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Strategic Working Party
The Strategic Working Party, set up by the
Pro Grand Master to review the Royal
Arch, has worked hard on the proposed
revisions, and Grand Lodge has already
taken an historic step by adding a paragraph
to the ‘1813 Declaration’.
This allows us to recognise, formally,
that theRoyal Arch is a separate Order of
Masonry, and will strengthen the status
of Supreme Grand Chapter without
affecting the relationship of the Royal
Arch to the Craft.
I know that some of you have expressed
concern that this change may tend to
weaken those historic ties, but I want
very strongly to endorse the phrase used
by the Pro Grand Master in his speech last
September, when he emphasised that the
Royal Arch is to remain ‘indissolubly linked
to the Craft’.
There is no compromise here, brethren:
that bond is to remain as strong and as
close as ever, and the Royal Arch should
be regarded by all as the important final step
in pure Antient Freemasonry.
I shall have more to say about the future
of the Royal Arch at the Annual Investiture
of Supreme Grand Chapter. But in the
meantime I wish to thank all the members
of the Strategic Working Party for their
hard work.
Charities
Support of our great Masonic charities has
always been one of the landmarks of
Freemasonry. It is very important, I believe,
that we also reach out to the public and
ensure that our charitable giving also extends
as well to non-Masonic causes, which indeed
is a necessary part of our duty to society.
However, we must make sure that our
Masonic charities have the funds they need
to fulfil their primary purpose of looking
after our beneficiaries, and that is why I
welcome today’s initiative to increase the
contribution which we all pay to the
Grand Charity.
Retrospective
I have been reflecting on the changes in
Masonry since you honoured me .. years
ago by electing me as your Grand Master.
Membership during this period has declined
from its post-war boom back to the levels
seen in the inter-war years.
At the same time, the almost obsessive
secrecy of the 30 years from the ....s
onwards has been followed by a policy of
increasing openness which has encouraged
us to be more outward looking.
The consequence of this has been a
greater desire to defend ourselves against
unwarranted external attack, and a
willingness to correct malicious falsehoods
about the Craft spread by those who do not
wish to hear the truth.
The Craft has shown in recent years that
it is prepared to adapt itself to the changing
circumstances of modern life to a greater
degree than ever before in its history. Only
thus, as the Royal Arch ritual tells us, can it
‘survive the wreck of mighty empires and
resist the destroying hand of time’, and I
welcome the flexibility which enables us to
react so positively at a time of unparalleled
changes in society at large.
Thanks
As usual, I would like to express our thanks
once again to all those who make our
meetings run so smoothly, the Grand
Director of Ceremonies and his team, who
have conducted today’s proceedings with
their customary calm competence, and the
Grand Secretary and his staff, who ensure
that our organisation is administered and
serviced so efficiently.
Finally, brethren, I would like to thank
all of you who have attended in such large
numbers today.
The High Rulers
(from left to right):
The Marquess of
Northampton
(MW Pro Grand
Master); HRH The
Duke of Kent (MW
The Grand Master);
RW Bro Peter
Lowndes (Deputy
Grand Master) and
RW Bro David
Williamson (Assistant
Grand Master).
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