Grand Master’s Message

The impact we have on society as Freemasons depends on how well we Our ritual is spread our noble principles. But “brotherly love” is about much more than caring for meaningless if we each other. It is also about striving for unity of purpose, and for the clarity that cannot put it to work. permits us to do good work. Our ritual provides us that clarity and assures us And our Craft has not only survived but that such unity of purpose and harmony prospered. Why? “is the strength and support of all well- I was with a group of Masons last week regulated institutions, more especially this (properly distanced) to discuss some of of ours.” But our ritual is meaningless if these serious issues. One of the brethren we cannot put it to work, and there is no remarked on the composition of the lack of opportunities in front of us. 15 or so men assembled: young, old, Further, “Unity of purpose” does not conservative, progressive, black, white, mean that we all think alike. That would Hispanic, and all different religions. And be stupefyingly boring. But it does mean this was just a small sampling of our Grand that we are united in the belief that each Jurisdiction. How many organizations brother has the right to hold and offer his can quickly assemble such a diverse group Michael D. Nicholas, Sr., Grand Master own opinions. Each brother has a voice. We demonstrate our Masonic principles that is capable of a serious and respectful exchange of opinions? Not too many. and unity of purpose when we listen to The good news is that Freemasons have the Dear Brethren, Families, and Friends, opinions that differ from our own, and yet tools, the guidance, the history, and the P lease enjoy this latest edition of our Grand Lodge magazine! We have some talented writers who have contributed great articles on everything from history to haberdashery. There is something for we still respond with love and respect. We all know that our nation is wracked with rancor and division, compounded by the COVID pandemic and the impending national election. Social justice issues and mutual love and respect to address these issues. We will survive all of this because we believe in values that transcend today’s problems. Our challenge is to spread these values to our community. everyone! long-buried hurts are now at our doorstep. And even when society seems to “break”, I would like to stress one overriding theme for this issue. This year we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of Masonic recognition between the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington DC and our own. Prior to the pandemic interruptions, we had several things We need to deal with this in a Masonic way. I ask you once again to please be careful of your posts and responses on social media. But here is the good news. This is not our first rodeo as Freemasons. Our Craft we persevere. There were Freemasons on both sides of our Revolutionary War, our Civil War, and on all sides in the World Wars of the 20th Century. And there are many stories of how Masons reached across to Brothers on the other “side” when the opportunity presented itself to be more of a human being and less of a combatant. We will survive all of this because we believe in values that transcend today’s problems. planned to recognize this important has survived everything from the French Gettysburg has the “Friend to Friend” milestone. So instead of those events, Revolution to the Whiskey Rebellion, the monument, placed by the Brethren of we are using this issue of The Voice to Jacobite rising in Scotland to the European the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, to highlight the anniversary. Please let it serve Revolutions of 1848, the Morgan Affair commemorate that moment on the as a reminder of that speculative tool we through the American Civil War to the Gettysburg battlefield when Union Army use to spread brotherly love and affection War on Terrorism, and countless other Captain Henry H. Bingham assisted the —the trowel. wars and strife throughout the world. mortally wounded Confederate Brigadier

The Grand Master, RWB Daniel Huertas and RWB Chetin Durak stand in front of the Friend to Friend Memorial in Pennsylvania

General Lewis Addison Armistead. Both were Freemasons.

And I encourage you to read about how President and Brother William McKinley came to our Craft. Long before he became President (and subsequently assassinated), he was a Union Army officer, but raised by Confederate brethren in Winchester, Virginia. And after the strife ceases, Masons have an important role to play in healing and rebuilding. We can recognize the good in each other regardless of our former politics or what uniform we wore—and remain true to our principles. It seems that we need that quality right now more than any other.

We will persevere and grow. Treat this pandemic as a learning experience and nothing more than a speedbump in your progress in Freemasonry. Read more. Love more. Let nothing drive a wedge between us as Brothers. We can discuss, disagree, and exchange opinions. But stay focused on our three principle tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.

Please accept my love for you and your families, and I wish you good health and calm minds until we can properly greet each other again.