The 2022 Conference of Grand Masters in North America ended last evening, and I thought it might be helpful to put down some of my thoughts.
Last Friday the Western Conference of Grand Masters took place. This conference is made up of the Grand Lodges of Alaska, British Columbia & Yukon, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Hawaii, Baja California Mexico, and York Mexico.
This was a superb opportunity for all of us to share best practices, and those things that are working well in our respective Jurisdictions. Our own Junior Grand Warden, Jimmy Norton made an excellent presentation on our efforts to Improve the Lodge Experience, both within and without Lodge meetings themselves.
If I were to sum up the presentations and discussions as a whole, I saw their trend as to how we can best preserve our traditions and what is best about Freemasonry, all while the world is continually changed by the rapid deployment of new technologies.
Given my personal interests, one historical presentation was quite interesting to me. Our Brothers from Baja California Mexico, with the assistance of the Grand Lodge of Veracruz gave a presentation outlining the history of Freemasonry on the Baja Peninsula. It was very well done.
It’s been suggested to me in the past that I should visit a Lodge or two in Veracruz, following this presentation, in which I learned that Veracruz is the mother of Masonry within Mexico, I’ve decided that I should cement plans to do so.
On a personal note, the Western Conference elected to nominate me a Commissioner of the Commission on Information for Recognition. It is a multi year term, so I guess that I won’t be fading off into the sunset after my term as Grand Master ends. It seems that you will be stuck with me for awhile yet.
Sunday was a full day of meetings of the main Conference of Grand Masters in North America. We did a good deal of business, as well as hearing superb speakers on many aspects of Freemasonry.
Sunday afternoon I was able to attend a presentation by S. Brent Morris of Scottish Rite fame that had been arranged by the Masonic Renewal Committee. This presentation included an overview of Dr. Morris’ research of NPD’s and Demits that provided us with solid changes that we can make to some things we do at the Grand Lodge that will improve member retention in our Lodges. I will leave it at that, because these changes at Grand Lodge will be happening after my time in office, and it seems fair that Ed, Steve, and Jimmy have the opportunity to explain the positive changes they will be making.
Dr. Morris also touched upon a ‘Three Hooks’ theory that I found quite interesting, and will bring forth in an Emeth discussion soon.
I was unable to attend the Conference itself on Monday, because that entire day was taken up by my first meeting of the Commission on Information for Recognition. Part of the meeting was open and very well attended by Freemasons from quite literally around the world, and part was closed while we met in Executive Session to draft our report to the Conference.
The Commission will undoubtedly be discussed further here on Emeth in the future, and in our Lodges, if anyone would like me to talk about it, but for now I will simply say that it was probably the most interesting Masonic experience I’ve ever had. The issues are weighty, of tremendous importance, and in most cases in dispute. The six of us Commissioners are tasked with hearing them, digesting them, and providing relevant information about them to the Grand Lodges in North America.
As I was unable to sit in the Conference on Monday, our Deputy Grand Master Ed Woods took my seat at the table. He did an admirable job representing the Freemasons of Washington.
Yesterday I was back at the Conference itself. The schedule for future conferences had been: Arlington Virginia 2023, Seattle Washington 2024, Guadalajara Mexico 2025. It is extremely exciting to be hosting the Conference in Seattle, and RW Steve Martin will be a superb host Grand Master. I was also very much looking forward to the Conference in Guadalajara, it is a city I know and was anticipating tagging along with our then Grand Lodge Officers to show them some of the sites, but unfortunately the schedule was changed, and Guadalajara has been replaced on that schedule.
We fly home today.
Before I close this missive, I would like to touch upon two things that we did that will prove to be extremely important for the future of Washington Freemasonry. Both of these were done in the Western Conference:
-We created a small committee to communicate throughout the year to share things that may be helpful to our Lodges that one of our member Grand Lodges is doing, or that is happening in their Jurisdiction. In this way we will be able to share opportunities, so that if for example something great is going on in California, we will know about it here in Washington. RW Steve Martin volunteered to represent us on that committee.
-We created a committee within the Western Conference to discuss issues of Recognition that are felt to be particularly important to our Western Grand Lodges. Our Grand Secretary, Clint Brown will represent our Grand Lodge on that Committee.
If we are to have a bright and thriving future, the Grand Lodge of Washington can’t remain an island all to itself. I think that these efforts to increase communication and cooperation with our neighboring Grand Lodges in the Western United States, Canada, and Mexico will be wholly positive, as we all have a lot to share with each other, and learn from each other.
As a final thought to share…
The Grand Master of Oregon and I sat down to brainstorm ideas for levying fines against all of the Brothers who will be attending Little Falls Lodge’s upcoming Wigs and White Socks night. This is always a superb event, for a most excellent cause, and we are very much looking forward to draining everyone’s pockets!
Good Morning MW Cameron, it appears you and your Grand Officers did establish some good communication relationships and shared some of our Washington Masonry, outstanding! Safe journey Brother and for our Grand Family, too.
Grand Master - Your brothers the Washington state jurisdiction always expected and look forward to your continued labors after your year in the Grand East. I must say that's a long cable tow you've got there MW Sir! ;-)