A new format for the Chapter of St George
October 31st saw the first meeting of The Chapter of St George 3158 at the start of their masonic season in Taunton.
A total of 31 attendees were looking forward to the revised Exaltation Ceremony. The Chapter voted not to adopt the new Savage Ritual , but to update their own “Perfect Ceremonies” ritual, to make it more inclusive and to share the work more evenly amongst the Officers of the Chapter.
John Rudge who was unfortunately unable to attend has spent a couple of months revising and adjusting the rtual, which was finally agreed at the April Committee meeting. With this endorsement it went to print, and so was ready to be issued to our new team at the Installation meeting in May, and made for good holiday reading over the summer.
The rehearsal the night before the meeting left everyone wondering if they had done the right thing, but on the night all went well. Ably led by Ken Clarke as Zerubbabel, and with all the Officers pulling together it was a very professional and enjoyable ceremony.
The candidate, Mark Kitchener, said at the festive board how much he had enjoyed the ceremony and how he looked forward to playing his part in the Chapter going forward.
Maldwyn Davies, a visiting Principle from Taunton Deane Chapter, was pleased to be asked to present a Grand Chapter Certificate to Matt Crook, who was exalted back in February. Maldwyn gave an excellent explanation in his usual high standard .
There was one very sad event when the Chapter said farewell to Terry Wood, who passed to the Grand Chapter Above on the 5th October. The Eulogy was given by Rod Green, who reminded all those present of the 45 years service Terry had given to the Chapter. He was exalted in 1978, and after passing thorough all the progressive offices, became Zerubbabel in 1993. He was first appointed to Provincial, and then Grand Chapter rank, and having spent many years as the Chapter director of ceremonies, was made an Honoury member in 2018. The Chapter will dearly miss him.
At the end of the ceremony everyone retired to an excellent festive board where the chat and banter was most enjoyable, and the Chapter now looks forward to the next meeting in December, where another candidate will experience the revised ritual.
