At Southport Masonic Hall, a special presentation was held at Ainsdale Chapter No 5884, with the Grand Superintendent Mark Matthews and his team attending to extort the virtues of the Royal Arch to a large number of attending master Masons.
The business of the chapter was, of course, first conducted in private. First principal Richard Gillett confidently and concisely guided the chapter through the agenda which included the admission of not just two joining members, but a massive seven new members proposed for future exaltation.
That being concluded, the chapter was closed and master Masons were invited into the room for a presentation on the Royal Arch. A mighty room it was indeed with Southport’s largest lodge room packed on all four sides. Mark Matthews first rose to welcome all, assisted by the Southport Group Chairman Phil Stock who was involved in the unusual task of setting up a projector in the temple! As the slides came into view, Deputy Grand Superintendent Chris Butterfield rose to take the assembled brethren through the presentation.
Chris began with a background on the order. It was pointed out to all assembled that Freemasonry consists of only three degrees, including the Royal Arch and indeed the Grand Master of the Craft is also the First Grand Principle of the Royal Arch. The rather fascinating history of the order was then explained from the foundation of the first Grand Lodge in 1717, colloquially known as the ‘Moderns’, the 1951 foundation of the second Grand Lodge of the ‘Antients’, and their union in 1813. In those days the Royal Arch ceremony was part of the ceremonies of the Antients, but not the Moderns, and it was only on their union the Royal Arch was included for all Masons.
Chris flawlessly and eloquently turned the minds of those assembled onto why the Royal Arch was considered so important. This included discussion on the moral teachings of the degree, and less specifically, the extra secrets known only to members of the Royal Arch. The packed room listed in rapt attention as Chris encouraged them to complete the journey of their Freemasonry, and pointed them to the extra resources available. Mark then rose to thank Chris and draw the presentation to a close, before all retired below to enjoy a traditional hotpot and discuss the excellent presentation they had all just been treated to.
The evening was considered a success by all, with new and existing Royal Arch Masons being given food for thought. Indeed, 9 new candidates for Royal Arch Masonry came forward as a direct result of the evening, with the scholars and warm hearts of the excellent Ainsdale Chapter sure to be the destination of many.