Companions,
Welcome to your Quarterly Convocation, this being the one that commences the countdown to our next Grand Installation to be held on Saturday April 16th, 2011.
It is pleasing to see so many Companions present this evening and it is especially pleasing to be able to welcome the Grand Mark delegation supporting M Wor Bro Robert Paroissien, their Grand Master, and also to welcome Rt Em Comp Vaughan Werner PGH our current Grand Master of the Craft.
The links shared between Grand Craft, Grand Mark and Supreme Grand Chapter in this jurisdiction are very close, influence many decisions and forge bonds of unity between three groups of very committed Freemasons. We are proud of those links and visits such as this not only demonstrate that pride but also reinforce the real meaning of Freemasonry. It is a pity that insufficient senior Freemasons have not taken the steps to enjoy these links.
Over the last quarter the Ceremonial Team has conducted 13 Installations across the State and I wish to thank R Em Comp John John Blythman DGZ for leading the Team at 6 of these Installation ceremonies.
A further thank-you is extended to R Em Comps Greg Harmer PGH, George Watson PGH and Peter Gurr PGJ for assisting at a number of Installations when the current GH and GJ were not available to attend.
It is pleasing to witness the commitment of the Companions in the Team but I often wonder about the commitment and dedication of some members of their Chapters. An Installation Convocation is a special event; the Installation Team often travels significant distances to be there and many incur substantial accommodation and travel costs only to find a small disinterested group of members at their destination. We often say that members of the Holy Royal Arch display a greater commitment to Freemasonry than do non-members, but we all need to demonstrate that commitment to Royal Arch Freemasonry by visibly supporting their Principals on the night of Installation.
In the same period Supreme Grand Chapter has been proudly represented at the following Grand Installations of the Order of the Secret Monitor, Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Tasmania, District Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the Middle East - Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, The Grand Priory of the Knights Templars, United Supreme Grand Chapter of Mark & Royal Arch Masons of
N.S.W. and the ACT, Coffs Harbour N.S.W. and the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Western Australia, Perth W.A. It s always a privilege to share these Masonic milestones with appendant Orders and it is pleasing to see the numbers of Companions who have committed themselves to further learning in these Orders.
Another special function for Grand Chapter is the annual visit to Combermere Chapter, No 752 EC to witness their Installation. A significant delegation visited the Chapter this year and observed the differences between our respective jurisdictions. As always, the hospitality extended and friendship shared prove that our differences are only constitutional; Freemasons the world over enjoy the same privileges. I thank the Companions of Combermere for their significant donation to the "We Care Trust"; their generosity is greatly appreciated.
Companions, The majority of the time of this evenings Convocation is being dedicated to our Open Forum, therefore before introducing R Em Comp Peter Gurr the Chairman of the Development and Ritual Committee, I wish to share with you my thoughts about our "want" and "will" to improve our constituent Chapters.
I have long been thinking about this subject and in doing so, I happened to one day be travelling past a school when I realised a startling similarity between the Chapter and parenting.
There is an unwritten rule that we as parents the world-over have, and that is that we try to give our children a better opportunity than we have had and in doing so, we improve our children’s lot in life. In the same manner, we have in Chapter an unwritten obligation to do what we can to leave our Chapters better off than when we joined.
Our forefathers undertook great efforts so that we can enjoy the fruits of their labour today. They paid more for their dues than we do today, proportionately speaking, and it seems that as a whole, they were able to commit more time and effort than we are able to today. Now before I go on, let me acknowledge that there are many good and legitimate reasons why this is the case, but the underlying theme of our forefathers commitment remains equally as valid today as it did in days gone by.
That theme, Companions, is one of genuine commitment. What is genuine commitment I hear you say?
Genuine commitment is many things, but most of all it is about honesty. It’s about being genuinely fair and open with each other and it's about mutual co-operation and respect.
We take our teachings from the Chapter but do we put them into everyday practice, do we actively try to make our Chapters a better place to be, than it was before we arrived. In today’s society there are many worldly goods to be had and the information revolution has taught us to strike quickly and move on, but there is more to life than this transitory approach, just as there is more to Chapters than first meet the eye. It cannot be denied that the motto of our forefathers being that, "the more one puts into Chapter, the more one gets out", has been proved just as true today as it was back then.
So, what can we do, well, first off let's listen to each other, let's consider doing things their way for a change, let’s give them our genuine support and commitment - really what have we got to lose?
Next, why don't we try to step up to the plate and put forward our own ideas and efforts to help the Chapter and maybe with the genuine commitment of our fellow Companions, something good might just happen?
Why not pick up the phone and call our Scribe Ezra and say, "Is there anything I can do to help you?" Let's not wait for the mountain to come to us for it might be too late, but rather let us go to the mountain and in the spirit of fellowship from one Companion to another, help each other to achieve together that which we could not by ourselves alone.
I know you, Companions, I know that you have an inexhaustible capacity for genuine commitment, so let us bend our backs towards leaving our Chapters a better, stronger and more vibrant place than it was before, and therefore when our time comes, and we meet our forefathers in that great Chapter in the sky we can look them in the eye and say that we too did our best.
I would now like to introduce R Em Comp Peter Gurr, Chairman of the Development & Ritual Committee of Supreme Grand Chapter.
In conclusion, as this is the last Grand Convocation before the Festive Season in December, I take this opportunity to thank each of you and your Chapters for your support of Supreme Grand Chapter. I extend to each of you the Compliments of the Season, may your families enjoy the gatherings traditionally associated with this time of the year and may every one of you travel safely over this period. I look forward to meeting with you all again in the New Year.
Yours fraternally,
Laurie G Patterson
Grand Zerubbabel
