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Earlham Chapter 7266

Just a few random thoughts of E Comp Jeffrey Posener, about my involvement with the Earlham  Chapter.

I was exalted, in my wheelchair, quite an interesting variation of the exaltation ceremony, at Loughton Masonic Centre as the 107^th member of the Isthmian Chapter 4566 in 1979.

As it was I was just a lay companion who was never involved as an officer of Isthmian and had reached a point where I was seriously considering resigning. However Ivan Kovler, my brother and brother-in-law mentioned that he and a few others were trying to found a new chapter. I immediately asked if I could be a founder too, and was accepted, however I did have one proviso, that I would go through the chairs as soon as was suitable.

When eventually the chapter was consecrated in 1988 I found myself as 2^nd Ass Sojourner. The Chapter was consecrated in October and Installation was in May 1989 when I found myself installed as J. Little did I realise the effort that would be necessary to fulfil that commitment. Climbing the stairs at Wanstead House for COI and the stairs at The Gun was more demanding than trying to learn the ritual. However the effort        was compensated by the excellence of the food at The Gun.

Without the help of our Preceptor E Comp Ronnie Marks who made it possible for me, by altering some aspect of the ritual, to be installed as J. I am extremely grateful to Ronnie for the sympathetic way he adjusted the ritual to my disability. I am very certain that, not only myself but many of those, if not all, who passed through the chairs owe a very big debt of gratitude to Ronnie for the help he gave and continues to give unselfishly to all of us.

From J, I progressed, through H and in 1991 I was installed as Z. The next bombshell to hit me was that the chapter decided to change the Installation from May to the November meeting, so instead of only 3 meetings I was involved with 5 as Z. by now Ivan Kovler was H and Gerald Chevin was J.

Both of whom were to follow each other through the Chairs in this Chapter as well as Forest Ridge Chapter and were Z in both Forest Ridge and Earlham Chapters simultaneously.

In 1995 our Founding Treasurer, Sonny Cohen resigned and I was asked to replace him. I was delighted to accept.

Then in 1997 I received L.G.C.R., the first to receive honours in the Earlham Chapter.

The Chapter continued to go from strength to strength, with at least 2 Exaltees introduced each year, a fair proportion of them were introduced by Ivan and Gerald.

In   December 2000, despite the excellence of the food the size of the Chapter, combined with our suffering the noise from the pub patrons below, the Chapter decide to move from The Gun into the Province of Essex, to meet at Chingford Masonic Centre.

In 2002, The Chapter  by way of, Ivan, Gerald, Simon Driver and myself, all received Provincial Honours, That of PPGReg, at The Haybridge Hotel. Most unusual but very gratifying that 4 members of the same Chapter  received Provincial honours at the same time.

We have been most fortunate, I do not know what Gerald wrote about each member who have since received honours but it obviously works.

In 2003 E Comp Ivan Kovler became our treasurer after serving for 8 years I felt it was time for a change.

I must add that through my involvement with Earlham I have now recommitted to my Mother Chapter, having been Treasurer from March 1999 to March 2001 when I was elected 1^st principal and re-elected for 2002, the Chapters 75^th Anniversary. Returning as Treasurer in 2002 in which capacity I have acted ever since.

As one of the founders of Earlham I have watched, with quiet satisfaction the Chapter grow. Now after 20 years it is more firmly established. 

I sincerely thank to all those who take the time and trouble to read this. We are very proud that our chapter has more members than many lodges, let us keep it that way. However we must not sit back on our laurels, but conscientiously try to introduce more of our brethren to the enjoyment of Royal Arch Chapter in general and this, OUR Earlham Chapter in particular.