ARMCHAIR COMPANIONS

Comments to:chaptercomms@ekprovince.co.uk

ARMCHAIR COMPANIONS

Brethren and Companions,

I am delighted to welcome you to this supplement to the Provincial Magazine which contains many articles of interest, opinion and facts that I am certain you will find to be an enjoyable read.

We now have a very good indication of when we can start to resume our meetings and if all goes to plan, we will soon be back on track. During the worst parts of the ‘lockdowns’ and the various restrictions on our lives in general, I have been impressed by the way in which the Craft and Royal Arch in East Kent have addressed the challenges we have faced, not least in ensuring that we continue to maintain contact and communicate with each other. The Provincial magazine and its digital versions are very effective ways of doing that by informing and entertaining readers with topics that might otherwise not have covered in the normal course of events.

I am extremely grateful for the work undertaken so willingly and effectively by all concerned with the publications, from those who have written articles, those who prepared the publications and those involved with its graphics and distribution. I am sure you will agree, once you have read through this Provincial Lite Supplement, that we owe a debt of thanks to those individuals for a publication of such quality that has undoubtedly taken time and effort to achieve.

The impact of Covid-19 will remain with us for some time to come but in the meantime I trust that you, your families, friends and acquaintances will remain safe and, for our Brethren and Companions, that you look forward with as much eagerness as me to the day we can say “normal business has been resumed”.

Neil Johnstone

Provincial Grand Master Grand Superintendent.

Armchair Companions.

For the avid reader of Provincial Lite this magazine can be considered as your ‘Sunday Supplement’, more views than news, a light read for that quiet afternoon in the armchair during lockdown, with only a hint of bias towards Chapter.

Can I firstly thank all the contributors, without whom there would not be a magazine and secondly thank the help from the Provincial Communications team especially the editor of the Provincial Lite and the website Manager, who have both written articles, and of course the support from the Chapter Provincial Executive.

The idea of a supplement sprang from a conversation between myself and the Provincial Editor before last Christmas, about the limited content in the printed edition of the Provincial and what difficult choices he had to make when choosing articles.

I hope this supplement brings together the importance of the family of masonry, the indissoluble link between Craft and Chapter, but also its links to the wide masonic community introducing articles on Rose Croix and the Allied Degree.

The hint of bias towards Chapter, is of course to encourage every brother to take that important step and become a Royal Arch Mason.

I hope you enjoy the issue.

Chris Sanford

S o , wh y s h o u l d e v e r y M a s t e r M a s o n j o i n t h e R o y a l A r c h ?

The Royal Arch is a very special order in Freemasonry, one which we hope all Freemasons will wish to join. Craft masonry gives us a sound and moral and spiritual framework which exhorts us to improve our relationships with those around us and to practice our three grand principles of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. The Craft Degrees use the temple building, its architecture and aspects of operative masonry as the framework for the teaching of this moral code and to encourage us to commence building a spiritual temple in our hearts. Finally, we are exhorted to discover more about ourselves. The Royal Arch takes this further and makes all that has been presented in the craft complete and perfect in a beautiful and inspiring ceremony. The language, symbolism and teachings of the Exaltation ceremony, (the admission of a new Royal Arch mason), are profound, colourful and spiritual and considerably enrich all that has gone before in the craft. There is a very different, mystical atmosphere in a Royal Arch Chapter. The Royal Arch is very closely aligned with the Craft and is the “next step” for Master Masons and the culmination of pure and ancient masonry. Progress through the Royal Arch completes an individual's journey through Freemasonry. It also opens the doors to becoming a member of a number of additional degrees and orders. Master Masons are, therefore, actively encouraged to become members of the Royal Arch in order to further develop and enrich their understanding of Freemasonry The Royal Arch is more commonly known as 'Chapter'. Whereas Craft Masons meet in a Lodge, Royal Arch Masons meet in a Chapter and are known as “Companions. ” Some Chapters are attached to a Craft Lodge and the name and number is taken from that Lodge. Members are distinguished by the Jewel that they wear on the left breast, the colour of the ribbon varying in accordance with their rank.

For More information about Membership of the

Holy Royal Arch, Contact :-

Pat King 2nd Provincial Grand Principal

Tel 01622 765758

Mob 07940 598917

WHY SHOULD BRETHERN TAKE THE NEXT STEP? The preliminary Declaration in the Book of Constitutions states that: "Pure Ancient Masonry consists of Three Degrees and no more, viz; those of The Entered Apprentice, The Fellow Craft and The Master Mason, including the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch." We therefore consider that Core Freemasonry consist of four interdependent steps:

1) Entered Apprentice 2) Fellow Craft 3) Master Mason 4) Royal Arch Companion

E-mail patrickking@sky.com

From light blue to Red

David Graeme

I am honoured to be the President of the East Kent Light Blues Brothers (EKLBB) and thoroughly enjoy the enthusiasm and camaraderie within the Club. It is such a pity that our activities are curtailed now due to the Covid-19 epidemic as we had built up huge momentum prior to the various lockdowns. Nevertheless, we are still working in the background to keep the impetus going and I, personally, am very much looking forward to when we can get back to some form of normality and pursue some of the planned events.

With Freemasonry very much on hold at present it is probably the right time to plan and research various options available to us once the green light goes back on. A few of you probably know I belong to Holy Royal Arch (also referred to as ‘Chapter’) and some other degrees such as the Red Cross of Constantine, Rose Croix and Mark. All these, amongst others, throw new light on our rituals and complement each other. Some are explanations of the missing parts of Craft Masonry and others expand the stories. Of the degrees I’ve joined, my favourites are Chapter and Rose Croix. I will concentrate solely on Chapter in this article and, if anyone is interested at a later stage, I can discuss the merits of Rose Croix. So, when is the right time to consider joining the Chapter? Clearly everyone has their own view but I would advocate when it is right for you to do so. That’s not the cop out that you think. Everyone has their own comfort zone. Don’t be bamboozled by members of your Lodge to join a Chapter as soon as you’ve been Raised. Whilst I accept that it does explain a lot of the missing bits from the jigsaw of the Third Degree it can be an overload if done too quickly.

Me? I decided not to join until I had been through the Chair of Craft as I felt I wanted to concentrate on that. How wrong I was. I wish I had joined earlier. Having said that, and maybe because of it, my progress through the Holy Royal Arch was not as smooth as I would have liked.

