6 JUNE 2026
Companions,
Good afternoon and welcome to the Annual Convocation of the District Grand Chapter of the Eastern Archipelago. It is wonderful to see so many of you here today.
In particular, I extend a very warm welcome to our distinguished visitors who have travelled from near and far to be with us.
• E Comp Ferhad Nilgiria from the District Grand Chapter of Sri Lanka
• E Comp Kendell Oei from the District Grand Chapter of Hong Kong & the Far East
• ME Comp Dr Earnest Yong, the Most Excellent 2nd Grand Principal of Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland
• ME Comp Daryl Sim from the District Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the Middle East
• ME Comp Erric Chew from the District Grand Royal Arch Chapter of South-East Asia
• E Comp Peter Stickland from the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Western Australia
Companions of the Eastern Archipelago, let’s give our visitors a very warm welcome.
Today provides us with an opportunity not only to conduct the business of the District, but also to reflect upon our progress, celebrate our achievements, and consider how we may continue to strengthen the Royal Arch throughout the Eastern Archipelago.
Membership Growth
Companions, I am pleased to report that the Royal Arch in our District continues to enjoy good health and steady growth.
During the year under review, our membership had a net increase of 46 members to a total of 1,095 Companions. We witnessed 60 exaltations across our 21 Chapters.What is particularly pleasing is that approximately 51% of our Master Masons in the Craft are now Royal Arch Companions. This exceeds the average proportion across the Constitution and is a statistic of which we should be proud of.
Yet, whilst we celebrate this achievement, it also means that almost half of our brethren in the Craft have yet to complete their journey in Pure & Antient Masonry.
One Journey, One Organisation
Companions, as we look to the future of the Royal Arch, it is important that we align ourselves with the direction being set by Supreme Grand Chapter.
Many of you will be familiar with the principle of “One Journey, One Organisation”, which has become a central theme within English Freemasonry. The message is simple but profound. The Craft and the Royal Arch are not separate destinations, but integral parts of the same Masonic journey.
In furtherance of this vision, the Pro First Grand Principal has made it clear to Provincial and District Rulers that there should ultimately be a single executive structure governing both Craft and the Royal Arch.
This is not about diminishing the identity or importance of the Royal Arch. Quite the contrary. It is about strengthening the relationship between Craft and the Royal Arch, eliminating unnecessary duplication and improving communications and operational efficiency.
Accordingly, over the foreseeable future, our District will embark upon a gradual consolidation exercise to align the governance structures of Craft and the Royal Arch. This will be undertaken thoughtfully, carefully and in consultation with all relevant stakeholders. Our objective is to create a more efficient and coherent organisation whilst preserving all that makes the Royal Arch unique and special.
I firmly believe that this presents an exciting opportunity for our District. By working more closely together, we will be better positioned to support our members, strengthen our Royal Arch Chapters and continue the growth of Pure & Antient Masonry throughout the Eastern Archipelago.
Engagement
Companions, whilst membership growth is important, numbers alone do not determine the strength of a Chapter.
The true strength lies in the participation, engagement and commitment of its members. Although attendance has generally improved in many Chapters across the District, there are still some Chapters where a relatively small number of Companions carry the responsibility of sustaining Chapter activities.
I therefore encourage every Companion to regard attendance at his own Chapter as a responsibility. Likewise, I encourage Principals and Committees to ensure that their Convocations are engaging, educational and enjoyable, whilst maintaining the dignity and traditions of the Royal Arch. If we are to retain our members and inspire future generations, we must ensure that our Chapters remain vibrant places where Companions genuinely look forward to attending.
That responsibility lies squarely with the leadership of the Chapter.
And let us be clear — leadership does not end when one leaves the First Principal’s Chair. Past Principals have a continuing obligation to support, mentor and guide those who follow. A Chapter cannot flourish if every generation starts afresh.
The best Past Principals are not those who speak most about their year in office, but those who quietly ensure that the years which follow are even more successful than their own.
Ceremonial Excellence
Companions, I would also like to address the subject of ceremonial excellence.
The Royal Arch ceremony is one of the most beautiful, dramatic and spiritually uplifting ceremonies in Freemasonry. It deserves to be delivered with confidence, dignity and sincerity.
