A DIFFERENT EVENING AT 1966 – April 2023

At the April meeting of Fidelity and Sincerity in Wellington the summons was scheduled for the Opening, Minutes, Notice of Motion, then a presentation of the Historical and Symbolical Lectures to be given in catechetical form, Election of Principals and Treasurer, etc.

E Comp Chris Waterhouse opened the Chapter with the assistance of E Comp Chris Summers, H, and E Comp Duncan Sully-Dunbar. He then welcomed our three guests. Minutes of the last convocation were approved. E comp Keith Smith gave the Almoners report, it was nice to see Keith back in the Chapter.

E Comp Adrian Halliwell, Treasurer, proposed that the subs for the next Masonic Year should be raised to £40, which was duly seconded and passed.

The Two Lectures were given under the direction of J, for the Historical, and H, for the Symbolical. Rather than get companions to learn these, each received a passage to read, thus bringing new and old companions to feel no pressure being given to assist in the ritual.

The Principals and Treasurer according to RA Regulation 48 E Comp Chris Summers as MEZ, Duncan Sully-Dunbar as H and Comp Alan Clayton as J and E Comp Adrian Halliwell as Treasurer, despite raising the subs! were duly confirmed.

As there was plenty of time before the Festive Board was due an interesting discussion, led by E Comp Chris Summers, with his Prov DC hat on, about the recruitment and retention of people in the Royal Arch. How to get more interested from the Craft; how to keep them interested in being a Companion; and how to encourage those that had left to return; from their reasons for leaving, was there a way to resolve those issues and get them back. Is the ritual over complicated? could it be split more? Chris did mention the “Savage Ritual” being looked by Supreme Grand Chapter! There were plenty of people wishing to comment, visitors and members, which continued for about half an hour. Well worth the time.

The Chapter was closed and Companions retired for the Festive Board.