I thoroughly enjoyed the spectacular and colourful ceremony and felt that I really wanted to contribute. At the time there was a queue for the floor work and I sat in the background for a few years twiddling my thumbs waiting to learn the ritual. Having relinquished the Craft Chair I wanted to learn. Once started I realised that the ritual was completely different to retain and more difficult to understand (well, it was for a simple soul like me!). I thought I’d never get the hang of it and therefore decided Chapter wasn’t for me. My proposer and seconder guided me through and I felt obliged to go through the Three Principals’ Chairs, the equivalent commitment to JW, SW and Master really. I did exactly as asked and even spent two years in the Frist Principal’s Chair. For some unknown reason I still didn’t enjoy the ritual and, yet again, I discussed leaving but was asked to step back for just one year to take on the Principal Sojourner’s post as the Chapter was short.

For those who haven’t taken the plunge, Principal Sojourner is the best job in Chapter, a proper story teller and I loved it. It was just the fillip I needed. Half way though the year the penny dropped and I understood what it was all about. The ritual finally made sense. It certainly was worth waiting for and I am now one of the biggest enthusiasts for Chapter and would A number of years ago, Province introduced some prologues which were so successful that they are now read at the vast majority of Chapters in East Kent. These explain certain aspects of the ritual that are not immediately clear when one joins but makes it easier to follow. If these had been about when I first joined I think I would have understood earlier. I firmly believe that there have been a number of Companions leaving the Holy Royal Arch unnecessarily and if they went along to an Exaltation today (the equivalent of an Initiation in Craft) they would be pleasantly surprised as it would be clearer for them to understand.

Have look around the Lodge room at your next meeting and if you see a Brother with a white, red or tricoloured jewel in his breast pocket, ask him details of how to join. You won’t regret it.

Rick Wakeman ,Rock Legend, Brother and Companion

A chat with David Neale

As secretary of the Chelsea Lodge No. 3098, I was just about to call to order a regular committee meeting at Freemasons Hall when W.Bro. Roger de Coursey, Ventriloquist and show busines legend, dumped a Masonic membership application form on my pad. I glanced at the section, “Occupation”. Roger had scrawled – “Keyboard Legend” which prompted me to look at the name, and there it was – Richard Christopher Wakeman. I did not realise it then, but for me it was the start of a new and wonderful friendship. For Rick it was the start a new career and the beginning of a major contribution and dedication to the values of Freemasonry, its aims, and objectives.

It did not take long for that application go through the system. In mid-2007, the said candidate, Richard Christopher Wakeman, duly attended to be interviewed by the Lodge Committee chaired by myself. When summoned, he noisily bounded into the room, hail fellow well met and a big smile for all. Everybody present knew him and greeted him well.

I asked the usual questions including –

Why do you wish to join Freemasonry?

The answer was somewhat of a surprise. Rick explained that in 1980 whilst living in Switzerland and recording with the band –‘Yes’ his father, Cyril, a member of the Brent Valley Lodge No.3940 passed away, just a few months before going in the chair. Rick was delayed in getting back to the UK. When he did arrive home. He found that his Dad’s Lodge had taken full care of his Mum,providing her with all the support she needed in such a tragic situation including, organising the funeral, the wake even his Mothers finances Rick added “I thought to

myself if this is what Freemasonry is all about, this kind of friendship, Love, respect and support. then I want to be part of it. – So here I am!”

His initiation took place at the Chelsea Lodge’s November meeting in 2007 before a packed Temple 10 at London’s Freemasons Hall. The Master was none other than East Kent’s very own W.Bro. Michael Smith. Known to Chelsea members as comic, Miki Travis, who stepped aside to allow Rick’s proposer, W.Bro. Roger de Coursey, to conduct the initiation ceremony.

From that day forth Rick took Freemasonry to his heart and made a consistent and valid contribution. Despite a very busy stage touring and television schedule, he regularly attended Lodge of Instruction, which takes place most Wednesdays of the year at 11.30am in a Lodge room at Freemasons Hall. In those days, Lodge of Instruction ended with an extended lunch time drink at what was Wolfes Wine Bar in Great Queen Street, invariably ending just in time to catch the last train home.

The problem for Rick was that after most Lodge of Instructions he would have to dash to a limo parked outside Freemasons Hall with the engine running ready to whisk him away to a television recording or a stage appearance. Rick’s work diary was formulated around attending Lodge of Instruction. He hardly missed a meeting. It did not take long before he was passed to the second degree with Jethro Tull lead guitarist and founder, W.Bro. Mick Abrahams, in the chair, but as Mick was not well, Tenor W.Bro. David Capri conducted the ceremony. Followed by being raised just months later by producer W.Bro. Giles Cooper in the chair.

Within no time Rick was “on the floor” and making his way through the offices to be installed as Master of the Chelsea Lodge. In May 2014. The ceremony took place in a packed Grand Temple at Freemason Hall with over 750 brethren attending the festive board in the Connaught Room’s Grand Hall. Chelsea entertain their guests with a cabaret at every festive board. This one was special with Rick on the organ, accompanied by the English Chamber Choir playing David Bowie’s ‘Life on Mars’ and Cat Stevens ‘Morning has broken’. (Rick played keyboards on both original recordings) followed by a standing ovation. Between his raising and being installed in the chair Rick was exalted into the Chelsea Chapter No.3098 at their April 2010 meeting.

In just three years after becoming a Freemason Rick had become a master mason and a Companion in Holy Royal ……

“Chapter is a really special Order”

.......Arch Chapter and was heading towards the chair as Master of his Lodge. No mean feat for someone who was constantly travelling and performing at rock concerts around the World, plus maintaining a busy TV, Stage and recording career in the UK.. I asked Rick what was it that prompted him to join the Holy Royal Arch Chapter so soon after taking his third degree.

He replied. “I had heard so much

about Chapter from the Chelsea guys and how much they enjoyed the degree that I thought then I should join. But more importantly, it

was As the realisation that even though

I had reached the target of becoming a Master Mason, my Masonic journey was not complete. There was so much more to learn and understand about the Freemasonry and Chapter had all the answers. I have never regretted joining so soon in my time and I would urge any young mason to complete their journey and join Chapter, they will never regret it”.

Rick added “Chapter is a really special Order, who can forget that experience of when the blind fold comes off, there I was surrounded

by all my mates and the benefit of brotherly love and respect. That first sight of the Chapter room will stay with me forever. Also I quickly realised that a major factor is that Chapter is more than just another Order, it is the gateway to so much more enjoyment in Freemasonry and so many other mazing experiences. It didn’t take me long to become a Knights Templar, a Knight of Malta and it didn’t and won’t end there”.

