The Provincial DC and the rest of the DC team are always happy to answer questions but hope the Guide is useful.

The Guidelines can be downloaded here Royal Arch Festive Board Seating Guidance Notes

This is to be presented by the renowned Masonic Historian and Raconteur
W Bro & E Comp Robert Giles Russell, PJGD, PAGSoj, (author of “The History of Freemasonry in Warwickshire” et al) on Tuesday 14th February at 6.30pm at The Clarendon Suites, Stirling Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham.

This unique presentation will take place following a short convocation of the Chapter of Fortitude (opening at 5.30pm, which all Royal Arch Companions are very welcome to attend) and will be followed by dinner (cost £24, including wine) at which W Bro Russell will give further anecdotes, and answer questions. 

Menu:
Herb Crusted Field Mushroom filled with Leek and Stilton
Homemade Steak and Kidney Pie
Bread & Butter Pudding
Coffee/Tea                          Cost: £24.00

PLEASE BOOK (by email, telephone or post) WITH THE CHAPTER SCRIBE EZRA E Comp Peter Wellings, email peter@wellings.me.uk tel: 07973 135761 or 0121 706 2495
If dining please send cheque (£24, pay Chapter of Fortitude No. 43) to:
Peter Wellings, 15 Chestnut Close, Solihull B92 7DS 

A beautiful country church is historic grounds

The Provincial Grand Chaplain for Staffordshire, E Comp Rev Stephen Wright will again lead the service in his uplifting manner and the Choir under the direction of the Provincial Organist, E Comp Roy Marshal will enhance the occasion with their wonderful music.  

Afternoon tea will be served as usual at The Kings Court Hotel and will round off a superb Royal Arch afternoon of convivial companionship.  Application forms have been sent to all Chapter Scribe Es and can be downloaded here. Calling Notice for 2012 Church Service 25th March 2012

A key item is the programme for a celebratory Convocation on 16th October 2013. There will be a lunch in the Grand Connaught Rooms, followed by the Convocation to be held later in the afternoon in the Grand Temple, in the presence of the First Grand Principal, followed by a guest dinner to be hosted by him at The Savoy Hotel in the evening. Details of who will be able to attend each event will be communicated by the Grand Superintendent, in due course.

Another important element in the programme is a fund raising exercise over the next three years to provide a permanent reminder of the celebrations. The amount raised will be used to create a Research Fund for the benefit of the Royal College of Surgeons, which is to be administered at no extra cost alongside the Craft’s 250th Anniversary Fund for the purposes of research by the Royal College. A presentation by members of the Royal College about their research work, was given at the November 2010 Convocation at which the Royal Arch Masons 2013 Bicentenary Appeal for the benefit of their Surgical Research Fellowship Scheme was launched.

Grand Lodge has always supported the Royal College since its foundation in 1800 and, more specifically, since the 250th Fund was set up in 1967 to provide support for the Fellowship Scheme. The Appeal will reinforce Supreme Grand Chapter’s support for this vital work, bearing in mind that the Royal College is a registered charity, receives no direct funding from the NHS, and relies heavily on voluntary contributions; it is fair to say that this is how they prefer to operate.

A Relief Chest with the Grand Charity has been opened into which all donations will go. The aim over the next three years or so, is to raise a minimum of £10.00 from every Companion; which is a little over £3 a year, and would raise more than one million pounds. Gift Aid will be able to be claimed on individual donations, so we hope that Chapter donations will incorporate this additional amount. Leaflets will be distributed to all members through Freemasonry Today, and to every Companion by London, Province or District.

The final Fund will be overseen by Supreme Grand Chapter, through appointed Trustees, and used to provide specific Research Fellowships in the same tried and tested way as the 250th Anniversary Fund and at no extra cost. This will, in due course, be of benefit all Royal Arch Masons, or those near and dear to them.

Further announcements will follow confirming the arrangements for this new fund.  Copies of the leaflet issued by Supreme Grand Chapter can be downloaded here.

All who attended agreed that it had been a lovely night with good companionship!

The next meeting of the Chapter will be on Monday 18th June 2012.

After paying tribute to his contribution to the Province and he was pleased to confirm that E. Comp. Rex J. Lowin, PGStB. would continue as Deputy Grand Superintendent. 

The current Provincial Grand Haggai, E. Comp. Stephen J Fowler, PGStB. who has held his current office for two years and has fulfilled twelve years continuous service in Provincial office will retire and in his stead E. Comp. John F. Norman, PGStB PProvGJ will be appointed as Provincial Second Grand Principal.

This was the 50th Anniversary of the Principal’s Dinner and as part of the celebration a Demonstration of the Ceremony of the Veils had been arranged, led by the Provincial Grand Joshua, E. Comp. Fred Coldrick and performed by the Provincial Officers.

After a fine dinner the ME Grand Superintendent commenced hyis speech which reported on the state of Royal Arch masonry in Warwickshire.  Whilst the Province was in good heart, the trend of reducing numbers of members is continuing and the number of Royal Arch Companions had fallen below 1,500 for the first time which has an impact on the number of Provincial Acting Appointments that can be granted.  There were still two thirds of the Craft Masons in our Lodges who were not members of the Royal Arch.

