To the Members of the Global Fraternal Network and to all my Masonic Brethren World-Wide:
Address of The Most Worshipful Vincent Libone, Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York, at the 229th Annual Communication of Grand Lodge, in the Grand Lodge Room, Masonic Hall, New York City, Tuesday, May 4, 2010.
Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master, Most Worshipful Past Grand Masters, my colleagues of the Grand Lodge, Brethren, Ladies and Honored Guests. As I assume the Office of Grand Master, I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation to M:.W:.Earle J. Hino, Jr., Past Grand Master and to all of our Right Worshipful Grand Chaplains for the dignifying and inspirational installation of our Grand Lodge Officers, which will be a lasting memory in my Masonic life.
To our Most Worshipful Past Grand Masters... your confidence in me and your continued support, which you have all expressed, will directly influence my commitment to our Masonic ideals and teachings. Your encouragement is a source to inspire my every energy to reach those lofty goals of accomplishment for the betterment of our Grand Lodge and the Masonic Fraternity.
The dream of yesterday, that impossible dream has in fact become a true reality. As your Grand Master, I have accepted the enormous mantel of responsibility, which has been endured by 102 of my predecessors in office. It is an awesome charge of which I take very seriously. As I had promised just a moment ago upon that very Altar, I will endeavor to perform my duties as your Grand Master in a dignified and impartial manner for the absolute benefit of our beloved Craft. As you can quite imagine, with overseeing some 540 Lodges and 60 Districts throughout the State, the office of Grand Master encompasses many responsibilities. It is a most demanding office. But to really know the magnitude of the job, you must be in it. Over the past year, I got a small taste of what the job was all about. As the saying goes, you need to walk a mile in the other man's shoes.
Etched upon my mind for all time, I shall never forget the humbling feeling of kneeling at that Altar and placing my hands upon the Holy Bible upon which the Father of our Country, Worshipful Brother George Washington, took the solemn oath of office as the First President of our great Nation. This momentous occasion compels me to pledge my stalwart allegiance to the values and tenets of our beloved Fraternity.
To the Worshipful Master and Trustees of Saint John's Lodge No. One, I extend my gratitude and deep appreciation for providing me with the opportunity to be installed upon this National Treasure and for allowing the newly installed Grand Lodge Officers the privilege and honor of sharing in a significant piece of our National Heritage. Please stand and be recognized. Thank you so very much. To my beloved wife Ginny and my family, I know in my heart and thoughts that without your support and encouragement I would not be standing here on this auspicious day. I am eternally grateful.
Most Worshipful Gary Henningsen, Past Grand Master and Past Grand Secretary Emeritus, you have been a close Brother and confidential friend for many years. You provide sound and helpful advice like a favorite Dutch-uncle, giving me encouragement and keeping me on the right path. You have always been a wise visionary with the future of our Craft at heart. I look forward to our working together toward that future.
RW Brother Gilbert Savitzky, our Grand Secretary, RW Brother Richard Bateman, our Assistant Grand Secretary and General Manager, as well as all of the Staff of the Grand Secretary's office are to be complimented and congratulated for their untiring efforts to ensure that our Annual Communication runs smoothly and is a big success.
The Grand Lodge Convention Committee under the Chairmanship of RW Brother Kurt Ott has once again accomplished the monumental task of coordinating everything related to the convention, from booking Hotels, to reserving Banquet Halls, arranging transportation and entertainment, and making sure that everyone is comfortable and well cared for. This year's convention was flawless and we owe a great debt of gratitude to you and your committee.
A special word of thanks needs to be said to a great group of guys and their ladies, who you might say have traveled with me to the moon and back. That's right, talk about taking one giant step for mankind, my traveling brothers affectionately known as my Van Guys have clocked some serious mileage over the past two years. Without my Van Guys the streets of New York can be very lonely, and I would like at this time to recognize and thank R\W\Robert and Marge Servidio, R\W\Dennis and Anne Feldman, and R\W\George and Maureen Emmons. It is now my distinct pleasure to express my sincere thanks to a special Brother to whom I have the highest respect, a Brother who although he has trimmed down some over the past year, is still bigger than life. He is both a joy to work with and to know. He is the real thing, a genuine Brother, a Mason's Mason, and he is my best friend... Most Worshipful Edward G. Gilbert, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your friendship and the kindness that you and Helen have shown to Ginny and I over our long and tedious journey together. I will cherish our unique friendship this day and forever more.
Before I move further into the body of my remarks, there is one special person and brother to whom I owe a great debt of gratitude. Someone who said without hesitation or mental reservation whatsoever that "I can do it." Someone who ignited that spark in my soul to strive for the "Impossible Dream". And that special someone, my friend, my mentor, my brother, my Grand Master: Most Worshipful Stewart C. McCloud.