Soon after completing his year in office as Master of the Chelsea Lodge, Rick took the Chelsea office of Assistant Director of Ceremonies and still holds that office today. Unlike many other members of the Chelsea Lodge who find it difficult to give 100% to Freemasonry because of the time demands of their show business careers. Rick has managed to successfully combine his very busy career with his commitment and obligations to Freemasonry. In recognition of his commitment to Freemasonry and Masonic Charites. Rick was recently appointed to Grand Rank with the office of Deputy Grand Organist. From Initiation to Grand Rank in less than thirteen years is no mean feat by any standards. I know how hard he works for the Lifelites Charity. On behalf of the Charity, I head hunted Rick to become a Patron along with Joe Pasquale. Lifelites is the charity which gives life-limited and disabled children the chance to play, be creative, control something for themselves and communicate, through the magic of assistive technology. Rick gives talks to Lodges and Chapters on the work of the Charity. For three consecutive years on behalf of the charity I organised a Christmas charity appeal letter from Rick to go to all London Lodges and Chapters raising over one hundred thousand pounds. The money he has raised has gone to improving the life of children with limited life span in Children’s Hospices around the Country. This is the amazing and incredible story of a rock legend, Rick Wakeman, a brother who, In a relatively short Masonic career has made a huge contribution to Freemasonry and Charity………And, he aint finished yet. Treasurer Pentangle Chapter 1174

Past Metropolitan Communications Officer

The Second Grand Principal:

A ‘Man of Kent’

Russell John Race. DL.

I welcome the opportunity of penning a few words about the Royal Arch (‘RA’) to the brethren and companions of East Kent, as this is my home Province - and one of which I am very proud to be a member. In recent years my heavy involvement masonically in the Metropolitan Area of London and with Supreme Grand Chapter (’SGC’) have inevitably meant spending less time with my various masonic units in Kent.

This does not mean that I have forgotten where my roots lie, or that I am unaware of the initiatives being pursued in the Province to attract more Craft masons into the RA, and to keep them better informed once they are ‘in the fold’.

The starting point is, of course, the Craft and I believe that at the very beginning of a candidate’s masonic career we should make him aware that he is embarking on an exciting four stage journey, so that an invitation to join the Royal Arch at some point after the completion of the 3rd Degree does not come as a surprise. Indeed, such an invitation should be anticipated by the new master mason, and he should regard it as a gateway to what many of us consider the acme of masonry.

I was exalted into Pentangle Chapter some 5 years after my raising and for me, at that stage of my masonic and business career, that timing felt right, but this will vary for each potential RA candidate. Some are keen to join shortly after raising, others will understandably want to feel more at ease in their Lodge, and maybe have made some progress on the officers’ list, before they wish to make an extra commitment of time, and indeed ritual learning.

At the time I came into masonry recruiting new members was not an issue, and although the post War boom in numbers coming into the Craft had subsided there was no sense that we were facing a membership problem. Happy days! What the decline in numbers in more recent years – both for Craft and RA – has forced us to do is to think and act much more professionally about how we go about bringing men into freemasonry, and, equally importantly, how we As far as the RA is concerned, we should in theory have an easier task as we are seeking new members from the ranks of Craft masons who are already familiar with the masonic ethos and who, if the correct preparatory information has been given at the initiation phase, are expecting to move on to a Chapter. I say ‘in theory’ because in practice until recently far too much has been left in the hands of proposer and seconder and/or Lodge Secretary, who may not be in the RA themselves, or if they are may be lukewarm in their enthusiasm for the order. Which is why many of the recent initiatives, such as talks on the RA within Lodges, appointment of a RA representative (however called) in each Lodge, educational presentations on all aspects of the RA in Chapter meetings, etc have been introduced.

The aim is quite simply to ensure that every newly raised brother is made aware, in an easily assimilated way, of the RA and its place in the Masonic structure, and he has the opportunity, at the right time for him, of joining a Chapter which is best for him. This may be a Chapter attached to his mother Lodge, where he will meet many existing friends in a new setting, or he may decide, quite understandably, to join a Chapter where he will gain an entirely new circle of friends.

I have stressed the need for simplicity of approach, and for a readily understandable message to be communicated about the RA, not because I believe that the lessons of our ritual are lacking in beauty or subtlety –quite the contrary – but because many surveys of those who have resigned from the order have highlighted the impression that the RA story is “too hard to understand”, “confusing”, “the ritual is too difficult to learn”. ” . Whether we agree or not with these comments, the fact remains that for many we have not got the message across. Hence the need to address the issue in a clear way, both prior to exaltation and, as importantly, once a candidate has joined our order.

I have referred to the many excellent initiatives which have been introduced in recent times to meet the need for our members to be better informed. Many of these were started in individual Provinces, and indeed in London, and have spread widely as their popularity and effectiveness have been demonstrated. Each Province will have its own way of adapting the written literature, the demonstrations in Lodges and Chapters, and the online material, to suit its own needs, and I welcome the fact that East Kent is participating fully in the drive to better inform our RA members and potential members.

The encouragement of sharing of the ritual is one area which has gained general acceptance, and which meets one of the problems mentioned above head on.

SGC has done its best to facilitate these new initiatives, without being seen to dictate from the centre, in order to ensure ‘best practice’ across England & Wales. What SGC has consistently stood for is the absolutely complementary nature of Craft and RA. The one leads on from the other, not as a strict completion of the 3rd degree, but as the final step in that particular masonic journey. There is clear evidence of the success of many of these initiatives, measured in terms of the ‘conversion rate’ – the proportion of Craft members who go on to join the RA. Not so long ago it was normal for this proportion to be at, or below, 30%. The average across the country is now approaching 40%, and

there are some Provinces well over 50%, which should be the aim of us all. It is clear that if we are successful in stabilising Craft membership, and combine this with an increasing conversion rate, RA membership will benefit greatly.

A few words about the current situation. The effective cessation of Lodge and Chapter meetings for nearly a year has clearly put a severe strain on our membership in all sorts of ways, not to mention the financial effect on our masonic halls. But, as always in adversity, our members across the country have been outstanding in their support not only of our own brethren and companions, and their families, in distressed circumstances but of the whole community. This has not gone unnoticed by the public at large, and an unexpected benefit to us has been a spike in the numbers of men seeking to join the Craft, with we may assume a commensurate benefit to the RA in due course.

As an interesting sidelight on the peculiar times we find ourselves in, just before London went into Tier4 in early December I attended on the same day meetings of Grand Lodge and Supreme Grand Chapter. SGC had not met since November 2019 and therefore had some urgent business to transact, which it duly did in 20 minutes. The number attending? Six – the 3 Grand Principals, GSE, GDC, PresCGP. No amount of Zooms can replace meeting in person and enjoying each other’s company, both in Chapter and at a convivial meal afterwards, so we all look forward to a resumption of our labours, and can I take the opportunity of wishing my many friends

in East Kent all the very best for their families, and for the future success of their Chapters.

