Provincial News
- Written by: Gerry Crawford
It is with great sadness that the death of WBro Richard Herbert Turpin OBE PAGDC is announced. He lost his brave fight against cancer and passed to the Grand lodge Above on Tuesday 26 July 2016.
He was a Group Officer for the Huntingdon Group of Lodges and, since 2006, the Provincial Information Officer. Before that he had for many years been the Editor of the Provincial newsletter, Password, being its inaugural Editor. He was also the current MEZ of Socrates Chapter No 373.
He was 80 years old and born on 17 April 1936. After attending Archbishop Tenison's Grammar School in London he joined the Royal Air Force and rose to the rank of Wing Commander. When he retired he was working at the Ministry of Defence in London.
In 1992 his public service was recognised when he was award the OBE.
He was initiated into Craft Masonry in 1979 and exalted into the Holy Royal Arch in 1981. Becoming Provincial Senior Grand Warden in this Province in 2006, he achieved Senior London Grand Rank in 2007 and was promoted to Grand Rank (PAGDC) in 2009.
In this Province he was a member of Meridian Lodge No 9542, Wilavestone Lodge No 9829, Three Counties Lodge No 9278 and the Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire Lodge of Installed Masters No 3422. He was also a member of the Royal Air Force No 7335 in London. He has performed great service in these Lodges in the progressive offices and as Secretary.
In the Holy Royal Arch he was a member (and current MEZ) of Socrates Chapter No 373 and a member of Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire Chapter of First Principals No 3422.
He was also a Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master of this Mark Province and a member of other orders.
Richard had many interests and gave voluntary service in many walks of public life. He was a Churchwarden in his local Parish Church in Great Stukeley, a Trustee of Cambridgeshire Historic Churches Trust and a Lay Member of the Huntingdon and Wisbech Archdeaconry Mission and Pastoral Committee. He was also past Chairman of his local Conservative Association and Huntingdonshire District Council.
Richard was a dedicated Freemason and a committed public servant who will be sadly missed by all.
- Written by: Gerry Crawford
At Coritani Lodge's meeting in April, WBro David Smith was installed into the Chair of King Solomon, seven years after his first stint as Worshipful Master.
He and his partner, Liz Ambrose immediately set about organising "The Big Barn Bash" which they hosted at the family farm at Winwick Warren near Cold Ashby on Saturday 11 June 2016.
Over 120 brethren, friends and family attended to feast on a Hog Roast, which had been bred locally by a neighbouring farmer. They raised £1,600 which will be split between Lifelites, Alzheimer's and Mind.
David and Liz thanked friends Chris and Claire for catering the event, Matt and Tracey for running the bar and donating beer and the increasingly popular ‘Brother’s Re-united’ for the evening's entertainment - WBros John Wilkes (guitar & vocals), Graham Ballinger (Rhythm guitar & vocals) and Bro Ray Robins (drums) along with Mr Terry Ballinger (lead guitar) and Mr David Hylton (bass guitar).
- Written by: John Fergusson
A successful grant application to Provincial Grand Charity enabled Cytringan Royal Arch Chapter to present a bumper cheque for £900 to The Kettering & District Charitable Medical Trust on 12 July 2016. On application, the Provincial Grand Charity Trustees kindly supported Cytringan Chapter's £600 donation with a further £300.
The Kettering & District Charitable Medical Trust was set up in 1978, and from donations and legacies, it twice yearly provides money to buy medical equipment in local hospitals, hospices, GP surgeries and the Air Ambulance service. With this money they have over the years purchased ECG machines, Fibro scans, OTC machines, X-ray equipment, blood pressure monitors, dermatoscopes, and even mattresses and wheelchairs.
The cheque was presented by our Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, E Comp Wayne Williams, accompanied by E Comp Roger Hutchinson, MEZ of Cytringan Chapter. It was accepted on behalf of the Medical Trust by its Chairman Robert Smith and their treasurer E Comp Gareth Ogden.
MEZ Roger Hutchinson had a serious operation at Kettering Hospital in 2015, which included several weeks of recovery, and it was at his request that the Chapter, with the support of the Companions, should make this donation. Robert Smith expressed his sincere thanks for the donation and confirmed it would be put to good use.
Pictured above (left to right): Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, E Comp Wayne Williams, Robert Smith, E Comp
Roger Hutchinson & E Comp Gareth Ogden.
- Written by: John Fergusson
End of Season Reflections
Another Masonic year has drawn to a close with our Annual Convocation towards the end of June just past. With our new ME Second Grand Principal, E Comp Russell Race, as our principal Guest, it was a fitting end to another thoroughly enjoyable and successful year.
Preparations for the new season 2016/2017 are already well advanced with early focus on our First Principals’ Chapter who stage their first meeting at Peterborough on September 1st. On that occasion, we shall be hosting as our Guest Speaker the Grand Director of Ceremonies for both Supreme Grand Chapter and Grand Lodge, E Comp Oliver Lodge TD. An interesting evening is in store therefore!
Before we embark on the new season ahead and to respond to one or two questions raised recently regarding our positioning in Freemasonry and for the benefit of our younger members, let’s just recap. When the two opposing Grand Lodges (the Antients and the Moderns) came together in December 1813 under the Act of Union, it was declared that Pure Antient Masonry into which we were all initiated consists of just three Degrees and no more – the Degree of the Entered Apprentice, the Degree of the Fellow Craft and the Master Masons’ Degree, including the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch. Now that’s pretty emphatic! The Holy Royal Arch therefore is the fourth phase of Pure Antient Masonry after the three Degrees of Craft; it is not the completion of the Third Degree as some might innocently have you believe but it is the completion of Pure Antient Masonry, the very completion of Craft itself. Under the Constitution of the United Grand Lodge of England therefore, the proper course for every candidate’s Masonic journey should always be through the three Craft Degrees of Pure Antient Masonry, to include unquestionably the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch as the fourth phase, perhaps after a short interlude.
Some refer to the fourth regular step in Freemasonry which you will only find in the domain of the Mark Master Masons’ Degree – another fine Order in Freemasonry which comes highly recommended and to which you may wish to aspire in due course. You will find it another advancement on your journey of Masonic discovery.
E Comp Wayne E Williams
ME Grand Superintendent