Distinguished Companions and Companions all:
Earlier, I welcomed our Distinguished Guests to our Annual Convocation but you are ALL most welcome and I am pleased to see so many here enjoying the splendour and ambiance of the Grand Temple here in Great Queen Street. I thank you ALL for your support, not only for me and the Provincial Executive, but more importantly, for ALL the Companions that I have had the pleasure of appointing and promoting in Provincial Grand Chapter, the recipients of my Certificate of Service to Royal Arch Masonry and to welcoming the new Exaltees into the Province, as this is very much their day.
Membership is very high on our agenda and as Freemasons, we ALL have a responsibility to ensure that a robust and active recruitment initiative is happening in our Lodges, as this is the reservoir from which we pool our members into the Royal Arch. In any Lodge, it is not just ONE Brothers’ responsibility to undertake the recruitment into the unit, but ALL Brethren of each and every Lodge are tasked to assist in the recruitment drive. This year, our collaborative efforts with the Provincial Grand Master & Craft Executive have enabled us to continue to develop a mutually beneficial recruitment strategy that will help us all achieve our common goal, of a stronger membership throughout the Province, whilst continuing to enjoy our freemasonry.
As far as we ALL are concerned, part of the recruitment process is educating those Brethren who have not as yet, taken their fourth step in pure, Antient Masonry. It is essential that we as Royal Arch Masons, ALL take an active role in the Royal Arch recruitment initiative undertaken in our Lodges, by educating those Brethren who have not as yet joined the Royal Arch, as pure Antient Masonry is a four step process, from initiation to exaltation, the first three steps taken in your Craft Lodge and the fourth in your Royal Arch Chapter. We also need to consider those Brethren whose membership of the Royal Arch has lapsed, for whatever reason, and see if we can entice them into re-joining now that the profile and validity of the order has changed. I am pleased to report that the success of our membership and mentoring strategies continue to strengthen our recruitment and retention initiatives, with more Brethren signing up to join the Royal Arch and more joining & re-joining members, resulting in a stabilisation in our membership numbers. Currently, we have 50 candidates already signed up on Hermes to be exalted in the coming months, with a further 13 enquiries and 10 prospects. A healthy sign that we are well on our way to rebuilding our membership.
Every Companion has the responsibility to get involved and be part of the ceremonial activity of their Chapter. What greater reward than the satisfaction of being able to assist in delivering a wonderful & memorable ceremony for any new Exaltee. I urge you all to consider how you can develop a cohesive, inclusive and dynamic ceremony, that splits the work up into manageable parts, where even the most junior Royal Arch Companion can assist and gain experience on the floor. This year has seen the introduction of the “Cyrus Scroll”, which has been distributed to all our Chapters, which will assist in “adding theatre” to the ceremony and enabling our junior Companions to take THAT part of the Sojourners work. Also this year, we have seen the introduction of the Royal Arch “Savage Ritual”, a shortened version of the more traditional ritual that is delivered in a timely and concise manner, without losing any of its meaning or symbolism along the way.
Chapters whose membership have time constraints, owing to family and/or work commitments, may wish to consider adopting this shortened form of the ceremony, as an alternative to their current ritual. In 2022, the Pro First Grand Principal launched the “Strategy for Freemasonry”, a strategy focused on recruitment, retention and re-engagement whilst enjoying our hobby and having FUN. As part of the initiative, there were two resource tools launched, the Pathway the the Archway, both focusing on the journey and delivering an educational resource, enabling Brethren and Companions to make a daily advancement in their masonic knowledge. Later this year, these two resource tools will be retired in favour of the new “Building Together” resource tool, a comprehensive and inclusive resource for both the Craft and Royal Arch and now available on the Solomon Website. I urge to all to take a look and utilise this new resource, as it will help Chapters shape their own future, grow their membership and enhance the member’s experience. It is essential that we all have an open-minded approach to new innovations and initiatives, to help us all get the best out of our Craft and Royal Arch Masonry. It is therefore helpful that we adopt the five principles of “Building Together” SHAPE – ATTRACT – CONTINUE – ENGAGE – RESPOND.
SHAPE – Review and plan for the future;
ATTRACT – Attracting Members and Promoting your Lodges;
CONTINUE – Attracting future Companions and Promoting your Chapters;
ENGAGE – Support the new members by developing understanding and encouraging participation;
RESPOND – Connecting with unattached masons, analysing the reasons for resignations and
recognising the need for change.