Russell Race

2nd Grand Principal

PZ, Pentangle Chapter 1174

Christopher Powell

Delivered to the Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire at Blackburn on 21st November 2019

The subject of my talk ‘The Indissoluble Link’ refers to the relationship between the Craft and the Royal Arch and my talk is a thinly veiled appeal to all Freemasons to join the Royal Arch and moreover to go through the three Chairs in that Order. You will all be familiar with the famous sentence that occurs on page one of the Book of Constitutions - the Blue Book which states that ‘pure Antient Masonry consists of three degrees and no more, viz., those of the Entered Apprentice, the Fellow Craft and the Master Mason, including the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch’. This was a compromise statement which enabled the two Grand Lodges, the Antients and the Moderns, to come together to form the United Grand Lodge of England in December 1813. It implies very clearly that the Royal Arch is not a wholly independent degree but the completion of the degree of Master Mason. We still debate whether the Royal Arch is a separate, fourth degree as the Antients’ maintained or the completion of the Third Degree as the Book of Constitutions states it is. Well Brethren, I can assure you the Book of Constitutions is correct and the Royal Arch is part of the Third Degree, historically, ritually and structurally. When the Premier Grand Lodge was founded in 1717 there were just two degrees in Masonry: The Entered Apprentice and the Fellow Craft. Masters of lodges were, in Masonic rank, Fellow Crafts. This is why even today much of the Installation ceremony is conducted in the Second Degree.

That pattern of two degrees still exists today in our professional bodies. I am certain in this hall there are many Brethren who are Fellows of their professional institution: Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons, Fellows of the Royal Institute of British Architects etc. And in each case, there is a junior degree: Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects etc. Two degrees of which the more senior is always denominated ‘Fellow’ and, as with Masonry being a Fellow permit one to teach others, to have apprentices. A sea change occurred in English Freemasonry shortly after the formation of the Grand Lodge in 1717. Instead of meeting occasionally in order to make and pass Masons, lodges began meeting frequently and regularly, usually once a month as we do now, at fixed times and in fixed places. Masons began carrying engraved lists of lodges like this, which enabled them to visit other lodge meetings. Very few of the new Masons were builders and sculptors, they were gentlemen Masons who came from all walks of life. Consequently, they needed much more Masonic work to do and this was provided in the form of lectures and of two new Masonic degrees. Around 1720, our third Grand Master, Dr Desaguliers came across a 4th-century Greek legend in a book he possessed entitled Orbis miraculum, or, The Temple of Solomon portrayed by Scripture-light which told of a discovery in a cave under the ruins of the Temple at Jerusalem. Dr Desaguliers saw how this could form the basis of a new Masonic degree. It was originally called the degree of Scots Master and was an early version of the Royal Arch. The story is almost word-for-word that told by the Principal Sojourner in the ceremony of exaltation. But in order to rediscover something you first have to lose it and Dr Desaguliers then created what we know as the Hiramic legend which lies at the heart of the Third Degree. So historically the Third Degree and the Royal Arch were created at the same time by the same person: the one describing the loss of the Word and the other of how it was found. At the end of the Third Degree the candidate is left with substituted secrets and in the Royal Arch he receives the genuine secrets of a Master Mason –

note Brethren ‘of a Master Mason’, not of the Royal Arch. So ritually too the Third Degree and the Royal Arch are one thing: the one completing the story told in the other. But there is more to it than that. As we progress along the path of our Masonic journey, as we climb the ladder a step or degree at a time, we do not receive more and more Masonic secrets, but rather explanations of things that we have already seen and heard about in an earlier degree, indeed, mostly in the First Degree, that of Entered Apprentice. As you know, the candidate enters the lodge room ‘divested of all metals’, he is also ‘slipshod’. Why he is ‘divested of all metals’ is partly explained in the First Degree in the passage in the North-East Corner, but a fuller explanation occurs in the Third Degree in which he comes across Tubal Cain, and having been divested of all metals before his initiation he is invested with metals on his Master Mason’s apron, with a symbol of wisdom. But why is he slipshod? The answer to that question is not revealed until the

‘Nil nisi clavis deest’

Installation of a Third Principal in the Royal Arch. So, in order to explain to a keen Entered Apprentice why he is slipshod one has to go through the chairs in the Royal Arch. I could give you many, many more examples but you get my point. At the bottom of the Royal Arch jewel is the phrase in Latin: ‘Nil nisi clavis deest’ [only the key remains] reminding the new Companion that there is still more to learn. Obviously, the only ceremonies left in which he can gain the key referred to on the jewel are the Installation ceremonies of the three Royal Arch Principals. The three Principals represent among other things the three keystones of the Royal Arch, keystones which when removed reveal the cave in which is found the true secret of Freemasonry, a secret that is finally revealed to an Installed First Principal at his Installation. Armed with that knowledge, an Installed First Principal can now teach Entered Apprentices about Freemasonry. Only by joining the Royal Arch and going through the three chairs can you make sense of Craft Freemasonry as a coherent whole. And so, Brethren, joining the Royal Arch and going through the three chairs is not just a matter of another Masonic degree, it is the completion of pure, Antient Masonry and it is the key to understanding what the whole Craft of Freemasonry is about, even things that occur in the very first degree.

In 2011, our Pro-Grand Master, Peter Lowndes said: ‘what is the point of watching the first three episodes [of a drama] and then ignoring the fourth when all is revealed?’.1 Note his final phrase Brethren: ‘when all is revealed’. To that I would add, why would one not want to learn the genuine secrets of the Master Mason that have been passed down from generation to generation for well over 600 years? Why would one not want to understand Freemasonry better? And surely all of us want to be in a position to help a keen Entered Apprentice understand what our ancient and glorious order is all about.

Kent Museum of Freemasonry

The Kent Museum of Freemasonry is a “hidden treasure which boasts a rare collection of exhibits of national and international importance,” boasting one of the finest collections of Masonic artefacts and material in the UK, outside of London. “The collection of regalia and books covers all Masonic orders through the ages. ” If you have never visited the museum, then you have missed one of the highlights of a trip to Canterbury! Rated as the 7th most popular ‘thing to do’ in the city by travel website, TripAdvisor, the museum attracts over 12,000 visitors each ‘normal’ year. It consistently maintains its position as one of the top attractions in Canterbury, and for five years in a row has been awarded the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award. The museum is an Arts Council Accredited Museum, “meeting the nationally agreed standards of the Arts Council on collection care, museum management and the provision of information and services to visitors. ” The museum, together with the associated library, was opened in April 1933 to house, as the then Grand Superintendent for Kent, Colonel Fiennes Cornwallis described, “the many treasures that lodges, the Province and its private members had collected over the years for all to see. ” Having visited the museum in London, MEComp Cornwallis imagined a similar permanent home for the many items being collected in Kent and, in 1920, began fundraising efforts across the Province. The 1923 edition of the Freemasons’ Manual for Kent shows that “a subscription of one guinea was required from every Craft Lodge and every Royal Arch Chapter in the Province of Kent ,MEComp Cornwallis settled on Canterbury to be the home of the new museum.

