Page 20 - Essex Mason (Issue 91)

Holy Royal Arch

The First Rugby Chapter in the World

Chapter of XV 9944

odge of XV 9944 was Consecrated at Felsted School on Friday 28th July 2017, the Tercentenary
LYear. We were the fi rst sports themed Lodge in the Province but, alas, not the fi rst Rugby Lodge in
the Country. We joined a very illustrious group of Lodges from as far afi eld as Hampshire and the Isle
of Wight to County Durham. We were in fact the 13th Rugby Lodge in the English Constitution.
Since that time there has been a surge in the Foundation of Rugby Lodges with four such Lodges Consecrated since XV with a
further four awaiting Consecration.
However…we are Consecrating the Chapter of XV 9944 at Saxon Hall, Southend on Saturday 30th October. We will be the
fi rst Rugby Chapter anywhere! Soon after the Lodge was Consecrated an approach was made to the then Deputy Grand
Superintendent Ex Companion Cliff Thoms, to consider the formation of a Chapter of the same name. He advised that we give
it a year or so and approach him again.
This approach was made, almost to the minute, and after a lot of groundwork had been done. We were summoned to a
meeting at Wickford and we were able to reassure the RA Executive of our bona fi des and our honourable intentions. We
gave assurance that we would seek Membership of the Chapter from within Lodge of XV or from rugby people who were not
attached to a particular Chapter through Lodge Membership. Permission was granted and a well-worn path was trod! The
Petition was duly completed and endorsed by the Lodge and approval of Supreme Grand Chapter followed in December
2019. The Consecration date was set for 29th April 2020.

We were in the fi nal days of preparation when the dreaded pandemic struck and all plans were put on hold. Fortunately all the
spadework for the Chapter had been done and with the prospect of some normality in June/July this year these plans were
dusted off and the wheels put back into motion. We are just a few weeks away from rehearsals, the Companions of the Chapter
have remained enthusiastic and we have not had any of the 32 Founders drop out. We even have a member in New Zealand!
Lodge of XV are honoured to have been the Sponsoring Lodge for The Essex County Cricket Lodge and will be doing the same
for the Macnab Lodge in the near future. Hopefully further sports themed Chapters will be coming along before long.

Should you wish to attend the Consecration please contact Richard ‘Juggler’ Austin chapterxv.dining@gmail.com who is
handling the dining reservations. If you don’t wish to dine but attend anyway, please feel free do so but as numbers are being
restricted to keep the Temple comfortable it is essential to contact Bob Mathew robert.mathew@virginmedia.com
Membership, both Joining and Exaltees is also welcome, please contact Bob Mathew, Scribe E Elect.

ESSEX CORNERSTONE CHAPTER

Work continues at pace to create our very own chapter. We have a 34 Founders, and we are
working on fi nding a venue good enough to host a special consecration for this new Essex
Chapter.
In the meantime, Club and Lodge members who are already part of the Holy Royal Arch can
purchase an Essex Cornerstone Chapter tie. These beautiful ties have been designed by Toye
& Kenning and can be purchased for £15 by emailing
Jon@essexcornerstone

You can fi nd out more about
our new chapter at

essexcornerstone.com/chapter

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