NEWSLETTER 36 Repro - Masonic Province of Yorkshire, West Riding

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NEWSLETTER 36 Repro 11/5/07 11:45 AM Page 42 CHAPTER OF AFFABILITY No 308 Bicentenary Celebration FOR the second time in a decade, E Comp The Rev Peter Hemingway headed north to help a Chapter in our Province celebrate its bicentenary. E Comp Hemingway, Past Third Grand Principal, travelled from his Bury St Edmonds home, to represent Supreme Grand Chapter and enhance proceedings on an historic day at Bottoms, Stansfield, near Todmorden on May 12 this year. He was warmly welcomed by the ME Grand Superintendent, E Comp John K Clayton, who headed a Provincial deputation which included E Comps John A Briggs, Deputy Grand Superintendent, David Pratt, Second Provincial Grand Principal, The Rev Frank A Chappell, Third Provincial Grand Principal, John B Gledhill, Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals, John Rushworth, Provincial Grand Scribe E and Paul C Grafton, Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies. E Comp T J Caplin acted as Grand Director of Ceremonies and all the distinguished visitors and Companions were welcomed by the three Principals of Chapter of Affability, E Comps Paul Sheppard, Michael Smithies and John A English. E Comp Hemingway took obvious delight in presenting the Bicentenary Charter to E Comp Sheppard, before investing the Three Principals with bicentenary jewels as the remaining members of the Chapter assumed theirs. The First Principal presented 40 The three Principals of the Chapter are pictured with the M E Grand Superintendent, John K Clayton, The Rev Peter Hemingway and the Provincial deputation bicentenary jewels to E Comp Hemingway and E Comp Clayton as mementos of a truly special occasion. IN a delightful and uplifting Oration, the Third Provincial Grand Principal, E Comp The Rev Frank A Chappell, referred to Ezra and Nehemiah, the 15th and 16th books in the Bible; books which contain the raw material from which our Royal Arch ritual was formed. “They tell how the Children of Israel, after their long exile in Babylon, returned to rebuild and restore their Temple, their city of Jerusalem and their country in a remarkable story of resilience and faith. “Scribes Ezra and Nehemiah told more or less the same story, but from different perspectives. One of them strongly suggests that the newly returned Israelites should remain apart, separate and distinct and not integrate with others, while the other Scribe stresses the importance of sharing their values and ideals with their immediate neighbours. “The differences are rather like the changing face of Freemasonry in today’s world; once we seemed very secretive and separate, but now we are encouraged to be open and transparent in all that we do together. “But to move on from Biblical times to 1807, the year of the Foundation of the Chapter of Affability No 308. “Candidates for Freemasonry are asked ‘Are you a free man?’ How privileged we all are to have been able to reply: ‘I am’ and affirm that we are free indeed. “How liberating it must have been for the many thousands in the British colonies overseas who, in 1807, were emancipated after years of slavery. How very much like the Sojourners of old who, in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, after years of serfdom in Babylon were suddenly free to return and rebuild their lives and their community. “I believe the significance of this would have touched the minds of those pioneering Companions who Founded the Chapter of Affability. They will have Factory Shops at: MILETA FACTORY SHOP Spen Vale Mills, Station Lane, HECKMONDWIKE, West Yorkshire WF16 ONQ Tel: 01924 409314 TOG 24 FACTORY OUTLET STORE, Unit 410, Hornsea Freeport, Rolston Road, HORNSEA, East Yorkshire HU18 1UT Tel: 01964 535308 TOG 24 FACTORY OUTLET STORE, 93/94 Church Street, WHITBY YO22 4BH Tel: 01947 820456 TOG 24 FACTORY OUTLET STORE, Unit 8, The Yorkshire Outlet, Doncaster Lakeside, DONCASTER, South Yorkshire DN4 5LH Tel: 01302 364123 TOG 24 FACTORY OUTLET STORE, Unit E, Lightwater Village, North Stainley, RIPON, North Yorkshire HG4 3HT. Tel: 01765 635338 GOLF HIKING AND LEISURE PRODUCTS AT FACTORY PRICES
NEWSLETTER 36 Repro 11/5/07 11:45 AM Page 43 been wise enough to see the significant connection between the ritual of Royal Arch Masonry and the emancipation of slaves in the West Indies and beyond. “Companions, Ezra and Nehemiah produced the fine material on which the Royal Arch is based and so may we all be faithful to the witness of the 15th and 16th books in the Volume of the Sacred Law. “Here at Bottoms, set in this deep sided valley, let us be inspired on this day of celebration by the words of Psalm 121: ‘I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help.’ “May Chapter Masonry flourish here and inspire generations still to come to look up to the hills with hope and with courage.” Earlier, E Comp John Dyson, Affability Scribe E, delivered a fascinating resume of the Chapter’s early days, highlighting facilities which we now take for granted but did not exist then. THE ME Grand Superintendent, E Comp John K Clayton, delved into the rich tapestry of Affability history at the Bicentenary Banquet when proposing a toast to the Chapter to which E Comp Sheppard suitably replied. E Comp Hemingway was both humorous and witty in proposing a toast to E Comp Clayton, who was delighted to respond. A copy of the History of the Chapter 1807 - 2007 and an etched glass plaque was presented to the 70 Companions who attended the banquet. • The Rev Peter Hemingway was the principal guest when he attended Chapter of Perseverance No 275 Bicentenary celebration in Huddersfield in 1996 in his capacity as Third Grand Principal. Construction Cost Consultants Estimating and quantity surveying services. Project management. Health & safety, risk assessment and method statements. Contract advice and guidance. Total discretion assured. Tel: 0114 282 1263 Mobile: 0786 750 8758 Fax: 0114 282 1265 Email: Richard@qty-surveyor.com Aizlewood's Mill, Nursery St. Sheffield S3 8GG W Bro Whitworth, left, is pictured with the Scottish Brethren and Bro Paul Newton SCOTTISH HOSPITALITY Delights super fund-raiser John ONE of the Province’s best known figures and phenomenal fund-raiser, W Bro John Whitworth, of Woodsmoke Lodge No 9317, recalls an unusual experience while on a motorcycle tour of Scotland. "I was accompanied by Bro Paul Newton, of West Salford Lodge No 3867 when we were invited to St Kearan Lodge No 1155, near Fort William. "Believe it or not, the Lodge was in `closed season` and they opened up specially for us and a number of other visitors and gave a demonstration of a Third Degree ceremony. "Obviously a dispensation had been obtained to open the Lodge and all this for the benefit of a couple of English Brethren. What a wonderful example of Freemasonry at work." And W Bro Whitworth, a singer of some repute, sets a wonderful example himself with some outstanding fund raising efforts. His latest this summer was to host a barbecue and Irish Band function in Wakefield along with Middleton Round Table and this raised £2,000 to be shared equally between Springhill Hospice in Rochdale and the Wakefield Hospice. With all due modesty, W Bro Whitworth reckons that in the past 10 years he has been instrumental in helping raise a staggering £57,000 for various mainly childrenorientated charities. For all your IT and Networking Solutions for both Business and Home From Infrastructure & Planning to Implementation and Deployment • Specialists in Trouble Shooting • Technical Training • Technical Support Phone for no obligation quotation Tel: 07828 170233 07914 568711 41
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NEWSLETTER 36 Repro - Masonic Province of Yorkshire, West Riding

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