Vol. LXXV No. 1 - Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon

mentioned.
Our Deputy Grand Master,
them if necessary at a Grand RW Bro. G. Murray Webster,
Lodge communication.
will be undertaking several
I must emphasise that the initiatives this year; the first
review is not intended to
being to consider possible
change the overall principles,
applications of various
practices, purpose or intent
electronic technologies and
defined or reflected in the
software along with social
content of the current Book of
media such as Twitter
Constitutions and Regulations
but to make the document
more easily read, understood
and utilized by all brethren.
The mandate defined above
may change and evolve as the
committee’s work progresses
and it is expected that this
undertaking, with the blessing
of my successors, will extend
over several years. The
composition of the committee
as formed has been reported
on in the Advance Proceedings.
In May 2012 we will hold a
workshop with the Grand
Lodge Committees of
Education, Leadership,
Research, Ashlar College and
other brethren with an interest
in defining a long term plan for
masonic education and
development. This is not
intended to interfere with any
initiatives which may currently
be underway such as district
and regional Grand Masonic
Days and masonic leadership
seminars, but rather to leverage
these opportunities and
encourage more similar events
on a regular and consistent
basis. Definition and provision
of required standardized
resources will also be
considered.
On a related note, our
Senior Grand Warden, RW Bro.
Donald E. Stutt has a particular
passion which he will pursue
this year to ensure diligent
follow up on the actions arising
from and responding to priorities
identified in the Master
Mason’s Survey conducted in
MW Bro. Brian Tuckey’s year. As
a result we have agreed he will
be the primary steward responsible
for moving forward initiatives
arising from the long term
planning workshop I previously
® Grand Master’s message
taught to apply figuratively to the strong recommendations
editor@freemasonry.bcy.ca
from page one
our morals, our development emerging from the Master
and our deportment. Hiram Mason’s Survey, we asked the
Abiff was a builder, and we are Grand Lodge Committee on
urged to follow his example Education to develop a job
and master the lessons of description for the District
Freemasonry building ourselves, Education Officers which clearly
our lodges and our community. defines the qualifications and
So what does a builder do? expectations for the rôle. On
and Specifically, a builder:
Thursday, prior to this past
other similar communication • Undertakes personal
Grand Lodge Annual
fora.
learning and development; Communication, we held the
He will also begin an
• Demonstrates high moral first development workshop for
exploration for materials and and ethical values;
our District Education Officers
opportunities to provide and • Plans for his future and the to provide them with education
encourage musical harmony in future of his lodge;
and training in presentation
lodges who do not currently • Coaches, mentors, educates, skills along with an introduction
have that benefit, or possess trains and develops others; to available resources to assist
the necessary resources.
• Promotes peace, harmony them in successfully fulfilling
I will now address the Grand and Brotherly love.
their mandate. Specifically, to
Master’s other, arguably more On this point I would like to themselves deliver and or to
important, mandate: the Craft, offer an aside:
assist lodge Directors of
and a consideration of my
One of the most common Masonic Education to develop
theme for the coming year. concerns encountered by the and provide quality masonic
I have often felt that we don’t officers of your Grand Lodge is education for the brethren.
spend enough time considering complaints regarding instances LODGE
the many lessons to be learned of conflict and disharmony
As stated by VW Bro. Alden
from our ritual. Every lecture arising between brethren in Sarmiento, the Grand Lecturer
and address is ripe with signifi- some of our lodges. I would of the Grand Lodge of
cant commentary and direct or like to draw attention to the Washington in his address at
implied standards of perfor- fact that we are each informed our Annual Communication, I
mance for our moral and from the very first degree we believe we must strive to be,
ethical conduct and personal take in Freemasonry that this is “An organization that members
development and deportment. unacceptable and that such want, not an organization that
We have only to give them due conduct is clearly unmasonic. wants members.” The most
consideration and apply them We each have an obligation to important aspect of delivering
in our lives to gain the benefits resolve these issues if we are on that objective is captured in
available to us as members of individually involved or to one word, quality; quality in our
the Craft.
ensure as a lodge that these membership, our degree work,
My theme evolved for me conflicts are not allowed to our meetings and our leader-
from just such pondering and is persist. The over-riding principle ship.
based on the lessons to be must be to solve the problem To this end we will follow
learned from Hiram Abiff. In while building and maintaining through on the commitment
the final charge in the Master relationships for the betterment defined in our Five Pillar Plan
Mason degree we are told to, of all involved.
and hold a Masonic Leadership
“...imitate the example of that Returning to the attributes and Ladies’ Conference in
celebrated artist whom you of a builder I note that he: Penticton on 13 to15 April
have this evening represented.” • Travels and visits;
2012 to assist lodges in
So what does this really mean? • Cares for those in need and; building the strong, competent
At first blush the story is a • Contributes to his
leadership they require to
lesson in fidelity to one’s word community.
deliver on the rest of the
and to the brevity of life. But, Copying this example then, equation. I urge all lodges to
are there other lessons that my theme is, Be a Builder - a encourage their members to be
might be learned on further builder of Self, Lodge and present at this event and give
consideration?
Community.
particular consideration to
According to the legend, SELF
supporting the participation of
Hiram Abiff was a Master
With respect to ourselves, I their new and developing lodge
Mason and a master of his urge that we encourage
leaders by perhaps
craft; honoured and respected personal contemplation along underwriting a portion of their
as a leader and a teacher of the with education, development costs to attend. You will note a
workmen. A master of the and mentorship in our lodges. subtle re-focusing of this
working tools which we are To that end, following one of conference to be inclusive of
2 MASONIC BULLETIN of the GRAND LODGE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA AND YUKON September 2011