The Grand Master's Message

Brethren:

We're not only travelling together on the road to the Twenty-first Century for Freemasonry in Pennsylvania, we're rebuilding our course with VITALITY as we go forward to the next millennium.

I recall an observation I offered in the installation message in Grand Lodge last December:

"It remains most important in our great fraternity, founded on the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man, that we uphold our fervent trust in Him and proceed in our labors with faith and confidence. ... It is my vision that, with a common resolve, the more than 150,000 Masons ... across the Commonwealth will demonstrate, personally and actively the VITALITY of Freemasonry among the brethren in their lodges, throughout the fraternity, with their families and in their communities."

It's what makes up our VITALITY that is moving Freemasonry in Pennsylvania!

VISION

I continue to envision the same bright tomorrow that I saw when I spoke these words last December: "I look upon our Trestleboard for 1998 and see 'The Perfect Match:' Faith, Family, Fraternity, and Community." Across Pennsylvania, we see brethren excited about the inspiring, progressive, caring, grassroots programs that have been introduced. It appears to me that they have been accepted universally and are being put into action enthusiastically.

INVOLVEMENT

As you read The Pennsylvania Freemason, you can see how we're moving to new heights among the Family of Freemasonry. More brethren are finding a niche that is the "Perfect Match" for their fraternal satisfaction ... in leadership, ritual, caring, serving, and socializing.

TRADITION

Tradition plays well on the road to the Twenty- first Century. We will never forsake it; we will build upon it. Observe the dynamic, fraternal portrayals of ritual in today's lodge environment. Recognize in all we do, the high standards and values of the Fraternity and the quality qualifications for membership. Consider the importance -- and the impact -- that our heritage and history of nearly 300 years of Freemasonry in Pennsylvania has in virtually everything we do. As just one example, during this 125th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia, refurbishing is returning our magnificent headquarters of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania back to the high standards that were established long ago by the planners of the outstanding Masonic architectural wonder.

ACTION

The membership goal is "NET ZERO for 1998" -- that is one new Mason for each brother we lose through death, unavoidable suspension, or resignation. To accomplish that, I have asked one thing: REPLACE YOURSELF! I mean that each of us be the recommender of at least one worthy man to join the lodge. It's too early to confirm the success of that challenge; however, the number of petitions and initiations in the first months of 1998 are most encouraging.

LOVE

Brotherly love and affection, charity, and serving others are the mainstays of the Fraternity. What can be a more "Perfect Match" than the Matching Charity Grants Program? Lodges across the state are reaching out among their neighbors to meet human needs and build living monuments of caring and sharing in their own communities. It's Masonry at work at home.

INTERNET

Perhaps nothing has put us closer on the doorstep to the Twenty-first Century than the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania's entry into "cyberspace." Just about everything factual that you (or anyone surfing the World Wide Web) want to know about Freemasonry in Pennsylvania can be found on the Internet.

TRAINING

Anyone who attended the Overture seminars knows that the right name was selected for the important leadership training program for upcoming officers and men of action in our lodges. Those sessions were like a downbeat -- an enthusiastic introduction -- for lodge leadership and programming into the Twenty-first Century. Many things impressed me during the sessions, but foremost were the number of younger leaders and the sincere and exuberant dialogue for progress by all of the participants.

YOU

Pennsylvania Masons want their fraternity to be all that it can be -- in the lodges, among the family, and in the community. There is a place for each of us in our lodge activities. There is something to interest and involve you.

You are a VITAL part of our VITALITY.

Sincerely and fraternally,

James L. Ernette,
R.W. Grand Master