South Wales & Monmouthshire District Rose Croix
South Wales and Monmouthshire District
About the District
The District of South Wales and Monmouthshire encompasses the two Craft Provinces of South Wales and Monmouthshire. The District is by far the most substantial under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council, with 31 Chapters, the next largest having 22 Chapters. The majority of Districts have between 15 and 17 Chapters, but there are 17 Districts with a dozen or fewer Chapters. This District is also geographically large, extending from Swansea in the east to Chepstow and Monmouth in the west, and from Barry in the south to Llandrindod Wells in the north.
The first Rose Croix Chapter to be formed in South Wales and Monmouthshire was the Ivor Hael Chapter No. 34 which is based in Newport and was consecrated in 1871 (although bizarrely its Warrant is dated the following year) and has operated there continuously since then. It was some 5 years later in 1876 that the Morganwg Chapter No. 70 was consecrated in Swansea, and a further 15 years before the Caer-Daf Chapter No. 118 was formed in Cardiff by a warrant dated 1891. A further 29 years elapsed before the St. David Chapter No. 215 was consecrated in Cardiff in 1920, and a year later saw the Pontypridd Chapter No. 227 being consecrated in
1921.
The newest Chapter is Richard Williams Dicker No. 1172, which is named after a Past Inspector General of the District. This Chapter, which meets on Saturday mornings in Caerphilly, is restricted to brethren who have been promoted to the 30° (although if they are promoted further they may retain their membership). There is an older Higher Degree Chapter, the Sir Frederick J. Alban Chapter No. 625, which is also named after a Past Inspector General, whose membership (by tradition, although not formally its by-laws) is limited to brethren of 31° and above. This is a peripatetic Chapter and meets over weekends at venues not only within but frequently outside the District.
There is now at least one Rose Croix Chapter operating from each of the major towns in the District where there is a Masonic Hall.
Chapters typically meet 3 times per year, although there a few who meet 4 times and a small number only twice. In addition to the 2 Higher Degree Chapters mentioned above, 8 Chapters in the District meet on Saturdays, and wives and partners are invited to dine at the Festive Board. Other Chapters invite wives and partners to dine on an ad hoc basis.
The District is headed by V∴Ill∴Bro. Paul Kelvin-Smith 33° as Inspector General. He was installed on 17 th July 2018. An Inspector General can appoint a District Recorder to assist him, and in our case he is Ill∴Bro. Terry Scarfe 31°.
The first Rose Croix Chapter to be formed in South Wales and Monmouthshire was the Ivor Hael Chapter No. 34 which is based in Newport and was consecrated in 1871 (although bizarrely its Warrant is dated the following year) and has operated there continuously since then. It was some 5 years later in 1876 that the Morganwg Chapter No. 70 was consecrated in Swansea, and a further 15 years before the Caer-Daf Chapter No. 118 was formed in Cardiff by a warrant dated 1891. A further 29 years elapsed before the St. David Chapter No. 215 was consecrated in Cardiff in 1920, and a year later saw the Pontypridd Chapter No. 227 being consecrated in
1921.
The newest Chapter is Richard Williams Dicker No. 1172, which is named after a Past Inspector General of the District. This Chapter, which meets on Saturday mornings in Caerphilly, is restricted to brethren who have been promoted to the 30° (although if they are promoted further they may retain their membership). There is an older Higher Degree Chapter, the Sir Frederick J. Alban Chapter No. 625, which is also named after a Past Inspector General, whose membership (by tradition, although not formally its by-laws) is limited to brethren of 31° and above. This is a peripatetic Chapter and meets over weekends at venues not only within but frequently outside the District.
There is now at least one Rose Croix Chapter operating from each of the major towns in the District where there is a Masonic Hall.
Chapters typically meet 3 times per year, although there a few who meet 4 times and a small number only twice. In addition to the 2 Higher Degree Chapters mentioned above, 8 Chapters in the District meet on Saturdays, and wives and partners are invited to dine at the Festive Board. Other Chapters invite wives and partners to dine on an ad hoc basis.
The District is headed by V∴Ill∴Bro. Paul Kelvin-Smith 33° as Inspector General. He was installed on 17 th July 2018. An Inspector General can appoint a District Recorder to assist him, and in our case he is Ill∴Bro. Terry Scarfe 31°.
District Enquiries
Should you wish to make enquiries about the Order in South Wales & Momnouthshire please contact us.
District News
22/01/2021
Presentation to South Wales Masonic Province by V∴ Ill ∴Bro. Paul Kelvin-Smith, Inspector General 33°, who presented a talk via Zoom entitled 'An Introduction to the Rose Croix'.
Organised with thanks to the South Wales Provincial Learning & Development Team.
Enquiries via events.pldt@gmail.com
Organised with thanks to the South Wales Provincial Learning & Development Team.
Enquiries via events.pldt@gmail.com
20/12/2020
District Christmas Message from V∴ Ill ∴Bro. Paul Kelvin-Smith 33° Inspector General.
17/12/2020
Supreme Council for England & Wales issues advisory explaining plans for the resumption of the Order during 2021 and amendments to be applied to the Ritual until further notice.