To All Members of the Division of Hampshire and Isle of Wight

Dear Bro Knights

You must by now all be aware of the momentous occasion of the inauguration of the new Division of Hampshire and Isle of Wight of the Masonic and Military Order of the Red Cross of Constantine on the 14th April 2014 at Salisbury Guildhall.

May I welcome you all to the new Division and I thank the large number of you who were able to be present at the Inauguration. I trust you enjoyed the spectacle as much as I and the Team did. In the words of the Grand Sovereign “it was a totally unique occasion, it had never been done before in this Order and was not likely to happen again in his lifetime”. The ritual had been written specifically for this occasion by the Grand Marshal and we had a full team from Grand Imperial Conclave including the Grand Sovereign, the Deputy Grand Sovereign and the Grand Eusebius. We were further honoured by having V.Ill.Kt. Richard Dunleavy acting as the Grand Junior General; V.Ill.Kt. Alan Hamilton as the Grand Standard Bearer (C) and Ill.Kt. Trevor Gulliver as the Grand Herald. 

Although I have welcomed you all to the new Division, our roots as a Division go back to 1871 so we have much to live up to. I have been asked about Divisional Officers with regalia that has Hants, Wilts and I of W on it. I can confirm that with the Grand Sovereigns permission, we can continue in our existing Divisional Regalia without alteration. Progression to new regalia reflecting the new Divisional Name will be by natural attrition when new Divisional Officers are buying new regalia. Unless of course you decide you wish to change it now.

We must now look to the future and as always our membership numbers are our prime concern. I do not foresee large expansion, but rather a modest expansion in addition to maintaining our existing members. I foresee further rationalisation of the location/coverage of the division and the likely consecration of a new Conclave.

I thank you all for your support and trust that you will continue to advance our truly Christian Order into its new era.

Yours sincerely and fraternally in Faith Unity and Zeal,

Roger Bricknell.