On Wednesday, 13th November, Cambridgeshire Clarets were part of the annual visit to Supreme Grand Chapter by over fifty Cambridgeshire Royal Arch Masons.
The Clarets Chairman, Secretary and twenty members, some of whom were attending the event for the first time, joined the Grand Superintendent, William Dastur, the Deputy Grand Superintendent, Mark Shields, and several other Grand and Provincial Officers, all of whom were delighted to be acknowledged by the Pro First Grand Principal in his address.
After the meeting, all the Companions dined in style in the Ampthill Room in the Grand Connaught Rooms, during which members of the Provincial Executive switched tables in between every course to encourage discussion and exchange of ideas. In his address, the Grand Superintendent stated his delight with the excellent turnout, including the Clarets, which exemplified the high regard and popularity of the Royal Arch in Cambridgeshire.
After lunch, the Clarets were treated to a 'behind the scenes' guided tour of Freemasons' Hall, led by the Second Grand Principal, Sir David Wootton and the Third Grand Principal Gareth Jones. This included the Grand Principals' private robing rooms, the Grand Officers' robing room, and several notable reception and meeting rooms and culminated in the splendid Temple Number 10, also known as the Egyptian Room.
The tour, both informative and informal, included personal insights from the Grand Principals, who were keen to answer questions and give an insight into life at Freemasons' Hall beyond the main Temple.
After an in-depth explanation of the intricacies of the magnificent painting commemorating the Tercentenary meeting of United Grand Lodge, Hady Aouad and John Smith presented Claret's tie-clips to the Second and Third Grand Principals, respectively.
The Companions then returned to The Egyptian Room for a meeting of the Euclid Chapter of Installed First Principals, where a demonstration of Savage Ritual was presented to a full Chapter Room. Savage Ritual aims to streamline the Exaltation Ceremony, keeping the focus on the experience of the Exaltee without detracting from the spectacle of the ceremony itself.
This Clarets on Tour event was coordinated by the Clarets Committee, working with the Deputy Grand Superintendent and the Provincial Grand Scribe Ezra. The Cambridgeshire Clarets, pioneered by the Past Deputy Grand Superintendent David Blair, welcome any Companion who wishes to meet more members, become more involved, and learn more about the Royal Arch Degree and how it fits into the whole Masonic system.
They work closely with the Cambridgeshire Light Blues to offer a complementary group — indeed it is now 'One Journey. One Organisation'. Their core objectives are to increase the enjoyment of the Companionship of the Order among new Exaltees, to promote the Comprehension of the Royal Arch ritual and its relevance to our modern lives, and to encourage Compassion among all Royal Arch Masons, particularly within their Craft Lodges, to look out for disengaged members.
