The 2022 Annual Meeting of the Provincial Grand Senatus of Surrey was held at the Surbiton Masonic Hall on Thursday the 21st of July. We were honoured by the presence of the Grand Summus, Most Distinguished Companion Ian S Currans, escorted by Dist.Comp. Geoffrey Kear, and accompanied by the Assistant Grand Summus, R.Dist.Comp. Howard S Markham.
Ian Bloodworth, Len Hillier, I and our Provincial Grand Summus, met up at Glenmore House the Tuesday before to prepare the Temple for the meeting on Thursday. From 9 a.m. the Companions started to arrive, sign in and made their way to the downstairs bar for tea and coffee. On duty was our photographer, Dist.Comp. Bob Tuthill, seen here with our Deputy Provincial Grand Summus, Dist.Comp. Nigel Thomson.
At the same time, in the George Cowan Temple our Provincial Grand Summus was having a last look at his detailed agenda…
The Tzaddikim were busy rehearsing…
And the Escort for the installation of the Assistant Provincial Grand Summus were also rehearsing their roles with the Assistant Provincial Grand Summus Designate, Dist.Comp. Simon McCarthy.
Just after 11.00 a.m. 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 through an Arch of Steel, 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 Designate, Dist.Comp Ian Bloodworth. The other Right Distinguished Companions were then saluted with seven under the direction of the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies.
The Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, Dist.Comp. Geoffrey Kear was admitted and advised the Right Distinguished Provincial Grand Summus that the Grand Summus, Most Distinguished Companion Ian S Currans accompanied by the Assistant Grand Summus, R.Dist.Comp. Howard S Markham, was outside the door of Provincial Grand Senatus.
Most Distinguished Companion, Ian S Currans, Grand Summus, was received and welcomed by the Provincial Grand Summus. He was then saluted with eleven under the direction of the Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies.
The Provincial Grand Summus welcomed the many honoured guests of the Province and other Distinguished Companions.
The Minutes of last year's meeting of Provincial Grand Senatus held on 18th August 2021 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 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 thanking him for all his support over the past year. The Deputy Provincial Grand Summus was saluted with five under the direction of the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies. Dist.Comp. Nigel thanked the Companions for their salutation.
The Provincial Grand Summus was pleased to announce that he was appointing Dist.Comp. Simon McCarthy as Assistant Provincial Grand Summus.
The Assistant Provincial Grand Summus Designate entered in procession, took his Obligation, and was invested by the Provincial Grand Summus. The Assistant Provincial Grand Summus was saluted with five under the direction of the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies. Dist Comp Simon thanked the Companions for their salutation.
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 welcomed nine 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 and presented them with a lapel pin and a drinks voucher.
The Provincial Grand Summus addressed Provincial Grand Senatus. He thanked Dist.Comp. Kevin Johnson for attending and playing the organ for us.
The Grand Summus and the Assistant Grand Summus then retired from Provincial Grand Senatus.
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, where the new Companions spent their drinks vouchers…
The Companions of the Province of Surrey and their guests enjoyed an excellent and convivial Festive Board in the Elizabethan Suite at Surbiton Masonic Hall.
In his reply to his toast the Grand Summus thanked the Provincial Grand Summus and the Companions of Surrey for their kind hospitality and said how well the Surrey team had performed at the special meeting at Mark Masons Hall to confer 3 Grades on several Brethren from France, Greece and Paraguay. He said he felt especially proud being a Surrey Scarlet Cord Companion himself, and a member of the Hill of Zion Consistory.
After our guests had departed, the past Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies could be seen congratulating the new Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies on an excellent job.
While a couple of us said goodbye to Marianna on her last day at Glenmore House thanking her and her team for looking after so well.
Article by Chris Eley and photos by Bob Tuthill and Chris Eley
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