On Monday 16th March the Princes of Weald Chapter Rose Croix No 842 in Paddock Wood met to conduct a demonstration of Perfection at their beautiful venue which is at the far western edge of our District of East Kent.
The unique feature of the evening being that our Inspector General V. lll Bro Roger Waltham 33° had volunteered to act as a candidate. The Most Wise Sovereign, E&P Bro. Ben Giles 18°, performed the entire ceremony in all three parts with great delivery, watched over by his brother Ill Bro Antony Giles 30°, the Immediate Past Sovereign.
In a delightful and fine ceremony, the Chapter produced the first of the Inspector General’s three criteria of good ritual, the second, good fellowship, is never in doubt at Weald Chapter. Followed up by lovely dining at a traditional country pub, the Dovecote Inn at nearby Capel, Tonbridge. This little gem of English fayre is closed on Mondays, but the Publican, Simon and his wife open to accommodate the Weald Chapter to have plenty of fun and formal toasts in a private environment. For a final measure of jest and pleasure, the ever-hard-working Recorder, Ill Bro Adrian Wagstaff 32° toasted and welcomed the return of a “new Prince” to the order. V. Ill Bro. Roger graciously replied!
On one measure of your evening out, the litmus test is how many brothers are reluctant to leave afterwards? Well, a good number stayed behind in the pub to chat, joke and taste the beers available. If you want a great experience, get along to the Weald Chapter. Going in groups with a designated driver may be wise!
It was while everyone was enjoying each other’s company that the MWS spoke with the Inspector General and told a very moving story which I have been asked to convey with granted permission to relay to you. The story is one of dedication, devotion and continued brotherly and family love. The MWS started by saying in June 2018 that his grandfather III Bro Philip Corbett 30° sadly had a fatal heart attack while acting as Marshal conducting a candidate during the 1st Point. Despite attempts to resuscitate him he had passed to the Grand Lodge above. E&P Bro Ben repeated to me the old saying of “that if his grandfather was a stick of rock and you snapped it in half it would have had Masonry written throughout it”.
III Bro Philip Corbett was an inspiration to the whole family and his loss was a heavy blow for both Ben and his brother Antony who had only just lost their father to the Grand Lodge above 3 months previously.
It was while interviewing E&P Bro Ben that I found out more about the extensive family masonic connections throughout and that of the Railways. Let me explain about the Masonic connection first.
Ben comes from a family of Masons. His Grandfather, Father, older Brother and Step Brother, please see the picture below.
Then there is the railway connection, his grandfather who worked all his life as a steam train driver and moved into management before retiring. His father, Anthony, was the Recruitment Manager for Network South East and Ben and his older brother are both currently Train Drivers.
I feel privileged to have had this amazing story told to me and I fully intend to visit the Weald Chapter again soon to meet both Ben and his older brother Antony. I am sure these two train drivers will be shunting each other along throughout their masonic lives.