The first face to face meeting of an OSM Conclave in Surrey after the end of the suspension of Masonic activity took place on Tuesday the 29th June at Nutfield Masonic Centre, Redhill. This was also the first visit to any Conclave by a Grand Visitor in 18 months, so we were very pleased to welcome V.Wy.Bro. Gerald Riley to our meeting.
Also present was our Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler, R.Wy.Bro. Colin Beerling, our Deputy Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler, Wy.Bro. Paul Fitzgerald; our Past Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler, R.Wy.Bro. Michael Barnes; and the Grand Chaplain, V.Wy.Bro. Louis Keats.
Also attending the meeting were six Heads of Surrey Orders. This was the first time they had all met up together in over a year; and the first time that R.Wy.Bro. Colin Beerling, our Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler, and R.Dist.Comp. Arnold Long, the Provincial Grand Summus in the Order of the Scarlet Cord, had been together since their investitures.
The Conclave was opened by the Supreme Ruler, Wy.Bro. Chris Eley, who welcomed R.Wy.Bro. Colin Beerling, V.Wy. Bros, Louis Keats and Gerald Reilly. The Muster Role was called and then R.Wy.Bro. Colin Beerling Commissioned the Supreme Ruler, Wy.Bro. Chris Eley. Due to Covid restrictions he was able to do this at the Installation meeting in September 2020 under the Rule of Six. The Supreme Ruler then invested his Officers not able to be present at the Installation meeting.
The main item on the agenda was to ballot for a Candidate, Bro. Clifford Beal of Authors Lodge No 3456. This proved in his favour and Bro. Clifford was Inducted into the Order by Wy.Bro. Chris; assisted by V.Wy.Bro. Louis Keats, Grand Chaplain, who acted as our Chaplain; R.Wy.Bro. Michael Barnes who entrusted Bro. Clifford with the secrets of the first degree of the Order; and R.Wy.Bro. Colin Beerling who gave the Explanation of the Weapons and the Address to the Candidate; all in an excellent manner.
To end a most enjoyable meeting the Supreme Ruler presented Supreme Ruler Certificates to Wy.Bros. Alastair Richardson and Chris Eley. The Conclave was then closed and after the customary photographs we all retired to the Everest Spice Indian Restaurant in Redhill for a most enjoyable meal together.
Article and photographs by Chris Eley
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