Page 12 - Essex Mason Issue 84

Holy Royal Arch

Essex First Grand Principals

he acceptance by the ME Second Grand
TPrincipal, ME Comp Russell Race DL, of the
invitation by the MEGS, E.Comp Rodney Bass
OBE, to be the honoured guest of the Chapter on
19 April 2018, was a highly significant event for Essex masonry, and to
have received his address entitled “The Future of the Craft and Royal
Arch in tandem”.

At the convocation of Essex First Principals Chapter 3256 on 19 April
2018, the ME Second Grand Principal, ME Comp Russell John Race DL
attended as an honoured guest of the Chapter. His address entitled
“The Future of the Craft and the Royal Arch in tandem” emphasised the
4-stage masonic journey as a seamless thread from Initiation in the Craft
to Exaltation in the Royal Arch, acknowledging that different personal
circumstances of Brethren meant that this masonic journey is slower for
some than for others. In answering questions, the ME Second Grand
Principal observed that a mason’s commitment to masonry is greater if
that person is also a member of the Royal Arch.

The MEGS thanked the ME Second Grand Principal for his excellent
address, and noted that in Essex, Royal Arch membership is rising whilst
membership numbers in the Craft remain generally flat, and that the
quality of candidates into the RA depends largely on the quality of intake
into the Craft. The MEGS presented two “Chair Books” to the ME Second Grand Principal and to his GStB as tokens of the
Chapter’s appreciation of his talk, which was warmly applauded by the 187 Companions present. At the following Festive Board,
ME Comp Russell Race thanked the Companions for the warm welcome shown to him and to his Grand Standard Bearer, and
gratefully received a personal boxed gift of Glenfiddich from the Chapter.
(All enquiries to E.Comp Ian C Marshall, Scribe E, Essex First Principals Chapter 3256 at ianmarshall112@gmail.com )
(left to right) E.Comp Jeffrey Conway (Second Principal);
E.Comp John Robertson (First Principal); ME Comp Russell
Race (ME Second Grand Principal), Rodney Bass OBE
(MEGS); E.Comp Graham Larke (Acting 3rd Principal).

FULLY EQUIPPED MASON

TEMPLE TO HIRE

Eastwood Road North
Leigh-on-Sea

IDEAL FOR

LODGE Meeting or LOI's

Fully Equipped Kitchen and Dining Room

This venue is also ideal for Choir Practice or
Committee Meetings

Contact Mrs. L. Potticary
07771 762419
lesley.potticary@sky.com

12