In This Issue

Grand Master’s Message

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” [Ecclesiastes 3:1-8]

As I write this, my last message as your Grand responsibilities with satisfaction to themselves and Master, I look back on the months of the advantage to their lodges. Masonic Year now ending, and I am reminded of a saying by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: “Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.” I am also thankful for the work done during the year by the elected and appointed officers and committeemen of the Grand Lodge, a select group that There is a time to receive the gavel and a time to pass performed more than yeoman’s service during the it on to your successor. On December 12, 2009, I will year. A small band of these brethren were excepcease to be Grand Master. tional in their response to the On that day, my successor many calls to duty. Included will be installed in accord in this select group are: RWB with the ancient customs, Joseph Crociata, RWB Chrisusages and rites of our noble topher Mahaney, RWB Teko and honorable Craft. It is my Foly, RWB James Feezell, prayer that all brethren will RWB Jeffrey Russell, WB unreservedly accord him the Roman Volsky, WB Bilal Rasrespect, honor and dignity chid, WB Joel Shulman, WB due the office that he will W. Kirk MacNulty, WB Marassume. I wish him and his cus Trelaine, WB Kenneth administration God’s blessForan, WB Gary Ozbenian, ings as they labor to promote WB Santiago Gonzales and prosperity, peace, and harWB Victor Adegbite. mony in our institution. During the year I was fortuThis is also a time for the nate to enjoy the assistance, expression of thanks for the support and counsel of our privilege of service. I am Past Grand Masters. I remain extremely grateful that you most appreciative of the permitted me to serve as tremendous help I received your Grand Master in 2009. from MWB Donald Mallorey, You afforded me an opporMWB Theodore Kahn, MWB tunity to serve the Craft and Jerold Samet; MWB Richour community and I will Most Worshipful Brother Kwame Acquaah ard Fletcher, MWB George treasure the memory of your kindness until time for Adams and MWB Robert Starr. MWB Grant Berning me shall be no more. I have been fortunate indeed. was amazing in his support; he accompanied me to The Princes of the Craft, our Masters, have not only supported the efforts of the Grand Lodge, but within their respective lodges, they have worked every “Town Hall” meeting and also attended most of the other events and activities of the Grand Lodge during the year. thoughtfully, meaningfully, productively, assiduously, One Past Grand Master deserves to be in a class by peaceably and harmoniously to achieve the true purhimself. MWB Stewart Miner installed me as Grand poses of Freemasonry. I particularly commend WB Master on December 13, 2008, and from that date, has Robert E. Johnson of St. John’s Lodge No. 11 for his been an incomparable, indefatigable, thoughtful and extraordinary work during 2009. In fine, I am pervery patient advisor and mentor. I am, eternally, in suaded that all our Masters handled their duties and his debt. Words cannot begin to express my profound gratitude, heartfelt appreciation and unrestrained

admiration for this wonderful Master Mason, who later in the year, mobilized other brethren, urging represents the highest and noblest attributes of our them to abort the formation of a prospective new Craft and by example, daily, reminds us of the high lodge during the 2009 Masonic year. standards required of all Masons. This tiny minority not only engaged in open defiance My sincere thanks also go to the Grand Secretary, of some of my instructions and orders, but mounted MWB Mansour Hatefi and his staff, comprised of WB a campaign of vilification using various internet faciliWalter Hoenes, WB Todd Duehring and WB Kevin ties, including lodge list serves, blogs and the Acacia Jay. I thank them for their dedication and devotion network. I decided not to respond to any of their to the cautious management and perpetuation of our provocations because I concluded that many of those fraternity. who were involved, neither There is a time for full disclosure. I believe this Masonic year would have been more pleasant had it not been for unanticipated events, including public challenges to the established authority of the Grand Master. These chalThe object was to promote the practice understanding nor knowing the consequence of what they were doing, must be forgiven for allowing themselves to be misled. The Volume of Scared Law is instructive in this regard. At my installation on Decemlenges, unfortunately, were launched well before my election, by a brother of high rank of Masonry as ber 13, 2008, I could not have anticipated the difficulties, challenges and hostilities in the Craft, one who was intent, apparently, on shaping dictated by presented by the few in pursuit of their own personal my administration in accordance with his agenda. In the furtherance of his objective, ancient customs agenda. Having ignored them throughout the year, I now feel compelled to speak up. It he then orchestrated a campaign to cast doubt about me, and usages, the must be remembered that the silence of the majority fuels personally, and about my pro gram for 2009. constitutions the irregular passions of the few. As Martin Luther King, This maligning effort abated somewhat following the Annual Communication, but it was renewed in earnest after my installation as Grand Master. of Masonry, the Code of Jr., observed, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” In the same vein, in previous Efforts were then initiated to mobilize a tiny minority whose the District of communications, I have made reference to the statement purpose was to challenge and by Pastor Martin Niemoller in undermine my authority, not only with respect to the hanColumbia and Germany: First they came the communists, and I for did dling of the issues concerning Ahiram Lodge, No. 1000, but the ritual. not not speak out—because a communist; then I was they also with respect to every inicame for the socialists, and tiative I had planned for the I did not speak out—because Grand Lodge in 2009. I was not a socialist; then In this group of dissenters were five Worshipful Masters, a few Past Masters, and a handful of Master Masons. Indeed, one of the young Master Masons involved read a “must do” list to me, in an accusatory tone, at one of the Town Hall meetings that I had scheduled in February. The list had previously been recited to me by a Mason of high rank during they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist; then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew; then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me. The majority must not remain silent in the face of irregularities. the months leading to my election. This young Mason,

