MEGS Address to District Grand Chapter of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands Convocation on 27 July 2013
Companions,
It is with unfeigned pleasure that I welcome you all to this, the July Convocation of the District. Ordinarily, this meeting would have been a short crisp business meeting at which the audited accounts and the important business items of the District would have been taken. This year there is added significance to the meeting as it also doubles up as the meeting at which our District joins with Supreme Grand Chapter in celebrating the Bi Centenary of the Holy Royal Arch. Against that back ground, I am delighted to see you 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.
I also offer a very special welcome to E. Comp. Afeef Lazarus, the Immediate Past Grand Superintendent. His continued support, wise counsel and dedication to the District are simply amazing.
Companions, at the Investiture Convocation of the District in January of this year, I said the following:
"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 |
Supreme Grand Chapter has 46 Provinces, the Metropolitan Grand Chapter, 30 Districts and 6 Inspectorates. Space at the functions being held to mark the Bi-Centenary is limited and has been rationed. I am pleased to report that this District will be represented by 10 companions at the Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter, the luncheon and the Convocation of the Metropolitan Grand Stewards’ Chapter at which the demonstration will be given. This is a remarkable achievement as we have been allotted far more tickets than the size of our District might appear to warrant.
I urge you not to underestimate the fact that in our district 52.85 percentage of members of the Craft are Holy Royal Arch Companions. This is higher than in England where the average is about 40 percentage. This is not the time for either self congratulations or for slacking up, as we are still quite far from our stated goal of 70 % membership by 2017
Supreme Grand Chapter launched the 2013 Royal College of Surgeons Appeal. I am informed by the District Grand Scribe Ezra that all the Chapters in the District have made donations to our contribution and that a sum of £1060.00 has been collected. Companions, please accept my sincere gratitude for your generousity. This will ensure that not only will this District contribute to this worthwhile appeal but that we will continue to be leaders in the HRA.
Companions, this afternoon we have been the beneficiaries of an article written by E. Comp. John Hamill entitled and read by E. Comp. LeRoi Lorde, and a masterful presentation by E. Comp. James Moss- Solomon. On your behalf, I again offer our gratitude to E.Comp. Moss-Solomon for his scholarly, insightful and incisive presentation.
Companions, we have had our fill this evening so I will not be long. I must however advise that at the Annual Investiture Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter in April, the Most Excellent The First Grand Principal appointed E. Comp. Robert Forbes, the District Grand Scribe Ezra to the rank of Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies. Please join me in congratulating him on his preferment.
On your behalf I convey our gratitude to the 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, Q.C.
Most Excellent Grand Superintendent
In and Over Jamaica and The Cayman Islands
27 July, 2013
