Essex Chapters continue on their road to Romania
Sewing the seeds of Romanian Supreme Grand Chapter edges nearer to ultimate goal
The Southend Masonic Centre was the venue for latest Romanian meeting in the international collaboration of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Essex (PGC) assisting the Grand Lodge of Romania in establishing their own Supreme Grand Chapter.
The meeting usually spread over two days was completed in one and nine Romanian brethren were Exalted into the Royal Arch (RA) making a total of 63 to date. Amongst the several Provincial Executive in attendance they were also joined for the morning meeting by Paul Tarrant, Most Excellent Grand Superintendent of Essex (MEGS).
By way of a recap the PGC Essex were approached during late 2022 by Supreme Grand Chapter (SGC), explaining that there was an initiative underway in another Provincial area to set up a Supreme Grand Chapter in Romania, but it was proceeding too slowly. Romania has hundreds of potential Exaltees, and they needed a way to Exalt a large number of Brethren in a short space of time.
The Executive spent a few months talking with the Romanian Grand Master to arrange how best to do this and it was
agreed that they would send their brethren to Essex, who would perform the multiple Exaltations and later assist in setting up the Grand Chapter of Romania.
Two Essex Chapters, Albert Lucking No. 2717 & Epping Forest No. 4263, were on the verge of handing in their warrants and agreed to take part in creating the first Romanian Chapters. Initially working in the Province using Emergency and Regular meetings and then in time, they would transition - along with their history – to Romania, where they would operate under the PGC Essex and when ready, will become the Founders of the Supreme Grand Chapter of Romania.
Much work has been undertaken by the Provincial Executive but, in particular volunteers in the Essex Provincial Grand Steward’s Chapter Support and Presentation Team and later to be renamed Essex Royal Arch Support and Presentation Team, under the guidance and instruction of the Support Team Coordinator, Jim Wolfe, Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals.
Each Chapter has had five meetings in which ‘63’ Romanian brethren have been exalted and Jim, with his dedicated teams have carried out all the ceremonies, which in many cases have been astounding and complex. In particular, the triple ceremonies required expert manoeuvring, as the installation of three Romanian principals (of each Chapter) all on the same day, necessitated careful consideration and approval from SGC.
There has been an element of training by letting Romanian officers occupy offices during the ceremonies, but the next phase will be in-depth training ensuring they learn the administrative work, masonic culture and RA etiquette, and of course the ritual, so they are ready to run the RA in their country correctly. The intention is for the RA Support Team to also travel to Romania next year to begin this process.
For the time being, the Romanian officers have been invited to the Essex Annual Convocation of Provincial Grand Chapter meeting on the 3rd October, held in the magnificent Grand Temple of Freemasons’ Hall in London.
This event presents a wonderful opportunity for the many Essex RA companions to greet these history making guests.
So why not join us, with friends from your own Chapter and meet the Romanians on this special occasion by clicking the link:
Photos
Top: Latest meeting July 2024 with centre MEGS and to his left the 5 new Exaltees of the Epping Forest Chapter and to his immediate right Gabriel Gaiu, First Principal of Albert Lucking Chapter together with the four brethren yet to be Exalted.
Left (L-R): Epping Forest – Third Principal, Lucian Galosi, Second Principal, Nicolai Iancu, First Principal, Andrei Motoc and Albert Lucking, First Principal, Gabriel Gaiu
Right: Having fun at the festive board
Bottom: Collage of four photos show all previous meetings 1) May 2023, 2) July 2023, 3) November 2023, 4) May 2024
