MEGS Address to District Grand Chapter of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands Convocation on 28 July 2012

Companions,

I have much pleasure in welcoming you all to this the July Convocation of our District. On your behalf I extend a very special welcome to:

• E. Companion James Bain, the Grand Superintendent in and over The District Grand Chapter of Bahamas and Turks; a true and loyal friend and Companion of this District,
• E. Comp. Peter Cole, a Past Grand Superintendent of the District of the Bahamas and Turks,
• E. Comp. Richard Wallis, a Past Grand Superintendent in and over the Province of Warwickshire, and
• E. Comp. G. Trevor Jones, the Grand Superintendent of Scottish Royal Arch Masonry in Jamaica and his Deputation.

I also offer a very special welcome to E. Comp. Afeef Lazarus, the Immediate Past Grand Superintendent.

Companions, at the Annual Investiture Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter on 26 April, 2012 it pleased the M.E. First Grand Principal to appoint E. Comp. S. LeRoi Lorde, the President of the Committee of General Purposes and a Past Second District Grand Principal to the rank of Past Grand Standard Bearer . I ask you to join with me in offering heartiest congratulations to him.

Companions, last year at this time I commented that in this District we had managed to get the total number of Craft Masons who are Royal Arch Masons to 51 percent. I exhorted you all to build on this platform and to get our percentages even higher. I am pleased to report that at the end of December 2011 we had grown the total percentage of Holy Royal Arch members to Craft masons to 55 percent. Congratulations! However, this is not the time to relax, as we have a goal of 70 percent by 2017.

This very commendable growth in numbers has been accompanied by an equally commendable growth in the quality of our ritual work. For that I am truly delighted.

In April, the West Jamaica Holy Royal Arch Chapter hosted the members of the revitalised Phoenix Holy Royal Arch Chapter of Instruction. The members of the Phoenix Holy Royal Arch Chapter gave a “live” demonstration of high quality work by occupying the various chairs and by doing an Exaltation for the Companions of the West Jamaica Chapter. I urge more chapters to invite them to your meetings for talks/demonstrations or even “live” work.

Companions, I again remind you of the Special Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter on 16 October 2013. I do so for two (2) especial reasons.

Firstly, as I said last year, it will bring great honour and credit to this District if we are represented thereat in large numbers. I plan to be in attendance. There will be four events on 16 October 2013 for companions. In the morning there will be a demonstration by the Metropolitan Grand Stewards Chapter demonstration team of the Permitted Alternative Variation of the Aldersgate Ritual. After the demonstration there will be a lunch in the Grand Connaught Rooms.

In the afternoon, in Grand Temple, the main celebration will take place. The day will be climaxed by a dinner at the Savoy. Companions, seating at these events will be limited. In as much as we as a District, ought to have a strong delegation, subject to the availability of tickets, arrangements need to be made by the latest December of this year.

Secondly, the District Grand Lodge of Nigeria will be holding its 100th Anniversary Celebrations in 2013. It has arranged for its Anniversary activities to be on 25, 26 & 27 October, 2013. The path to Nigeria will be through London. As you all will recall with much fondness the visit of E. Comp. Olorugun Moses Taiga at our convocation in January 2012 you will appreciate that not only have I assured him that I will be there, but that I will not be alone.

Last January I addressed you on the very modest sum of £3 for Royal Arch members that we in this district will be making as our contribution to 2013 Royal Arch Appeal for the Royal College of Surgeons. May I urge you companions, to designate a special meeting night of your chapters over the next six (6) months when this sum will be collected. At the present rate of exchange, this is about J$405 Dollars. The 2nd and 3rd District Grant Principals will be speaking to it when they visit your Chapters over the next few months.

In closing, may I on your behalf express our gratitude to the District Grand Scribe Ezra and his team for their very hard work in arranging this meeting and to the District Grand Director of Ceremonies and his team for our very efficient ceremonies.

Walter H. Scott
Most Excellent Grand Superintendent
In and Over Jamaica and The Cayman Islands
28 July, 2012