MEGS Address to District Grand Chapter of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands Convocation on 26 January 2013
Companions,
It is with very great pleasure that I extend a hearty welcome to you all to this, the January 2013 Investiture Convocation of the District. I am delighted to see my Companions here in such large numbers.
Companions, on your behalf I welcome our most distinguished visiting companions and in particular I welcome:
- E. Companion James Moss-Solomon, the Grand Superintendent of Irish Royal Arch Masonry for Jamaica and the Bahamas and his delegation; and
- E. Comp. G. Trevor Jones, the Grand Superintendent of Scottish Royal Arch Masonry in Jamaica and his deputation.
Please also join me in offering a very special welcome to E. Comp. Afeef Lazarus, the Immediate Past Grand Superintendent.
Companions, 2013 is a most significant year for us as English Royal Arch Masons as it is the year that we will celebrate the Bicentenary of the formal recognition of the Holy Royal Arch as a part of pure ancient masonry. As you are all now aware the celebrations will be held in London on 16 October, 2013. The programme consists of the following:
| Time | Activity | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 11.00 a.m | Convocation of Metropolitan Grand Stewards Chapter No. 9812 in which a demonstration of the Ceremony of Exaltation using the changes authorized in 2004 will be given | Grand Temple |
|
1:00 for 1:30 p.m |
Luncheon presided over by the ME Pro First Grand Principal | Grand Connaught Rooms |
| 4:30 p.m | Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter, presided over by the ME The First Grand Principal, HRH The Duke of Kent, KG | Grand Temple |
| 6.15 for 7:00 p.m |
Dinner, presided over by the ME The First Grand Principal | Savoy Hotel |
I will be there. Will you join me in ensuring that this, one of the premier Districts, will be well represented?
Companions, we continue to grow our numbers in the Royal Arch, both in absolute numbers and as a percentage of the Craft. The records of Supreme Grand Chapter of England reveal that as at 24 January, 2013 we had 592 Companions in the District and 1120 members of the Craft. This amounts to 52.85 percentage of Companions who are members of the Craft. It may be of interest for you to know that of the 30 District Grand Chapters of Supreme Grand Chapter, our District has the third largest number of companions. Only the Districts of the Eastern Archipelago and South Africa North have more Companions than we do. And, only the District of Madras in India has a greater number of Companions as a percentage of the Craft. 53.33% to our 52.85%. We have every right to be justifiably proud of our District.
I am informed by The Deputy Grand Superintendent and the 2nd and 3rd District Grand Principals that the standard of ritual work in the several Chapters in the District continues to improve. There is however, one remaining area in the Royal Arch in which we do not do particularly well. It is visiting. How many of us have ever visit ted an Irish or a Scottish Royal Arch meeting? How many of us visit our sister Chapters other than perhaps at the odd Installation meeting?
This year, the year of our Bicentenary celebrations, I propose to lay a special emphasis on the Royal Arch. I will be visiting every one of the 12 Chapters in the District for one of their regular meetings. I will also be paying special visits to Irish and Scottish Royal Arch Chapter meetings. I urge you to join with me in these visits. Let us support our fellow Companions! Let us support the Companions of our sister constitutions, so that we may learn, appreciate and enjoy the different ceremonies, whilst at the same time treasure our own.
Companions, by now it would not have escaped your notice that E. Comps. Howard Taylor and Rev. Melvin Carey have been reappointed as District Second and Third Grand Principals respectively. It is my policy to give these office holders a minimum of two years in these posts so that the fruits of their superintendence over the various chapters which have been assigned to them may be made manifest.
I also use this medium to offer sincere congratulations to all the Companions who have been re-appointed, appointed or promoted today. I have no doubt that this has been the result of hard work, commitment and dedication on their part. Well done!
On your behalf I convey our gratitude to the District Grand Director of Ceremonies and his team for our very efficient and beautiful ceremonies and to District Grand Scribe Ezra and his team for their very hard work in arranging this meeting.
Walter H. Scott
Most Excellent Grand Superintendent
In and Over Jamaica and The Cayman Islands
26 January, 2013
