Grand Master's Address at April Communication 2006

Firstly, I thank you for your attendance tonight and express my appreciation and that of the Grand Master Elect to all of you who have committed their support to Graham for the forthcoming Grand Installation and associated functions.

Many issues have been before me as Grand Master. Most of them rewarding but, unfortunately, a small number of events not quite so pleasant. They are being worked on.

Traditionally, thanks are usually conveyed at the end of a speech. Tonight I wish to firstly express my thanks to all members of our fraternity for their support and expressions of loyalty conveyed to me.

To the Ceremonial teams, Grand Lodge Officers and Stewards, thank you for your commitment not only during the past year but also over the previous three years.

To the brethren who filled the office of Grand Warden over the previous three years, thank you for the role you played at Installations in being the representative of the Grand Master.

To our Grand Director of Ceremonies, Trevor, to you and Julie my sincere thanks, not only for the manner in which you carried out your duties as Grand Director of Ceremonies but for the courtesies extended by both yourself and Julie to Adele and me.

It is a dangerous practice to single out brethren for thanks but I extend my sincere personal thanks to the following brethren in the administrative areas of Grand Lodge:

Special thanks are extended to R.W.Bro Jim McCartney for dedication to his task in relation to our buildings.

To the Assistant Grand Master, thank you Paul, for your support, on many occasions by remote control from Melbourne.

To our Grand Master elect, I wish you well in your term of office. From the close working relationship you and I have enjoyed over the past three years I am confident that your leadership will be rewarding to yourself and be of benefit to the Craft. Thank you for your support and dedication over the past three years.

To our Grand Secretary, R.W.Bro. Max Atkinson, a job not easy at times. My sincere thanks to you and all your staff during my term as Grand Master.

To my wife Adele, it is difficult to express my appreciation of the great support Adele has given me through my whole Masonic career but the last three years as Grand Master, in particular. Her planning of functions in her area of responsibility, her attention to detail in the planning of our many trips together in my role of Grand Master, and her insistence that Freemasonry is an organisation for men, of kindred sprits, and as such to be managed by the members!

Cordial relationships are enjoyed between all Orders of Freemasonry, but in particular, The Craft, Mark and Chapter.

For some considerable time there has been concern in regard to the premature introduction of newly made Master Masons into other Orders of Freemasonry.

In recent times a Memorandum of Understanding has been agreed to and signed by the three Leaders, Deputies and Board Presidents. The respective Boards have also supported the document.

Copies have already been distributed, or are about to be, to all Mark Lodges and Chapters. It is those two Orders that will consider appropriate regulation changes at their next Communication.

It is considered by the leaders of the major Orders in freemasonry, the Craft. Mark and Chapter, that the proper and timely introduction of Freemasons to Mark and Chapter will result in members of those Orders being long term members and will not be counted among the many who withdraw and resign their membership from freemasonry generally.

It is timely to remind Craft Freemasons of the undesirability of the rapid advancement of newly made Master Masons in the Officers Chairs of their craft lodges. Brethren are reminded of Regulation 40.2:-

No Brother, without a dispensation from the Grand Master, will be eligible for election as Master unless, at the proposed time of Installation, he shall have been a Master Mason for a period of five years or longer.

It is appropriate to thank those many Past Masters who step in and take office in most lodges to ensure that the new brethren gain experience before taking the Master’s Chair.

I invite M.W.Bro. Green to join me on the floor of the lodge for a special presentation to commemorate this significant milestone in the History of Mark Masonry in South Australia and the Northern Territory.

The Grand Master presented a set of Overseer’s Pedestals and chairs on behalf of the Craft in recognition of the Centenary of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of South Australia and the Northern Territory

It is now almost two years since the sale of this building. There has been little action on the property by the purchaser. That is their choice.

Brethren would be aware of the reasons for the sale of this Masonic Centre, which was based on financial commitments.

Since the sale of the building, all maintenance costs have been met by the owner.

The sale has resulted in some provisions for maintenance no longer being required. The Board of Management has agreed to my request that Lodges should share those savings by way of a rebate.

The rebate is based on the amount of money available for distribution. The benefit will be $50,000. The distribution to lodges will be based on per capita membership.

The Grand Secretary will review the qualifications of lodges including lodges associated with Trusts.

The rebate will be offered on the quarterly dues billing sent out in September 2006 and will apply only to those Craft Lodges in this Jurisdiction who have complied with all of their obligations and edicts of Grand Lodge.

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

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