Calderley Chapter 2nd March 2020

This was the first meeting of Calderley at Clevedon since it’s Consecration. The three Principals entered the Chapter, E comps Keith Fisher as Z, Ray Beckingham as H and John Bennett as J, standing in for Matt Wesley who was in hospital.

When the Chapter was opened E Comp Ray Conneely, PrDepDC, announced that the Chapter was to be honoured by the presence of E Comp Barry Woodside, MEGS.

Following a Notice of Motion given by E Comp John Bennett the Past Prov Grand Masters, Rulers of other degrees were balloted for Honorary Membership. The ballot proved clear and those companions were made Honorary Members. E Comp Ray Johnstone-Smith, Inspector General of the Ancient and Accepted Rite, thanked the companions for that honour.

Next item was to Induct the three Principals, E Comp Ray Beckingham as MEZ, Matt Westley, could not be inducted, E Comp Richard Ellis acted in his absence as H, and E Comp Chris Summers as J. The Principals then reappointed many of the Officers and those others taking Officers were presented with their collars. MEGS gave the Address to the Principals.

MEGS then took the chair of Z and proceeded to advise that needed to be increased and charged the CLOs to try and get those unattached Companions to rejoin. There are some 558 unattached in Somerset. Of course there are many reasons why they wish to be unattached: age; ability; financial plus many other. A working group has been set up to look into this headed by yE Comps Chris Moore and Clive Lambert. Chris is looking into the status of these companions, where they live, why they resigned and how to approach them, then the Project can get started, Interesting point made by E Comp John Bennett was that though you may resign from a Chapter one is still a Companion, to resign fully you must return your Chapter Certificate to Supreme Grand Chapter. Also you have to be a subscribing member of the Craft to be a Companion in the HRA. The aim is for Retrieval and recovery. Though it is not wholly the CLOs to undertake this task but on every companion to assist.

MEGS then returned the Sceptre to MEZ and the chapter was closed with companions heading for a very convivial Festive Board.

Apologies for the lateness of this report but I have been away.

Adrian Halliwell
Provincial Liaison Officer