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Grand Master’s Message
Brethren:
First I want to thank all the brethren of our Grand Lodge, who have supported me and have put their trust in me. It is because of you all that I am standing here today to serve each and every one of you in your Masonic work in this Grand Jurisdiction. As the Grand Master, representing each and every member of this Grand Lodge, it is my sincere hope that we will work together as a team to accomplish our mission to advance the principles and ideals of our fraternity and to attain our goals. I also want to take this opportunity to thank immediate Past Grand Master, MWB Albert McNair Smith and all the Past Grand Masters who have supported and guided me and I look forward to their continued advice and support in future. I especially want to acknowledge my deep appreciation and thanks to my beloved wife Shahnaz and my children who have supported me throughout the many years in my Masonic labors. Without their understanding and support none of this would be possible. I would also like to congratulate the brethren who have been invested as Grand Lodge Officers and once again remind them that in our endeavors we must remember that we are here to serve our brethren in this Grand Lodge. As I alluded to in my remarks at our Annual Communication, belief in the Grand Architect of Universe and the universality of our Brotherhood forms the basic foundation of our Freemasonry. We all believe that we are descended from the same stock, partake of the same nature and share the same hope, working together for the same vision and mission. I am proud to be the Grand Master as well as a member of a Jurisdiction that is an oasis of tolerance and peaceful coexistence, regardless of creed, race and ethnicity. Today we live in an interconnected world, with unexpected and fast changing conditions. We face complex problems which have resulted in much friction due to misperceptions and misunderstandings. Societies around the world are faced with chaos and grave problems of poverty, injustice, disease, and misery as a result of economic dislocation and erosion of moral and social values. In my view the mission of Freemasonry, confronted with these circumstances, should be to adapt to the new conditions and strive to promote a global civil society to be used as a model to bring balance to the present chaotic situation. This civil society can exist only with equality for all without prejudice, and to provide liberty, security and wellbeing for each individual. I believe that we as Freemasons must be concerned with the problems of our societies. We must continue in our efforts to help good men to improve themselves and become better citizens and better leaders in their communities and societies by adhering to and promoting the ideas and ideals of Freemasonry. The reality of the present sugM.W. Brother gests that the future of our Craft Robert B. Heyat will be determined in large part by what we will do today and in the immediate future; that is, to have an inspiring vision and a practical mission. This can be achieved if we are truly builders, avoiding short-term fixes, intent on serving both the present and the future of our societies. We must have long-term strategies and projects within our lodges and the Grand Lodge, backed and carried out through the total dedication of both our leaders and the members in our Jurisdiction. We, as Masons, are not visible in the daily life of our communities and our identity is often misunderstood by people or misrepresented in the media or by our religious or political adversaries. For Masonry to grow and become strong, influential and relevant, we must provide value and challenge for our existing membership while at the same time projecting a positive image in the society, so that we can attract quality candidates and retain them. We should not concentrate our efforts only to increase the level of membership in our lodges; rather, we must provide the environment to attract quality applicants from all segments of society and give them real Masonic
education, ritual proficiency and inspiration through mentoring, inculcation of moral values and meaningful challenges to create a deep sense of duty in their private and public life. The average age of our membership is getting younger every year, and this generational change gives us an opportunity to begin our work with schools and universities, and through projects and interaction, to attract a new generation to our ideals, principles and conduct as a fraternity, thus creating a valuable source of potential candidates when they enter the society. In today’s world with so many professional obligations, the family plays an important role in our lives. We must transfer our knowledge of Masonic principles and mission to them, so that they are aware of the high value of our obligations and will support us in our efforts. Our activities must involve the family as much as possible, to foster a greater social and fraternal bond between our membership. Effective public relations, publications, media programs, and effective communications through an easily accessible, interesting, and informative website, will make us more visible in the community. Special projects, Masonic exhibitions and events by our lodges and the Grand Lodge, involving Masons and nonMasons will help initiate the discussion of issues of importance to people, society and our Fraternity. We can promote Freemasonry through celebrating events of national importance, cornerstone layings, wreath layings and through closer relations with the civil authorities for such events, as we have done in the last two years with The Initiated Eye, TV programs, the medal of freedom and wreath layings. Our charity and philanthropic programs can and should be more effective with real results and benefits for the recipients and our Grand Lodge. Except for a few special projects, all of these can be the programs of our lodges, whether individually or in concert with other lodges, and the Grand Lodge should be there to support them. My brother, what I have shared with you, as my vision and mission in Freemasonry, has been my earnest belief since the day, forty years ago, when I was initiated into this noble Fraternity. I assure you that I honor your trust and I am fully committed and dedicated to fulfill my dream and obligations to this cause, and I ask all of you and all the brothers and sisters in our Appendant Bodies to come together as a team and work as a team, in order to achieve our goals for the Craft. All this can be done by working as a team with a shared vision, with a little personal sacrifice, and a lot of dedication, and by helping each other and our families, and by serving our communities and our great country. God bless you, God bless our Fraternity and God bless the United States of America.
Robert B. Heyat, Grand Master
