Official Visit Corona Lodge #454 – December 3, 2009
By R.W. Bro. Terry M. Hornibrook, DDGM

Get Knowledge, Get Wisdom

Tonight, I am going to borrow heavily from the address our Grand Master gave at the recent Especial Communication of Grand Lodge held in Sudbury. I apologize to those who attended but I feel that it is very important for all to be aware of our Grand Master's theme and project for the length of his tenure.

Our leader has decided that it will be of a threefold nature. His Project is to establish a center of Masonic studies and learning in a Canadian university, to improve communications and to raise the bar in regards to the ritual.

The Grand Master's theme for his term of office is from the book of Proverbs: "Get knowledge; get Wisdom, but with all thy getting, get Understanding." Masonic leaders around the world are in agreement that the greatest challenge facing Freemasons today is not declining enrolment, but rather the lack of understanding of the profound meaning of Freemasonry, its true purpose, and its relevance in the lives of men of the twenty-first century. As Speculative Masons we strive to be educated and accomplished beings, to search for Truth and study to gain knowledge of ourselves and realize our personal potential. That is the essence of Masonic Philosophy. To advance the study and understanding of Freemasonry; to encourage research into the significant impact that fraternalism in general and Freemasonry in particular have made on western civilization over the last three hundred years, the Grand Master's Project (2009 -2011) will establish a fund to create a Centre for Masonic Studies in conjunction with a University in Ontario. To gain credibility in the academic community would do much to restore the true historical perspective of the fraternity and its rightful place of honour and respect in the world.

This proposed partnership between the grand Lodge and Brock University, S1.Catharines, will honour the name of R. W. Bro. Charles A. Sankey (1905 -2009). Dr. Sankey served as Chancellor of the University 1969 -1974. A renowned Masonic scholar, he was active in all the concordant bodies of Masonry, in particular, the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite (33°), Royal Order of Scotland, and Royal Arch Masons. His extensive collection of rare Masonic books and papers is on deposit in the Special Collections of the James Gibson Library at Brock, providing a rich resource for research studies by scholars and students. Heritage Lodge # 730 provided a substantial financial donation to the University for the Maintenance of this invaluable collection. You may make a contribution through the Masonic Foundation and the Grand Master's Project number 2937.

The Grand Master hopes to improve Communication at all levels of our jurisdiction. This can be accomplished by better utilizing the electronic highway; the emailing of summons to members is steadily gaining ground, this means that funds at the lodge level can be used for other purposes. He and all Grand Lodge members encourage us to take advantage of the programmes and information available; which is hoped will encourage members to stay active and involved at all level. Each programme has a dedicated team with up to date information and advice they are only too willing to share with you. They are only an e-mail or phone call away. The use of Grand Lodge programmes will help all at the local level.

Our Masonic Ritual is our most prized possession. It is exquisitely crafted, eloquently expressed and precisely stated. It states our doctrine, embodies our principles, and transmits the essence of our philosophy. Our ritual sets us apart from every other organization and society. Above all else, our ritual defines Freemasonry for our initiates. We must never forget the fact that we are first and foremost an initiatory order in the business of transforming men's lives by providing a course in self-discipline by which a man becomes a better man. It has been said that every man who kneels at the Altar of Freemasonry rises a different man. The serious initiate that devotes himself to the perfection of his craft will practise Freemasonry, not only by attending meetings regularly and paying his dues, but by living and acting in accordance with the ideals and principles that Freemasonry teaches. He will be ruled by those principles and measure himself by what is upright and square. Through study of our ritual, we press toward the mark of our high calling, to live and act as good men and as Masons at all times and in all places.

We learn our Ritual "by heart" in order to deliver it "from the heart." Memorization is never easy; even the most competent ritualists will tell you that he has worked long and hard and spent many hours to master the work he appears to give so easily and fluently. Let each of us aim not only for proficiency, but for excellence in the performance of our Ritual.

Every Brother privileged to deliver a piece of work on the floor of the lodge should take pride in doing his best to be "word perfect", which is always the bottom line. But more than mere words, it is the profound meaning of those words that we must strive diligently to discover so that we may transmit that meaning with sincerity and understanding. We cannot do that unless we fully understand the import of the text ourselves. We must strive to make that daily advancement ourselves.

In closing, I trust that I was able to enlighten you on the scope and breadth of the Grand Master's theme and project. It is incumbent upon all of us to do what we are able in all or any of the areas I have highlighted. The future of our fraternity is in the balance. I leave you with this quote attributed to Nelson Henderson. "The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit."