Page 36 - Essex Mason (Issue 92)

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Abbots Hall Chapter By Tony Hales
The Root, Heart and Marrow of Masonry Provincial Communications Team

Abbots Hall Chapter No. 6205 is back in business. It was Consecrated in December 1948, the year when the cheese
ration was cut but the milk ration was increased from 2½ to 3½ pints per week. Hugh Gaitskell, the Fuel Minister,
rationed motorists to 90 miles per month and a dock workers strike caused the meat ration to be decreased to 6d (2½
new pence) a week for both fresh and tinned meat. The Government declared a state of emergency deploying the
Army to control and operate the docks and the National Health Service was born.
Moving on 73 years, an Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals (APGP), David Wilson, was delighted to be at
Upminster Masonic Hall on Tuesday 16th November 2021 when 27 Companions of Abbots Hall Chapter held their first
Convocation in almost two years. Whilst the Agenda was mainly administration based the unspoken item was to get
back together, honour their late departed Companions and enjoy meeting once again followed by a sumptuous Chapter
Banquet to put back on some of the pounds lost during lockdown.

David Wilson said “the meeting typified what our Fraternity is about. Coming together as friends, enjoying each other’s
company, renewing friendships, giving to good causes and parting with smiles and handshakes.”
A ballot proved in favour of two joining members including Bob Baldwin, a Provincial Assistant Grand Director of
Ceremonies (ProvAGDC), who was immediately appointed DC. A Supreme Grand Chapter Certificate was presented by
David to the Chapter’s newest Exaltee who had been waiting two years to receive it. He will find plenty of inspiration from
his fellow Companions including John Helliar, a Past Assistant Grand Sojourner (PAGSoj), A New Chapter For An Essex
Mason (essexroyalarch.org.uk) and APGPs John Crudgington and Bruce Mapson.

In addition to everyone enjoying themselves there is a profound focus on Charity among the Companions having raised
£6,933 for the Essex 2022 Festival for which David Wilson was delighted to present a Platinum Certificate to the Chapter
and commented “This is an outstanding achievement as the Chapter has continued to support the Festival as well as
local Charities and the Companions are donating through their Lodges as well”.
Abbots Hall Chapter is fortunate in having an exemplary Charity Steward who leads from the front. Frank Sharp, also
a PAGSoj, helped set up the Yvonne Jean Stewart Charitable Trust (YJS) which has raised in the region of £500,000 to
help the British Lung Foundation, the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity and the Saint Francis Hospice. Although these days
Frank is no longer involved with the YJS, he raises around £10,000 each year, thanks to the generosity of mainly Essex
Brethren, selling unwanted Masonic items online for the Saint Francis and Farleigh Hospices.

Frank Sharp thoroughly enjoys the whole Royal Arch ceremony. He explained: “Its colour, its story line, the interaction
between the First Principal and the Principal Sojourner and the fact that the three Principals work together as a team is
what makes it to me the highlight of pure ancient Freemasonry”. Frank summed up by saying that he could not be as
succinct as Laurence Dermott, the Grand Secretary of the Antient’s Grand Lodge, who described the Royal Arch in the
1750s as the “Root, heart and marrow of Masonry.”