St Martin’s Chapter presents the Travelling Loving Cup to Athol Chapter at Severn Street, Birmingham
The Travelling Loving Cup has continued its journey around the Province – but this time staying with Severn Street, Birmingham – not quite in line with the rules, but it has moved to a different Chapter. The Most Excellent Zerubbabel (MEZ) and Companions of St Martin’s Chapter presented the cup to the MEZ of Athol Chapter. The Cup was presented by Gavin Cumberland, MEZ of St Martin’s Chapter, accompanied by David Ore, 3rd Principal, with Cedric Styles and Dale Williams. E Comp Cumberland delivered a helpful summary of the history and explanation of the purpose of the Travelling Loving cup before handing it over to Athol’s Zerubbabel, Jeff Scotford.
The Travelling Loving Cup’s journey around the Province is to promote visiting and goodwill between the Chapters and with companions of St Martin’s Chapter accompanying the cup and several other visitors present, it certainly seems to be achieving that aim. The Grand Superintendent, Philip Hall was also present, both to see the cup handed on, and the important exaltation of a new member – Bill Phillips.
The Chapter and visitors were treated to a superb exaltation of Bill, who it seems has waited for a very long time before completing his journey in pure and ancient freemasonry, having been initiated 56 years ago! Bill’s comment after the ceremony was “I only wish I’d done it sooner”.
The top picture: Gavin Cumberland, MEZ of St Martin’s, presenting the cup to E Comp Jeff Scotford, MEZ of Athol Chapter, together with the Grand Superintendent, E Comp David Ore and Comp Dale Williams.
Lower Picture: MEZ of Athol Chapter, Jeff Scotford with newly exalted companion Bill Phillips, and the Grand Superintendent, Philip Hall
Although yet to be confirmed, it is likely that the Travelling Loving Cup will travel to Wretham Road to Temperance Chapter, where there is a family connection.
With thanks to Alex Birchley and Aaron Powell 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.
There is a short list of Chapters awaiting the cup, but please let John Hayward know if your Chapter is keen on holding the cup and he will ensure it is delivered to you in due course.
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 seven years now, and has been held at some time by at least twenty 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.
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 – 14th January 2026
St Martin’s 4011 – 27th January 2026 –