I am pleased to note from the reports of our Visiting Officers that many Chapters have reduced their reliance upon books and have demonstrated much improved ceremonies. These Chapters are to be congratulated for their efforts.
However, the reports also indicate that some Chapters continue to struggle with incomplete workings, poor delivery of ritual, and the absence of key officers. More concerning is the continued habit, in certain Chapters, of reading substantial portions of the ceremony.
Companions, I make no apology for speaking plainly on this matter.
Reading the ritual should be the exception and not the norm.
Candidates who present themselves for exaltation deserve our very best efforts. The impact of our ceremonies is significantly enhanced when delivered confidently, fluently and from the heart.
We owe it to those Companions who have gone before us and faithfully preserved these ceremonies through the generations. We owe it equally to the candidates who place their trust in us and who represent the future of the Royal Arch.
Let us therefore strive to ensure that our ceremonies are not merely read, but learnt; not merely memorised, but understood; and not merely delivered, but delivered with conviction and sincerity.
Leadership of Chapters
Companions, there is another matter with regards to leadership within Chapters that deserves our careful consideration.
Leadership within a Chapter should never be viewed as an automatic right of passage.
Advancement through the offices is not merely a matter of time served. It must be based upon merit, commitment, competence and a willingness to shoulder responsibility. Those who aspire to become Principals must fully understand what is expected of them. They are not simply custodians of a title or a jewel. They are custodians of the Chapter itself. The quality of leadership within a Chapter influences its atmosphere, its standards, its morale, its membership retention and ultimately its future.
Strong leadership inspires participation, encourages learning, maintains harmony and raises standards. Weak leadership has precisely the opposite effect. Companions. It takes many years to build a strong and thriving Chapter. Yet it takes only a single year of poor leadership to set a Chapter into decline. Recovering from that decline may take several years and, in some cases, even longer.
We therefore have a responsibility to identify, mentor and prepare future leaders carefully. Not every Companion is ready for advancement at the same pace, and there should be no embarrassment in allowing a Companion additional time to develop before assuming higher office.
The interests of the Chapter must always come before the expectations or ambitions of any individual.
If we are serious about improving attendance, strengthening membership and raising ceremonial standards, then we must also be serious about developing capable leaders who will guide our Chapters wisely and leave them stronger than they found them.
Appreciations
At this time, I wish to record my sincere appreciation to our District Preceptors, our Mentoring and Learning & Development Teams and our Visiting Officers. Much of their work takes place quietly behind the scenes and often involves considerable preparation, travel and personal sacrifice. Special thanks of course to our District Preceptors for the very enlightening workshop yesterday on the “Fundamentals of the Royal Arch”.
Please join me in expressing our gratitude for their efforts.
I would also like to congratulate all those Companions who received appointments and promotions today.
These honours are not simply recognition of seniority. They are acknowledgements of service rendered and expressions of confidence in your future contribution to the Royal Arch.
Companions, no Annual Convocation can succeed without the efforts of many dedicated individuals working behind the scenes.
I therefore wish to express my sincere appreciation to the Organising Chairman E Companion Venkat and his Committee for the tremendous amount of work invested in planning and delivering this weekend’s activities.
Please accept my heartfelt thanks for a job well done.
I also wish to thank the members of the District Committee of General Purposes, our District Grand Scribe Ezra and Assistant District Grand Scribe Ezra, our District Grand Treasurer, our secretariat staff and all those who continue to support the administration of our District.
Finally, my sincere appreciation also to our District Grand Director of Ceremonies, and the District Ceremonial Team for all that you have done during the past year.
Conclusion
Companions, the Royal Arch in the Eastern Archipelago has much to be proud of.
Yet we must continue to strive for more.
Let us increase participation.
Let us improve attendance.
Let us raise our standards.
Let us mentor and inspire newer Companions.
If we do these things well, and do things with pride and a sense of responsibility, we will steadily strengthen the Royal Arch and ensure that future generations inherit a District of which they can be justly proud.
Thank you, Companions, for your continued support, your friendship and your dedication to the Royal Arch.
May the blessing of the True and Living God Most High rest upon this District, upon our Royal Arch Chapters, and upon each and every Companion here assembled.
Thank you.
6 JUNE 2026