Located in St Peter’s Place, directly opposite the Guildhall (next to the Westgate Towers), the museum is host to a range of artefacts, books, jewels and other interesting items that display the rich history of Kentish Freemasonry. The permanent displays are further supplemented by regular special exhibitions that coincide with events and anniversaries. In 2018, the centenary of the end of World War I was marked by a moving tribute to those brethren who paid the ultimate price for ‘King and Country.’

In 2013, a special exhibition was arranged to coincide with the bicentenary of the Holy Royal Arch. The display, which greeted visitors as they entered the museum, contained the three Principals’ robes and sceptres, together with an explanation of the establishment of the Holy Royal Arch. This display, as well as exhibits about other Masonic Orders, helped to explain to visitors the many facets, specialisms and interests of Freemasonry, and highlighted that there is more to being a Freemason than one might otherwise expect.

The current COVID19 lockdown means that the museum has been unavoidably closed to visitors since early 2020 but remains focussed on important opportunities to engage more interest and garner more support. Most significantly this period of reflection is not being wasted. Necessary building works were planned and are currently underway. In 2012, a substantial reimagining of the museum took place, modernising the displays and making better use of the interior space Under the careful stewardship of the Chairman, Charles Pottle, a member of Bertha Chapter No. 31, the Association of Patrons has a new and vibrant committee, including Deputy Chairman, Phil Moore from West Kent. The primary focus to increase new patronage registrations, providing the latest news to patrons, and promoting the museum and library across the Provinces of East and West Kent. The success of the association is therefore key to underpinning the bright future of the Kent Museum of Freemasonry.

Individuals can become patrons for £25 per year or £2.50 a month (less than a coffee these days!) Chapters, as well as other Masonic Orders, can also become patrons for £50 per year or £5.00 per month. With the Trust registered as a charity, chapters can make payment for patronage from charity accounts and Relief Chests. As well as receiving an Association of Patrons lapel badge and certificate, Patrons and Patron Chapters are sent regular updates on the museum, the Trust and the Association of Patrons, through Museum Matters, the quarterly newsletter. As well as providing updates on exhibitions, news stories and features from the museum, the newsletter also provides some historical insight into many aspects of Freemasonry. Articles include subjects, such as World War II hero, W Bro Paddy Mayne D.S.O., Loge Liberté Chérie, a lodge created in the heart of a Nazi concentration camp, and, most recently, an insight into the Cornwallis family. Past copies of Museum Matters are available on the website of the Kent Museum of Freemasonry at https://kentmuseumoffreemasonry.org.uk/theassociation-of-patrons/.

If you would like to become a patron, then please visit the site above and simply save, print and complete the Standing Order Mandate Form, sending it to “The Association of Patrons, The Kent Museum of Freemasonry, St Peter’s Place, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2DA.”

The Museum & Library Trust is always looking for volunteers in a number of roles, currently as an Office Manager or Museum Steward. Can you help? Please get in touch via the Museum address above.

Provincial Websites

Paul Gear

First let me introduce myself, I’m Paul Gear, my role withing the Province of East Kent is to manage the Provincial websites and help with the sending of the bulk emails that are sent out by your Group Chairmen and the Provincial office. I belong to the Lord Warden Lodge No 1096 in Deal and the Wellington Chapter in Sandwich No 784

So, how many websites does the Province of East Kent actually have?

In total we have 5 main sites, www.eastkentfreemasons.org www.justaskone.org www.2025festival.co.uk www.yourprovince.org https://cornwallisekfc.org.uk/ Then there is the Light Blues Brothers site http://eklbb.org.uk/ And of course, many lodge and chapter websites .

The Provincial Website

Our main site here in East Kent is the Provincial Website, here you will find the latest news, videos of interviews, charitable news, Links to other sites, Sports and Find a Lodge or Chapter. The website is run by the comms team, but it is your website, and we rely on your news, views, pictures and help.

The 2025 festival Website

Here you will find everything related to the 2025 Festival. Latest Events, useful documents, FAQ’s, the Festival Team, about the Masonic Charitable Foundation and finally how to donate. We hope to have a new news section coming soon, so once again, let us have your stories and events and we will advertise them on the website FREE!

Just Ask One

Recently the site has had a makeover, and it is producing some fantastic results, as you all may be aware, we have a list of potential initiates waiting to join lodge across East Kent, and this will hopefully feed onto new companions entering the Holy Royal Arch. Here visitors to the site can find out about joining a lodge in East Kent, they can get in touch with the membership team who will contact them and talk them through the process.

Your Province . YP2

Your one stop shop for all things related to East Kent, a site that is only open to members of the Province. It is a fantastic resource for everyone, and a site that has so much to offer, don’t forget to register.

The Cornwallis East Kent Freemasons Charity Website

As “our” Charity, the comms team help run this site. It has also undergone a re design in recent months and needs your help and support to get it delivering news and promoting the excellent Charitable work that is done by everyone within our Province. We were also one of the first Provincial websites to receive the new official charter marks from Grand Lodge. Don’t forget that your lodge or Chapter can be awarded a charter mark by the Province, you just need to contact me on website@ekprovince.co.uk The websites here in East Kent covers a wide range of content, but your comms team cannot let the general public know what we are doing without your help! Don’t forget we have two Facebook pages, a YouTube page, Instagram page, Twitter Page and coming soon, a photo resource for lodges and chapters to register and access a photo bank for their own websites. So, with 1.6k members on Facebook and the websites receiving well over well over 150,000 hits having a website does get our news out there. Youtube Province EastKent – YouTube

Facebook Members only.

Facebook Open Site to everyone

Twitter Instagram

The Student who became MEZ.

The Universities Scheme

Howard Griffin

The Universities Scheme was conceived in 2005 by RW Bro David Williamson, at that time the Assistant Grand Master. Both Oxford and Cambridge Universities have had affiliated lodges for around 200 years, both of which have successfully introduced thousands of young men to Freemasonry. Having witnessed the good work of these lodges, David set about expanding a scheme across the country, ‘to establish and/or enhance arrangements and opportunities for undergraduates and other university members to enjoy Freemasonry’.

In little over 15 years, the Universities Scheme now has 84 other Lodges pursuing a similar, yet distinct, course. Their membership consists of undergraduates, postgraduates, senior members of the university and alumni, ranging in age from 18 upwards. Many lodges benefit from dispensations that allow multiple ceremonies to take place, addressing a need to progress initiates through to Master Masons before they leave university and the local area. In East Kent, St Augustine Lodge No. 972 joined the Scheme in 2008, becoming the 13th Lodge to do so. Affiliated with the University of Kent, Canterbury Christchurch University and the University for the Creative Arts (UCA), the lodge has quickly become a successful lodge in the Scheme, initiating in excess of 35 students and staff. Soon afterwards in 2011, Pentangle Lodge No. 1174 joined the Scheme to serve the Universities of Greenwich, Kent and Christchurch at the Medway campus at Chatham. The two lodges continue to thrive, bringing more young men into the Craft. Across the country, there are lodges which are members of the Scheme, representing universities and students in nearly all Provinces.

