St. Boniface Conclave No. 287

In 1974 England was beset  with inflation running at 17.2% and the global recession deepened. The Three-Day Week was in operation and several large companies collapsed. The Country had had two general elections and a State of Emergency operated in Northern Ireland. The positives although appearing miniscule in comparison were the appearance of the Word Processors resembling more of a typewriter than a computer. New Year’s Day was celebrated in the whole of the UK as a Bank Holiday.

The other new beginning was that a group of like-minded masons came together on Sunday 24th February 1974 at the Masonic Hall, Ryde on the Isle of Wight to discuss the idea of founding a Red Cross of Constantine Conclave. The Foundation Committee was made up of:

Ill.Kts. P.W.Russell.P.G.Std.B. (Chair), D. Smethurst P.G.Prefect and W.Kts. N.J.H.
Bartholomew, W.J. Bulland and C. Reed.

This meeting agreed the name of the Conclave to be St. Boniface, who many legends associate with the conversion of the Pagan inhabitants of the Isle of Wight to Christianity.

The Consecration date was agreed as 28th September 1974 and held at the Masonic Hall, Seaview. The Founders Fee would be £10:00, Annual Subscription £2:50, Installation Fee £5:00 and the Joining Fee £3:00. W.Kt. Bartholomew offered to compile the Bye Laws. A second meeting of the Founder’s Committee was held on 14th July 1974 when the minutes from the previous meeting were approved.

The officers and the list of Founders who would become officers at the Consecration were agreed. Also agreed were the names of the Founders who were to be appointed to office at the Installation Meeting which would follow the Consecration of the Conclave. Subsequently the Founders petitioned the Division of Hampshire and Grand Conclave.

St. Boniface Conclave No 287 was duly consecrated at the Masonic Hall, Seaview, Isle of Wight, on Saturday 28th September 1974. The Officers undertaking the Ceremony were:

Constituting Sovereign
V.Ill.Kt. Chandon J. Washington Intendant-General for Hampshire
Assisted by:
V.Ill.Kt. Cdr. Thomas R. Smart O.B.E., R.N. Dep Intendant-General
Ill.Kt. L.H. Wilson P.P.Swd.B Divisional Viceroy
Ill.Kt. R.A.L. Edmonds P.G.Swd.B Divisional Prelate was asked to offer prayers

The Constituting Sovereign directed the Divisional Recorder P.Kt. Major F.B.Jarvis to read the Warrant of the Conclave. An oration was delivered and the Dedication Ceremony undertaken, after which the Enthronement of the Sovereign and Eminent
Viceroy of St. Boniface Conclave No 287 took place.

The Founders and First Officers of the St. Boniface Conclave No 287 were appointed and invested on that day:

At the conclusion of the Consecration Ceremony the Consecrating Officers retired. The newly Consecrated Conclave was then opened in due form and a ballot for 19 Excellent Companion’s and Companion’s was undertaken. All were admitted into
the Order of The Masonic and Military Order of The Red Cross of Constantine in a ceremony conducted in an exemplary manner by the newly formed Conclave Officers.

The Bye Laws which had been prepared by W.Kt. N.J.H. Bartholomew were adopted and the Conclave was then closed in due form.  “Dinner was served at 1800hrs. and a good day was had by all.” The following month on 25th October a Sanctuary was opened and 18 Knights were installed as Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and of St. John the Evangelist. Following this meeting the Conclave settled into the routine of regular meetings being the last Friday of February (Enthronement Meeting), the last Friday of May (RCC) and the last Friday of September (Appendant Orders). The following year on 29th June
a Divine Service of Thanksgiving was held at All Saints Church, Newchurch, on the Island. The service was conducted by W.Kt. Revd. L.H. Brandt and the congregation were supported in their singing by the Newchurch Male Voice Choir.

Over the next 3 years the St. Boniface Conclave grew quite considerably, with candidates being admitted at every meeting. In May 1980 it was proposed and seconded that due to lack of storage space the venue for further meetings should be the Masonic Hall at Ryde. The proposition was duly carried by all present. Dispensation was given by the Intendant-General that the Conclave with effect from the 1st August 1980 could meet at the Ryde Masonic Hall until such time as the Bye Laws had been changed and implemented. Since that time all of the meetings have been held at Ryde Masonic Hall.

Members of the Conclave have held Senior Offices within the Division and several members have received the honour of Grand Rank. Two of our members have received the honour of Very Illustrious Knight, namely Very Illustrious Knight L.H. Brant (d’cd) and more recently Very Illustrious Knight Charles Shiveral.

There have been 98 Companions installed as Knights of Red Cross during the 44 years. Admission of candidates has fluctuated over the years, some lean years but quite recently following a successful organised recruitment, 4 Companions were installed on the same evening. The current membership of the Conclave is 19.

We receive support from our fellow Knights on the North Island especially from the Divisional Guard and Divisional Officers from the bottom to the top. It is fervently hoped that the present dearth of candidates will be overcome and we
look forward with confidence in celebrating our 50th Anniversary in 2024.

Sovereigns and Commanders

The reader will note that as a small Conclave it has been necessary for Sovereigns on occasions to undertake consecutive years as MPS.