the Inspector General Designate gave details of the forthcoming changes within the Order which was very well received.

The Regular meeting of the Bordesley Abbey Chapter took place on Monday 22nd January 2024 with 12 members of the Order present, including the Inspector General Designate in Charge.

The main labour of the evening was the Perfection of Bro Daren Field which proved to be a very well conducted Ceremony. Particularly worthy of mention was the delivery of the Intermediate Degrees by E& P Bro. Steven Roadley, and the MWS did a first class job in conducting the remainder of the Ceremony. Ill. Bro. Derek Taylor presented the Collar, Jewel and Signs in his own inimitable fashion.

Due to numbers, there was no Refectory but a small group enjoyed a very pleasant Curry in an Indian Restaurant close by.

All in all a first class Rose Croix evening.