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Communication from the Most Worshipful Grand Master Robert G. Paroissien - August 18th, 2010 My Dear Brethren, This my first communication to you as Grand Master is one of pleasure and happiness. The night of the Grand Installation in May, which was such a happy event, is still vividly in my mind. It was very pleasing to see such a good attendance of brethren of the Order, together with many distinguished visitors, presence of the Ladies and non Mark Masons. The banquet was enjoyed by so many brethren and the ladies, capping off a very special day for Mark Masonry, from the comments I have heard all attended enjoyed the day. I must again express my thanks to M. Wor. Bro. Kerry Grills PGM for his confidence in installing me to this high office, Also I must thank V. Wor. Bro. Tom Christie PGDC and all the brethren involved in the ceremonial for such a fine job. Earlier this evening we listened to a talk by Mr Christian Waugh standing in at the last minute for Mr, Ben Cheveton who unfortunately was unable to be us tonight owing to his work commitments. I am sure we all enjoyed Mr. Christian Waugh's talk on "Building with Stone" and we are very grateful to him for offering to do this at the last minute. During the quarter on behalf of this Grand Lodge we have conducted 23 Mark Lodge Installations and 15 Royal Ark Mariner Enthronement Ceremonies. I must thank the Deputy Grand Master, Senior Grand Warden, Junior Grand Warden and Enthroning Commanders in assisting me in conducting these ceremonies. This Grand Lodge was invited by the Grand Imperial Conclave of Victoria to attend the reinstallation of M. Illus. Kt Terrence Thomas Hodges as Grand Sovereign on Saturday 26th June, 2010. As I was unable to attend I wish to thank Rt. Wor. Bro. John Evans DGM and his wife Rosemary for representing this Grand Lodge. This Grand Lodge was also invited by the Grand Council of the Order of Secret Monitors for Southern Australia to attend the installation of M. Wthy. Bro Bernard Charles Rees as Grand Supreme Ruler on Saturday 24th July, 2010. Pat and I were delighted to be present at this function on behalf of Grand Mark. The next weekend in July, 2010 I together with the Deputy Grand Master, Senior and Junior Wardens and nine other brethren and our wives/partners attended the Installation M. Em. Comp. Ian Charles Blair as 1st Grand Principal and his Co-Grand Principals of the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Tasmania in Launceston It was great weekend which was enjoyed by all who attended. The first weekend in August I was in Brisbane accompanied by M.Wor Bro. John Cartwright PGM, Rt. Wor Bro. Edward Webster PDGM and six other brethren with our wives/partners attending the Installation of M. Wor. Bro. Garry Kevin Fenton as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Queensland. Once again the many functions arranged for the weekend were enjoyed by those present. I thank all those who attended these Grand Installations with Pat and myself. The Saturday prior to the Grand Installation in May, a group of Mark Brethren, the Grand Master of the Craft and the First Grand Principal of Supreme Grand Chapter met to discuss the future of Mark Masonry under the title of "What's on the Horizon". Many thoughts and ideas were expressed and at the moment a small group is now bringing all this together in one document. One of the ideas is to create a new Sub Committee of the Board of General Purposes called the "Development Committee". The aim of this sub committee will be to closely work with and assist lodges in determining their future direction, to enable all lodges to become positive and viable. I again remind everyone present that the Mark Man Ceremony is a great way to attract new members to your Mark Lodge. Please consider this option and then contact the Grand Secretary who will assist you in making the necessary arrangements. At the Grand Installation I spoke briefly about the need to learn to understand more about the teachings of Mark Masonry and the various Symbols and the many messages they display. Again using Robert Cooper's book "Cracking the Freemason's Code" and to demonstrate the point about the teachings and layers of meanings of symbols I will again quote from his book on "The Beehive" which is on many Masonic collars. "The beehive is an old Masonic Symbol that was originally borrowed from elsewhere. It is normally depicted as a hive with bees buzzing around outside it and is generally accepted to represent industry of being as busy as a bee. Whilst this holds true in Freemasonry the beehive has a number of possible meanings, the most common being that it represents the Lodge and its members: everyone can see the Lodge (the beehive) and everyone can see the bees (Freemasons), but one who is not a bee can never see what goes on inside the Lodge. It is another excellent example of how a standard symbol, whose meaning is commonly known has a different twist for the Freemason." Brethren may you continue to enjoy your Mark Masonry in particular and your Freemasonary in general. Robert G. Pariossien |
