The Annual Meeting of the Great Priory of Malta
The Annual Meeting of the Great Priory of Malta was held on Tuesday 16th November 2021 at Freemasons’ Hall. In attendance was M.E.& S.Kt. Paul Raymond Clement, G.C.M., Grand Master; V.H. & R.E. Kt. Andrew Christopher Rainbow, G.C.M., Great Seneschal; V.E.Kt. Jonathan Charles Whitaker, JP, Great Prior of Malta; V.E.Kt. Steven John Warwick, Great Sub-Prior of Malta; R.E.Kt. Revd Malcolm Clifford George Lane, JP, K.C.M., Great Prelate; and Knights of the Pentagonal and Octagonal Tables.
The rehearsals started at 10:30 in the Grand Temple.
The Captain of the Grand Master’s Bodyguard, E.Kt Mark Winchester and his team were busy rehearsing the Arch of Steel.
The Right Eminent Provincial Priors of Middlesex, Kent and Surrey were eager to enter Great Priory after a wait of two years.
At 12,30 p.m. the Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master commanded the Great Prior of Malta to open the Chapter of the Great Priory of Malta. The Grand Master welcomed everyone to the Chapter of Great Priory saying how good it was to be back in each other’s company following a two year break. He asked the Great Prelate to begin the proceedings with a prayer of Thanks and Hope.
The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master announced that he has appointed to the Honour and Dignity of Knight Grand Cross of the United Orders Right Eminent Knight John Lawson William Wright, K.C.T. The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master received his Homage and presented him with his Patent of Appointment. R.E.Kt. Wright was then proclaimed and saluted under the direction of the Great Mareschal.
The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master announced that he has appointed to the Honour and Dignity of Knight Commander of the United Orders V.E. Knight Jonathan Charles Whitaker, JP, Great Prior of Malta. The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master received his Homage and presented him with his Patent of Appointment. R.E.Kt. Whitaker was then proclaimed and saluted under the direction of the Great Mareschal.
The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master announced the re-appointment of R.E. Knight Jonathan Charles Whittaker, JP, K.C.M., as Great Prior of Malta; and the re-appointment of V.E.Kt. Steven John Warwick as Great Sub-Prior of Malta.
The next item was the Installation of Knight Stephen Leslie Barter as a Knight of Malta. Following the election of Knight Barter by the Brother Knights assembled, the Great Prior declared him elected and requested that the Very Eminent Great Sub-Prior of Malta, accompanied by the Great Prelate and the Deputy Great Mareschal, retire to the Guard room to communicate the Degree of Knight of St Paul.
The Great Sub-Prior of Malta declared a Chapter of Knights of St Paul duly opened and the Great Prelate read from the Book of Acts, following which the Great Sub Prior of Malta entrusted Knight Stephen Barter with the Sign, Token and Word of the Degree.
While the Degree of Knight of Saint Paul was being conferred, the Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master appointed and invested the Great Officers of Malta for the ensuing year. Knight Stephen Barter was then admitted and installed as a Knight of Malta by the Great Prior of Malta.
The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master addressed Great Priory. In his address he said how delighted he was to be back in each other’s company again at the Annual Chapter of the Order of Malta, and what better way to resume our labours in this Order than to witness and enjoy a first class Ceremony of Installation. He thanked the Great Prior and all his Officers for an uplifting and memorable Ceremony.
He said that it has been a pleasure to invest Brother Knights with their new Malta ranks and congratulated each one of them and thanked them for all they do within their own Provinces and Priories. He expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Great Vice-Chancellor, the Assistant Great Vice-Chancellor, and those in the Chancery for all that they have done in keeping us active and busy in our Masonic labours in the midst of all the uncertainty and stress.
The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master updated everyone with the news from the Jerusalem Eye Hospital group and the success of the Swift Appeal. In August the Appeal was re-launched under the heading of The KT Eye to Eye 2021 Appeal. We are optimistic that if all the pledges are fulfilled, we are on track to raise more than £71,000 for the Hospital at a time when additional funding is more necessary than ever.
The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master especially welcomed the five Provincial Priors attending Great Priory for the first time in their new capacity, as well as fellow heads of other Orders and Brethren from Overseas.
Before closing, the Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master thanked those who have made today another memorable Great Priory meeting for us all, with a special mention to the Grand Master’s Bodyguard who make such a huge contribution to the proceedings.
The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master commanded the Great Prior of Malta to close Great Priory. The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master and Officers of Great Priory then retired under the direction of the Great Mareschal.
After the meeting, the Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master congratulated Knight Stephen Barter and wished him every happiness in the Order.
Following which the Grand Master, the Great Seneschal, the Great Prior of Malta, and the Great Prelate, passed for a photograph with the newly installed Knight.
