11 February 2021
Hello Brethren
I want to speak to you today about the first of some real changes that are taking place in Freemasons Victoria:
- to empower Lodges to make more of their own decisions,
- to reduce the role of Grand Lodge in the day-to-day workings of each Lodge, and
- to cut unnecessary red tape.
At Freemasons Victoria, we are the midst of the Change Workshops, and the message from members is already loud and clear about the improvements that you want to see, right away. Many of these changes have been discussed since before COVID, but as your Grand Master, I am advancing their implementation.
I want to let you know that Grand Lodge intends to take the necessary steps to repeal the rule that a new Mason must wait 12 months between initiation and doing their third degree. The timing of each Mason's advancement through degrees should be a matter for each Lodge, with no minimum periods.
There is currently a rule that a Master Mason needs to wait 12 months before taking office. That rule needs to go. Again, timing should be a decision for Lodges, not a Grand Lodge rule.
I have already indicated that we are scrapping the rule that demands that a candidate must visit three different Lodges before their application proceeds. Lodge members, working with their District Coordinators, are the best people to oversee the best decisions.
We are removing rules that require Lodges to seek dispensations to ballot for a candidate, and initiate them, on the same night.
Currently, Lodges need to seek dispensations if they want to change the date or location of their meetings. That rule – which only creates ‘red tape' – will be removed. Lodges, of course, should inform the Grand Secretary of these changes, and it would be smart to advertise any changes so that visitors are not inconvenienced.
Lodges will be able to make sensible decisions on such matters, without asking for Grand Lodge permission.
I wish to announce that Lodges will be permitted to hold the business sections of their meetings by Zoom or other video-conferencing platforms, on a date other than the meeting night, as long as the matters are ratified by vote on the usual regular meetings.
Some of these rule changes will need to go through the proper processes, such as Quarterly Communications. I ask for your patience as this detail occurs. Official notification and implementation dates of these changes will be advised in due course by the Grand Secretary's office.
I am also foreshadowing additional changes.
We all need to have a conversation about what we wear at Lodge. At some daylight Lodges, members can already wear a business suit, rather than a dinner suit. We need to discuss the idea whether that rule should also apply to evening Lodges. It may well be that each Lodge should make their own decision.
Over coming times, we will be having a discussion about the leadership positions in Freemasons Victoria. The Grand Master's position is traditionally for two years, sometimes three. A motion will be put to the March Quarterly Communication that – because of COVID – my term be extended to three years. Members will vote to determine whether you agree or not with that proposal.
As is also our tradition, if there are no impediments, our Deputy Grand Master, RWBro. Tony Bucca, will follow me as Grand Master for his two years. His selection – from a number of candidates – was confirmed by Panel vote in 2019.
There is now discussion about how the membership will decide who will be Grand Master, in future years. We have our current system in place, but there is also discussion about other ideas including a general vote in the future for Grand Master. Over the coming months, I eagerly invite the membership to contribute their ideas about how we will best proceed with these important decisions in the future.
We will be talking this year about Grand Rank. We will make decisions together about any changes that might be introduced in the years ahead. Our emphasis should always be meeting on the level, practising brotherly love, relief and truth.
COVID times have had severe financial implications for many of our members. With you I would like to explore the idea of a Dues moratorium /amnesty for Brethren who either cannot afford to pay or left our fraternity owing dues. This may well be a partnership where Grand Lodge and individual Lodges jointly help a member by forgiving Capitation Fees and Dues, respectively, for a defined period. No Freemason should ever be excluded from membership because of financial difficulties. After all, we are a brotherhood where one of the key tenets is relief.
Brethren, these are exciting times for Freemasons Victoria. There is a great mood amongst our members to make our organisation the best version of itself. There are still several Changes workshops to be held, and I encourage you to join in, and contribute your ideas. There will also be many opportunities to participate in future discussions.
These are the first in many action steps that we are taking to make Lodges, great places to be.
I will keep you informed of further changes in future announcements.
There is plenty more to come.
Let's really enjoy our Freemasonry together.
Bye for now.
