Grand Master’s Address to Communications – August 2011

Most Wor. Bro. C. J. (John) Wallace  

Brethren, 

Thank you for your attendance, and your support of this session of Grand Lodge Communications.

It is now six months on from the Grand Installation and probably time to review what has occurred during that period.

At the Grand Installation I proposed a couple of modest goals for the Freemasons of Tasmania to work towards; modest but achievable.  They were (1). Membership Retention (2). Masonic Education and (3). Masonic Centre Upgrades.

M.W. Bro Yaxley has submitted a report, advising that the second stage of the Masonic Education programme went ahead as planned, with mixed results.  Brethren, if you want more in the form of Masonic Education, please remember this is a two-way street, and suggestions and requests are welcome.  At present M.W. Bro. Yaxley is using material which was formulated in Victoria for their membership, but I’m sure we can modify what we are doing to cater for Tasmanian needs if it is deemed necessary.

The upgrade of our Masonic Centres is proceeding, with some work completed; some work underway, and plans and requests for other work before the Board of General Purposes for their consideration.  I must remind the respective Lodges that requests for funds must be accompanied by acceptable business plans and paperwork.  The Board of General Purposes is handling money which belongs to all Tasmanian Freemasons and it remains paramount that the activities of its members remains transparent.

Membership retention is not a new subject and of course the most difficult.  The assertion by some Masonic Speakers that there appears to be a turn-around in the loss of numbers certainly doesn’t hold well for all of our Lodges.  I don’t have figures for individual Lodges but state-wide, the twenty-one (21) Initiates recorded between the 1^st January and the 24^th August this year is overwhelmed by three (3) Exclusions, forty-two (42) Resignations, and thirty-one (31) Deaths.

I don’t wish to be alarmist or to cause panic, but it is obvious that this situation is untenable and must be reversed if we are to survive.  Our current membership stands at 1320 members, with a large number in the 70+ years age-bracket.  However, in our haste to attract more members, we must remember our need to be selective in whom we recommend for membership.  Membership for the sake of numbers should be our last, if a consideration at all, a reason for bringing a name forward.  We, as an organisation, cannot afford the publicity which accompanies a poor choice and this is further highlighted as our numbers deteriorate.

I mentioned in the magazine the possibility of further Lodge consolidations and I stress the necessity of each and every Lodge to plan towards a future.  Failure to plan well, could easily cause further losses and I again quote, “A short term gain may cause long term pain”.  Brethren, operational costs are ever-increasing, and failure to plan towards this may well be the reason a Lodge has to return its Charter.

Mentioned in the Board of General Purposes report, was the proposed “Open Days” for selected Masonic Lodge Centres and I refer to the Grand Lodge Exchange Notice dated 27^th July, in which Expressions of Interest were sought for Brethren who may be willing to be involved in showcasing selected centres throughout the State on a mutually acceptable day.  It was originally thought that Tasmania Day would be an appropriate date, but this may cause problems in the north of the state, with a public holiday scheduled for that weekend.  Brethren, I see this as a worth-while project and I seek members who would be willing to undertake some part in the planning and operations of the event to indicate their interest to the Grand Secretary.

I endorse the remarks of the President of The Board of General Purposes, regarding our new Grand Secretary.  V.W. Bro. Macrow has settled into his role with professionalism and has made my task as Grand Master so much easier than what it could have been without his guidance.

Brethren, despite some of the negatives I have detailed, I believe we are still travelling okay; however, attention to those areas of concern is necessary.

At this point I now ask you to rise with the sign of fidelity while I read the names of those of our brethren who have passed to the Grand Lodge above since our last meeting:-

V.W. Brothers

J Vaessen                            St Andrew Lewis Lodge

S J Taylor                             Lodge Heather

W. Brothers

M J Walley                            Dorset Lodge

S S Palnitkar                        Lodge Esk

G Edwards                           Launceston-Lawrie Abra Memorial Lodge

H W Steele                            Kingston Lodge

G R Grave                             Nugara Lodge

H Hamer                                Burnie Masonic Lodge

C J Skirving                         Lodge Esk

D J Riley                               Kingston Lodge

E J Kean                               Lodge Pembroke

C Webb                                 Derwent Valley Lodge

J L Roberts                          Devonport Masonic Lodge

R M Collins                           Launceston-Lawrie Abra Memorial Lodge

L R Atkins                             Meander Lodge

Brothers

A C Anderson                      Launceston Daytime Lodge

E G Carter                             Lodge Heather

K D Heyward                       Pacific Lodge

A C Padgett                          Lodge of Hope

D T Bonner                          Lord Carrington Lodge

W G Stellmaker                   Nugara Lodge

J Copeman                          Nugara Lodge

D G Finegan                        Tas Union Lodge

S C Knight                           Lodge Bowen

T H Barker                           Launceston Daytime Lodge

D B Espie                             Launceston Daytime Lodge

P G Lay                                 Burnie Masonic Lodge

R G Hooper                          Darcy Wills Memorial Lodge

E T Connolly                       Launceston Daytime Lodge

M G Darcy                            Hutchins Old Boys’ Lodge

I G James                             Derwent Valley Lodge

 Brethren,

May they be remembered for the good they have done and the endearing friendships they have made in their journey through our Masonic Fraternity.

 C. J. Wallace

Grand Master