E. Comp Stan Marut PPrGReg PPrGGreg (Hants IoW) SLGCR reports on the Chapter Convocation held at Twickenham.
Certainly stability, as St Clair Chapter No 2902 which met at TDMC on Saturday 6th September exalted Bro Michael Catapano a member of Berkeley Lodge No 7591. This introduction of new candidates from Berkeley Lodge is proving successful with two new Exaltees joining in the last masonic year. Although St Clair Lodge No 2902 is a feeder Lodge to the Chapter, the conjoining with Berkeley in providing new candidates will provide the stability as the Chapter moves forward positively.
The 3rd Provincial Grand Principal, E. Comp Robert King PGStB was escorted by E Comp Julian Saunders, PProvDepGDC, together with Provincial Officers, E Comp Keith Gregory, ProvGSoj, E Comp Keith Watson ProvAGDC, E Comp Sam Huxter ProvGStB and E Com Martin Voles ProvGStB. This was the first Chain visit by E. Comp Robert King and what made this meeting particularly poignant was the fact that his father in law, the late E. Comp Brian Guyett PGStB had been a long standing member of the Chapter.
A Busy Afternoon
The Principals and Companions provided a superb example of the exaltation ceremony, and the work was shared to provide a good experience for the candidate. The Historical and Symbolical Lectures were also given seamlessly and this showed that those taking part had rehearsed their lines well.
This was the Elections meeting and St Clair Chapter was now in a good position in that it was moving away from the rotation of previous 1st Principals for the major roles and with new candidates joining it set out a positive path of future progression to the Principal’s Chairs.
Time For A New Face
E. Comp Stan Marut who had fulfilled the Office of Charity Steward since 2018 made way for a new Companion to take the Chapter forward to the 2031 Festival. He would be invested at the November Installation meeting. Stan gave his Charity Steward’s report to the Convocation and given the difficulties with the Covid era and membership numbers stated that since 2019 the Chapter had given £1650 to Charitable causes including CHAPS who provide prostate cancer testing for the Province and also became Patrons of the Middlesex TLC Charity. He thanked the Companions for their support to achieve these and other aims. Not only that but he proposed two donations at the meeting amounting to £600 which would go to the Sea Cadets and to a charity providing support and counselling for women with endometriosis, a debilitating condition suffered by women.
It was also a pleasure to welcome accomplished guest Organist, Comp Martin McPherson-Pottle, who provided suitable music for the afternoon’s endeavours. Martin lives in Sussex and attends TDMC as guest Organist for St Clair Lodge too.
After the meeting the Chapter Companions and the guests enjoyed a buffet style festive board and held a raffle which added an additional £115 to the coffers of the Relief Chest.
St Clair Chapter No 2902 holds its next meeting on Saturdays in September, November and March at Twickenham normally starting mid-afternoon. Being held on a Saturday some may find this a better time to attend Chapter. All are welcome and any enquiries can be addressed to the Scribe Ezra, E. Comp Keith Mates on stclairchapter@gmail.com
See photo gallery below:
L to R Comp Michael Catepano, E. Comp Nigel Fisher (J) and Comp Carl Gibbs
Missing from the Berkeley Lodge group is E. Comp Raghu Sharma AGDC PProvDepGDC who is also a member of the Chapter.
