I am very proud to be standing here before you today as the first Grand Superintendent of the Chapter Province of Valencia. It is a momentous occasion in the history of this Province and on behalf of all Royal Arch Companions within the Province of Valencia I would like to offer our special thanks to the Most Excellent First Grand Principal, José Carretero Doménech, for bestowing such an honour upon us.
Our heartfelt thanks must also go to the Consecration Team who have done us proud and performed a wonderful ceremony that I am sure we will all remember for a long time to come. The Most Excellent Deputy First Grand Principal, E. Companion Oscar de Alfonso Ortega has shown once again what a consummate professional he is by performing a faultless ceremony and more importantly by infusing the words with true meaning and passion. Thank you Oscar, once again you have shown me how our Masonic work should be undertaken and left me with an extremely hard act to follow. The other members of the Team were also exemplary in their work, which for some was the first time they had been called on to perform such duties.
Mention must be made of two Companions in particular who have each contributed enormously to the behind the scenes activity that is involved in the setting up of a Chapter Province, they are E. Companions Norman Wheatley and Graham Simons. Norman has had the unenviable task of creating the Provincial structure, writing to offer individuals a Provincial role, sorting out the bylaws, organising the festive board and heaven knows what else as well as having to represent me a Grand Scribe Ezra for the Consecration ceremony. Graham Simons has worked tirelessly to ensure that we start with our own website, up, running and fully operational as from today and I would urge you all to make full use of the facilities it offers, ensure its kept up to date for your Chapter and to contribute to the information pages. The URL appears on the Summons. My thanks to both of you for the way in which you have taken ownership of your activities and seen them through to fruition with the minimum of guidance and little fuss.
Today the three Provincial Grand Principals were able to stand before you clad in splendid new collars, I think we looked rather smart, don’t you? This was made possible by the generosity of the Companions of Santa Faz Chapter No. 26, who, to help establish the Province, bought and donated the collars. Santa Faz Chapter has not been in existence for very long and for them to be able to support the Province in such a way is unbelievable. A big thank you is therefore offered to all the Companions of Santa Faz Chapter No. 26.
Now, I would like to offer all Provincial Grand Officers my warmest congratulations on their appointment and to say how much I am looking forward to working with them over the next year.
This Province of Valencia is the third Province to be created and with seven Chapters is one of the largest along with Catalunya and Baleares. Size is not always important but the strength of a Chapter is important. I am pleased that all Chapters in the Province are thriving and I call upon each of you to help ensure that this continues. Please be active in the Craft Lodges encouraging new masons to join a Chapter and masons of long standing to consider enhancing their Masonic career by also joining or rejoining their local Chapter. We are lucky enough to have Chapters spread fairly evenly throughout the Province so no one has to travel unreasonable distances any more in order to attend.
Over the next year, I would like us to consolidate our position in the Province and be happy that we are undertaking our work and performing our duties to the best of our abilities. It is my intention to hold an annual Provincial Grand Chapter meeting and the date for this will be the last Saturday in March each year. Please make a note in your diaries to keep this date free. Location and times etc have yet to be decided but the Provincial Grand Scribe Ezra will write to Chapters with full details towards the end of the year.
I think I have said enough for now so once again my thanks to everyone involved in the Consecration today and I look forward to working with the Provincial Team and Chapters over the coming year.
