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“Even in the short time I have been in office I have
experienced the warmth of welcome received overseas, when
the GDC and I joined the MW The Grand Master in Ghana
for a brief Masonic meeting whilst he was representing The
Queen at the 50th anniversary celebrations of Ghana’s
independence.”
The Grand Secretary will continue to lead the
Communications team at Grand Lodge and would like to see
a more pro-active policy.
“Openness and a steady flow of good, factual information
about Freemasonry are key to restoring Freemasonry to its
proper place in society, and the Craft at all levels has a vital
part to play in the process. The Grand Lodge team and the
network of Provincial Information Officers have made
significant changes to public attitudes over the last few years
and we need to build on their successes.
“We need to find ways of giving individual brethren the
tools and the confidence to talk about Freemasonry with their
families, friends and colleagues and, above all, with potential
good candidates.
“I have no doubt that negative public attitudes have had an
effect on potential candidates and that in some professions
joining Freemasonry has not been seen as a smart career
move. These are attitudes we must change if we are to
continue to attract professional men.
“Talking about Freemasonry is not always easy, as I have
found from recent experience! Before becoming Grand
Secretary, at social events, when the conversation inevitably
turned to what people did, I would talk about my various
business and personal interests.
“Now, as Grand Secretary, I am having to learn how to talk
succinctly and clearly about Freemasonry! Talking about
something which we all clearly enjoy is surely one of the best
ways of dispelling some of the myths that have grown up
around the Craft. Enjoyment is one of the keys to the future
success of Freemasonry.
“We must be efficient and professional in how we organise
our Masonic affairs at all levels, but if we do not make it an
enjoyable experience there seems little point in doing it. I
think that whoever put together the Address to the Brethren
got it so right when they exhorted us ‘to unite in the Grand
Design of being happy and communicating happiness’”.
John Hamill is Director of Communications at Grand Lodge
Grand Secretary Nigel Brown –
openness and factual information
about Freemasonry is essential to
the Craft’s future
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Copyright 2002-2007
MQ Magazine
Web site created by Mark Griffin
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