In addition to the many Craft lodges that make up the Universities Scheme, there are also 7 Holy Royal Arch Chapters. The first of these to join was Ravensbourne Chapter No. 1601 in London in 2015. Since then, Chapters have joined from the Provincial Grand Chapters of Yorkshire West Riding, Leicestershire and Rutland, East and West Lancashire, South Wales and, most recently, in Cheshire. These Chapters provide an opportunity for the students and young Masons associated with Universities Scheme lodges to progress into the Royal Arch, connecting with other Masons with similar experiences and outlook on life.

In March 2018, Palatine Chapter No. 2447 was consecrated as a new Chapter, specifically to serve the Universities Scheme. The innovative approach taken by the founders meant that the Chapter serves both the Provincial Grand Chapters of East and West Lancashire, with one meeting taking place in Manchester and one in Warrington each year. This shared approach allows the many student Masons that join Freemasonry through the four Scheme lodges in the region (Old Mancunians' with Mount Sinai Lodge No. 3140 in Manchester, Goulburn Menturia No. 3478 in Bolton, City of Lancaster Lodge No. 281, and University Lodge of Liverpool No 4274) not only progress into Royal Arch Masonry, but to roam across Provincial borders, meeting new colleagues, forging new friendships.

In Canterbury, St Augustine Lodge No, 972 is, of course, closely affiliated with St Augustine Chapter, with many student and university staff members choosing to progress into the Royal Arch in this way. The current MEZ, E Comp, Milan Antonijević, is the first member of St Augustine Lodge, who came into Freemasonry through the Universities Scheme, to become 1st Principal of St Augustine Chapter. Whilst the Chapter is not an official Scheme Chapter, in becoming the first Scheme MEZ in the Province, he has forged a path for students, former students and staff to continue to enjoy the progression of their Masonry. There is a healthy queue of Universities Scheme Masons moving through the Offices in the Chapter, so the first student MEZ will not be far away. Other students from St Augustine Lodge choose to develop their Freemasonry away from Canterbury, with many joining the Chapter of Harmony No. 133 in Faversham.

Recently, the Universities Scheme has undergone a major restructure, with Provinces and Provincial Grand Chapters becoming a more integrated part of the oversight and further development of Scheme lodges and chapters.

Under the stewardship of President and Assistant Grand Master RW Bro Sir David Wootton, and Chairman, RW Bro James Hilditch, the Universities Scheme has been reorganised to provide experience, advice and guidance to Provinces and Provincial Grand Chapters about how to integrate the aims of the Universities Scheme into their lodges and chapters. Each of the Regional Communication Groups is now represented by a member of the Scheme Committee, ensuring that a direct link between the Scheme and Provinces, Lodges and Chapters is maintained. Howard Griffin is the Scheme Representative for RCG 8 (incorporating the Provinces of East Kent, West Kent, Surrey and Sussex) and any enquiries about the Universities Scheme can be directed to him at masonic@howardgriffin.co.uk. Further information about the Scheme can be found at www.universitiesscheme.com.

Over the past 15 years, the Universities Scheme has focused attention on the involvement and development of young Masons throughout Freemasonry. Indeed, other constitutions are looking to create their own similar schemes. With an expansion of New and Young Masons’ Clubs, including the East Kent Light Blues Brothers, now adding to this focus, the future appears very bright indeed and the links with Chapter as strong as ever. A guest article outlining the Order by Very Illustrious Brother Roger Waltham 330, Inspector General for the District of East Kent

Commonly known as Rose Croix this is a very friendly, loving and caring Order. Here in East Kent, which is the second largest District in England and Wales, there are 20 Chapters with a total membership of around 600, so there is sure to be a Chapter within comfortable travelling distance for you. The requirement for membership is 12 months as a Master Mason. Quite rightly, Master Masons are first encouraged to join the Holy Royal Arch (HRA) as it is essentially the completion of the third degree, so it is appropriate and with much gratitude that I write this introduction to the Order in this HRA publication

The Ancient and Accepted Rite (Rose Croix) is an independent Order of Freemasonry as old as the Craft itself. It is independent in that it has its own governing body called The Supreme Council and its own headquarters building (referred to as The Grand East) in the heart of St James’s, London. It is a Christian Order consisting of 33 degrees, the first three of which are not worked as they are represented by the three degrees of Craft Masonry. The fourth to the 17th degrees are known as the Intermediate Degrees, which include clear and close association with aspects of the HRA and are conferred by name immediately before the 18th degree ceremony . commences

The 18th degree, called the Rose Croix of Heredom, is what gives the Order its better known name of Rose Croix, and the imposing and impressive ritual is performed in a sincere and dignified manner. Its symbolism is very pleasing to the candidate and all present, and entirely consistent with the ethos and teachings of the Christian faith. In a series of highly mystical and heartfelt experiences, the ritual expresses the figurative passage of man through the dark vales of life to an emotional arrival at the end of his journey into the beauty of enlightenment. It really is beautiful ritual and then, before the meeting ends, the candidate is warmly welcomed into the hearts of all present through the age-old practice of breaking bread and drinking wine with his fellows. Afterwards, at festive board, the toasts and responses are kept short and sweet so that all can enjoy the good food and good fellowship to the full.

If you value the ethos of the Christian faith, enjoy beautiful ritual, and treasure friendly companionship and care, Rose Croix is most definitely an Order worthy of your consideration.

Good Ritual. Good Fellowship. Good Food.

Thank you for reading this and I hope that I have created sufficient interest for you to find out more by contacting our District Recorder, Russ Wibrew, who will put you in touch with someone from a Rose Croix Chapter in your preferred location. russ.wibrew@btinternet.com

Graham Chisnell & Dennis Fordham

Master Masons approach their exaltation from many different perspectives. For some, it is the intrigue in discovering secrets withheld by Craft masonry, while for others it may be the broadening of their masonic companionship. Companions in the Royal Arch are drawn into a rich narrative within the ritual that broadens their understanding of Freemasonry and of themselves. The Province of East Kent has a long tradition of promoting an understanding of Freemasonry, in order that a member may feel supported, confident and contented as he progresses on his Masonic journey. This tradition has continued in recent years under the aegis of the Provincial Education & Welfare Support Group, comprising the Provincial Mentor, Education Officer, Provincial Almoner and a member of the Royal Arch Executive. This group was instrumental in the initial concept and subsequent development of our members’ only website “Your Province”. From the outset, through its “Education” menu, Your Province has promoted the concept of “Learning and Development”, to interest and inspire our members and has provided a range of educational nuggets under the Royal Arch section. I want to draw your attention to two sections in particular.

