The Annual Meeting of the Provincial Grand Senatus of Surrey was held at the Surbiton Masonic Hall on Wednesday 18th August 2021. This was not only the first meeting of Provincial Grand Senatus since our Provincial Grand Summus was appointed at a Virtual Business Meeting in July 2020, but it was also the first meeting of a Provincial Grand Senatus since the resumption of Masonic activity.
Ian Bloodworth, Len Hillier, Alan Boniface, I and our Provincial Grand Summus met up at Glenmore House the evening before to prepare the Temple for the meeting the next day. The Companions started to arrive, sign in and made their way to the upstairs dining room.
Coffee and bacon butties were gratefully received, and faithfully applied.
Joining us at the meeting was our Grand Summus, M.Dist.Comp. Ian S Currans, who was here to confirm our Provincial Grand Summus, R.Dist.Comp. Arnold Long, as Provincial Grand Summus for the Province of Surrey; along with members of the Grand Tzaddikim.
The visiting Right Distinguished Companions entered the Temple in Procession followed by our two Past Provincial Grand Summi, Right Distinguished Companions Michael F Barnes and Louis M Keats.
The Companions were then called to Order to receive the Right Distinguished Provincial Grand Summus who entered the Temple in procession, accompanied by the Provincial Grand Officers of the Year.
Provincial Grand Senatus was opened in due form and the Provincial Grand Summus was saluted with seven under direction of the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, Dist.Comp Ian Parsons. The other Right Distinguished Companions were then saluted with seven under the direction of the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies.
The Grand Director of Ceremonies, V.Dist.Comp. Phillip Purves was admitted and advised the Right Distinguished Provincial Grand Summus that the Grand Summus, Most Distinguished Companion Ian S Currans was outside the door of Provincial Grand Senatus.
The Grand Summus entered in procession led by the Grand Sword Bearer and followed by the Grand Standard Bearer. This was a special moment for me as that sword was worn by my old friend and mentor in Masonry, Michael White, when he Installed me as a Knight Templar over 20 years ago. Sadly Michael has passed away but before he died he gave his sword to me which I have proudly carried for many years as Provincial Marshal in the Provincial Priory of Surrey. The registrar of the Preceptory all those years ago was Ian Currans.
Most Distinguished Companion, Ian S Currans, Grand Summus, was received, welcomed by the Provincial Grand Summus, and took the Chair. He was then saluted with eleven under the direction of the Grand Director of Ceremonies, V.Dist.Comp. Phillip Purves.
The Grand Summus said that 13 months ago in July 2020 he attended such a marvellous Virtual Business Meeting with over 170 Companions attending from all over the world from far away places such as India and the Caribbean. At the meeting he invested our Provincial Grand Summus in a formal way, albeit on Zoom. The Patent was read and the Grand Summus invested R.Dist. Comp. Arnold but couldn’t on Zoom invest him with his Chain. He therefore had the greatest of pleasure in investing our Provincial Grand Summus with his Chain of Office an installing him into the Chair of the Provincial Grand Senatus of Surrey.
The Provincial Grand Summus welcomed the many honoured guests of the Province and other Distinguished Companions.
The Minutes of last year's Virtual Business Meeting of Provincial Grand Senatus held on 20th July 2020 were confirmed by the Companions. The Roll of Provincial Grand Officers was called following which the Roll of Consistories in the Province was called and the members of each Consistory rose and indicated their presence with a court bow to the East.
The Provincial Grand Summus welcomed Companions who had been admitted to the Order since the last Annual Meeting. The Companions were presented to the Provincial Grand Summus who warmly welcomed them into the Order and the Province.
The Accounts were then adopted. The Provincial Grand Summus thanked the Treasurer and Account Auditors for their endeavours. The Provincial Grand Summus announced that he had received only one nomination for the post of Provincial Grand Treasurer, Dist. Comp. David Willmott, who was declared elected Provincial Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year.
The Provincial Grand Summus reappointed Dist.Comp. Nigel Thomson as Deputy Provincial Grand Summus and Dist. Comp. Chris Hatton as Assistant Provincial Grand Summus. A total of 24 appointments and promotions to Provincial Grand Rank were made.
The R Dist Provincial Grand Summus was pleased to appoint the Captain, Deputy Captain and Members of the Tzaddikim. He then inspected his personal Tzaddikim.
The Provincial Grand Summus addressed Provincial Grand Senatus - click here to read the address. The Grand Summus then retired in procession with his Grand Officers and members of the Grand Tzaddikim.
Provincial Grand Senatus was closed in due form and the Right Distinguished Provincial Grand Summus retired in procession accompanied by Right Distinguished Companions, and Honoured Guests.
After a few drinks in the bar the Companions of the Province of Surrey and their guests enjoyed an excellent and convivial Festive Board in the Elizabethan Suite.
In his reply to his toast the Provincial Grand Summus thanked the Grand Summus for attending to make this a very special day for the Provincial Grand Senatus of Surrey and had much pleasure in presenting him with book and a bottle of his favourite tipple.
During the reply to his toast the Grand Summus mentioned the medals being worn by many Companions at the Festive Board. These are for the Scarlet Cord Virtual Challenge for Alzheimer’s being promoted by R.Dist.Comp. Philip Clare, Provincial Grand Summus for Kent.
To view all the photos of the day – click here.
Article by Chris Eley and photos by Bob Tuthill and Chris Eley
< back to news index