Report on the Grand Installation

11 December 24

By RW Bro Peter Stoneman

At last the day was here, and it was time to get the ceremony underway. The magnificent Sydney Town Hall was aglow with all the colours of the rainbow and the glitter of ladies’ jewellery and Grand Lodge braid.

After a rousing rendition from the Town Hall’s beautiful organ and to the stirring skirl of bagpipes, the Grand Master MW Bro Lesley Hicks took the dais. Then, with the assistance of RW Bro Dr Graham Moller PDGM, RW Bro Paul Schultz AGM and the respective officers, the Grand Lodge was opened in ample form.

Under the guidance of RW Bro Joshua Newman GDC, fifteen leaders of associated Orders were admitted in groups of five, each being welcomed by the Grand Master with brevity and sincerity. This was going to be a packed program, so time efficiency was definitely going to be the order of the day.

With great pomp and ceremony, the Grand Master received and gave welcome to:

• Order of DeMolay for the Philippines, led by the Grand Master MW Bro Hon Raymund Joseph Ian ‘Raji’ O Mendoza.
• The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for Australia, led by the Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council, Most Powerful Brother Gregg Summerhayes 33°.
• The Order of the Secret Monitor for the Sovereign State of NSW & ACT, led by the Grand Supreme Ruler of the Grand Council, MW Bro Stephen Hayne.
• The United Supreme Grand Chapter of Mark & Royal Arch Masons of NSW & ACT, led by the First Grand Principal and Grand Master, Most Excellent Companion Robert Drake.
• MW Bro Andrey Bogdanov, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Russia.
• MW Bro Earl Smith, Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Japan.
• MW Bro Jeffery Harper AFSM, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Queensland.
• MW Bro Daniel Ganon, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Western Australia.
• MW Bro Luke Wood, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Tasmania.
• MW Bro Anthony Bucca, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Victoria.
• MW Bro William Merrill, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of South Australia and Northern Territory.
• MW Bro James Watt, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand.
• MW Bro Ariel T Cayanan, Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines.

NOTE: By total coincidence, the author shared breakfast with MW Bro Cayanan across the street in the Queen Victoria Building earlier in the day. MW Bro Cayanan was here with 60 of his brethren to support and celebrate with the GM-elect, RW Bro Khris Albano DGM. As we all know RW Bro Albano commenced his masonic journey in the Philippines and MW Bro Cayanan was keen to show the support of RW Bro Albano’s mother Grand Lodge. MW Bro Cayanan is about halfway through his one-year term of office and sees it as his full-time job until late April/early May 2025.

Also, present was MW Bro Alister Fleming, Past Provincial Grand Master, Lanarkshire Upper Ward, Grand Lodge of Scotland, IPM of Lodge Biggar Free Operatives No 167 (next year celebrating its 300th year anniversary).

After a stirring musical interlude showing the tonality and magnificence of the town hall organ, the Grand Installation Ceremony began to play out along very similar lines to the installation ceremonies in private lodges.

Led by bagpipes, the Grand Master Elect entered the Grand Lodge in procession, and was presented by his sponsors: MW Bro Dr Gregory Levenston and MW Bro Derek Robson AM CMH

After taking and sealing the obligation of Grand Master, RW Bro Khris Albano was invested with the apron, chain and jewel of his office, and he was proclaimed Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT. The assembled brethren then paid due homage, and MW Bro James Melville delivered the Address to the Grand Master.

Following another musical piece on the organ, Bro Daniel Tambasco of Lodge Galileo No 1019 added to the ceremony with a beautiful rendition of Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring. RW Bro Paul Schultz was admitted, duly invested and proclaimed as Deputy Grand Master, and was placed in his seat to the right of the Grand Master.

This was followed by RW Bro John Jacobson OAM OStJ being invested and proclaimed as Assistant Grand Master, and took his seat to the left of the Grand Master.

Following another musical interlude, there came the investiture of the Grand Wardens: RW Bro Joshua Newman was invested as Grand Senior Warden and VW Bro Roland Martinez as Junior Grand Warden. Both then took their places as Wardens in the Grand Lodge.

The officers of Grand Lodge and the leaders of the various committees of Grand Lodge were then invested by the Grand Master, the Deputy Grand Master and the Assistant Grand Master according to their office.

MW Bro Derek Robson AM CMH delivered the familiar address to the brethren. This was followed by a short address by MW Bro Les Hicks IPGM.

The address by MW Bro Khris Albano as Grand Master can be read in full in this issue of Freemason or here https://bit.ly/3CICnrU

MW Bro Daniel Ganon, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Western Australia presented greetings on behalf of sister Grand Lodges.

At various times throughout the ceremony, those attending were entertained by choral works, singers, trumpeters and bagpipers as well as the organ of Sydney Town Hall.

The Grand Lodge was closed and as the Grand Master retired from the hall he was joined by his wife, Mrs Caroline Albano.

The new Grand Master’s theme is Humility – Integrity – Harmony.