It’s easy to be nice

There were over 150 people in attendance, and it was an absolutely awesome day of Freemasonry, one that I personally will cherish and never forget.

As a youngster, my parents taught me many habits which still persisted as I got older but which now seem to be part of today’s modern ‘it’s old fashioned, throw it away’ system.

I’m referring to words and actions which do not occur as frequently today and which still rankle by their absence.

Please promote what Freemasonry does, and is, to the wider community at every opportunity. The sheer number of brethren now joining our ranks is proof that this world definitely needs us, and it needs Freemasonry.

You remember them – grace, manners, civility, courtesy.

For example, grace is something you would think of as belonging to an older era, when people were automatically polite, when you wrote letters by hand, ladies and gentlemen were easily recognised, being kind and a willingness to help others.

I acknowledge all those brethren that have taken it upon themselves to transform their lodge buildings, whether it be installing new doors, replacing worn out flooring, or simply touching up the landscape around the buildings. You are making a difference.

Manners of course were automatic with respect given to elders, not interrupting when someone else was talking, thanking people for gifts or assistance, giving up your seat in the tram or bus and even holding the door open.

Over the past three months your Grand Lodge Ceremonial team has again been very active, and they have also fortunately been in a position to offer support to countless installation, degree, charitable and District events.

These actions could also be consistent with the words ‘courtesy’ and ‘civility’ which was part of the era when children were taught what was considered the correct thing to do.

People say to me that the world has

We travelled to Ballina where we presented $90,000 in cheques from the Grand Master’s Disaster Relief Fund to various organisations that have provided physical assistance, nourishment, and mental health support directly to the flood victims in the Lismore and surrounding areas. Brethren, it really hits home when people openly cry when that assistance is delivered, and I was almost at a loss for words when it happened on this occasion.

We also represented this jurisdiction at the Grand Installation of New Zealand, and it was great to have our local brethren and their wives come along in support; I thank you all.

On the first weekend in November, we again took part in Sydney Open. We had over 880 members of the community visit, enjoy and appreciate the Sydney Masonic Centre, our officially consecrated memorial building.

On 11 November many brethren, family and members of the community, again gathered here at the Sydney Masonic Centre for our annual Remembrance Day ceremony. That ceremony was very well attended, and I thank MW Bro Greg Levenston, RW Bro Colonel Stewart Grant, RW Bro Sam Young, VW Bro Lt Col Michael Price OAM, RW Bro Chris Craven and everyone else who took part in what was a very solemn and moving ceremony.

Our team finished the year with a district meeting at Lodge Ku­Ring ­Gai, an interesting and fun ‘mock trial’ at Bundaleah Daylight, a passing at Lodge Jerusalem and the opening of Lodge Wahroonga’s new charity foundation.

It’s been a busy time, no doubt, and I also acknowledge the amazing contribution made by our various Boards and Committees, and, of course, our Grand Secretariat. They have all worked incredibly hard through some pretty tough times, and without them we simply could not function.

I am also pleased to announce that I have appointed W Bro Peter Russell Moore to the casual vacancy of director of the College of Masonic Studies.

Brethren, at Tweed Heads on 4 February 2023 we will begin the new year with a very special event called ‘Hands across the border’.

This event will see a gathering of brethren and companions from both here and interstate. Supporting the event will be the Grand Masters of both NSW & ACT and the United Grand Lodge of Queensland. We will attend the event along with the Most Excellent First Grand Principal and Grand Master of the United Supreme Grand Chapter of NSW and ACT, the Most Excellent First Grand Principal of Queensland Royal Arch Chapter and the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Queensland.

At this event we will witness a Mark Man ceremony and attend a New Year celebration that will be used to promote Freemasonry to the wider community on the NSW North Coast and to give back to areas where the floods have done irreparable damage. Of course, you are all invited to attend what promises to be a very special and memorable event. Bookings will be done electronically and will be out before Christmas closure.

Following this event, and as we move further into an exciting new year, your Ceremonial Team will then travel to Canberra for Lodge Gowrie’s Installation and then head off to Tasmania to again represent our jurisdiction at their Grand Installation. Following this it’s back to Petersham for the Installation of The Cedars Lodge and then, on 8 March, we have our first Grand Communication for the New Year.

It is my hope that 2023 will see a reprieve from these floods and the other disasters that have plagued us for the past few years; they have really taken their toll and I give my sincerest thanks to all those who have given so generously to the Grand Master’s Disaster Relief Appeal. The Appeal will soon close and in view of the most recent events out at Forbes and surrounding areas, we’ll be working hard providing relief and support well into the New Year. Brethren, you have all been incredibly generous, the funds are there, and with the wonderful assistance that we receive from Masonicare, (our Grand Charity) we will be sending those funds to where they are needed most.

Brethren, it is always sad when the Grand Master is called upon to acknowledge the passing of a brother to the Grand Lodge above, and it is important to acknowledge special service given by such brethren.

[The Grand Master then named three masons who had passed to the Grand Lodge Above. They were:

R RW Bro Lance Henry Handley PDGM

R RW Bro Brother Ralph Ewart Stone PAGM

R MW Bro Anthony Raymond (Tony) Lauer PGM.

The masonic achievements of RW Bro Lance Handley can be found on the Grand Lodge website.

An obituary for MW Bro Tony Lauer is found on page 12 of this magazine].

Brethren, there is no doubt that the service gifted by any Grand Master is indeed extra­ordinary, and it is important that we particularly recognise such service. Brethren: I ask you to please rise, face the west, for a moment’s silence in honour of our revered Grand Master.

RW Bros Ralph Stone, Lance Handley and MW Bro Tony Lauer ‘lived respected, and they died regretted’. They will all be sorely missed.

Brethren, I have no doubt that next year will see us back better than ever and it is your efforts that have made that possible. You have shown the true meaning of Humility, Kindness and Generosity.

I congratulate you all, I thank you all and I look forward to seeing you fit and well next year, Narelle and I wish you and your family a safe and enjoyable rest as we recharge our batteries and spend some special time with our loving families.

Thank you.

December Communication

Past Grand Masters, Brethren, we are well into a new masonic year, a year that started off just as energetically as 2022 finished. Already we have seen many installations and other events. I recently accompanied the Grand Ceremonial Team and numerous NSW & ACT brethren and their partners to Hobart where we were pleased to witness my good friend MW Bro Luke Wood installed as Grand Master.

Later this month the AGM RW Bro Paul Schultz will lead another large delegation to Melbourne to support RW Bro Anthony Bucca as he is installed as Grand Master of Victoria.

Recently, the Grand Ceremonial Team and I attended installations at Lodge Gowrie of Canberra, and The Cedars Lodge. At the same time the DGM RW Bro Khris Albano led a delegation to Fairfield’s installation, and there were almost 300 masons in attendance at these events.

At the Hands Across the Border event that was held on the NSW/QLD border on 4 February the number of brethren and ladies in attendance was outstanding.

Hands Across the Border had been largely forgotten over the past eleven years and I congratulate Most Excellent Companion Robert Drake and his team for breathing life back into what I think is a very important and significant event. To my knowledge this was the first time that the Craft Grand Masters and brethren of NSW & ACT and Queensland have been involved, and, while this was a Royal Arch undertaking, we were made most welcome on the weekend.

We witnessed several masonic events culminating in 10 candidates experiencing an impressive Mark Man ceremony. We also attended a New Year celebration, and I thank everyone present for their friendship and hospitality. It is events like these that bring us together, and that can only be good for Freemasonry.

The Board of Management, the Masonicare Board and our various committees hit the ground running and I offer them my continued support, as they work to create a better future for us all.