arena T
he Annual Convocation of Metropolitan Grand Chapter was
held at Great Queen Street on 11th April and despite the inclement weather, hosted a considerable number of Royal Arch Companions with a large number of official guests from Supreme Grand Chapter and the Provinces. The Convocation was opened by The Metropolitan Grand Superintendent, Russell Race, at 10.45 and he bid all Companions a warm welcome including the former Metropolitan Grand Superintendent, E. Comp The Lord Millett. The Metropolitan Grand Superintendent was then delighted to receive The Most Excellent Pro First Grand Principal Peter Geoffrey Lowndes who was offered the sceptre but declined and returned it with good humour. The presentation of those receiving honours was conducted in a most impressive manner and the officers of Metropolitan Grand Chapter performed their duties with the skill and efficiency that the assembly deserved. In all there were 78 Companions honoured with Senior London Grand Chapter Rank, 170 with London Grand Chapter Rank and 4 Companions were awarded London Chapter Rank, all of whom were congratulated by the other Companions in attendance. The minutes and accounts were
presented and approved with a vote of thanks to the Auditors for their work. David Thompson having been re-elected as Metropolitan Grand Treasurer announced that there would be a small increase in the annual dues of £0.10 to £3.40 inclusive of VAT from 1st. October 2013. The Metropolitan Grand Superintendent was then pleased to receive a representative from Euclid
SUMMER 2013
Chapter of First Principals No 7464, who had made an outstanding contribution to the Cyber Knife Appeal. The Metropolitan Grand Superintendent then paid tribute to the out-going MetGDC Simon Duckworth for his excellent service in the discharge of his duties and congratulated him on his new role as an AMetGSupt. E. Comp Patrick “Paddy” Penny was then invested as the new MetGDC to coincide with his role as such in the Craft. The Metropolitan Grand
Superintendent expressed his own very personal thanks to E. Comp Derrick Silver, PGSwdB, for his contribution as an Assistant Metropolitan Grand Superintendent and although Derrick would be stepping down from that role he would continue to work as hard as ever on various other projects. E. Comps. Simon Duckworth and Paul Calderwood were then invested as AMetGSupts. Russell Race paid tribute to those that had served the Metropolitan Grand Chapter over recent years and encouraged the newly appointed MetGInsps, Peter Cook, Richard Gardiner, Chris McDonald and Ian Sabin to continue the high standards that had been set. Metropolitan Grand Chapter “active” Officers for the year were then invested. A number of new Companions exalted in the preceding year, were then presented, each of whom was greeted in person by The Metropolitan Grand Superintendent. The Metropolitan Grand
Superintendent then gave his address to the Companions present in which he congratulated all those who had received honours on the day and enjoined them to continue to maintain the hard work that they
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had done so far. He urged all Royal Arch Lodge Representatives to be as active as possible and develop the Royal Arch for all Craft Masons. With the approach of the Bi-Centenary of the Royal Arch, he highlighted that there would be a number of celebratory events, including a convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter on the afternoon of 16 October 2013 with a special demonstration of the Aldersgate exaltation ceremony, by a team from the Metropolitan Grand Stewards Chapter, in the morning. Companions were encouraged to support both. The Convocation was closed at
13.00 and the National Anthem was sung in good voice by all the Companions. There was the usual waiting in line at the cloakroom for coats, cases and umbrellas but everyone was in good temper, as the weather had improved since the morning, and many companions filled Great Queen Street as they headed home or to the Grand Connaught Rooms to celebrate with lunch. Unfortunately, there was a disastrous small fire and consequent alarm which necessitated the evacuation of all those lunching - and before pudding too! Despite the Companions' good temper having been somewhat tested by this, the day closed, as ever, with warm feelings towards the Holy Royal Arch.
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