16 December 2020
Distinguished Brethren All,
Important changes are happening at Freemasons Victoria. These changes are designed for us to have a happy fraternity based on ‘Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.' The changes are also being introduced to secure a sound management structure for our multi-million dollar organisation.
At 7:30pm tonight, I opened the first part of our Business Meeting, which extends over two nights (Wednesday and Thursday). My first duty was to introduce Dr Simon Longstaff AO of The Ethics Centre which has conducted a thorough and detailed examination of our organisation.
Dr Longstaff presented a 15-minute video in which he explains the scope of the study, its findings, and the recommendations made. There are some uncomfortable truths. There is no doubt that now is the time for us to either change our ways or perish.
You can watch Dr Longstaff's and the Grand Master’s video HERE.
You can read the unredacted Ethics Centre report HERE.
You can read the text of the Grand Master’s response from the video is HERE.
Some of the recommendations relate to a quite different management structure for our organisation. The Ethics Centre says that trying to have volunteer Freemasons manage intricate commercial undertakings is an impossible challenge. This is not a criticism of the volunteer Board members, but a clear statement that the structure is impossibly out of date.
Last night (Tuesday), the Board of General Purposes met. Considering the report, the Board members voted to ‘dis-establish' the Board, effective immediately. This means that each of our volunteer Board members selflessly stood aside for the greater good. In doing so, they listened to the counsel of our Grand Registrar, RWBro. Ian Upjohn QC. I also thank the outgoing President of the Board of General Purposes, RWBro. Myles King, for his clear leadership.
These matters will now go before the floor of Grand Lodge so that our membership can determine the exact future for Freemasons Victoria. In the interim months, a Masonic Governance Council is being formed to lead our organisation on a caretaker basis. Grand Lodge will meet early in the New Year to take us to our next steps. There will be further communications to you on the finer detail.
Brethren, I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every former Board member for their maturity in adopting a stance that puts the organisation first. Each former Board member can walk tall for their altruistic decision.
Please watch and read all the information. I am optimistic that Freemasons Victoria is on the right pathway to some of its best-ever chapters.
MWBro. Richard Elkington
Grand Master
