Page 45 - EssexMason (Issue 89)online_version

Online Royal Arch
An Essex Holy Royal Arch Heritage in the South Pacific

Authored by E Comp Tony Hales

CONSECRATION OF THE CHAPTER OF DISCOVERY NO 8737

n Saturday 14th March 2020, E.Comp Ian Simpson PAGDC PAPGP
Owas the Consecrating Officer for the Chapter of Discovery No 8737
in Port Vila, Vanuatu and he also ensured that the heritage of an Essex
Chapter formed in 1887 will be remembered at every Convocation of
the new Chapter. Three days later the First Grand Principal, HRH The
Duke of Kent, suspended all meetings and Vanuatu closed its borders.
Ian’s journey back to Essex was not without trial, including being held in
isolation in Sydney.
In 1977, the only Masonic lodge in Vanuatu, the Lodge of Discovery No
8737, was consecrated within the UGLE jurisdiction and the members
recently agreed to form a Holy Royal Arch Chapter but as none were Royal
Arch Masons, arrangements were made for their Exaltations in New Zealand.
E Comp Tony Mansfield PGStdB 2nd Dist GPr of North Island, New Zealand
was elected to be Primus First Principal.
E.Comp Ian Simpson, as the APGP, had assisted Brooke Chapter No 2005
with its closure with the final Convocation being on Tuesday 11th June 2019.
He knew Tony Mansfield as the TLC Champion in New Zealand and that on
the same day would also be in London to be honoured at the Grand Lodge
of Mark Master Masons Investiture by The Most Worshipful Grand Master,
HRH Prince Michael of Kent. Ian invited Tony to be his personal guest at the
Brooke Chapter final festive board that same evening and also suggested that the Chapter equipment including officer
collars and jewels, a large VSL, scroll and cushion could be given to help the new Chapter. The Companions agreed and
Tony travelled home with much more than he came with.

It was a great honour for E.Comp Ian when he was subsequently asked to be the Consecrating
Officer for the newest Chapter in the English Constitution. Armed with some Maldon Salt and
leading a Consecration Team, mainly from New Zealand, E Comp Ian conducted a first class
Consecration Ceremony enhanced with organ music played by Essex Provincial Grand Organist
Gerry Scott, recorded and edited by E Comp Barry Stedman PPGSN and appreciated by all 40
Companions who attended.

Finally, an effigy of a Royal Arch altar engraved on one side with “Presented to the Brooke Chapter No 2005 in memory
of E.Comp Wm G Blackwell, First Principal 1951” had long been stored in their Chapter locker. Ian assiduously restored
the altar to its former glory and had another side engraved:
“Re-presented to the CHAPTER OF DISCOVERY No. 8737 at its Consecration on 14th March 2020
on behalf of the former Companions of Brooke Chapter No 2005 by E
Comp Ian Simpson PAGDC, Consecrating Officer” together with the quote
by the Roman philosopher Lucius Seneca “Every new beginning comes
from some other
beginning’ s
end.”

E.Comp Ian Simpson PAGDC PAPGP is pleased to
report that a little bit of Essex Masonry is now alive
and well over 10,000 miles away and considers it a
great honour in having been a small part of