Grand Master's Proclamation Address to Grand Lodge 2025
15 October 25
The privilege of addressing Grand Lodge as Grand Master proclaimed for a three-year term in the Sydney Masonic Centre, the home of Freemasons NSW & ACT, in the company of masons, friends and family of Freemasonry inspires a deja vu of humility, honour, and gratitude.
The sight of our Grand Lodge Room 1 filled to capacity, affirms the sustained harmony prevailing across and around the jurisdiction.
Past Grand Masters, brethren, ladies, distinguished guests, on behalf of the jurisdiction I thank everyone for electing to spend your weekend with us in our Grand Proclamation, resulting from which I was committed to be Grand Master for a period of three years. This is the first in our jurisdiction’s 137-year history since the 1888 unification.
I extend appreciation for the visiting delegations comprised of brethren from the Grand Lodges of Quebec, Japan, Philippines, Queensland, New Zealand and Victoria. I also note attendance of brethren from Tennessee and Scotland.
I am honoured with the support of the Heads of Associated Masonic Orders who attended the Grand Proclamation officially in another unprecedented show of support which has been consistent during my first year in office. I appreciate the closer relationships with the Craft which can only facilitate further growth, development and happiness for the brethren.
And I am grateful for the continued support from the Past Grand Masters each with whom I have, figuratively and literally, walked 500 miles. Each MW Brother comprising the ‘Harmony’ of Grand Masters understands both the pressures and possibilities of the office. They support to see me succeed because they care deeply about Freemasonry in NSW & ACT. For me to have the access to such advice, good counsel and harmonious fellowship with The Harmony is a rare blessing.
I especially thank MW Bro Les Hicks, GM40 and his wife, Narelle, to whom I wished a good retirement last year after GM40 installed his successor. Rather than being able to enjoy their well-deserved break, he has selflessly accommodated my request for him to continue to serve Grand Lodge as Interim Grand Secretary and assist in delivering business as usual as well as initiatives in the wake of the retirement of our immediate past Grand Secretary. It serves the brethren in good stead that GM40’s support is unconditional, and we work very effectively together.
I am truly humbled by the support from the Brethren and I thank them for the opportunity to lead our jurisdiction for the next three years, and for the privilege of working with them in creating a member-centric fraternity that, for all of us, is not only functional and purposeful but beautiful, relevant and emotionally resonant.
A Proclamation address is not meant to be a statement of policy, especially as brethren have already seen the focus of my administration – that of a harmonious member-centric Masonic organisation, true to its impressive traditional customs and usages operating in the contemporary world with good corporate governance and tight fiscal management.
Rather, I seek to commend and congratulate the progression of members of the Grand Lodge who were invested with their offices which lead to special duties to serve our members and the value of working together to deliver results in harmony.
Today, we saw the re-appointment of the Deputy Grand Master, RW Bro Paul Schultz, and the investiture of RW Bro Samuel Young as Assistant Grand Master. They are among the most hardworking and competent masons among us and I trust that they look forward to working in the boards and committees and extending themselves in the jurisdiction, with the support of their wives Ellie and Liz, respectively.
We also witnessed the investiture of the Ceremonial Team. They are an important group within our Grand Lodge as they demonstrate the best practice of our rites and ceremonies, which are integral to Masonry. They volunteer their resources of time, effort and money to support Representatives across this and other jurisdictions both domestic and abroad. Many members of this particular team are continuing from our very productive first year and I’m happy to note that with them, I have also figuratively and literally, walked 500 miles and about to walk 500 more.
I acknowledge brethren who are continuing in their current capacity or commencing their term of office from today’s Proclamation - the Regional Counsellors, the Grand Registrars, the Treasury, the Chaplaincy, the Grand Charity Board, the Board of Management, the Building Management Committee, the Corporate Relations Committee and brethren who will be tasked to deliver ad hoc projects and initiatives.
I must also thank my wife, Carol, for her unwavering support. Any time I involve myself in the management of the Craft is time away from her. She has been waiting for me to be more available since my Grand Steward days. Then I progressed through the Ceremonial Team, became the Grand Director of Ceremonies, then Assistant Grand Master, then Deputy Grand Master. When I became Grand Master, she thought the wait was nearing an end. And today, she heard the Proclamation was for another 3 years. Her devotion to me is a gift from the divine; and I also thank all the many wives of brethren who look after her when I am distracted at events – Narelle Hicks, Janelle Jacobson, Remy Maniago, Agnes Martines among others.
The 33rd President of the United States, MW Bro Harry Truman, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri said of results, “We can accomplish anything in life, provided that we do not mind who gets the credit.” This concept was in full display with the numerous brethren who helped in the lead-up to this Proclamation weekend. No ranks, no dramas, no expectations. They left their ego at the front door and just did superb work with unqualified support and yielded tangible results. GM40, Grand Treasurer, Chairman of the Board of Management, Grand Registrar, Garry Sayer, Kaan Ozer, Jay Tayag, Owen Guarin, Renan Legaspi, Erwin Landero, and many others too many to mention. I also include those listed in the program as Event Sponsors and Donors. I may not mention all your names today, brethren, but I know that you know that I know who each of you are and what value you added to our Grand Proclamation weekend events.
This display of harmony is consistent with our forebears’ mindset. “Juncta Juvant”. This is the motto of the UGL NSW & ACT from since the unification of 1888. It is a Latin phrase variously translated as “unity assists”, “strength in unity”, “together we assist”, or “united they aid each other”. Beyond its literal translation, “Juncta Juvant” is a concept that suggests that by working together, individuals or groups can achieve more than they could alone.
Juncta Juvant is about presence not position, about intention and action, not lip service or platitudes. It is not just about Grand Lodge, but about each lodge that makes up our Grand Lodge, and about each mason that makes up our lodges. Brethren, the load is lighter when shared with others and completion is quicker when done with others. Truly, any undertaking of brotherly love, relief and truth is accomplished more effectively and efficiently when done with others.
Brethren, we are about to embark on a term which will continue our beautiful traditions and practices, but also review existing aspects of our Grand Lodge to improve the Masonic experience, delight our members, and relate to the community. We have all the ingredients that ensure success and relevance in the ever-changing landscape in which we operate. Change is inevitable, and the changes we envisage require courage and determination, values that Freemasons in NSW & ACT have in abundance.
We are a fraternity that aims to continuously and collectively make good men better, continuously improving. Because good is not good enough when we can be better; and we are not better off with better if we can strive to be the best. And this is best achieved when done in the company of like-minded men with similar goals regardless of background, culture and creed.
I thank you all once again for taking up the standing invitation to be part of our history – not as witnesses, but as co-creators of a good and pleasant Freemasonry in NSW & ACT. Today you co-created another historic milestone of our jurisdiction. But more than that your presence this weekend has elevated and celebrated for me and our jurisdiction, another experience for the ages and a memory that will last a lifetime
In closing, I pass to you the positive injunction for your personal journeys to add to the collective:
‘You’re tasked to build a better world’, the Great Architect of the Universe said. I asked him how. ‘The world is so huge and complicated now. And I, alone and helpless. There’s nothing I can do.’ The Great Architect, in his Divine wisdom said ‘Just build a better you.’
Juncta Juvant, brethren, with Humility, Integrity and Harmony.
MW Bro B. Khristian Albano
Grand Master
The United Grand Lodge of NSW and ACT
