GRAND MASTER’S MESSAGE
Message from
The Grand Master My Fellow Masons of Washington, D.C.: I trust that 2008 has started well for you and your families. We have a lot to accomplish over the coming months and I look forward to your full participation in and support of the several initiatives that we have set together for our beloved Grand Lodge. Under the operating theme for our Grand Lodge this year, “Energize – Enlighten – Engage”, we will endeavor together to continue moving our Fraternity forward towards a more glorious future. Energize Our aim is to “energize” our Fraternity in Washington, D.C. by harnessing the exciting energies of our newer and younger Brothers, revitalizing any dormant energies of our more experienced Brothers, and harvesting the maturity and institutional memory of our older Brothers. To this effect, efforts in the first 120 days of this administration have focused on the following:
“legislative body” of our Fraternity by becoming more actively involved and constructively engaged in the affairs of our Grand Lodge through serious discussions and debates. • Institutional Awakening: Focused discussions will be held with the leadership and members of organizations such as the Past Masters Association and St. John’s Mite for the purpose of renewing their respective sense of mission and charting meaningful courses of action. Enlighten Our aim is to encourage members of our Fraternity to seek as much enlightenment as possible through the discovery and appreciation of the “Sacred Art.” This journey is what defines Freemasonry as a “Society” and distinguishes it from all other organizations.
• Masonic Education: To this end, the Grand Lodge will organize five Grand Lodges of Instruction (GLI) in the course of the year; two of which will have been held • Officers Workshops: Two workduring the first 120 days of this shops were organized on administration on January 29th December 18, 2007, and January and March 31st respectively. 19, 2008, for Lodge officers to These GLI sessions will provide assist them in developing the necMost Worshipful Brother Lodge Ritual Instructors and essary skills and knowledge Akram R. Elias Masonic Education Facilitators needed for the performance of with the knowledge, tools, and references they need their respective duties and better governance of to convey Masonic Education in their Lodges more their respective Lodge affairs. effectively and efficiently. • Masters and Wardens: A special meeting with the • Grand Lodge Communications: Each Grand Lodge Masters and Wardens Association to discuss ways to communication will have an interesting and thought enhance communication and cooperation between provoking “piece of architecture” which will be prethe Grand Lodge and our constituent Lodges. sented by the Grand Lodge Orator. We hope that this • Legislative Duties: A Special Communication of the will encourage Lodges to offer programs that Grand Lodge has been called for Saturday, March 29, enlighten their members, generate stimulating dis2008, at 10:00 am for the purpose of making legislacussions and explore ways for making our ritual a tion. The objective of this effort is twofold: living experience in today’s world. ▪ We will vote on several proposals for legislation and discuss a number of subjects that are of great importance to the future of our Fraternity. ▪ We hope that this effort will encourage the members of the Grand Lodge to see themselves as the
• Our Communities: It is incumbent upon us to educate the various communities within which we interact about who we are and what our Fraternity represents. We should not leave it to others to define us in their own terms and through their own prejudices. To the contrary, we should take a proactive
The Voice of Freemasonry
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