The members of Prince Edward Chapter No 2109 were honoured and delighted to receive David Case, as the representative of the Grand Superintendent Mark Matthews, to their installation convocation held at the Grange Club in Stockport.
David was in good company being accompanied by grand officers and chapter members Colin Rowling and Gareth Jones together with Trafford Group Chairman Patrick Walsh, Trafford Group Vice Chairman Colin Latimer and acting Provincial grand officer Darren Gregory and other visiting companions.
Prince Edward Chapter is a chapter which has had issues since the 2020 COVID outbreak which led to an unfortunate loss of a number of companions. The then South Eastern Group Chairman, Gareth Royston Jones, unwilling to close the chapter, asked some of the officers of the group to come in to assist in keeping the chapter alive. As a result of this, Gareth took the first principles chair for the following two years after which he installed Shaun Brookhouse who acted as first principle for the next two years.
The above being taken into consideration, the turn-out was small but, in true Masonic style, the attending officials graciously agreed to fill some of the vacant offices thus, the ceremony was carried out in an excellent manner with DC Gareth Jones smoothly addressing and obligating each of the elected three principals.
The installation of the principals saw Darren Gregory being installed as first principal, Shaun Brookhouse (due to be made an acting Provincial Grand Steward) as second principal and Steve Botrill as third principal. David then gave an excellent address to the companions and on completion of the ceremony, stood to bring greetings and good wishes for a prosperous and healthy year from the Grand Superintendent Mark Matthews.
David said that if Mark had been present, he would have witnessed a most interesting installation and on both his and Mark’s behalf, congratulated the work of all those who took their part in the evening’s ceremony and thanked those who had taken office in the chapter.
Newly installed first principal, Darren then rose and thanked David for his very kind words and on behalf of the chapter presented him with a charity envelope which contained a cheque for £50 made out to the Masonic Charitable Foundation. David thanked the members of the chapter on behalf of all those who would eventually benefit from the chapter’s most generous donation.
After the installation, the chapter had received notice of the resignation of Colin Rowling. However, he was not to be let go so easily, as it was soon after proposed and voted that he was to be made an honorary member of the chapter. This was approved with unanimity and Colin was genuinely touched and grateful to be able to keep a connection with the chapter.
At the first rising, David conveyed the greetings and good wishes on behalf of the grand officers saying that although the ceremony had been short, being a proclamation rather than a full installation it had been undeniably entertaining and welcomed Darren back into the chair of a first principal wishing him and the chapter an enjoyable year.
A friendly festive board continued into the evening, where David, having been presented with the customary bag of ‘Trafford Treats’ by Patrick, gave an excellent response to his toast and touched on the subjects of The Masonic Charitable Foundation and how we were to try and raise the profile of the Royal Arch in the Province.
The toasts of the evening having ended; thus, a most enjoyable convocation was concluded.