MEGS Address to District Grand Chapter of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands Convocation on 22 July 2017

Companions,

I have very great pleasure in welcoming you all to this the July 2017 Convocation of the District. This year is a little different as we are holding the Convocation at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. I am pleased and delighted to see so many of my Companions present at the business meeting of your District.

Companions, on your behalf I welcome our most distinguished visiting Companions and in particular I welcome:

• M.E. Companion Sterling Soares the Depute Grand Superintendent in charge of the District Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Jamaica and his most distinguished deputation, and
• M.E. Companion Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin the Grand Superintendent of Irish Royal Arch Masonry for Jamaica and his delegation;

We continue to be able to enjoy the presence of E. Comp Afeef Lazarus, Past Grand Superintendent, at our meetings and I ask you to give him a hearty welcome.

Companions, you have all just approved the Report of the Committee of General Purposes and the audited accounts of District Grand Chapter. These reflect adequately of the state of affairs of the business of the Holy Royal Arch in this District, of which I am pleased.

The Grand Officers whom I have appointed to give superintendence to the several chapters in the District continue to provide me with reports on the workings of the Chapters and to the enthusiasm being displayed at the Convocations across the District. To them, I owe a huge debt as these Grand Officers have significantly lightened my burden.

As was the case last July, my sole area of concern is the attendance levels of Companions at regular meetings of the several Chapters. Whilst the numbers are not dismal, they are not at the levels that they ought to be. Companions, because we have such a high percentage of Brethren as members of the Holy royal Arch, what could in former days be considered a sufficient level of attendance of Companions, is, statistically inadequate. We can do better and I exhort you to do better. Over the course of the next 6 months I will be visiting each of the Chapters at one of their regular meetings and I expect to see large numbers of Companions present.

Companions, on 27 April 2017, it pleased the Most Excellent First Grand Principal to appoint E. Comp. Neville Anthony Scott of the Cayman Holy Royal Arch Chapter in this District to the rank of PAGDC He has worked and continues to work tirelessly in the cause of the Holy Royal Arch in this District and we all expect and are assured that he will give many, many more years of dedicated service to this cause.

Companions, as you are all aware, this year the Craft celebrates the Tercentenary of Grand Lodge. The Grand Master and ME First Grand Principal also celebrates 50 unbroken years in those capacities. A most significant milestone and a testimony to his faithful service to both the Craft and Royal Arch Masonry. In honour of these events, it has pleased the ME First Grand Principal to confer both an additional first appointment to Grand Rank and a promotion in Grand Rank to two deserving Companions of this District. Whilst I am not yet in receipt of the official communication from Grand Chapter, I can advise that the ME First Grand Principal will conduct the Investiture at the next Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter in London on 08 November, 2017.

Companions, as this is the first of two meetings this afternoon, I will again be brief. On your behalf I convey our grateful thanks and gratitude to the District Grand Scribe Ezra and his team for their very hard work in putting on this meeting, to the District Grand Stewards Chapter for arranging the room and the facilities for the meeting, and to the Deputy District Grand Director of Ceremonies and his team for our very efficient ceremony.

Walter H. Scott, Q.C.
Most Excellent Grand Superintendent
In and Over Jamaica and The Cayman Islands
22 July, 2017