HOPE VALLEY CHAPTER 3397
What is “Chapter”?
Our Book of Constitutions describes English freemasonry as follows – “declared and pronounced that pure Antient Masonry consists of three degrees and no more, viz. those of the Entered Apprentice, the Fellow Craft, and the Master Mason, including the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch” of consisting of 3 degrees including that of the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch.
Chapters are ruled over by three Principals, who rule conjointly, and the members are known as Companions. At Dore Masonic Hall, there are three such chapters. Ours bears the same name and number as the Lodge, and is thus “Hope Valley Chapter 3397”.
Chapters meets less often than Lodge, and has just two ceremonies: the exaltation ceremony, to bring in new members, and an annual installation ceremony.
The exaltation ceremony consists of a rather dramatic presentation of the principles of the Order followed at subsequent meetings by three Lectures in which the history, symbolism and principles of the Royal Arch are further explained. Like Craft Freemasonry, the Royal Arch is open to men of all faiths.
In the past membership of Chapter has been about 30% of lodge members, but there is now a move to bring the two parts of the organisation closer and to encourage Lodge members to continue their journey into Chapter by making them aware at he outset of their journey what is expected.
History of the Chapter
The members of Hope Valley craft lodge saw the need, as with craft, to establish a Royal Arch Chapter within the Hope Valley. To this aim Hope Valley Chapter was consecrated on Wednesday 21st November 1934 at the Maynard Arms Grindleford.
To all accounts the evening was a great success with 84 companions taking part comprising of 17 Consecrating Officers, 12 Founders and 55 Visitors.
The Chapter started with 12 members and by 1936 had increased to25. It continued to meet during the war and there were several dispensations granted, the most notable being during June 1944 and by this time the membership had increased to 47.
In the early days the Chapter summons also included the train times from Sheffield to Hope calling at Bamford and Hathersage.
Like the craft lodge the meeting date and place changed several times and when we left the Maynard Arms we also moved to Dore Masonic Hall where we now meet at 6.15pm on the third Thursday in March ( Installation), May, September and November.