illinois freemasonry - Grand Lodge of Illinois

GRAND MASTER’S MESSAGE
A look back... and a look ahead
The Constitution and By-laws
of the Grand Lodge of
Illinois invest the Office of
initiatives, the broad support of
Blue Lodges and joint participation
by our appendant bodies, this
Grand Master with tremendous
turnaround now appears to be
power and responsibility. While
underway. We have provided
respecting the need for discretion
lodges with the tools they need to
and good judgment in exercising
survive and prosper. Certainly the
the sole authority of this office, I
Invitation to Petition program,
set a goal during my first year of
while not a complete solution, is
managing the affairs of the Grand
one such method for addressing
Lodge using a team approach. The
the chronic shortage of candidates
benefit of my experience in corpo-
in many regions of the state. At the
rate management has made me
same time, we have seen member-
appreciate the fact that several talented
people working together on a
problem can often produce results
M.W. Bro. David W. Miller
Grand Master of Illinois
ship retention teams in many
lodges significantly reduce the
dimits and suspensions of brethren
superior to those of an individual
who have already joined our ranks.
holding counsel only with himself. While the One remaining challenge is the category of
Grand Master must still make the final decision, “unfinished work.” We can only speculate as to
the more information and advice he can obtain in why some candidates change their mind after
advance, the better.
petitioning for degrees. Even though Masonry
Nearly all the decisions made during the past may not be what some expect and there will
year were the result of this process. The business always be those who choose not to advance, much
of the Grand Lodge is conducted by a team of six of the responsibility for these “lost” candidates
elected officers: the Grand Master, Deputy Grand lies with us. It appears that poor communication
Master, Senior Grand Warden, Junior Grand and the lack of good mentorship are the chief
Warden, Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary. causes. The Intender Program is an effective tech-
We meet monthly in the Grand Secretary’s office nique for addressing this issue. Timeliness of
in Springfield. The Grand Master prepares the advancement is another factor. Data suggest that
agenda, taking into account suggestions from all if more than 60 days elapse between a candidate’s
involved, plus additional items of importance. First and Second degrees, he is all too often lost
These meetings yielded such decisions as the to the fraternity. This is why every lodge should
implementation of the pilot phase of the Invitation make it their practice to raise candidates within 90
to Petition program, modification of the tradition- days of initiation. If we can achieve that goal, a
al advancing line, recommendations for Grand higher percentage of our candidates will likely go
Lodge officer and committee appointments, and on to become active, dues-paying members.
relocation of the Learning Center at the Illinois Every Grand Master aspires to leave office with
Masonic Children’s Home in LaGrange, to name the fraternity in better condition than when he was
just a few. I believe that this consensus-oriented first elected. Beginning this, my second year, with
management style is perhaps the single most dis- ongoing counsel from the Grand Lodge senior
tinctive change from that of my predecessors. officers and support of our Blue Lodge members,
I have long envisioned that the downward trend I am confident that we have laid a foundation for
in membership which we have experienced for improved management, increased membership
five decades could begin to be reversed during my and renewed fellowship opportunities in the years
term in office. Thanks to a series of membership to come.
ILLINOIS FREEMASONRY
FALL/WINTER 2004