Article and photos by Chris Eley
The Annual Meeting of the Great Priory of Malta was held on Tuesday 16th November 2021 at Freemasons’ Hall. In attendance was M.E.& S.Kt. Paul Raymond Clement, G.C.M., Grand Master; V.H. & R.E. Kt. Andrew Christopher Rainbow, G.C.M., Great Seneschal; V.E.Kt. Jonathan Charles Whitaker, JP, Great Prior of Malta; V.E.Kt. Steven John Warwick, Great Sub-Prior of Malta; R.E.Kt. Revd Malcolm Clifford George Lane, JP, K.C.M., Great Prelate; and Knights of the Pentagonal and Octagonal Tables.
The rehearsals started at 10:30 in the Grand Temple.
The Captain of the Grand Master’s Bodyguard, E.Kt Mark Winchester and his team were busy rehearsing the Arch of Steel.
The Right Eminent Provincial Priors of Middlesex, Kent and Surrey were eager to enter Great Priory after a wait of two years.
At 12,30 p.m. the Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master commanded the Great Prior of Malta to open the Chapter of the Great Priory of Malta. The Grand Master welcomed everyone to the Chapter of Great Priory saying how good it was to be back in each other’s company following a two year break. He asked the Great Prelate to begin the proceedings with a prayer of Thanks and Hope.
The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master announced that he has appointed to the Honour and Dignity of Knight Grand Cross of the United Orders Right Eminent Knight John Lawson William Wright, K.C.T. The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master received his Homage and presented him with his Patent of Appointment. R.E.Kt. Wright was then proclaimed and saluted under the direction of the Great Mareschal.
The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master announced that he has appointed to the Honour and Dignity of Knight Commander of the United Orders V.E. Knight Jonathan Charles Whitaker, JP, Great Prior of Malta. The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master received his Homage and presented him with his Patent of Appointment. R.E.Kt. Whitaker was then proclaimed and saluted under the direction of the Great Mareschal.
The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master announced the re-appointment of R.E. Knight Jonathan Charles Whittaker, JP, K.C.M., as Great Prior of Malta; and the re-appointment of V.E.Kt. Steven John Warwick as Great Sub-Prior of Malta.
The next item was the Installation of Knight Stephen Leslie Barter as a Knight of Malta. Following the election of Knight Barter by the Brother Knights assembled, the Great Prior declared him elected and requested that the Very Eminent Great Sub-Prior of Malta, accompanied by the Great Prelate and the Deputy Great Mareschal, retire to the Guard room to communicate the Degree of Knight of St Paul.
The Great Sub-Prior of Malta declared a Chapter of Knights of St Paul duly opened and the Great Prelate read from the Book of Acts, following which the Great Sub Prior of Malta entrusted Knight Stephen Barter with the Sign, Token and Word of the Degree.
While the Degree of Knight of Saint Paul was being conferred, the Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master appointed and invested the Great Officers of Malta for the ensuing year. Knight Stephen Barter was then admitted and installed as a Knight of Malta by the Great Prior of Malta.
The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master addressed Great Priory. In his address he said how delighted he was to be back in each other’s company again at the Annual Chapter of the Order of Malta, and what better way to resume our labours in this Order than to witness and enjoy a first class Ceremony of Installation. He thanked the Great Prior and all his Officers for an uplifting and memorable Ceremony.
He said that it has been a pleasure to invest Brother Knights with their new Malta ranks and congratulated each one of them and thanked them for all they do within their own Provinces and Priories. He expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Great Vice-Chancellor, the Assistant Great Vice-Chancellor, and those in the Chancery for all that they have done in keeping us active and busy in our Masonic labours in the midst of all the uncertainty and stress.
The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master updated everyone with the news from the Jerusalem Eye Hospital group and the success of the Swift Appeal. In August the Appeal was re-launched under the heading of The KT Eye to Eye 2021 Appeal. We are optimistic that if all the pledges are fulfilled, we are on track to raise more than £71,000 for the Hospital at a time when additional funding is more necessary than ever.
The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master especially welcomed the five Provincial Priors attending Great Priory for the first time in their new capacity, as well as fellow heads of other Orders and Brethren from Overseas.
Before closing, the Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master thanked those who have made today another memorable Great Priory meeting for us all, with a special mention to the Grand Master’s Bodyguard who make such a huge contribution to the proceedings.
The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master commanded the Great Prior of Malta to close Great Priory. The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master and Officers of Great Priory then retired under the direction of the Great Mareschal.
After the meeting, the Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master congratulated Knight Stephen Barter and wished him every happiness in the Order.
Following which the Grand Master, the Great Seneschal, the Great Prior of Malta, and the Great Prelate, passed for a photograph with the newly installed Knight.
Article and photos by Chris Eley
