As the Chapter celebrates its 50th birthday, Mike Lofthouse has produced this presentation ‘A Brief History of the Chapter over the Past 50 Years’
On a mild and breezy afternoon in October 1975, 55 Royal Arch Companions assembled in the Masonic Hall in Dorchester. It was Friday the 17th , and they had come together for the First Regular Convocation of the new, Dorset First Principals Chapter No.3366. This was the culmination of planning which had started nearly two years before.
The Rev. Arthur J. Mangold was Grand Superintendent of Dorset from 1971-1977. In 1974 he retired from his living at Marnhull, and had always expressed a desire to see Dorset have its own First Principals Chapter. This had not gone unnoticed by the Companions in the province. E.Comp. Frederick Jesse Gomm of St Cuthberga Chapter No.622, after discussions with a number of fellow Principals, accordingly sent a circular to all Dorset Principals asking for those who supported the creation of such a Chapter in honour of the Grand Superintendent to come forward. In response to his circular 125 Principals indicated their willingness to become Founders. This represented 47% of the total number eligible in the Province.
To save unnecessary travel for all Founders each Chapter was asked to nominate two of the proposed Founders in their Chapter to represent them at the first Founders Meeting. E.Comp. Gomm felt sure that the magnificent response of the Past Principals of the Province to the Proposed Chapter was a measure of the affection in which the Grand Superintendent was held, and would mean more to him than any other tangible gift.
On Friday 8th November 1974 the first Founders Meeting of Dorset First Principals Chapter was held at Blandford. Present that day were 16 Companions from ten Chapters: Amity, Faith & Unanimity, St Cuthberga, Portland, Benevolence, St Aldhelm’s, Kings Court, United Service, Kinson, and Unity.
It was proposed and seconded that Dorset Masters Lodge No.3366 be asked to sponsor the Chapter, and that meetings would be twice a year in the afternoons on the 3rd Friday in April and October at such places to be decided later.
A joining fee of £2 for each of the 125 Founders was deemed appropriate and would cover the estimated £150 cost of the Consecration. It was considered that the estimated annual costs of £114 would be covered, and provide a small surplus, if the annual subscription was set at £1.25.
It was proposed, seconded, and agreed that E.Comp. Gomm be the Founding First Principal. He suggested that the 2nd and 3rd Principals should come from the Chapters with the highest number of Founders. These were Kings Court Chapter with 15 Founders and Amity with 14. The selection to be in the hands of the members of the particular Chapter concerned. Thus E.Comp. William Pope Farnfield was nominated as 2nd Principal Designate, and E.Comp. John Leeming 3rd Principal Designate.
The Consecration of the Chapter and the following Convocation took place at St James Place, Poole, on Friday 20th June 1975. In attendance were the Consecrating Officer, Most Excellent Grand Superintendent of Dorset Rev. Arthur J Mangold, accompanied by 11 Provincial Grand Officers; the Three Principals Designate; 82 Founding Members; 11 Official Guests; and 22 visitors.
The Principals of the Chapter were installed and subsequently appointed and invested their Officers. A proposal to Elect the Grand Superintendent, Rev. Arthur J Mangold an Honorary Member was unanimously agreed and received with acclamation by the Companions.
Four months later, on a mild and breezy afternoon in Dorchester, the 1st Regular Convocation of Dorset First Principals Chapter was held. Attending were 15 Officers, 37 members, and 3 visitors.
Over the years the proceedings recorded in the Minutes of the Chapter Convocations and General Purpose Committee meetings show a remarkable consistency, which is probably a sign of stable continuity in the ways of Masonic business. Changes do show but are of a more practical nature. From that first meeting the Minutes were handwritten, and then in 1987 came the typewriter, followed by printed copy. Four years resurgence of the pen followed from 1994 to 1998 when modernity was revived. The typewriter was subsequently written off the books at £5.
From the outset the ritual used was adopted from that of St Cuthberga. However, by the early nineties just exactly what the ritual should be became an issue. In 1994 E.Comp Kelly produced booklets laying out the specific form that the Chapter’s ritual should take. It was agreed that this should be the form adopted by the Chapter, and that, “there was no commitment to conform to the ritual, past, present or future, of St Cuthberga Chapter”.
The 51st Convocation of the Chapter was held at Poole on Tuesday 20th June 2000, marking the 25th Anniversary. Fifty-three members attended including 5 Founders. Following the reading of the Consecration Minutes, E.Comp. Bale gave a brief history of the Chapter concentrating on the Founding Principals and Officers. E.Comp. Rev. R.A. Weaver, Provincial 3rd Grand Principal, conducted the ceremony of dedication. Following the ceremony the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent Kenneth Henry Barnes gave an address, taking as his theme the connections between Craft and Royal Arch Masonry.
Following approaches to Dorchester Masonic Hall, space was found in the Lodge room for a Chapter Honours Board. In February 2001 the board was near completion and ready to be put in place. The cost for Materials and manufacture was approximately £475, added to which was the gold lettering at a cost of £151.
For 29 years Convocations had been held in the afternoons, but at a General Purposes Committee meeting in January 2004 Scribe Ezra, E.Comp. Lawrence Brookes proposed that, to assist members who had evening commitments on the 3rd Friday, the Convocation be held at 11 am. Despite some reservations it was agreed to give it a trial period.
Membership and activity of Royal Arch Masonry has had its ups and downs witnessed by the meetings attendance list over the years. The Chapter started in 1975 with 138 subscribing members; in June 2025 it has ninety-one.
An Extraordinary Convocation of Dorset First Principals Chapter was called for the 18th May 2010 by Most Excellent Grand Superintendent Derek Mayes with the purpose of having an open discussion about the falling numbers in the Royal Arch in the Province; an issue still being addressed to this day. If we do not do our bit to encourage membership of the Royal Arch, there will be no Companions going through the Chair, and no future for this Chapter.
As we reflect on the sentiments that led to the formation of the Chapter, after the passage of 50 years and four Grand Superintendents, it is to be hoped that in 2025 the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent Stephen Andrew James, considers that the Dorset First Principals Chapter No.3366 is a gift that keeps on giving.
E.Comp. Mike Lofthouse
Honour & Friendship Chapter No.1266
Dorset First Principals Chapter No.3366
June 2025
