It has been a busy week for the Scarlet Cord.
On Wednesday, a team of Officers conferred the 5th Grade on recipients from across the Constitution. Following a buffet lunch, the team were back in Grand Temple at Mark Masons' Hall to On Wednesday, a team of Officers conferred the 5th Grade on recipients from across the Constitution. Here we have our Provincial Grand Summus with Dist.Comp. Alan Hall just after receiving his 5th Grade.
Following a buffet lunch, the team were back in Grand Temple at Mark Masons' Hall to confer the 4th Grade on some 63 recipients, also from all corners of the Constitution. Here we have our Provincial Grand Summus with Dist.Comps. John Norton-Doyle & Harry Smith just after receiving their 4th Grade.
As a prerequisite for receiving Grand Rank in the Order, it was very nice to see so many Candidates make the effort to travel some great distances to receive this reward for their service to the Order.
Many returned to Mark Masons' Hall the following day, Thursday, for the Annual Convocation of Grand Senatus.
This event is always very well supported, and a notice had been sent out asking Companions who hadn't notified MMH of their intention to attend not to make the journey in to join the meeting. They thanked all of those who heeded the advice as the Temple, while being nicely full, was able to cope with the numbers in attendance, on a beautifully warm and sunny day, without things getting too stifling.
The Grand Summus, M.Dist.Comp. Ian Stanley Currans, VI, presided over the meeting, ably assisted by a full team of Grand Officers.
Having re-appointed his Deputy, R.Dist.Comp. Francis C. Spencer, and Assistant, R.Dist.Comp. Howard S. Markham, there came the appointment to Grand Regent Vicarius of Madhavan Chellappa in recognition of his working in promoting the Order in India.
The Grand Officers of the year were then appointed and invested, followed by those receiving promotion and first appointment. Distinguished Companion Ian Clark, received a first appointment to Past Grand Sword Bearer.
Very Distinguished Companion Ian Smith was reappointed for the third year as Grand Lecturer , and Distinguished Companion Len Hillier received a first appointment to Past Grand Standard Bearer.
There to support Len on his special day was Alan, Bob and Jeff from Surrey Consistory No 4 TI.
The Grand Summus then gave his address to Grand Senatus, welcoming visiting Companions, including M.Dist.Comp. Aaron Michael Shoemaker, Grand Summus of the U.S.A. (seen in the green regalia), and heads of other Masonic Orders.
The theme of the address was very much about how we, as Scarlet Cord Companions, are also responsible for recruiting Brethren into the Order of the Secret Monitor, due to the inextricable links between the two Orders, and that enjoyment of the one will surely lead to interest in the other. Closing his address, the Grand Summus urged Companions to bear this thought in mind; when faced with an opportunity to recruit a new member, ask yourselves "what would Ian do?".
Grand Senatus was then closed, and Companions retired from the Grand Temple. Afterwards the Grand Summus posed for a photo with the Surrey Companions.
Many Companions stayed to dine and enjoyed the convivial companionship typical of the Order.
Article by Dan Heath and Chris Eley, photos by Arnold Long and Chris Eley
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