APPOINTMENT TO PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER RANK

 

The number of appointments which can be made to Provincial Grand Chapter Rank each year is limited by the Book of Constitutions and in this Province is not sufficient for one from each Lodge, each year.

 

The conferment of Provincial Grand Chapter Rank is the prerogative of the Grand Superintendent, whose decision cannot be questioned.

 

Rank is conferred in respect of an individual's merits and not in respect of the merits of the Lodge.

 

The honour conferred on a Companion is that of being appointed one of the officers, Present or Past of the Grand Superintendent, irrespective of the Rank of that Office.

 

Rank is not only a reward and recognition for past service, but is to be regarded as an opportunity and incentive for further service to Freemasonry.

APPOINTMENTS TO AND PROMOTIONS IN PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER RANK

 

The following notes are intended as guidance for the recommendation of a Past Zerubbabel and a Companions to a First Appointment and Promotion in Provincial Grand Chapter.

 

1. RECOMMENDATIONS

Due to the small size of the Province there is no formal scheme for recommending suitable PZs and Companions for appointments/promotions as the Provincial hierarchy get to know all Companions very well during their regular visits to Chapters during each year. However the GSupt welcomes any suggestions made to him for either a specific appointment or promotion from Grand Officers, and Chapter Scribes E. Considerations for appointments and promotions by the GSupt are made once a year only.

 

2. FIRST APPOINTMENTS

Considerations for a First Appointment to Provincial Grand Chapter Rank are made by the GSupt at the end of October or very early in November each year. All such appointments are advised to Companions during November and acceptance is expected by Christmas each year and takes effect the following May. Failure to acknowledge letters of appointment by Christmas may result in such appointments being withdrawn. 

 

3. CONSIDERATION FOR APPOINTMENTS

The system ensures that all subscribing MEZ’s are considered for appointment within TWO years after completion of serving their year as MEZ. The fact that a Companion has served his Chapter as MEZ and remained a subscribing member for that period does not automatically entitle him to receive a First Appointment. Consideration will be given to the support he has given to the Chapter both before and subsequent to leaving the Chair, and more importantly, what he is likely to do for his Chapter, and the Province, in the future. In addition Companions who have not been through the Chair and are of long standing and who have given considerable service to the Chapter and Freemasonry in general and to the Province may also be considered on a case by case basis.. Companions considered worthy of early or accelerated promotion a Letter of Preferment is required to be submitted to the Province detailing why they are worthy of such consideration,  should a letter of preferment be rejected, and no promotion granted then only one further letter will be permitted.

 

4. ACTIVE RANK

The number of Active Ranks available is governed by the number of subscribing Companions in the Province. The following offices are not available to Grand Officers/Scribe Es to recommend Companions for appointment because of the specialist nature of the Office - these include 2 nd and 3rd Principals, Treasurer, Registrar, Scribe E, Director of Ceremonies, Deputy Director of Ceremonies, Assistant Director of Ceremonies. Recommendations may be made for: PrGSN PrGSwdB PrGAlm PrGChStwd PrGSoj PrAsstGSojs PrAsstGSE PrGStB PrGStwd PrGJan A suitable Companion for Active Rank should have good Masonic abilities, a knowledgeable understanding of the Royal Arch, good bearing and be able to attend Official Visits in all parts of the Province throughout the year without detriment to his family and business commitments and are expected to attend the annual PGC meeting each year in May, the annual church service in October and other Provincial functions/events. It should also be borne in mind that a successful nomination for Active Rank could result in the Companion being offered an appointment junior to a direct past rank.

 

5. PAST RANK

There are also restrictions on the number of Past Rank First Appointments which can be made, and also the Ranks generally available are limited to: PPPrGSwdB PPrGSoj PPr1stAsstGSoj PPr2ndAsstGSoj PPrGStB

 

6. PROMOTION

In general a Companion must have held his existing Provincial Grand Rank for at least SIX years before he can be considered for a promotion and such considerations are made by the GSupt at the end of October or very early in November. All such promotions are advised to Companions during November and acceptance is expected by Christmas each year and takes effect the following May. Failure to acknowledge letters of appointment by Christmas may result in such appointments/promotions being withdrawn.

 

It is not an ‘automatic right’ to receive a promotion after this period. Consideration for promotion will be based on his continued support of both the Province and his Chapter since his last appointment/promotion. (Regular attendance at meetings and occasionally working ritual will not be sufficient to justify promotion). Certain Active Ranks result in an automatic promotion, after one or two years, subject to a satisfactory report.

 

7. PROMOTION UNDER RULE 32A, B OF C

RA Regulations Recommendation for promotion of a Companion who holds Provincial Grand Rank in another Province must also reflect his meritorious service to the Province of Wiltshire.

 

8. PROMOTION UNDER RULE 32B, B OF C RA Regulations Recommendation for first appointment to Provincial Grand Rank may be made on behalf of Past Z’s of Chapters in other Provinces, who have also given meritorious service to the Royal Arch and to the Province of Wiltshire for a period of 6 years, but who do not hold Provincial Rank elsewhere. Such cases are, however, subject to the need for the Provincial Grand Scribe E to justify and seek a Dispensation from Supreme Grand Chapter to make the appointment.

 

9. SCHEDULE OF RANKS AVAILABLE FOR PROMOTIONS

PPrGSN (this is an exceptional and rare promotion and initiated by the GSupt only)

 

PPrGReg PPrGSwdB PPrGSoj PPr1stAsstGSoj PPr2ndAsstGSoj

 

10. APPROPRIATENESS OF RECOMMENDATIONS

t is expected that recommendations will be made based on Masonic ability, manner, bearing, conduct and commitment of the Companion concerned and not on prejudice of any kind from any source. 

 

Appointment to and promotion in Grand Chapter Rank.

 

1. FOR FIRST APPOINMENT TO GRAND CHAPTER RANK

In general recommendations of those who will be over 80 years of age on the date of investiture will need to be justified.

 

Appointments to Grand Chapter Rank are entirely at the discretion of the 1 st Grand Principal and following a recommendation of the Grand Superintendent.

 

First appointments to Grand Rank are not merely a reward for past work; they are also (and importantly) intended as an inducement for future effort. In general recommendations of those who will be over 80 years of age on the date of investiture may not be welcomed, and those over 87 will need to be justified. 4 Provincial Grand Chapter of Wiltshire.

 

A Companion is expected to have been an Installed First Principal for TEN years (or seven years if he is really outstanding).

 

OR

 

a) to have been an Installed First Principal for at least five years; and

b) have held Metropolitan, Provincial or District Rank (other than Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Steward) for at least five years; and

c) have held within that period an acting Metropolitan, Provincial or District office, higher than Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Sojourner, which is a “working office” (e.g. Metropolitan, Provincial or District Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies), or is currently Provincial or District Assistant Grand Scribe E. OR to have been an Installed First Principal for at least six years and to be Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Scribe E.

 

2. PROMOTION IN PAST GRAND CHAPTER RANK

andidates for promotion will already hold Grand Chapter Rank and the element of reward for past service may predominate. In appropriate circumstances, candidates of any age will be considered. Companions should NOT be recommended for promotion before they have served EIGHT years in their present rank.

 

3. ANNUAL ALLOCATION OF GRAND CHAPTER RANKS

Companions should be aware that the Province is only allocated one and a half Grand Chapter ranks per year and one promotion in Grand Chapter rank every two years.

 

NOTE: Under no circumstances should any Companion write to Supreme Grand Chapter enquiring about the possibility of appointment to/promotion in Grand Chapter Rank.

 

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