V.Ill. Bro. Peter E. Holland, 33o
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our Past Inspector General, V.Ill. Bro. Peter Holland, 33o, who was called to Higher Service on 1st October, 2016 and will be greatly missed.
PETER ERIC HOLLAND (1945-2016)
Our Brother Peter – or more accurately the Very Worshipful Brother Peter Eric Holland – was the consummate Freemason – more knowledgeable about the procedures, principles and practices of Freemasonry than perhaps anyone I shall ever know. As a true Essex man he was also kindly and thoughtful in act, as well as in word, and he was of a charitable disposition – but he was also a serious man who believed that things worth doing were worth doing properly. He loved the ritual, the ceremony and the splendour which those great Masonic occasions brought but he was also just as happy in the company of a small lodge and very much as ease in the company of small groups too. In short, he was a thoroughly decent man.
I would also describe him as quiet and resolute, a man who had a clear sense of purpose and direction, a man who was always well organised, properly turned out and well prepared. He had an incisive mind with a wry sense of humour and if you asked him for help or advice it was always forthcoming and given unreservedly – and invariably sound. As we say in Freemasonry, he lived respected and he certainly died regretted – the more so because of the dreadful shock and speed of the final illness and untimely death of a man who always kept himself fit and who was just 70 years of age. From our learning of his diagnosis on 1st September it was to be just one month until his passing to the Grand Lodge above.
Peter began his masonic journey by being initiated into Sweyn Lodge on 15 January 1973, at the age of 27 and two years later was exalted into Five Orders Chapter which met in London. Today, I can only touch on some of the highlights of a masonic career spanning some 43 years. He was Master of Sweyn Lodge in 1979, of West Essex Lodge (which incidentally he saved by giving it a purpose) in 2000 and 2007, Master of Essex Masters Lodge in 2004 and of Bear and Ragged Staff Lodge in 2005. His first appointment in Provincial Grand Lodge was as Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 1987, then as a Deputy in 1989 and then as Grand Director of Ceremonies in 1994. These roles plus those of Secretary between 2002 and 2008 of the Quatuor Coronati (Research Lodge) provided him, I believe, with the cornerstone and unique attributes of his Masonic knowledge and experience.
But there were many more honours and recognition of his work to come. In the Province of Essex he was made an Assistant Provincial Grand Master in 1999 and promoted to Deputy Provincial Grand Master in 2005 in which capacity he faithfully served for 10 years. In the United Grand Lodge of England, he was first appointed an active AGDC in 1992, promoted to PSGD in 2000 and promoted again to PGSwdB in 2006.
In the Royal Arch, He was a Past First Principal of Essex First Principals Chapter, of Five Orders Chapter twice and of Thorpe Bay Chapter and held the Grand Rank of Past Assistant Grand Sojourner.
Peter was also an active supporter of, and excelled in, the Additional orders in Freemasonry – including the Knights Templar and Knights of Malta, the Mark degree and Royal Ark Masons, The Allied Masonic Degrees, the Knights Beneficent of the Holy City, Royal and Select Masters, the Order of the Secret Monitor and the Royal Order of Scotland (of which he was Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master). Just for good measure, he recently joined the Order of the Scarlet Cord and the Commemorative Order of St Thomas of Acon.
In the last year of his life, he was, I know, delighted to have been appointed Inspector General for South Essex in the Ancient and Accepted Rite. I had the privilege of attending his Enthronement and hearing his address, which was truly masterly. He was Perfected into Castle Gates Chapter No. 653 on 14th Dec. 2001, Enthroned in the same Chapter on 8th June 2007 and joined St. Katharine’s Chapter on 15th May 2009. He was proposed by George Chambers and seconded by Graham Larke. He become the Most Wise Sovereign in March 2012 having stood aside so that the late Brian Dennis could do a complete year owing to his illness.
We thank the Great Architect of the Universe for Peter’s life and works among us, the memories of which we celebrate and which will be immortalised in our Masonic history – but we also mourn the loss of a friend, a colleague and true Brother who was much loved throughout the Masonic Province of Essex. The 3 great principles of Masonry are Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth and they are what guided VW.Bro Peter Eric Holland throughout his 43 year masonic career. May he now Rest in Peace.