As I cede the chair of King Solomon to this year’s Master, I would like to thank everyone for their support over the course of the past year. You all did well. Our lodge is in excellent shape; we are doing good degree work and are exhibiting many of the better aspects of our fraternity. I am hoping that in the coming month, we will be granted (yet again) Cornerstone status, recognising our lodge as a first-class lodge within our District and within the greater fraternity. This is all due to the hard work of many individuals, committees and officers of St. Andrew’s lodge #560.
I would also like to wish the incoming team all the best for the upcoming year. We have elected a talented and dedicated group of men to lead us forward and I trust I am not alone to say that I am looking to the new masonic year with optimism. There is a buzz of energy in the lodge, and indeed within the District overall, and I am happy to be a part of it.
While there are some activities occurring over the course of the Summer, the priority for all of us should be to rest, spend time with our families and to enjoy the Summer. I have no doubt that our Worshipful Master has a busy and interesting year in store for all of us. And while enjoying the fine weather, please do not forget to continue to make that daily advancement in masonry, and to perhaps pick up a couple of pieces of ritual along the way. Our membership pipeline is nearly full and we will certainly be calling on everyone to contribute to our rites and ceremonies.
In closing, please allow me to thank everyone for a special year. It was a humbling experience being allowed to sit in the East in a place previously occupied by such fine men. Our system is such, however, that each year, a new team is brought in, and so the gavel has passed on. Each man has something to contribute to his lodge, and I am looking forward to hearing from the new team when we reconvene in September.
One final note: for those who may be considering joining our gentle Craft, our membership pipeline is nearly full. We are always happy to receive new expressions of interest, but may have to refer you to another of the many fine lodges in the District. Freemasonry is not for everyone, but everyone would certainly benefit from a bit of Freemasonry in their lives. Please consider us seriously when approaching a lodge with an expression of interest. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
