onstituted on the 4th of February 1948, the 19th of May 2016 saw the final meeting of Rectitude Chapter 5197, at the Masonic Hall, Bolton.
Following the minutes of the previous regular meeting, EComp David George Rainford (MEZ), together with Chapter members and visitors, welcomed EComp Eddie Barlow, PGStB, Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals, the representative of The Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, to the meeting.
The First Principal then presented EComp Barlow with a cheque for £500 from the Chapter in support of the ELMC, which he was delighted to receive and promised to see that it would be safely delivered to the appropriate authority. He also commented that this was a most generous gift from the Chapter, not least in view of the depleted number of members, and was one of the highest if not the highest donation that in his capacity as an APGP he has been fortunate to receive.
Following the approval of items not covered in a previous meeting and the collection of alms, a brief history of the Chapter was delivered by EComp Dennis Parkinson, PProvGSN, in a fairly light-hearted manner, making reference to some of the more colourful characters in the history of the Chapter and various incidents surrounding them, bringing laughter from those present.
The First Principal, EComp Rainford, then presented the Charter of the Chapter to the representative for delivery to the Provincial Office and thereafter to Supreme Grand Chapter. At this point the Chapter was effectively closed. In accepting the Charter, EComp Barlow acknowledged that whilst in many ways this was a sad occasion, he took comfort in the knowledge that the majority of members will remain together as they are to join another Chapter in the same building.
The final words from EComp Barlow were in the form of a fitting eulogy to the closure of a Chapter. Visiting Companions then formed a guard of honour for the Companions as they paraded out, the last to leave being the APGP who extinguished the light and firmly closed the door.