GRAND LODGE
OF ANTIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF
SOUTH AUSTRALIA AND NORTHERN TERRITORY

The Annual Conference was held on Saturday 13 October, at 254 North Terrace, Adelaide.

Ten propositions were submitted for consideration at the Conference.
 

Grand Master's Opening Remarks

In his opening remarks the Grand Master referred to item 3 on the Agenda.  He indicated that he did not necessarily want the issue to be withdrawn but intimated the discussion might be counter productive in light of current delicate negotiations that were in train. He went on to explain that a committee had been formed called "Maximising the Resource" (being the Adelaide Masonic Centre).  Many initiatives had already been taken to make the Centre self sufficient and a Confidentiality Agreement had recently been signed with a consortium looking at a joint development with the Association to develop the site. This would if successful enable us to retain our presence at North Terrace, allow us to continue to use our lodge rooms and save us the cost of maintenance.  The Grand Master expressed the hope that negotiations would be successful and stated that as soon as he could advise the membership of any progress he would do so.  If successful this project would ensure that the building - an icon to Freemasonry in SA & NT would be preserved as our headquarters.  The Board of General Purposes would continue to monitor the situation.

CLICK HERE to read the Grand Master's address.
 

Results

Ten propositions were discussed and voted upon.
 

1. That the office of “Chairman of the Membership and Development Committee” be made a Grand Lodge Office.

This was carried.
 

2. That the Board of General Purposes gives approval for name badges to be worn in lodge rooms during meetings.

This was Lost.
 

3. That as a means of moving towards the optimum economic use of the resources of the Craft the Board of General Purposes be invited to consider:
(a) Immediate and complete discontinuation of the use of 254 North Terrace Adelaide for all or any meetings of private lodges and other Orders, while maintaining a restricted but public portion of the premises as the iconic Jurisdictional Headquarters of the Grand Lodge and the Association's Administration and as a "Grand" symbol of the Craft.
(b) Conversion of the entire building, taking full advantage of heritage limitations, to full-time commercial use as a prestige location for up-market boutiques, restaurants, bookshops, flower shops, consulting rooms, offices, concert venues, etc., etc., etc.

This was carried (please see the Grand Master's reference to this item in his opening remarks).
 

4. That Regulation Number 52.14.4 be altered by the removal of the words on the 4th and 5th line "is a member of the Lodge in which the proposition is to be made" be deleted and the following substituted; "is a member of a Lodge on the register of the Grand Lodge of S.A. and the N.T."

This was carried.
 

5. That the Lodge Manual in section one (1) page 8 clause 3-5e which does not approve the wearing of jewels of other Constitutions be altered by adding “Not withstanding these regulations, dispensation will be considered for a brother to wear such other jewels as have been approved by his membership to the Grand Lodge of another Australian Constitution.”

This proposition was altered to read:
That section 1 clause 3.5 and 3.6 be referred to the Ritual and Procedures committee for consideration, taking particular notice of an affiliating member of another jurisdiction, recognized by this Grand Lodge, and where that member has served as Master of a lodge in that jurisdiction, and has received a past masters jewel, and/or a 50 year service jewel, recognized by that jurisdiction, and report to the 2002 October conference.

And was carried.
 

6. Confirmation of authority of the Worshipful Master.
It is recommended that the Board of General Purposes make such changes to the regulations and lodge manual so any person of either gender be allowed to address a meeting of a constituent Lodge, at the invitation and sole discretion of the Worshipful Master of that Lodge, such address being on any topic (Masonic or otherwise) selected or approved by the Master of the Lodge, with the proviso that if the speaker is not a member of the Association or a Mason of a jurisdiction recognized by the Association, such speaker shall not be admitted to the lodge room while it is tyled, and if any part of the intended audience comprises persons who are not members of the Association or Masons of a jurisdiction recognized by the Association, they shall not be admitted to the lodge room while it is tyled.

This was lost.
 

7. Visitors from Prince Hall lodges.
This Conference recommends that the Association permit any Prince Hall Mason to visit lodges of the Association, provided he produces proof of good standing in a lodge warranted by a Grand Lodge of Prince Hall Affiliation, and passes the tests usually imposed on an unknown visitor to prove that he is a Mason regardless of whether his Grand Lodge has been recognized by the Association.

This was carried.
 

8. Discretion when visiting lodges of other jurisdictions. 
This Conference recommends that if a member of the Association visits a Lodge of a jurisdiction which is recognized by the Association, and there encounters a visitor (lawfully present in the Lodge) who belongs to a jurisdiction not recognized by the Association, the said member should be permitted, at his discretion, to remain in the Lodge he is visiting and fraternally associate with that visitor from an unrecognized jurisdiction on the occasion of that visit to the Lodge.

This was carried.
 

9. That the budget submitted by Grand Lodge at the April 2002 conference showing a deficit in members due be amended to allow for a break even or a small profit position in the financial affairs of Grand Lodge. 

This was altered to read: 
That the budget for Grand Lodge each year should attempt to show at least a break even situation.

This was lost.
 

10. That (a) Grand Lodge and the Foundation spread the fund-raising events evenly through the year and (b) that only sites ‘free of cost’ be used for money raising.

This was separated into two and both were lost.
 
 

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