Last year, Gordon Craigs was asked by the Provincial Grand Superintendent to form a Chapter Working Group with the specific aim of exploring ways by which the Province can increase the membership of the Royal Arch by:
- Encouraging Master Masons to join the Royal Arch.
- Encouraging those who have resigned from the Royal Arch to consider re-joining
- Encouraging best practice in Chapters by, for example, sharing of the ritual to enhance the enjoyment of the Exaltation Ceremony for all concerned.
The Group has concluded that sharing the ritual will go some considerable way to ensuring that candidates, the officers responsible for delivering the ritual and those witnessing the ceremony will have a more pleasurable and enjoyable experience.
The Group considered the various rituals being used in the Province and revised them accordingly to divide the work up.
Members of the Group have now begun a programme of visits to Chapters to explain to them about sharing the ritual. So far, they have received a positive response to these visits and several Chapters have asked if it would be possible to witness an Exaltation Ceremony with shared working.
Ridley Royal Arch Chapter No 2260, which meets at Fern Avenue, has very kindly offered to conduct a ‘live’ Exaltation Ceremony where you will be able to witness the sharing of the ritual. Each Chapter in the Province is invited to put forward two representatives from their membership to attend the next Ridley Chapter meeting to be held on Monday 5th February at 6.30pm.
Please contact E Comp Paul Ryder, Scribe E directly on 07716 290 814 or paulrryder14@gmail.com to confirm your attendance.
If you would like to dine after the meeting, the 4-course meal will be £20 and must be paid in advance to the account below. Please inform E Comp Ryder of your intention to dine (with any dietary requirements) and the date the payment was made. The closing date for booking a meal is Monday 29th January.
Please use your last name as a reference.
Account Name: Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland Catering A/c
Sort Code: 20-59-59
Account No: 30052183