04/03/2024
Grand Lodge Session…..Why You Must Go…
There are many reasons to attend Grand Lodge Session and in this article I hope to cover some of those that have appealed to me and hopefully will encourage you, to attend if you have not yet or haven’t in a while.
Attend because you gave your word you would, in the ritual of election and installation every December (in New York), you swore you would attend every meeting of the Grand Lodge when called to do so officially and when given timely notice. The Proclamation as always went out in January or February, a full 4 or 5 months prior to session and let’s be honest Session is the same time approximately every year, so you were aware it was coming.
During your obligation you swore to answer and obey all due signs and summonses and an official proclamation from the Grandmaster to come do the work of the Craft and attend Grand Session is a summoned communication. Unless your health or usual vocation calls you away and makes it impossible to attend, you have no other reason to ignore this summons and not come do your duty.
Attend if you are a principal officer of your lodge, it is your responsibility to be present and argue on behalf of and vote the will of your lodge on all legislative and electoral matters that come before the Grand Session. And you knew this before you were elected to that office, and you were reminded in December when installed to that office.
Attend if you are a Past Master or just a brother of the lodge, because you have a responsibility to be present when so many important decisions are made, reports are read and votes are held regarding an organization that has meant so much to you and our entire community for over 225 years.
Attend because every important issue that faces our Grand Lodge can be brought up at Session, will be brought up at Session, debated on and those decisions and policies, either way, will be made at Grand Lodge Session, and you don’t want to be absent when those things happen.
I know you may not want to hear this, as we all live very busy lives, but please give Annual Grand Lodge Session the full two (2) days, do not rush home halfway thru the second day. There are 365 days in the year, there are only two where you are summoned by your Grandmaster to come debate, argue, hear about, discuss and vote on the business of your Grand Lodge. I know you may have to pay for one more night at the hotel, but staying to the end of Session is your duty and worth it, please give it its due.
Attend and remember every year is an election year. Every year you will vote on those who will lead your organization for the next many years, but especially during those years where a new Grandmaster will be elected and the elected line moves forward, you must stay the entire second day. For surely there will be a runoff for a position or two that will shape our collective future, and if you did not respect it and give it its full due, you may be disappointed that you gave up your rights and got an outcome you didn’t want or that you feel is bad for our beloved organization.
An example for you to ponder….In 2012 a new Grand Master was elected and the Grand line progressed and there was an open seat with no incumbent for Junior Grand Warden. 6 candidates ran for the office and 463 brothers voted. The first-place candidate got 23% of the vote and the second-place candidate got 21% of the vote. The two top vote getters advanced on to a runoff election less than two hours later that afternoon. This time only 347 brothers voted and the second-place candidate defeated the candidate who came in first place in the first round and thus history was made. But take note that 116 brothers left between the first-round election and the runoff election, in effect giving their votes away and who knows if they could have made a difference if they had stayed
If you don’t attend, you can’t complain about a policy enacted that you disagree with, or regarding a suspension that has been sustained for a brother you respect, or argue about the budget of the Grand Lodge when it was presented and debated at Grand Lodge Session. How can you speak against, when you had a chance to vote for or against a change in our ritual that you deeply believe in, when the chance to have input came and went at Session and you were home. How can you support or oppose a bylaw change for your lodge or other lodges if you weren’t there.
How can you help convince the craft and argue your position and motivate the brothers of the righteousness of your cause or belief. How can you propose a change or addition to our constitution or statues, unite likeminded brothers and present that proposal for consideration by the full body of the craft at Grand Session if you are home. And how can you argue about the leadership that we have, or don’t have, when you had the chance to talk to them, to ask them the important questions and vote to support their or someone else’s road to the Grand East.
Our present is decided at Grand Lodge Session.
Our policies are decided at Grand Lodge Session.
Our leaders are decided at Grand Lodge Session.
Our future is decided at Grand Lodge Session.
Those who keep their word, who obey the obligation they took, who answer The Grandmasters summons, who love their lodges and faithfully represent their will, who truly value this organization that they have dedicated so much of their lives too, which has been a beacon in our community since the beginning of this country….they will be those who will set the terms, and make the decisions that will decide our present, our policies, our leaders and our future.
Answer the call, be in that important number, register, attend, fully participate to the end and I look forward to seeing you at this year’s 178th Annual Grand Lodge Session of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New York.
Your brother,
R:.W:. Kevin P. Wardally 33°
Junior Grand Warden – MWPHGL of NY
Past Master of Adelphic Union Lodge #14
