West Kent News - Issue 12 - Flipbook - Page 10
WEST KENT NEWS | ISSUE NO.12 SPRING 2024
10
ASSISTANT TO THE PROVINCIAL
GRAND PRINCIPALS:
CHRISTOPHER ASHBY
The Building Continues
I am sure that in the past that
there were operative masons
who due to the lack of materials
were unable to complete the
building
but
left
good
foundations on which others at a
later stage could re-use.
Indeed
there
have
been
Chapters who for the same
cause
have
built
good
foundations but due to the lack
of
materials/Exaltees
find
themselves in a position of lack
of work. This in no way means
that they have failed in their
duties. Indeed if a chapter is to
close, the companions should
look at all the good that has
been done over the years. Even
the
Founders
would
have
realised that there is an end to
the building works.
Just recently here was a chapter
based at the Welling Centre
which looked at handing back
their Charter and closing, but
then there was another group of
masons from a lodge who wished
to open a chapter. By looking at
the commitment of the lodge
members together with the
willingness
of
the
chapter
members,
the
Grand
Superintendent
agreed
that
these two groups should meet
with their APGP to look at what
could be achieved. This meeting
was harmonious as each had a
full
understanding
of
the
opportunities open to them prior
to the meeting. This started a new
beginning and the process of
saving a chapter with a plan to
move the meeting centre to
Tonbridge
and
eventually
renaming it the Southborough
Chapter.
This also meant that at the
installation meeting there were 11
joining members of which 4 were
re-joining and 2 new to the
province of West Kent. The
existing members, although with
mixed feelings, agreed to step
aside after handing over the
senior positions and officer posts
at that convocation. I say with
mixed feelings because, as you
can imagine, after so many years
within a chapter one would get
very attached not only to the
chapter but with the friends that
had been made. Indeed a number
of those original members of the
chapter have already decided to
join another chapter held at the
Welling Centre as the distance to
Tonbridge was a little too far they have grown as friends and
are staying as a group of friends.
As for Southborough it could be
regarded as a success but only if
there is future potential.
This
chapter
had
11
new
members at the last meeting in
February with more joining in
June. Not resting there they have
4 Exaltees for the June Meeting
and others thereafter.
Whenever a chapter, or in that
matter a lodge, may be thinking
that they have gone as far as they
can in building their unit, and
closure is a thought, first contact
your APGP or APGM - the
Province is here to assist you as
it did with Woolwich Polytechnic
and Southborough.
Kind regards,
Christopher Ashby
Assistant to the Provincial Grand
Principals