Grand Superintendent’s Address May 2019
Excellent Companions, Companions and Honoured Guests, It is great to see so many Companions from within our Province and neighbouring Provinces come together to refresh acquaintances and more importantly to make new ones. Let me reiterate my welcome to all of the First Principals who have made time to attend today. Your efforts and hard work in leading your Chapters is very much appreciated and very important to the future of our Provincial Grand Chapter. There are ___ First Principles representing their individual Chapters and I would ask all you to show them how important they are to the enhancement of the Chapter experience. Applause I also need to recognise the great support I have had from last year’s active officers who have supported me since my installation in October. I thank you all most sincerely for tolerating my eccentric behavior and supporting me on so many occasions. To those Companions who I have today had the privilege of Appointing and Promoting, I congratulate you all on your preferment and hope you enjoy your new position as you continue your Masonic journey. You have all worked hard in recent years in your Chapters and Masonic Centres, thank you for that, but all good things have a catch. Your preferment carries with it an expectation that you can continue to provide support in your Chapters and in the Province. I thank you again in anticipation of your continued support Grand Honours Companions I would now like to introduce those Companions who have been appointed to or Promoted in Supreme Grand Chapter. At the April Meeting of Supreme Grand Chapter, the Ceremony was presided over by The First Grand Principal, HRH the Duke of Kent who invested: First Appointments Jonathan Andrew Dixon
GStB
Andrew is not here today as he is in London fine tuning his performance as an Acting officer for the Supreme Grand Chapter. Thomas Fred Gittins
PGStB
Kenneth Urquhart Robson
PGStB
David Anthony Turner
PAGDC
Promotions Michael Stuart Shaw from
PGStB 15 to PGSwdB
John Bamborough Gibson
PGStB 10 to PAGSoj
Companions please congratulate all of these Companions in our usual enthusiastic manner. APPLAUSE Over the years we have introduced numerous initiatives to swell our companion numbers in this Provincial Grand Chapter. Despite that the % of Brethren in the Royal Arch has stubbornly stayed at around the 40% mark for the last 10 years. Of course, until very recently this was a reducing number. Brethren we have a challenge ahead and I would like to demonstrate what it is. Would all companions of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Durham please Stand. Then if above 80, 70 ,60, 50,40. I will ask each age group to sit in order. Is this the future we want? (please be seated companions) Companions we need to act now. At the Annual Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter this year we heard the First Grand Principal, His Highness the Duke of Kent clearly state that the Royal Arch is the completion of a candidate’s progress. In other words, it is not three steps as many still believe but four. The Royal Arch is the fourth and all candidates should be made aware of this when they join. There will be plenty of opportunity to explore other degrees as and when they are ready.
Some of the other orders even specify RA membership as a qualification to join them. Our new initiative 4 Steps will be seen and heard throughout the coming months to remind us all that we have a job to do. We all need to enthusiastically encourage new masons to join the RA. It is not just a job for the RA Rep, the Mentor or their proposer and seconder. We are all responsible. Our aim initially is to raise the 40% to at least 50% and beyond. It is our enthusiasm and support that will make this happen. Talking of enthusiasm I would like to introduce one of our new companions who would like to share what he thinks about Freemasonry. Companion David Frew was exalted into Sportsman’s Chapter C9440 in August last year, having been initiated into Freemasonry in April 2011 and has progressed through the chair in the Lodge of Progress L8259.
Companions I thank you all for attending today and for the kind attention that you have given me. Your Challenge. Should you choose to accept it, is to bring in just one new companion in the next year and we will be well on our way. Let us get 4 steps firmly entrenched in our thoughts and actions. (this message will not self-destruct in 30 seconds) I do not believe this is a MISSION IMPOSSIBLE Finally, I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the organisation if this special day. Members of the secretariat, the DC Team, Provincial Stewards, Events team, Comms. team and the many volunteers who have helped in all sorts of ways to ensure that this event is an enjoyable experience and is run smoothly. Perhaps you would all join me in expressing our appreciation.
I look forward to joining many of you at the festive board and for those who cannot stay, have safe journey home. I thank you all for your kind attention.