Thursday 12th December, 2024 marked the 75th anniversary of the consecration of the Thanet Chapter, No 415. On a quite cold and frosty evening, Wise Men from near and far travelled to a chilly Margate on the North coast of Kent. There at the Masonic Temple a fine collection of men gathered to help the members of the Chapter celebrate this important milestone in the history of one of the oldest Chapters in East Kent.
The MWS, Ill Bro Peter Dickinson 30°, opened the Chapter, after welcoming the Inspector General for East Kent, V.Ill Bro Roger Waltham 30°. The MWS then worked his way through the business on the agenda, with the bonus of a joining member to boost their numbers.
With a swift tidying up of the Chapter after it was closed, the doors were opened, and 4 local master masons were invited in to hear a presentation on the order delivered by the Inspector General.
In his own relaxed, informative and welcoming manner, he explained the origins of the order and the very special warmth that the Order holds so dearly to its heart. The presentation, entitled Brotherly Love for Life will shortly be available (via the District Recorder) for Chapters to use – watch this space!
With the tempting smells of the food creeping into the Temple, V.Ill Bro Roger finished with the words, “Good Ritual, Good Fellowship, Good Food” after which everyone then decamped in the direction of the dining area, via the bar.
A quite unique evening: a “Rose Table”, if you like, has opened the doors of the Order to potential new members.
As they sat down for the meal, a tempting menu awaited them along with a fascinating and detailed booklet that mapped out the 75-year history of the Chapter. A lot of hard work from the Assistant DC, Ill. Bro Vic Voss 30°, went into the creation of the booklet, which sets the development of the Chapter against a backdrop of changes in society and the two evolutions of the ritual in 1994 and 2024. With Ill. Bros Ron Davis 30° and DC, Pat King 31°, joining the Most Wise Sovereign in getting this whole venture off the ground, Thanet Chapter can be proud that its long history was marked in such a successful and memorable manner.
With Christmas fast approaching, it was a chance for the Inspector General to wish everyone present a very Happy Christmas and for the Thanet Chapter to begin looking forward to a new dawn in 2025.
For anyone interested in joining this Chapter, please email the Recorder at alanfbrown@gmail.com). It meets four times a year at the Masonic Temple, New Cross Street, Margate, CT9 1EH. The dates for 2025 are: 27thFebruary, 24th April, 23rd October and 11th December.