There is a time to remind the brethren of a few of son, First Masonic Benefit, Service to Others, Lodge the activities undertaken during the year. The theme Trustees, Mentorship and The Petition. of the Grand Lodge administration for the year was “Restoration.” I had hoped to restore that which had been lost. The object was to promote the practice of Masonry as dictated by ancient customs and usages, the constitutions of Masonry, the Code of the District of Columbia and the ritual. Such an approach necessarily emphasized the building of individual characters in contrast to engaging in public adventures that often create opportunities for conduct that is unbecoming of Masons. Additionally during the year, Grand Lodge approval was secured and arrangements were made to provide comprehensive insurance coverage for all of our constituent lodges, with the premium to be paid by the Grand Lodge. Also, to facilitate lodge communications, a “Call ‘Em All” telephone program was established to allow lodges to more effectively communicate with their members about lodge programs, activities, and events. Throughout the year we focused our attention on our brethren, our lodges, our local jurisdiction and our local communities. I am pleased that among the new initiatives was my decision to send personalized letters about Masonry to all Entered Apprentices following their initiation and to all new Master Masons after their raising. I was pleased to receive responses from many of these brethren. We also introduced the granting of Master Mason certificates to all brethren, presented in open lodge with appropriate lecture. I am pleased that I was able to visit each of our To promote the work and development of our lodges, an award system was established in 2009. In this program an Award for Ritual Excellence is authorized for any brother who, having been a Mason for less than five years, demonstrates excellence in the delivery of the lecture or performance of a major portion of the ritual for the any or all of the degrees. The Cornerstone Award is now authorized for Past Masters who demonstrate extraordinary contributions in energizing, strengthening, or resuscitating lodge growth. The Blazing Star Award is a new award which is intended for presentation As Ralph Waldo Emerson observed, “to map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage.” But it is the courage constituent lodges more than once, starting with not of one person, to a lodge for creative and inspiring Masonic Town Hall-style meetings during the first 17 but of all. education programs. The Builder’s Award is now weeks for the year. Direct authorized for exceptional assistance to the lodges and innovative efforts to included: (i) training attract candidates and workshops organized for elected and appointed lodge engage, educate and mentor brethren of the lodge, officers in January, February and June; (ii) comprewith special attention being given to new Entered hensive rank-specific seminars organized in June Apprentices, Fellowcrafts, recently raised Master for Entered Apprentices, Fellowcrafts and Master Masons and newly affiliated members. Finally, the Masons; (iii) arrangements to encourage lodges to Charitable Activities Award is designed for presentaprovide Masonic education at each meeting; (iv) tion to a lodge that undertakes outstanding hands-on establishment of a library of CDs/DVDs on Masonic charitable work within the jurisdictional community. education at the Grand Lodge office to lend materials to lodges; (v) preparation and issuance of ten instructional booklets/pamphlets for the edification of the brethren, titled as follows: Meaning of Masonic Initiation, Let’s Talk about Freemasonry, Masonry is about Friendships, Brotherly Love, First Masonic LesThe need to foster awareness of the Craft within Washington DC attracted considerable attention during the year. In addition to encouraging the brethren not to be reticent about sharing unrestricted information concerning Freemasonry, great efforts were made to establish relationships with local universities.

