Well, simple answer is that having missed out on the KEVII Chapter demonstrations in London earlier this year, an opportunity presented itself when the KEVII Demonstration Team announced that they would be using the mightily impressive Masonic Hall in Leicester to show off their skills and satisfy our curiosity for the 5th and 6th Degrees in June.
OK, so Leicester is East Midlands but how do the other bits fit together? This is where we have to share something of our own histories with you all.
Ill. Bro Paul Buckingham 30°, who very recently delivered a fine ceremony of Enthronement at the St Augustine Chapter 144, was born in Kenya and followed his father, who was initiated in Kenya, into Freemasonry.
E&P Bro Harish Patel, known to many in the Maidstone lodges and around East Kent as either a Treasurer or DC, moved up to Leicester but commutes back to East Kent for meetings. With the encouragement of our Inspector General, V. Ill. Bro Roger Waltham 33°, Harish was Perfected at the Swale Chapter 657 in March last year. He was also born in Kenya; hence the bond between him and Ill. Bro Paul.
The final link in the chain, Ill. Bro Paul Groves 31°, Recorder for the Deal Castle Chapter 1045, was sent to London in 1987 for an intensive course in Gujarati (a language spoken in East Africa and by many in Leicester) as part of the Immigration Service’s recognition of the importance of language skills and in 2003 was posted to the High Commission in Kampala to work as a Visa Officer.
It was Paul B’s suggestion that we get together to see the demonstration as we had all missed out on the earlier trip to London. Harish very kindly offered to accommodate us and show us the best place for a good curry on the Friday night – and what a tasty meal that was.
An early start on the Saturday saw us suited and booted and parked up at the Masonic Hall, where the Inspector General for Leicestershire & Rutland, V. Ill. Bro Henry Kukiewicz 33°, manned the door to welcome each visitor with great warmth, once again reminding us that the Supreme Council has a wonderful knack when it comes to identifying the right chap to head such an Order.
We had enough time to visit the impressive museum displays that had been put on in the vast and well-maintained venue.
Around 170 were booked in, with the majority being local. We were pretty sure that we had the claim to the greatest distance travelled, especially if you factor in the flight over the Atlantic from Buenos Aires for Paul G!
Just before the opening with the 5th Degree, we were reminded by the Chairman and Festival Preceptor, Ill. Bro Peter Brockbank 32°, that it was exactly 82 years ago (6th June 1944) that the longest day saw truly heroic acts by departed Brethren on and approaching the beaches of Normandy. He read to the silenced gathering an account written by a sadly departed brother who had been in charge of a landing craft.
The 5th Degree, that of the Perfect Master, was fascinating to witness and a nudge to us all that the swift “conferring” of those 14 degrees we experience at Perfection conceals a far deeper well of knowledge.
The 6th Degree, that of Intimate Secretary, was a complete contrast to the more familiar style of ritual in the former and, with its history firmly embedded in the First Book of Kings, chapter 9, I can imagine our natural curiosity leading us towards a bit more reading.
The delivery of the ritual, the layout of the lodge and the various props, including regalia that was used, was highly professional. When it came to our opportunity to show our appreciation, the applause was generously offered and well-received.
The lunch that was provided was not at all bad for such a large number and more than sufficient to sustain the two Pauls on their drive back. With goodbyes and thanks said and with plans for reunions that are not too far away, it was goodbye East Midlands and hello again to East Kent but that little link between the three has created a solid foundation upon which one of those perfect superstructures will no doubt be raised.
The next KEVII Demonstration is planned for the Channel Islands and the programme for 2027 has already been drafted, with the 7th and 8th Degrees being delivered.
Click on this link for further details: King Edward VII Rose Croix Chapter of Improvement
Article kindly supplied by Paul Groves