“Why the Holy Royal Arch”.

The Provincial Preceptor’s Podcast and Education downloads. We have produced podcasts for both craft and chapter published in the Provincial Preceptor’s Podcasts section of Your Province. I would encourage any brother interested in joining the Holy Royal Arch to listen to the second podcast in the Royal Arch series.

In January 2020, we held a virtual talk entitled ‘Why the Holy Royal Arch’. E Comp Pat King gave an interesting delivery on the use of Red Table events to encourage interest and awareness of the link between the Craft and Chapter. The virtual talk, attended by 91 East Kent Freemasons, allowed questions to be asked of the presenters and offered an engaging insight to the purpose and place of the Royal Arch. As Provincial Education Officer, I have been delighted with the development of online learning and development opportunities that support the Royal Arch. From our home-grown Your Province education resources to the superb repository of masonic learning in United Grand Lodge’s Solomon portal. It is clear that there is a thirst for masonic learning and development across our Province. As we move forward, through the quagmire of this pandemic, let us continue to meet with one another virtually to fuel our interest in learning and development so that when we return to our lodge and chapter rooms, and we will return; we arrive with an enhanced interest in the ritual, symbolism, history and traditions of Freemasonry. Finally, let me lay down the gauntlet to you all. As Freemasons, we are charged with engaging in a daily advancement of Masonic knowledge. I encourage you to visit Your Province and explore the many resources therein in order to build the foundations of your Masonic knowledge to strengthen your understanding of our ritual and heritage as Freemasons.

Graham Chisnell

Provincial Education Officer The emergence of COVID-19 highlighted a need to keep companions (us) involved and engaged until such times our convocations resume, it created the opportunity to produce articles with a colourful element on numerous Chapter topics we could send out to individual Royal Arch Companions.

So How did we arrive at the present format?

Having such a wide range of educational material freely accessible on our YP2 Chapter Educational website, meant we already had a ready supply of material to draw on. Chris Sanford our Provincial Communications Officer and I recognising articles comprising purely of solid text, regardless of the topic for most can be a switch off, aware also the first impression is the most important, the reader’s attention has to be captured the instant he views the document to retain his attention otherwise the battle is lost. Based on our assumptions a softer face type was selected, coupled with

spreading the text out made it much easier to read and navigate. Now the most

important aspect colour!

By including pictures and illustration applicable throughout would greatly enhance the article and overall interest, easier said than done.

What do they say a picture says a

thousand words how true this is? The biggest challenge faced is the lack of available images and illustrations relating to Chapter to draw on, it has meant some images used may not be completely applicable, even the colour at times were not a true representation and did not match the description of the text, so there are limitations and constant challenges, perseverance is the key!

It must be pointed out that most articles used are purely the authors opinion, you may or may not agree with, which is why healthy debates on so many topics will continue for many years to come such is the diversity of our Royal Arch history.

Companions I hope you are enjoying reading these as much as we are enjoying the challenge enhancing them.

Dennis Fordham

Nil nisi clavis deest’ [only the key remains] reminding us that there is still more to learn.

Together we will make a difference

Pat King

When my Lodge meeting back in March last year was cancelled at very short notice I could not have imagined that I would be writing this still under lockdown restrictions. It has without doubt been a most difficult year. Significant birthdays, wedding anniversaries and many other lifetime landmarks have passed unmarked by the customary celebrations. Some of you will have been furloughed, others will have had to get to grips with remote working from home, sadly some may have had to face redundancy and many of you will have suddenly found a new experience as home teachers.

It is times of such uncertainty that we naturally look to those things that provide stability and reliability, that will be there to support us when faced with adversity and my thoughts brought to mind the ‘Address to the Brethren’. That particular piece of ritual surely epitomises the essence of Freemasonry and its many values so evident during the last year.

To the forefront of masonic support has been the Masonic Charitable Foundation. Realising that it would not be possible to continue to operate from its offices in Great Queen Street arrangements were rapidly put in hand to organise the staff to work remotely. This was done with such efficiency that the work of the MCF was able to continue with barely missing a beat.

Whilst realising that the epidemic was bound to create extra need for support by our brethren the MCF also recognised that Freemasonry could play a major role in providing assistance to the wider public and instigated the Covid – 19 Fund.

In just a few months the generosity of masons raised in excess of £1M and this was matched by a further £1M from the MCF. You will all have read of the many ways that this has been allocated and brought help to the elderly, various caring charities, the NHS and schoolchildren. Unlike many other charities the Masonic Charitable Foundation does not sit on large invested funds nor does it maintain a huge bank balance. The MCF aims to use the monies donated as swiftly as possible to provide help wherever it can.

Since our Festival is denominated the ‘Province of East Kent 2025 Festival’ you may be inclined to think that your donations will only be delivered to the MCF following the closing date in 2025. Such is not the case. The monies that you donate are passed swiftly to the Foundation, indeed funds arising from regular payments by direct debit go straight to the MCF.

Clearly we have not had the advantage of raising funds at our various masonic meetings and social gatherings and hence are a little short of where the Festival Team would have liked to have been towards the aim of meeting the final sum of £3.5M.

With that in mind Companions if you are thinking of organising a regular payment to the MCF please do not wait but sign up soon in order that the MCF can have full advantage of your donation.. If you have already set one up in respect of your Lodge membership perhaps you might consider supporting your Chapter in a similar manner. Several Lodges and Chapters have taken advantage of new found technology skills and have arranged online social activities using these to raise charitable funds. The Festival Team and in particular the Events Team under its chairman, David King, are planning a number of events for 2021. These will all be appearing on the 2025 Festival web site - 2025 Festival –Helping the MCF. There are some exciting ideas and I am sure that you will want to take part in them. Companions it is by your regular donations that the MCF will be able to continue its magnificent work in supporting not only our masonic family but the community at wide. Remember Companions – “Together

we will make a Difference”

Pat King

2nd Provincial Grand Principal Deputy Chairman 2025 Festival Committee

TRAVELLING LITE WITH THE PROVINCIAL

John Ray,Editor of the Provincial Lite

As a four-year-old, your vocabulary will have rocketed to some 1,500 words – and you are beginning to read, too. This phenomenal ability to learn continues throughout childhood, though not always at quite such a cracking pace. As a result, by the time you reach adulthood, you will probably know some 25,000 to 30,000 words! Our ability to absorb and use verbal language is what sets humankind apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. It enables us to share experiences and ideas in great detail and with remarkable clarity. With written language, we are able to communicate our knowledge in such a way that it can be passed on, pure and unsullied, for future generations to use. And for the past hundred years we have learnt how to record and pass on oral language in a similar way.