A Masonic Emergency Fund was established at the University of the District of Columbia to assist needy qualified students. The recipients of awards under the Fund are to be known as “Masonic Scholars.” In addition, diligent efforts were made to establish lodges for men who have associations with either The George Washington University or American University. In the end, The Colonial Lodge No. 1821, with association with The George Washington University, was consecrated on November 11, 2009. Also consecrated on that date was Compass Lodge No. 1811, which is the second lodge in the jurisdiction to use the Spanish language in its work. I was also pleased to grant dispensation to a group of brethren, having ties with the Philippines, to assemble and work within our jurisdiction as Maynilad Lodge, UD. We were able, for the first time, to join other Grand Lodges in the U.S. and abroad in celebrating St. John’s Day Feasts in December and in June, events honored among Masons worldwide for almost three hundred years. The celebration in December included the Grand Master’s Address to the Craft, outlining the program for 2009 Masonic Year. The June celebration was dedicated as a salute to the Princes of the Craft. I was also pleased to honor the founders of our Grand Lodge at a festive Founder’s Day Celebration on February 20, 2009. We were also able to conceive and establish a “Wall of Honor” in recognition of Past Grand Lodge Officers.

Among the many special events of the year, one stands out. It is the Nation’s Capital Masonic Day of Prayer sponsored, on Saturday, October 3, 2009, by the Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M., of the District of Columbia and the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F. & A.M., of the District of Columbia. The service was conducted at the Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church, 3401 Nebraska Avenue, N.W. At that time the brethren of the two jurisdictions were addressed by MWB and Rev Terry Tilton, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

To allow the brethren to diversify their acquaintances within our city-state, I arranged for the venerable Washington Club to grant dining privileges during 2009 to all dues card-carrying Master Masons. To expand Masonry’s outreach to the communities adjacent to our lodges, this year, members of our lodges participated in July 4th celebrations in Palisades, on Capitol Hill, in Takoma Park, as well as the National Independence Day Parade on Constitution Avenue.

It is also gratifying that so many brethren participated, under the auspices of the Grand Lodge Charity Committee, in hands-on service at local soup kitchens and food banks for the benefit of the less fortunate in our community. In addition, our lodges participated in the “Change for Community” initiative by which brethren make donations at the conclusion of lodge meetings for the benefit of local charities. Our lodges also continued to make significant advances in making the CHIP facility available to the parents and children of Washington, D.C. Our youth represent our future and I am pleased that we welcomed the Rainbow Girls into the District of Columbia this year and I rejoice in the certainty that the other youth groups, Nation’s Capital DeMolay and Job’s Daughters, continue to flourish within our jurisdiction.

There is a time to review the work done during the year. The program of activities was directed to address issues, as I saw them, in the constituent lodges of the jurisdiction, in the Grand Lodge, and in the city within which we are authorized to work. It was a complex program in which I sought to energize activity at all levels in this jurisdiction. Now, months after launching this monumental effort, I realize that my vision may have been overly influenced by ambition. As Ralph Waldo Emerson observed, “to map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage.” But it is the courage not of one person, but of all.

During this Masonic year I was guided by the principles of our rituals and ceremonies, ancient charges, ancient landmarks, Masonic law and jurisprudence, and the customs and usages of the Craft. My actions and decisions were defined by what I believe to be the true purposes of Masonry. Now, as I arrive at the end of my year in office, I am confident that I have not spent my strength for naught, and I am certain that my labors as Grand Master have not been in vain.

Finally, there is time for leave-taking and for a farewell. I leave the office of Grand Master with a grateful heart. I thank you for the many opportunities you have given me for more than ten years to serve the Craft beyond the lodges of which I am a member. I trust that you will find elements of my service to be worthy. I wish I could have done more, especially in promoting the need for fundraising for the benefit of our lodges and the Grand Lodge. The manufacture and sale of Masonic apparel was one initiative in that effort.

I pray that we will always be steadfast and unswerving in our devotion to the time-honored principles, precepts and values that are taught in our noble institution, always eschewing the convenient and the