This year, UGLE & SGC introduced ONE registration fee for both the Craft and Royal Arch, which has given us a stronger opportunity to promote the Royal Arch as the final step with this Unique Selling Point in place. I must thank our Provincial Grand Master for his continued support of the Royal Arch and our joint and collaborative efforts will ensure that the overriding mantra ‘One Journey, One Organisation’ continues to thrive and becomes even stronger in the Province of Happy Hertfordshire At the Annual Meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge in September, the Provincial Grand Master announced the target for the 2030 Hertfordshire Festival Appeal, that being £2.25M, and I have reaffirmed to him that the Royal Arch Province of Hertfordshire will support this worthwhile cause over the next 5 years. I know that the Chapters will rally to help us achieve a target we can all be proud of but I also want you to continue to support your own chosen local Charities, particularly those that benefit our Hertfordshire communities. The Director of Ceremonies then escorted E Comp Ollie Wells, Deputy Provincial Grand Master to the dias to be presented with a cheque for £4000 from the Royal Arch Province of Hertfordshire in support of the 2030 Craft Festival Appeal.
Companions, in September four Companions, including myself, travelled to Denmark to attend the Annual Convocation of SGCoD and I am pleased to report that it continues to thrive and grow, which bodes well for its’ continued success, it being born from the Province of Hertfordshire. I am also pleased to welcome to our convocation a number of Danish Companions who have made the journey, primarily to attend today, and I thank them all for their support.
Last year, in the week leading up to the retirement of our immediate Past Grand Superintendent, E Comp James Sharpley, we made a series of presentations to him and I vowed that the last presentation, made at the Cloisters Letchworth Garden City Chapter the day before he retired would be last one, BUT you know me Jim, such is not the case. The Director of Ceremonies then escorted E Comp James Sharpley to the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, who presented him with a Past Grand Superintendent’s collarette.
This year we have seen the retirement of our Provincial Charity Steward, E Comp Clive Bradnum after 6 years service to the Province and I thank him for everything that he has done over that period, it has been much appreciated. This year we have also seen the retirement of two of our Executive members, namely E Comp John Linley, Third Provincial Grand Principal and E Comp James Angus, Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies.
E Comp John has served the Province well over many years and attained the rank of ProvGSwdB in 2003; promoted to PPGScN in 2010; appointed as the ProvAGScE in 2011; promoted to ProvGScE in 2015, an office he held for 5 years and finally appointed as Third Provincial Grand Principal in 2022, an office he held until today.
E Comp James has also served the Province well and was first appointed a ProvGStwd in 2011; appointed to ProvGReg two years later; promoted to ProvDepGDC in 2016 an office he held for 4 years and promoted to ProvGDC in 2020, where he assisted in meandering the team through the COVID years up until today….we will miss his “Booming Tones and Rolling R’s”!
To both E Comp John & E Comp James, I thank you for your dedication, wise council and commitment over many years and hope that you both continue to enjoy your masonry, wherever it may take you next. The Director of Ceremonies then escorted E Comp’s John Linley and James Angus to the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, who presented them with a token in recognition of their past services.
Companions, as we near the completion of this our Annual Convocation, many hours have gone into preparing for today’s meeting, and my grateful thanks go to E Comp David Broomer, E Comp Iain Green and their team in the secretariat, for their tireless work over the past few weeks spent putting this Convocation together. E Comp David Broomer is unable to be present today as his good lady wife underwent a 6 hour medical procedure yesterday and needs to be with her at this time. Also to our ProvAGScE, E Comp Iain Green, I give you my heartiest congratulations on being promoted as Provincial Grand Secretary at the Provincial Grand Lodge meeting in September. I know that you will continue to have the best interests of both the Craft & Royal Arch as we progress in the coming months and years.
To the retiring Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, E. Comp James Angus and the new Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, E Comp Jason Roberts and their team, I thank them for their escorting duties today and over the past year, supporting the Representative Officers at Chapter Installations and other celebratory meetings.
And to you ALL, not only for your attendance here today but for your past and more importantly your anticipated future support of the Province and your Chapters, which is all very much appreciated.
Companions, masonry is our hobby and one to be enjoyed. It is an organisation made up of like-minded men, with FUN, FELLOWSHIP and COMPANIONSHIP at its’ heart, who have a mutual understanding of its’ benefits to us, our families and the wider community in which we live and serve.
It is the responsibility of each member to ensure that we all enjoy the experience and have FUN at our meetings, leaving us wanting more!
Companions, continue to enjoy your Royal Arch Masonry and l Iook forward to your company at the reception and dinner following this Convocation and throughout the year to come.
May the True and Living God Most High, keep you well and bless you all.
David J Hampton
Most Excellent Grand Superintendent
in and over the Royal Arch Province of Hertfordshire
