Royal Arch Charity News Last December, the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent Noel C Manby launched the Royal Arch Christmas Appeal in aid of the Craft 2022 Festival, raising the magnificent sum of just over £2,600 including Gift Aid. Many thanks go to all of those Companions who contributed so generously. As Chapter meetings have not taken place since the middle of March 2020, there has been a detrimental effect on donations for charitable purposes. To restore donations for our chosen charities, an online payment facility was introduced in December last year, specifically for the Provincial Grand Chapter. This gives Chapters the ability to request Companions to make charitable donations.
All Chapters have now received instructions on how Companions can donate through the GiveTap online Gift Aid payment system, which can be found at www.gtap.uk/e0131 . Companions not wishing to, or are unable to use the online payment system, can still donate via cheque by completing a Single Donation form. A number of Chapters have already adopted this new facility; donations through this online payment system can be made at any time. In addition, non-Gift Aid donations can be made to the Provincial Chapter Relief Chest from Chapter Charity Funds by completing a Miscellaneous Payment form. All donations are credited to the Leicestershire & Rutland Provincial Grand Chapter Charity Fund Relief Chest to obtain the tax refund on all Gift Aided donations. Once regular meetings resume, Chapters can use Gift Aid envelopes
ROYAL ARCH MATTERS to donate, alongside the online payment system for those who are unable to attend. Further information regarding all types of donations to the Provincial Chapter Charity Fund can be obtained from the Provincial Grand Chapter Charity Steward, Peter Williamson at peteatashby@hotmail.co.uk Despite the significant drop in Chapter Charity collections, two significant donations to charities have taken place in the first quarter of 2021. We have donated £400 to the Parkinson’s Care & Support UK Charity, this came from the Reynard Chapter and the Province. In addition, £500 was donated to the Macmillan Cancer Support Charity from the Chapter of the Round Table and the Province.
Peter Williamson,
Provincial Grand Chapter Charity Steward
Provincial Grand Chapter Appointments and Promotions Zoom Our Royal Arch Provincial Grand Chapter would normally have been held on Thursday 25th March 2021. As we were unable to hold the Convocation, the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent Noel Manby decided to hold a Zoom meeting to which he invited all Active Officers, new Appointments and those being promoted to Past Rank. This gave the Most Excellent chance to address and congratulation all present and that address is printed here. Companions, It has certainly been a long time since we were last able to enjoy each other’s company. Let us hope that the approval and rollout of the vaccine is the light at the end of the tunnel and the game changer everyone hopes it will be and we can
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look forward to resuming our Royal Arch Masonry from September. During the last 12 months we have suffered a number of deaths and I would ask you to take few moments to reflect and remember those companions we have lost and who have passed to the Grand Lodge above. LeicsFreemasons
As you know we were due to hold our Provincial Grand Chapter Meeting today but unfortunately, due to the latest Government lockdown, the meeting had to be abandoned and has been re-schedule to take place on the 29th September 2021. However, I offer my sincere congratulations to all those Companions whose Appointments and Promotions are confirmed today and, although your appointment or re-appointment takes effect from today, I look forward to investing you in person in September. As a result of the pandemic and the prohibition on exaltations, the number of subscribing Royal Arch
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27
