In July the Provincial Priory of Surrey Annual Meeting was held under the Banner of Whyte Stone Preceptory No 447.
Click here to view the second slideshow of photos from the 2017 Meeting
Following processions of the Provincial Prelate accompanied by the Processional Cross and the Provincial Almoner, a deputation from the Order of the Knights of Malta, and distinguished guests from other Provinces, the Right Eminent Provincial Prior, attended by the Provincial Sub-Prior and Provincial Officers of the year, entered in procession into Provincial Priory. After a brief welcome to all those present, the banners of the Preceptories were paraded into the Temple.
The Provincial Prior, RE.Kt. Patrick Peter Crossan opened a Chapter of the Provincial Priory of Surrey at 11.00am. He was then proclaimed by the Provincial 1st Herald, E.Kt. Alistair Mackenzie and saluted by all those present.
The Provincial Vice Chancellor read out the names of those Brother Knights who had passed to the Holy City during the preceding year. The Provincial Prelate, E.Kt. Rev. Leonard Moreton , conducted a requiem with all present standing in silent tribute to the memory of departed friends.
The Provincial Prior warmly welcomed two Past Priors of the Province of Surrey, RE.Kt Bryan Page, KCT and RE.Kt. Michael Banbury and many distinguished guests from up and down the country including Oxfordshire, Bucks and Berkshire, Hertfordshire, London, Dorset and Wiltshire, Cheshire and North Wales, Sussex, Middlesex, Kent, Hampshire & Isle of Wight, Essex, Leicester and Rutland, together with representatives of many of the other Masonic Orders in Surrey.
The Roll of Officers of Provincial Priory was called by the Provincial Vice-Chancellor and the Provincial Registrar called the roll of the Preceptories of the Province. The Provincial Vice-Chancellor presented the Minutes of last year’s annual meeting and also his own detailed report of the Province during the preceding year. Both were accepted and approved and E.Kt. Peter was thanked for all his efforts during the year. The accounts for the year to 31st August 2016 were presented and approved. Elections then took place for Knights Miguel Godfrey and Alastair Mackenzie to serve on the Provincial Committee, and E.Kts. Peter Vosser and Neil Bonter to be account auditors.
Finally, to end the business part of the meeting, the Provincial Vice-Chancellor proposed a number of donations to charity including the Eye Hospital in Jerusalem, the Surrey Craft Widows Association, the Craft 2019 Festival in support of the RMBI and the Mark 2022 Festival in support of the Mark Benevolent Fund. Kt. Alan Bayliss, Deputy Grand Superintendent of the Royal Arch Province of Surrey, and E.Kt. Chris Eley, Assistant Provincial Grand Master of the Mark Province of Surrey, were presented with cheques by the Provincial Prior. They both thanked the Knights of the Provincial Priory of Surrey for their kind donation.
The Provincial Prior thanked the Commemorative Order of St Thomas of Acorn for a very generous donation received from the Order. E Kt Charles Stoddart was then escorted to the Provincial Prior to present a cheque from the Royal Order of Scotland, which was also gratefully received. The Provincial Prior announced that he had great pleasure in reappointing VE.Kt. Chris Cradock as his Provincial Sub-Prior for the coming year. He thanked VE.Kt. Chris for all his hard work and support during the past year and looked forward to working with him in the coming year. The Provincial Sub-Prior was then proclaimed by the Provincial 2nd Herald, E.Kt. Jim Smith, and saluted by the Knights of the Province.
The Provincial Vice-Chancellor then called out the names of those Knights who the Provincial Prior had appointed to hold Provincial Office in the coming year. Each Knight was conducted to the Provincial Prior who invested him with the authority of that Office. A full list of all those appointed can been seen elsewhere on this web site under the heading of ‘Provincial Officers of the Year’ - click here to see the Officers for the year. The Provincial Prior re-appointed E.Kts. Peter Vosser and Neil Bonter as Commander and Deputy Commander of the Bodyguard. Under the direction of the Deputy Commander, the Bodyguard formed up for inspection by the Provincial Prior who thanked all members for their unstinting service during the past year.
The Provincial Prior then addressed Provincial Priory - click here to read the address.
This was followed by thanks to the Knights of Whyte Stone Preceptory for all their hard work as Banner Preceptory for this year’s meeting and the Provincial Prior gladly accepted the offer of St Michael at Bisley Preceptory to perform the same task next year.
After the regular business of the Priory had been completed the Right Eminent Provincial Prior closed the Chapter of Provincial Priory and two verses of the National Anthem were sung.
The Right Eminent Provincial Prior, accompanied by the Provincial Sub-Prior, the Right Eminent Past Provincial Priors, Right Eminent Knights, Very Eminent Knights and other Distinguished Guests of the Province retired in procession under the direction of the Provincial Marshal.
After the meeting the Knights of the Province of Surrey and their guests sat down to a most convivial luncheon in the Croydon Masonic Hall.
Article by Chris Eley and photographs by Bob Tuthill and Chris Eley
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