The Travelling Loving Cup has once more been on its travels – this time from Warwick to Redditch – in line with the aim to keep it moving between different Chapters and locations in the Province.
The MEZ and Companions from St Barbara Chapter No 4930, based in Warwick, presented the cup to the MEZ of St Augustine’s Chapter No 3713, E Comp Tom Fisher in the Redditch rooms. The Cup was presented by E Comp Robert Wootton, MEZ of St Barbara Chapter, accompanied by E Comp Alan Harwood, 3rd Principal, and E Comp David Harwood, Scribe E. E Comp Wootton delivered a helpful summary of the history and explanation of the purpose of the Travelling Loving cup before handing it over to St Augustine’s Zerubbabel.
The Travelling Loving Cup’s journey around the Province is to promote visiting and goodwill between the Chapters and with companions of St Barbara’s Chapter accompanying the cup and several other visitors present, it certainly seems to be achieving that aim.
The Chapter and visitors were also treated to a superb Exaltation of Bro Paul Fitzpatrick, who was accompanied by none other than E Comp Nigel Hawkins, 2nd Provincial Grand Principal, and a regular visitor to the Chapter, acting as Principal Sojourner. The candidate, now Companion Paul, cannot fail to have been impressed with the panache and inimitable style of E Comp Nigel, together with a shortened presentation of the Mystical lecture from E Comp Paul Buck, who also acted as Third Principal, whilst E Comp Steve Roadley acted as MEZ for the ceremony.
The photograph shows E Comp Alan Harwood, J of St Barbara Chapter, E Comp Rob Wootton, St Barbara MEZ presenting the Cup to E Comp Tom Fisher, MEZ St Augustine’s Chapter, E Comp Steve Roadley, H of St Augustine’s Chapter, E Comp Paul Buck, Acting J of St Augustine’s Chapter and E Comp David Harwood, Scribe E of St Barbara Chapter.
The three Principals of St Augustine’s Chapter are pictured below, together with E Comp Nigel Hawkins, 2nd Provincial Grand Principal, and also with newly exalted Comp Paul Fitzpatrick, who later received a Royal Arch tie and ritual book.
Although St Augustine’s members have not yet decided where the Travelling Loving Cup will travel to next, they gave the assurance that it will not be held for too long, bearing in mind that we are approaching the summer break.
With thanks to E Comp David Harwood and E Comp Paul Buck for co-ordinating the handover.
The Travelling Loving Cup – Rules of Movement
To follow the rules governing the Cup’s travels, the holding Chapter must select another Chapter, at another Warwickshire centre, with at least three members taking the cup to its destination. The holding Chapter must not keep it for long, so that it continues its journey throughout the Province, and encourages visiting between Chapters. The handover can be either within the meeting or at the festive board, and should include an obligation on the receiving Chapter to maintain the tradition to encourage visiting throughout the Province.
The Travelling Loving Cup has been generously released from the Warwickshire Masonic museum where it was donated by the former Chapter of Charity, the previous members of which having given their blessing to its use.
Please keep the Travelling Loving Cup in its holder and update the list of Chapters it has visited as it travels throughout the Province. Please advise the undersigned of the whereabouts of the TLC so that it does not become ‘Lost in Transit’. It is hoped to mark the progress of the TLC at each stage of its journey with an article on the Royal Arch website.
I do have a short list of Chapters awaiting the Cup, but please let me know if your Chapter is keen on holding the Cup and I will ensure it is delivered to you in due course.
John Hayward
Past Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals
John.hayward@yahoo.co.uk
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Past Cup Holders: –
Shakespeare Chapter No.284 – 6 July 2019 to 25 July 2019
Leigh Chapter No 887 – 25 July 2019 to 6 September 2019
Athol Chapter No 74 – 6 September 2019 to 16 September 2019
Leigh Chapter No 887 – 16 September 2019 to 19th January 2022 (Pandemic Restrictions period and rule change in July 2020)
Bedeword Chapter No 7274 – 19th January 2022 to 16th May 2022
Athelstan Chapter No 1333 – 16th May 2022 to 17th October 2022
Chapter of Faith and Hope No 4772 – 17th October 2022 to 7th February 2023
Forest of Arden Chapter No 3826 – 7th February 2023 to 16th May 2023
Fletcher Chapter 1031- 16th May 2023 to 12th June 2023
Guy’s Cliffe Chapter 8874 – 12th June 2023 to 21st June 2023
Apollo Chapter 301 – 21st June 2023 – 17th July 2023
Grosvenor Chapter 938 – 17th July 2023 (Briefly!)
Athelstan Chapter 1333 – 17th July 2023 – 9th October 2023
Abbey Chapter 432 – 9th October 2023 – 19th December 2023
Trinity Chapter 254 – 19th December 2023 – 18th April 2024
Chapter of Rectitude 502– 18th April 2024 – 15th October 2024
Stoneleigh Chapter 725 – 15th October 2024 – 28th February 2025
St Barbara Chapter 4930 – 28th February 2025 – 30th April 2025
St Augustine’s 3713 – 30th April 2025 –
Suggested wording for the Handover: –
Most Excellent Zerubbabel & Companions As First Principal (or as appropriate if not MEZ) of the XXXXXXX Chapter No XXXX, accompanied by my Companions (name them), I take great pleasure in presenting the Travelling Loving Cup to you. I charge you to take it, with a minimum of three Companions, to another Chapter of your choice, at another centre, and preferably who have not held it before. You should not keep it indefinitely, but rather move it on to promote the reason for the Cup, which is to encourage visiting throughout the Province. The Travelling Loving Cup has been travelling around the Province for over five years now, and has been held at some time by at least seventeen Chapters. A record of its travels has been drawn up, and is updated on the Warwickshire website each time the Cup moves, with the name of the current Chapter holding the Cup.
Enjoy your time with the Cup, and enjoy and encourage visiting other Chapters in the Province.