Grand Master's Message

The Grand Master’s Message: The Masonic Family

“The Masonic Family” is a phrase used to include all the organizations related to Freemasonry. The Appendant & Concordant bodies seem to have been created to allow women and youth to participate in Masonic activities and to create additional groups that draw their membership from the fraternity. We have many Masonic-related organizations active in Oregon.

The benefits of the Masonic Family are obvious. These organizations allow more persons to participate in the Masonic lifestyle, engaging in self-improvement, charitable projects, and social activities. New friendships are made and joint activities and events are undertaken. The most well-known project being the Masonic & Eastern Star Home in Forest Grove. It is important to maintain positive relationships among the members of the Masonic Family, which will benefit all of us.

Communication and coordination between the Lodges and the other Masonic Family groups are very important. Because each group has different leadership and customs, misunderstandings can arise. Such misunderstandings can be amplified when a Lodge building is used by multiple groups. In the past, shared Trestleboard newsletters helped with this communication. Unfortunately, many of these newsletters have been replaced with electronic information distribution, which is limited to each organization separately.

Earlier this Masonic year, I held an “Appendant & Concordant Bodies Summit” at Grand Lodge Headquarters. I met with many Masonic Family leaders to discuss issues facing our organizations. One of the first steps we took was to improve our ability to contact each other.

I ask you to think about how your Lodge can improve communication with other Masonic Family organizations. Consider ways to share information among all members of the Masonic Family in your area. Plan joint activities and have some fun together! I have greatly enjoyed my interactions with the Masonic Family this year, and you can too.

Fraternally, M.W.B. Mark L. Posler, Grand Master, The Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. of Oregon