In the Scarlet Cord Provincial Grand Senatus of the Borders, the first week of August was at the same time highly significant and highly enjoyable.
The 1st of August saw the companions descend upon Dalston, Cumbria for a full day of Scarlet Cord ceremonial and celebration. 75 companions were in attendance which included the Most Distinguished Grand Summus, Past Deputy Grand Summus, Asst Grand Summus, Grand Chancellor and 11 reigning Provincial Grand Summi.
First up at 10am was the Ian Stanley Currans Consistory No. 100. Distinguished Companion President Gavin McNab and his team worked the first grade of the order on 6 candidates in what was an exemplary ceremony, including a faultless display of ritual from the representative candidate Brother Craig Bell.
No sooner had these new companions taken their first step on the Scarlet Cord ladder and been warmly welcomed by all the companions, than it was time for a change – in terms at least of the Installation Ceremony. The Installing President Dist. Comp. McNab performed an excellent ceremony for incoming President Alex R Brown who then installed his officers for the year ahead. A full team was installed who will work hard collectively to take the Consistory from strength to strength.
With the consistory business being completed at around 11.30am a small recess was held to allow the companions to congratulate the new candidates and officers while the temple was prepared for the Annual Meeting of the Provincial Grand Senatus of the Borders – the first Annual Meeting since its constitution in October 2025.
Provincial Grand Summus Alan A Buntain then proceeded to lead an excellent meeting where all business was dealt with in a professional manner. The Installation of the Provincial Officers for 2026-27 then took place with all offices being filled by the companions of the 3 existing consistories. Amongst those installed was a new Assistant Provincial Grand Summus in Dist. Comp. Ron Simpson. Ron is a very experienced freemason who is currently Prov. GSR in the OSM for North Scotland, and the Grand Seneschal in the Great Priory of Scotland.
At 11am the Consecration team headed by the Most Distinguished Grand Summus Ian S Currans entered the new consistory and carried out an excellent consecration ceremony. Although the Scarlet Cord team are no strangers to consecrations (this was the 52nd Consecration that Most Dist. Companion Currans has conducted!) there were some new members of the team who carried out their duties to an exceptionally high standard.
The Deputy Grand Summus R. Dist. Comp. Francis C Spencer then carried out the ceremony of Installation and Dist. Comp. Alan Mossop was installed as the first President of the newest consistory within the Order. After the investiture of the first team of officers, the address to the President was delivered impeccably by Assistant Grand Summus Trevor Currans. On closing of the consistory all retired to the festive board and continued to make new, and cement old, friendships.
The Borders Province continues to grow and develop, with its strategic aim being to promote and spread the Order amongst Secret Monitors in Cumbria and Caledonia. It will do this by attracting candidates from all ‘airts and pairts’ by ensuring the very highest standards of companionship and excellence in the delivery of the ceremonial to a standard befitting its quality.
With the installation ceremony complete, the Provincial Grand Summus asked V. Dist. Comp. John Cunliffe to join him in the East, thanking him for his sterling work in setting up a new Consistory to be called West Cumberland No. 175. He then presented John with the Past Provincial Grand Rank of Assistant Recorder as a token of the Province’s appreciation and gratitude for his efforts. Companion Cunliffe suitably replied.
Before closing the Most Distinguished Grand Summus Ian Stanley Currans addressed the companions of the province thanking all those who assisted on the day and the organisation and giving the province his very best wishes for the year ahead.
Fast forward 1 week and on Saturday 8th August the destination was now Penrith Masonic Hall and the consecration of West Cumberland Consistory No. 175, the fourth Consistory for the fledgling Borders Province. Once again there was an excellent turnout with many Provinces represented including two large contingents from the Borders and Lancashire in particular.