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Transvaal and the Orange Free State (4 Sovereign Councils 30° and 20 Sovereign Chapters 18° ) Deputy: V. ILL. Bro. Hercules Deligeorges 33°
I presided over all the Installations of the Sovereign Chapters and Councils in the Province. My administrators have supported me well, not only in assisting in the administration of the specific Chapters and Councils, in their Districts, but in accompanying me to meetings throughout the Province, which is approximately an area of 70km by 600km. It was also gratifying to experience the support of many of the ILL. Brethren who traveled many kilometers to visit, support and assist at these meetings. In September of last year, accompanied by V.ILL.. Bro. Ray Franks, I attended the Installation of V.ILL. Bro. Brian Blount of our Sister Province of Natal. We were made most welcome and had an instructive and enjoyable time. Also we attended the Installations of V.ILL. Bro. D. Heydon as the Inspector General of the Central District EC in Kimberley and V.ILL. Bro. D. Whitefield as the Inspector General of the North Eastern District EC, Johannesburg . Visits were also made to 18° meetings of the Irish Constitution. The relationship we enjoy with our Sister Constitutions in the Province is cordial and friendly. Two Masonic Temples were sold during the year, which caused considerable problems for the Chapters and Councils concerned. New venues at other Temples were organized, but the uncertainty experienced by these unnecessary removals still has to work its way through the system. I wish to report with gratitude, the continued assistance and support from the Immediate Past Deputy, V.ILL. Bro. James Edmund Thompson and V.Ill. Bro. Wally Lumley, Past Administrator. Their advice and confidence in my endeavors is most gratifying. The sad side of life I have to report the passing beyond the veil of :- Bro. Anthony John Gates Bro. John Peter Hendry Bro. E H. Labuschagne They will be fondly remembered and definitely missed. M.ILLBro. Sandy Birrell has continued in poor health and is unable to attend meetings. Full workings of both the 32° and 31° in March and September 2005 were carried out and the policy of no rituals present, adhered to. This made pleasing and enjoyable ceremonies for all present. The formation of a new Sovereign Chapter in the Province is still in progress and we hope will be consecrated in the not too distant future. It is with regret that one of our long-serving members has been expelled from the Order due to his non-compliance with the Supreme Council's ruling referring to the irregular body known as the Supreme Council of South Africa. Let us hope that one day amity can be achieved in our country. With permission from the Supreme Council, we have embarked on producing a website for the Province. Our aim is to make Masonic Brethren more aware of our Order, which in turn will create a greater interest, leading to a stronger membership. It will also provide information for our members of the meetings, programs, venues and other topics current for the time. Which awareness should lead to a greater unity and strength within the Order. To our Grand Secretary General, M.ILL.Bro. W. Fleming, Mrs Doris Gaunt and her colleague, we again thank them for their assistance and directives. We send our warmest fraternal greetings and best wishes to our Sovereign Grand Commander and members of Supreme Council. V. ILL. Bro. Hercules Deligeorges 33° |
This, my second year as Deputy, has been a busy year. We have seen an improvement in the positive attitude of the members in the Sovereign Chapters and Councils in the Province. Whilst in most Chapters, there was an increase in membership; there have been a few exception of negative growth. Generally these are in areas experiencing economical decline brought about by political pressures, in various sectors of industry.