Blackpool Group were extremely honoured to have the Deputy Grand Superintendent Chris Butterfield as the Principal Guest at the biennial Blackpool group Dinner, held at Blackpool Masonic Hall. Chris was accompanied by Assistant Provincial Grand Master Duncan Smith, Third Provincial Grand Principal David Barr, Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals John Robbie Porter, Provincial Grand Secretary and Provincial Grand Scribe Ezra. Peter Taylor, Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies David Thomas, Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies Gary Smith and North Fylde Group Chairman John Cross with Jim Gregson.
The evening began with a reception for masters of lodges, immediate past masters, first principals of Royal Arch chapters and immediate past first principals hosted by the group chairman and held in the snooker room. This was an opportunity for Chris and the Provincial team to meet the masters and first principals of the group. Due to the high number of attendees, the reception was moved to the museum dining room.
Questions were lively and varied and covered topics from enquiring how the membership pathway is progressing (very well was the answer), a question on when Hermes was being released (not in the near future), the connection between the Craft and the Royal Arch (the next step) and others too numerous to mention. All the questions were answered concisely and clearly and proved very informative.
Proceedings stayed in the museum dining room where the other brethren and companions of the group had the chance to meet Chris and other senior officers of the Province. Chris continued to take time to move around the room and meet as many brethren and companions of the group as he could before everyone took their places for the evening’s meal in the upstairs Fylde Suite dining room where a delicious meal was served, complete with a carefully curated selection of red and white wine, In-between courses the conversation flowed as guests caught up with each other and enjoyed the companionship around each table.
After the brethren and companions had had their fill, the toast to the Deputy Grand Superintendent was proposed by Sir Peter Roscow KLB, the WM of Mereside Lodge No 6360 in a respectful yet humorous manner and covered aspects of both his personal and Royal Arch career which has seen him rise to his current high rank of Deputy Grand Superintendent of the Province.
Obviously delighted and amused by the toast to his health, Chris responded to the toast by highlighting the link between the Craft and Royal Arch, with the Royal Arch being the next step to completing the Masonic journey before joining other orders. There is now only one Cabinet in the Province of West Lancashire which covers both the Craft and Royal Arch. He continued to say that Freemasonry means different things to different people, including but not limited to ritual, social and charitable aspects. Above all it is a hobby and is meant to be enjoyed.
Chris suggested to the gathered brethren that if they were not members of the Royal Arch, they should consider joining, thus completing their journey of pure ancient Freemasonry. Chris expressed his wish that all present should enjoy their Freemasonry and judging from the happy faces and camaraderie around the room that was clearly the case.
He then moved to the purpose of the group dinner. The Blackpool Group he said was blessed with an excellent group executive in Stephen Jelly, David Edwards and Michael Tax, going on to thank Stephen, the group executive and all the other group officers on behalf of the Province for their hard work and dedication throughout the year. Chris also thanked the Provincial team for accompanying him on this occasion.
With the evening drawing to an end, it just remained for Stephen Jelly to present Chris with a gift of medicinal liquid as a thank-you for taking the time to visit the Blackpool group.