As humans, we communicate in lots of ways – some non-verbal, some verbal. As babies we make do with the nonverbal – facial expressions, gestures, body posture. Gradually we learn to differentiate those funny sounds our Mum makes and to associate them with the world around us. As a oneyear-old, you might be able to say one to three words; as a two-year-old, about fifty; as a three-year-old, about 200 –and you will be starting to string sentences together. We have long been familiar with books, newspapers, telephones, radio and television. Computers have allowed us to bring all these strands of communication together. With a modern smartphone, itself a very sophisticated computer, you can read an e-book, browse an e-newspaper, talk to someone, listen to the radio or watch a film. Amazing!

Let’s see how this relates to Freemasonry. No one knows for sure how long ago Freemasonry began. Take your pick from a few hundred years to a couple of millennia or more. We all accept that early methods of communication were certain gestures and forms of words, none of which was ever written down until the late Middle Ages: indeed, most Masonic Ritual was passed down the generations by word of mouth only – until well after the Second World War. By the end of the twentieth century, however, most Lodges and Chapters had printed versions of their Ritual. If we fast-forward to the twentyfirst century, we find a whole host of new communications media: email, websites, video conferencing, and so on. In our Province, we use all the main outlets for News: radio, TV, websites, Facebook, Instagram, electronic media (The Provincial Lite magazine) and paper media (The Provincial magazine itself). We also send you personalised messages and news items via the marketing software sendinblue. The Provincial Lite is an e-magazine, published three times a year. Being electronic, it is not restricted to a fixed number of pages. Some recent issues have run to eighty pages! Not being constrained by printing schedules, it can be sent out very quickly and can therefore be really up to date if need be. Another advantage: it can contain direct links to other media – video interviews, websites, other e-magazines and even elsewhere in the magazine itself. Text a little small? Simply enlarge it! And you can read it on a PC, a laptop, a tablet or a smartphone!

The Provincial Lite is sent out to all Masons and Companions in the Province who have access to a computer – and that is the vast majority. Editor John Ray is always very keen to help publicise the Holy Royal Arch. In our drive to increase membership, what better way than to send him details of what your Chapter has been up to? Got something for the Spring 2021 issue? Splendid! Don’t worry too much about spelling, grammar or punctuation: John and the Editorial Team will sort that out. Contact him at editor@theprovincial.org

What is this Royal Arch? In what sense can it be the completion of pure ancient freemasonry? On one level, on the story level, the Third degree does not provide the ultimate. We do not receive the genuine secrets of a Master Mason. We are left with ‘substituted secrets. They are provided until ‘time and circumstance’ restore the genuine. At the story level, the ‘genuine secrets’ (in several parts) are discovered within the Royal Arch. Are they worth finding? Well, that is a judgment best left to you. You will never know until you penetrate beyond the veil. R.W. Bro. Clive Robert Manuel.

M.W.Bro. Thomas Firth Jackson This Order, which is administered from Mark Masons’ Hall, London, provides a fine opportunity for further advancement in Masonic knowledge. It is comprised of four Degrees and one Order each have interesting and diverse ceremonies with useful lessons, which have stood the test of time. Those, who Arch and qualified to have been exalted into advanced into Mark become members. the Holy RoyalMasonry, are The head of Grand Council of the Order of Allied Masonic Degrees of England and Wales and Districts and Councils Overseas is the Grand Master, M.W. Bro. Thomas Firth Jackson, the Deputy Grand Master is R.W. Bro. Clive Robert Manuel.

Grand Council comprises a number of Districts, of which Kent is one. A District can be likened to a small Province in the Craft/Mark and is headed by a District Grand Prefect overseeing Councils within his District. The District Grand Prefect of Kent Is R.W. Bro. Peter Christopher Brockbank, the Deputy District Grand Prefect is W.Bro. Colin (Jake) Jackson

Brief History

From the mid-18th to early 19th centuries many Degrees from 'beyond the Craft' were being worked in England, primarily under the aegis of Craft warrants issued by the Antients' Grand Lodge. Following the formation of the United Grand Lodge in 1813, various groups were gradually organised into separate Orders, each with its own governing body. The Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees was constituted in 1879, thereby regulating the Degrees and Orders under its authority. From time to time, various others have been subject to it but since 1931 only the existing four Degrees and Order have been worked. In the past each of them warranted the acquisition of colourful regalia, but this is not the case nowadays. Regalia requirements up until the achievement of District Grand rank are minimal and comprise a breast jewel to be worn once all the ceremonies have been completed and the tie of the Order. The first Degree of the Order, in which all candidates are advanced, a Worshipful Master installed, and all administrative business is conducted, is that of St. Lawrence the Martyr.

St. Lawrence the Martyr: A degree thought to have been worked since the days when operative craftsmen sought to be distinguished from the new `Speculatives' . It commemorates the third century martyrdom of Lawrence the Deacon and draws on the lessons of fortitude and humility.

Grand Tilers of Solomon: The legend in this Degree is similar to certain other Degrees in Freemasonry, in that it is centred upon a secret vault, beneath King Solomon's Temple, where the three Grand Masters meet to preside over its construction. An intrusion prompts important lessons about by the dangers of carelessness and of making hasty judgements.

Knight of Constantinople: Set in the fourth century AD at time of the Emperor Constantine the Great, in the city of Constantinople, two haughty roman nobles learn the lessons of humility and equality in a most humbling manner.

The Holy Order of Grand High Priest: The setting stretches over 400 years from the Blessing of Abraham by the mysterious Canaanite Priest-King, Melchizedek, to the consecration of Aaron as High Priest. A truly outstanding ceremony that was probably created by the fusion of two even older workings.

The Red Cross of Babylon: Seventy years have passed since the innumerable forces of Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple. Babylon has in turn fallen and the reins of power have transferred to the rising Persian Empire, first under the rule of Cyrus and then Darius. The Israelites are allowed to return to the ruins and contemplate the building of the second Temple under the leadership of Zerubbabel, but before work can proceed, he needs to call upon a former friend for a favour and in this highlights the importance of Fidelity, integrity, and truth.

Location of Councils within the District of Kent No 54 Invicta Council meeting at Gillingham No 65 Canterbury Council meeting at Canterbury No 66 West Kent Council meeting at Bromley No 74 Hartley Council meeting at Sidcup No 88 Paddock Wood Council meeting at Wrotham No 99 Ashford Council meeting at Ashford No 210 White Cliffs of Dover Council meeting at Dover No 273 Roy Albert John Williams Council meeting at Wrotham

For further Information and/or to express interest Please make use of the website: www.amdkent.uk Or contact the District Grand Secretary, W.Bro. Scott Dunn, at masonic@scottdunn.london