Annual Convocation of Provincial
Grand Chapter of North Wales

Grand Superintendent's Address

Companions welcome to you all and also a special welcome to our honoured guests especially the Second Grand Principal, Companion George Pipon Francis. I will be very brief this morning as I wish to give the Second Grand Principal time to address us and show us the way forward in this beautiful degree.

During the last year I visited a number of Chapters and took a team of Provincial Officers with me. Both the Second and Third Principals also visited. We saw a lot of good things and were welcomed on all occasions. I will be visiting again this year with a Provincial team to mark the importance of the Royal Arch.

There is some sloppy work to be seen, but fortunately only rarely. I ask all Directors of Ceremonies to tighten up on the movements and prompting that takes place. Make the entrance of the Principals really dignified, this is really important. The conduct in the Chapter reflects the attitude of the Companions and either impresses or puts off new comers.

Make use of the new Companions, give them small parts of the work to do. Many Chapters already do this.
All should.

Our membership is declining but not greatly at present. We should be alive to the fact that we have a significant potential membership namely those Master Masons who have not yet joined, this in fact would double the number of Companions we now have. So what are you doing about it? If you become alive to that source make sure that only those who are willing to work after joining are brought into the degree.

The leaders of the other Orders in this Province know my views and I thank them for the excellent co-operation I receive from them. Chapter comes first, then the other Orders. One of the other Orders will not accept a Brother unless he is a Companion also. That indicates Chapter´s importance surely. We have a lot of work to do.

I thank all who have worked hard in Royal Arch, those Companions who quietly set up and pull down, those who are ready to step in and all the Companions who turn out. I thank my Deputy and my Second and Third Grand Principals for their labour. Their support of me has been remarkable as has the advice they have given.

I congratulate all those who were promoted and appointed today and feel confident that they will all double their efforts. Mind you if they don´t I´sll want to know why. I wish you all well and trust that you receive great enjoyment from this Degree.

I am pleased to announce that the following Companions were appointed to be Officers of Supreme Grand Chapter
E.Comp. John Adam Nelson, PGStB
E.Comp. Peter John Sorahan, PGStB and
E.Comp. Allan Edgar Powell was promoted to the rank of PAGSoj.

I thank all who have worked to prepare this Venue to-day, all who have visited Chapters on my behalf and especially the team that visited Chapters with me.

I thank the Provincial Scribe Ezra and his excellent office staff. They have worked unbelievably hard. Thank you all Companions also for your support.

Companions, we are very lucky to have in attendance as I mentioned earlier this morning the Second Grand Principal. We are all aware of the excellent work undertaken by him in his report on Grand Chapter. It was refreshing and to my mind a timely reminder of the relationship between Royal Arch and Craft Masonry. I now have great pleasure in calling upon the Second Grand Principal to address us.

 • Approved by United Grand Lodge of England • 

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