The Strategy Committee and Lodge Representatives Committee were working hard to develop new initiatives and material such as booklets and leaflets to promote membership.  However, these did not on their own generate enquiries from Companions wanting to join the Royal Arch.  The most valuable method is still by personal contact with potential members and he encouraged everyone attending to identify and approach a possible candidate.

After finishing his address by confirming the names of the new Provincial Principals for the next Masonic year (reported seperately), he closed and then a broad range of questions were posed and answered by the Provincial RA Executive.

A good night, with good food, good company and a real feeling of Companionship!

This being the 50th Anniversary of the Dinner the ME Grand Superintendent wanted to make it a special occasion and invited the Provincial Second Grand Principal E Comp Fred Coldrick to lead a team of Provincial Officers and perform, in the Main Temple, a Demonstration of the Ceremony of the Veils prior to the commencement of the Dinner. This Ceremony, normally only to be seen in Bristol, has recently been authorised by Supreme Grand Chapter for performing in Provinces, but only under the strict supervision of the Grand Superintendent.  The cermony is based on the workings from Bristol, Ireland and the USA and enables Companions to see this colourful and interesting cermony which is a preliminary to an Exaltation.

E Comp Brian Holdsworth had worked in conjunction with the Provincial DC, E Comp David Shakeshaft to design and create a large wooden structure to represent the entrance to the Temple which added to the drama of the ceremony. 

Such was the interest amongst the Warwickshire Companions that the Main Temple was packed with a total of nearly 200 attendees.  After an introduction and explanation by the Deputy Grand Superintendent, E Comp Rex Lowin of what was about to be seen, the ceremony was performed with great dignity and aplomb to the enjoyment of all who were there.

This was an excellent event, of great interest and will not be repeated for some years.

ME Comp George Pipon Francis

The General Chapter of Instruction Festival has had many distinguished Presidents over the years and that tradition has been maintained with the news, announced at the Principals’ Dinner, that the Second Grand Principal, ME Comp George Pipon Francis has accepted the ME Grand Superintendent’s invitation to preside at the 2012 Festival.  This is somewhat of a coup for Warwickshire and the acclaim from the Companions present at the Principals’ Dinner when the visit was announced by the Grand Superintendent was confirmation that he will receive a very warm welcome.

To fit in with the Second Grand Principal’s other Masonic commitments the date for the Festival has moved from 18^th April 2012 to the new date of Tuesday 8^th May 2012.  Application forms for this very special event have been issued to Chapter Scribe Es and are also available for download here.  2012 General Chapter of Instruction Application Form

All Companions especially Grand Officers and Chapter Principals are encouraged to support this event to ensure all Chapters in the Province are represented.  ME Comp
Francis at his last visit to Warwickshire was especially keen to meet with as many Companions as possible and no doubt his informal “walkabout”  before dinner will be repeated.  He is particularly interested in the views of all members of the Royal Arch and this occasion will give attendees the opportunity to meet and discuss Royal Arch matters. 

The Festival is as usual a demonstration of the Warwickshire working of the ceremony of Exaltation, by Companions of the Province below the rank of Chapter Principal, all of whom are drawn from several different Chapters.  The demonstration is particularly relevant to newer members of the Order as well as all those who hold office in their own Chapter.  It is important that the participants are Companions and all MEZs are therefore requested to encourage those Companions below the Principal Chairs to consider participating.  Do contact E Comp David Butterworth, the GCOI Preceptor, who will be interested in talking to any Companions who wish to take part.

The ME Grand Superintendent hopes that support by Companions of the Province will be at its usual high level and all Chapters represented.  

Bookings can be made via the Scribe E, E. Comp N.T. Malden on 0121 308 5735.

Companions at the RA Reps Meeting

Nearly 50 Lodge RA Reps attended the Annual Meeting at Stirling Road when E Comp Steve Fowler, the Provincial Second Grand Principal gave details of the relaunch of the Representatives Scheme under his Chairmanship.  The objective is to re energise the Lodge Reps scheme and give it a new emphasis including new material to help support the recruitment of Companions into the Royal Arch.

He reviewed the items that were the main points raised by the attendees at last year’s Reps  meeting where a refreshed website, new leaflets and better communication were the key requirements.  He then gave details of the new support material that was available, showed the new RA reps Quarterly briefing note that would be issued and the updated booklet Guide for Lodge Royal Arch Representatives.  This in particular was based on good practice from many Lodge Reps which were brought together to provide ideas for explaining the Royal Arch to Brethren and interesting them enough for them to join.

Amongst the new items distributed was a RA Reps Job Description to clarify what was expected of those whom the Lodges had chosen as their RA Reps. The suggested description came as a surprise to some but most agreed it was a useful reminder.

The new Royal Arch Website was demonstrated by the Provincial Scribe E, John Handley who explained that this was a new site built on a different Web platform than previously which gave the ability for nominated Companions to add articles and downloads as well as photos, links etc.  This would keep the site fresh and would become the place where details of all Provincial events would be available and forms, guidance notes, etc could be available for download.

This was a useful meeting which was disappointing only in the number of Lodge RA Reps who were not represented by the nominated Representative or a substitute.  This is something which will be addressed during the next year and hopefully result in more active participation.  A summary of the meeting content and the new material will be sent toi all Lodge Reps not in attendance.