Today was the end of an era.
I joined Wynnstay Chapter of the Holy Royal arch way back in 2007 when I took my fourth step in Freemasonry. And in the following 18(?) years I have only ever missed one meeting. That one missing meeting was due to a very rare clash, where Wynnstay Chapter had moved the date of their meeting at short notice to a date I was already booked to attend Bala Lodge where they had asked me to come give a them a talk on the Widows Sons. On top of that the Provincial Grand Master was was having an official visit to Bala Lodge, and as a ProvGStwd, I was booked to go with him. Even back in 2018 I was getting double and triple booked (Fun fact, 2018 would have made a great year to run the Year of a Busy Mason. I think I had 20+ Christmas dinners that year).
I have enjoyed my years in the Chapter, and I just realised I may have made it into the half dozen longest members, damn I am getting old! but all things must come to an end, and tonight it was the end of my time at Wynnstay.
The other week we had a committee meeting to finalise the procedure and officers for tonight’s installation, and to sort some things out for the following few meetings. During the sorting of tonight’s agenda it was mentioned we had a joining member. A person with who there is mutual animosity between them and myself. It would not be good for the harmony of the Chapter for both of us to be members.
I informed the committee of these facts, but when the choice comes down to: –
- Person 1: A Past Zerubbabel of the Chapter, who has missed just 1 meeting in over 18 years, and helps out with the ceremonies whenever needed.
- Person 2: Only joined the Royal Arch to be eligible to join another order, and has not attended his own Chapter once in many years.
It is preferred to pick the person in KT’s with several influential members of the Chapter.
So according to Masonic tradition and rules. “if, unfortunately, your differences are of such a nature as not to be so easily adjusted, it were better that one or both of you retire, than that the harmony of the Lodge should be disturbed.” I had to tend my resignation to Wynnstay Chapter. (He would not since he needs to be in a Chapter to keep his membership in KTs, so it had to be me.)
I am saddened to have left, Wynnstay is was my longest membership of a masonic entity.
Wynnstay Chapter = 18.5 years- Bishop Wilkins College = 14 years
- Valle Crucis Chapter = 13 years
- Wrexhamian Lodge = 12 years
Llannerch Lodge = 9 Years- Stewards Lodge = 8 years
- Maesgwyn Lodge of IM = 8 years
- Clwyd College == 7 years
- Wrexhamian Chapter = 6 years
- Rhodri Fawr Chapter = 4 years
I am pleased that Bishop Wilkins College S.R.I.A. is now my new longest membership, and with Valle Crucis Chapter Ancient & Accepted Rite in second place, does make me now primarily a Rosicrucian.