Blackpool Chapter of Integrity No 5864
E,Comp.
E.Comp.
E.Comp.
Fifteen Companions met together at the Masonic Hall, under the Chairmanship of E. Companion John Humphrey, Provincial Grand Steward, the then Secretary of the South Blackpool Group of Lodges and Chapters, to consider the possibilities of forming the fifteenth Royal Chapter in the Fylde. The date was April 3rd 1975. In that year the country's economy was in crisis. Britain had asked the International Monetary Fund for £1,000 million. The rate of inflation had reached 25% and more people went bankrupt than ever before, making1975 the worst year for financial failure in British history. The referendum to join the European Common Market showed 67% in favour and the first North Sea oil flowed ashore at the Firth of Forth. The rural face of England was being transformed by Dutch Elm disease. West Ham beat Fulham 2-0 in the F.A. Cup Final and a streaker was detained at Lord's, the headquarters of English cricket. Despite all this a further meeting of the founders took place on April 25th and after lengthy deliberation the number was finally increased to 27 of whom two were Supreme Grand Chapter Officers, three were Provincial Grand Chapter Officers, ten Past First Principles and the remaining Twelve Companions of the Order. A petition form and the consent of the sponsoring Lodge, Integrity Lodge, was obtained. The petition was duly signed and sent to Provincial Grand Chapter to be forwarded for approval by Supreme Grand Chapter, which was given on the 12th November 1975. The Consecration and Installation of the Three Principals was finally arranged for Tuesday May 25th 1976 at the Masonic Hall, Blackpool.
The Chapter has been particularly well served by the founders, some of whom gave generously in providing the Chapter with equipment and regalia. At the Consecration, the robes, Sceptres and the Catenarian Arch were all gifts from various founders and, over the following years, the ballot box and Implements of Labour have been added.
At the December meeting in 1997, to celebrate the twenty-first Anniversary of the Chapter, the Chapter Banner, which was donated by E. Comp. G.S. Partington, was dedicated. The design was based on the crest of the Integrity Lodge Banner.
Since the Consecration the Chapter has been honoured with appointments and promotions in both Supreme and Provincial Grand Chapter. One of the appointments the Chapter can be justifiably be proud is that of its first Director of Ceremonies, E. Companion John Humphrey, who in 1990, after 18 years as a Group Officer, was appointed an Assistant to the Grand Superintendent. E. Companion Humphrey is one of those rare West Lancashire Freemasons who have held the Office of Assistant to the Grand Superintendent and that of Assistant Provincial Grand Master.