Grand Master Welcomes Joint Session

Grand Master Welcomes Historic Joint Session of the Scottish Rite’s Supreme Councils

Editor’s note: What follows is the text of the Grand Master’s remarks delivered at the August 2007 opening of the Joint Session of the Supreme Councils of the Southern Jurisdiction and Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.

Sovereign Grand Commander Seale, Sovereign Grand us. Let us therefore heed their call, enunciated so Commander McNaughton, Distinguished Guests of clearly, with willful and purposeful enthusiasm. the Supreme Councils, Fellow Inspector Generals Honorary, Greetings, my Brethren: The eyes of the Masonic world are on Washington this day. What transpires here will be scrutinized by As Grand Master of this jurisdiction, as a resident of Masons around the world. They will regard what we this city, as an American by choice, and as a Master will do in the next two or three days as a precursor of Mason dedicated to the propwhat Masonry is destined to agation of Masonry universal, be in the future. Hence we I bid you welcome to your must strive to make the most nation’s capital, a city which of this opportunity to demonis, in truth, one of the wonstrate that in the diversity of ders of the world, situated, Masonry there is an underlyplanned, and developed by ing platform of unity. Masons over the course of our national history. It is obvious that many of you have visited Washington This city is the pride of every before, and for some of you American. In it we find innuthose visits have been quite merable manifestations of often—on a yearly or byAmerican values to which yearly basis—for various men of every clime aspire. conferences or meetings of Here Americans have eterMasons of special interest. nally proclaimed their belief Should you be in that group, I that every man, regardless of would call on you to invite a race, nationality, sect or opinfirst-time visitor to join you in ion, has a right to strive for revisiting your preferred cenexcellence. ters of Masonic interest. Many On the foundation of such principles and purposes, embellished by the creation of institutions of lasting worth and by the erection of monuments to lasting greatness, this city has become a Most Worshipful Brother Robert B. Heyet, Grand Master of Masons in Washington D.C. addresses the Joint Session and varied, they all attest to the impact of Masonry on the development of this city and, more importantly, on what takes place here, in times of peace and in times of strife. beacon of liberty and justice for an increasingly On that note I would like to announce that next year bewildered world. the Ninth World Conference of Masonic Grand It is therefore in a spirit of dedication and obligation that we gather today. As we do so, we are as one in expressing gratitude to Grand Commanders Seale and McNaughton for their wisdom in bringing the sovereign jurisdictions of our order together, for the Lodges will be convened here in Washington, D.C. If your schedule will permit, we would like to have you return and join in a growing effort designed to promote, through Masonry, peace and understanding everywhere in God’s world. first time in history, for a joint session. In the meantime I wish you the very best as you labor It is our prayer that in this effort the expectations of our Grand Commanders will be fully realized. That desirable outcome, however, is entirely dependent on together in the interest of the Scottish Rite. I pledge you my support and the support of my Grand Lodge in your every endeavor. ■