I know he is looking down from that House not made with Hands and he is saying loud and clear, "I told you that if you put your heart and soul into it, you can do it." Thank you Stew! Thank you my dear old friend... Over the past several weeks, the Grand Lodge Leadership and Educational Services Committee has conducted several training sessions for our new District Deputy Grand Masters and Grand Lodge Staff Officers; so that in the days and weeks ahead they each can hit the road running. I can say with assurance that every member of this new team of officers enjoyed the training and have shown that they have the drive and momentum to see their respective duties fulfilled. I became excited just watching the new Grand Lodge Officers and the Committeemen working with them. Their zeal and enthusiasm was quite catching. The Chairman, RW Brother Marino Cesarini and his entire Committee are to be commended and congratulated for an outstanding program. But it does not stop there. A year ago under the direction of Most Worshipful Edward G. Gilbert, a new Regional Pilot Training Program for Lodge Masters was successfully launched by the Grand Lodge Leadership and Educational Services Committee. The program is called "The Master's Chair" and its purpose is to ensure that every Worshipful Master, upon entering office, is familiar with all the tools that he will need to assist him in successfully achieving his goals and objectives to be a good Master. There are two distinct parts to what we are trying to accomplish: The first part teaches the incoming Masters about the "nuts and bolts" of the Master's Station. The second part, which is the most important part of the equation, is to instill in each Master the desire to do the job properly and wholeheartedly.
The Master's Chair Program is to be a statewide component under the auspices of the Grand Lodge Leadership and Educational Services Committee at no additional cost. I trust that every Lodge and District will take full advantage of this opportunity to avail themselves of this new program, whose sole aim is to help their officers improve themselves in Masonry
My Brethren, Ladies and Friends, as I traveled around this great Empire State, many have questioned me as to how I would conduct my term and what programs I would or would not support. Well as my immediate predessor so eloquently said in his Address, I would insure the continuity of our programs for the continued success of our Grand Lodge well into the future. I especially intend to put the full weight of my office behind two of MW Ed Gilbert's most successful programs, which are the "Half-Century Apron" and the Surviving Spouse and Loved Ones Program.
In meeting with the Grand Master's and Deputy Grand Master's Advisory Committee, the Finance Committee and reading the Annual Reports of the various Committees of Grand Lodge, I will be accessing the functionality and objectives of our committees to identify any overlapping of responsibilities or redundancies that may exist. In some cases, we may need to consider taking steps to consolidate, revamp or trim expenses involving certain committees. However, before any such changes take place I will sit down and talk to all the parties involved so that we can make an informed and sound decision, which is in the best interest of our Fraternity and the Craft.
I have been a member of this Craft for some 37 years and have traveled far and wide throughout the Empire State and throughout the World, where I have had the pleasure of visiting many ornate and extraordinary Masonic Temples, Buildings and Halls. And although I have been in this very room countless number of times, each time I enter this room or this Masonic Hall I marvel at the exquisite beauty and majesty that surrounds me within these hallowed halls. The corner of Sixth Avenue and Twenty-Third Street in Manhattan, historically known as the Ladies Mile, a renowned turn of the century fashion and shopping district, has been the home of this Grand Lodge since 1870. Two Masonic Buildings occupied this same parcel of land in the years prior to the construction of what has affectionately become known as our New York Masonic Hall today. Next year marks the Centennial Anniversary of the ground breaking for the construction of the Masonic Building that faces 23rd Street. In anticipation of that august event the Trustees of the Masonic Hall and Home are actively engaged in planning a festive celebration for our fraternity and the community to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of our Masonic Hall. I stand one-hundred percent behind their effort to champion this inclusive project, and I am appealing to every Lodge, District and Mason to join with me in giving the Trustees our support.In conclusion, let me leave you with this important thought. I have selected for my motto as your Grand Master a simple three letter word: FIT. It is an acronym that represents the three core ideals of Masonry, which are F for Faith; I for Integrity; and T for Trust. * As Masons we are resolute in our Faith in God. * As Masons we are taught to be honest and dignified - men of Integrity. * As Masons we Trust one another, and derived strength from our convictions. Bearing this motto in mind, we as a fraternity should always strive to be FIT, not just physically and mentally, but FIT Masonically.
As I come to the end of my remarks, I wish to commend our retiring Grand Line Officers, your untiring devotion to detail and duty are second to none. We have developed strong bonds of friendship over the last two years, and I do not look at this day as saying good-bye, but rather it is a day to always remember good friends.
To our newly-elected and appointed Grand Lodge Officers, we will all assume our respective duties with our usual competence and vitality. Welcome to your new Masonic family.
I believe in my heart of hearts that this has been truly a wonderful communication. It has been made wonderful by the participation of so many outstanding friends, family and Masons. I thank everyone for your attendance and for everything that you have done to make this event such a joy and a success. Join with me, your Grand Lodge Officers and all of the Brethren of our Illustrious Craft for the benefit of all mankind. Remember don't be just FIT, be Masonically FIT.
May God Bless and Protect each of You.
Thank you.
MW Vincent Libone
Grand Master