ADDRESS GIVEN BY THE FIRST GRAND PRINCIPAL

AND GRAND MASTER, M EX COMP EDWARD KEENAHAN,

ON THE OCCASION OF HIS GRAND INSTALLATION,

SYDNEY MASONIC CENTRE, SATURDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2009

Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Brethren and Companions, I thank you, each and every one for being here this evening to share with us in this, the Grand Installation Ceremony of our Order.

I thank you for the valuable time you are giving this weekend and the great distances that some have travelled to be here. Your presence adds so much lustre and friendliness to this celebration of Mark and Royal Freemasonry.

Some months ago, when the reality of the task I was about to undertake finally sunk in, I inevitably reflected on my journey thus far in Freemasonry, and on the people who have influenced me most on that journey.

First my late father, who introduced me to the Craft and the Royal Arch, and who was a great guide and mentor. He emphasised to me the importance of keeping Freemasonry in balance with my family and my work commitments and that if I maintained the right balance I would have a long Masonic career and my mother who persuaded me to join the Order of the Eastern Star, and who can deny his mother. I can only imagine how proud they would be if they could be here today.

To my late wife, Sandie, of course I owe so much. Without her love, her patience and her unwavering support of my Masonic activities for over thirty years, as we established a home and raised a family, I would definitely not be in this position now.

I particularly thank my family for being here today to share this moment with me. Their presence helps to make this an evening I will never forget.

I thank my regalia bearers and all members of the Installation team who have put a great deal of time, effort and indeed emotion into this event.

There are, of course, many masons to whom I owe a debt of gratitude for their influence, example, friendship and support throughout my Masonic career, especially those Companions seated to my left. A debt I can never fully repay. There are too many to list them all here but I must thank RExComp Russ McNeill for his tremendous support and friendship over many years and more recently, MExComp Greg Mason and his lovely wife Barbara for their great companionship on our extensive travels together. To the many other Companions who have helped and supported me, especially those from the City of Wollongong Chapter, and those, who on occasions, argued a point or two with me, I thank you all sincerely. 

I commence my term as First Grand Principal and Grand Master with mixed feelings of humility, pride, panic and excitement, but most of all with a deep sense of responsibility for our future.  There are many challenges facing our Order, challenges that we must confront. My predecessor, MExComp Greg Mason, in his last communication raised the possibility of a closer administrative arrangement with The United Grand Lodge. It is my intention to continue in that vein and I look to the relevant Grand Officers to complete their review of current and projected administration methods, systems and costs as soon as possible. A Task Committee will then review all aspects of our administration - as it is now and as it might be in a joint arrangement with the Craft, so that a decision can be made for the good of the Order.

There are outstanding issues with the Petersham building, and separately with the Egyptian Room.

The Egyptian Room is a wonderful asset that is without peer in the World. It is heritage listed and it must be cared for and preserved appropriately, as those who built it and passed it on to this generation of Royal Arch Masons would expect. It is also an asset that is under-utilised and under-sold. I will establish a Special Task Committee to look at what can be done regarding this beautiful room to bring it more into the public’s awareness and to ensure it generates enough income for any future maintenance and repair. Its future as an icon of Royal Arch Freemasonry, however, is not necessarily tied to the Petersham building.

The Petersham building itself is again an asset that is under-utilised and is becoming a burden on the members that is not realistically sustainable in the current circumstances. The long-term future of the building must be considered with an eye to the future and the real needs of the Order. I will shortly present a Task Brief to the GZ’s Special Task Committee under the Chair of M Ex Comp Bob Black PGZ, requiring the Committee to bring forward a report and firm recommendations for the future of Petersham. These will go to a Grand Convocation for a decision by the members.

Companions, the time for talking about these important assets has passed, the time for action is now.

The Royal Arch Library at Petersham is another great asset of the Order that has been the subject of much discussion. It is an asset built up and cared for over many years by many dedicated members of the Order and I thank those Companions, past and present, for their efforts. It is now my pleasure as First Grand Principal and Grand Master to announce that from the rising of this Grand Convocation the Royal Arch Library will be known as the “E. Norman Garland Royal Arch Library” in recognition of MExComp Norm Garland’s tireless work over many years to expand and maintain this wonderful research resource, as well as for his work with the much renowned ‘Correspondence Circle”.  Thank you MExComp Garland for your dedicated efforts in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding.

Companions, this Order, and indeed Freemasonry in general, faces many challenges, not the least of which is a declining membership. We must of course, draw our members from Craft Freemasonry and therefore what happens to the Craft is of vital interest to this Order. We cannot, and under my leadership we will not, stand back and expect the Craft to do the heavy lifting needed to restore Freemasonry, and for us Mark and Royal Arch Freemasonry, to its rightful position as an organisation respected and appreciated for its positive influence on individuals and their families and therefore on the wider community.       

As First Grand Principal and Grand Master I offer the Grand Master of the Craft, Most Worshipful Brother Dr Greg Levenston, my unqualified support, and that of my Grand Team, to work together in any way we can that will help in achieving that end.

As custodians of two of the five Degrees of Pure Ancient Freemasonry, the Mark and the Royal Arch Degrees, we have a duty of care and responsibility to preserve and to grow our Order. A responsibility not only to the great masons who have gone before us, but to future generations of men who deserve the opportunity to enjoy the drama, the colour, the lessons, the friendship and the fun that our Order offers.

While it is true that the very nature of our Order means that we tend to be conservative in our thoughts, our actions and our ideals, it does not mean that we cannot be innovative, modern and dynamic in how we function as a fraternal organisation. We have enough evidence to show that young men today are indeed interested in fraternal relationships, in education, in history, in self-improvement, in community; all of which are a part of who and what we are.  

We have a good product in our degrees – we need to modernise and improve the other aspects of our fraternity and be much better at marketing that improved product. We will place a greater emphasis on supporting individual Chapters in their efforts to improve their operations and their membership, especially by supporting Chapter open nights and were possible joint Royal Arch and Craft events with ideas and resources and with senior Grand Officers being present. I firmly believe that a man is less likely to leave the Craft if he has acquired the Mark and Royal Arch Degrees.  

I will be encouraging Chapters, particularly in country areas, to look at developing closer relationships with individual Craft Lodges, and where practical to establish Masonic Fraternities of combined Lodges and Chapters as described in our Concordat with Grand Lodge. 

Companions, in the second decade of the twentieth century a faltering Royal Arch was revitalised for following generations by the efforts of a small group of dedicated men. I would like to think that a hundred years from now someone in this position might say – “In the second decade of the twenty first century a group of dedicated men, by their unselfish efforts, and clear vision preserved and nurtured Royal Arch Masonry for our generation to enjoy.”

Companions, we live in interesting times. The future beckons, our future, what that future will be is up to us, here and now, and to no one else.

Companions, I invite you to join me in the challenge. Together we can make the seemingly impossible – possible. Future generations are depending on us. Let us not fail them.

Ladies and gentlemen, Brethren and Companions, I thank you again for sharing with us this special event. I hope you have enjoyed the ceremony and especially the wonderful entertainment provided by Ms Maria Ovenku, our Grand Organist V Ex Comp David Coburn and the Grand Herald V Wor Bro Ian Cox.

For those attending the Installation Banquet and other major events this weekend I look forward to your company and companionship and to those who will return home after we close the Convocation I again thank you for your presence and support, I wish you well and I trust you will have a safe journey home to your families and friends.Thank You.