Noted Masonic Author Worshipful Brother Dr. Richard Johnson, PPrSGD, Cumberland & Westmorland, United Grand Lodge of England, and Honorary Member of Wasatch Lodge #1 F&AM was the Visiting Commentator at the 133rd Grand Lodge Communication for the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Utah. His speech has been made available publically, and he has granted that it may may be used freely by Utah Masons and other Masons as they see fit; however he retains the copyright, and requires that the source be acknowledged in all copies.

Worshipful Brother Dr. Richard Johnson’s Commentary

Most Worshipful Grand Master - it is my pleasure and privilege to bring you hearty and fraternal greetings from the United Grand Lodge of England, Wales and its Provinces overseas; and especially from the Most Worshipful Grand Master - HRH Edward, Duke of Kent; my Provincial Grand Master - RWB John Hale (the most senior PrGM in England); and the Master of my lodge Brigantes, WB Dr George Hayhurst. I am sure that they would join with me and all your other guests and visitors in congratulating you, MWGM, on attaining the Chair; and also in wishing you, your Officers and indeed all of the brethren of the Grand Lodge of Utah a very happy and successful year ahead.

In your comments this evening and this afternoon, MWGM, you referred to the universal and worldwide nature of Freemasonry and also touched on the historical perspective and, as you are aware, I am going to present a short address concerning both. You have requested me to make a brief, underlined brief, introduction to the address, and I will therefore limit my comments to only two aspects of the background to the address.

Firstly, 300 years ago we wouldn’t be here today. I don’t mean we weren’t born yet - we weren’t; nor that this Masonic building did not exist - it didn’t; nor the lack of a Salt Lake City and a State of Utah. I mean that there were no Grand Lodges anywhere in the world, and therefore no Grand Masters to install. All lodges at that time operated independently.

And then in 1717 in London, England, 4 independent lodges met “to elect from among their number a Grand Master to preside over them and to call a quarterly assembly”. The brother elected was Anthony Sayer, gentleman, and the English Grand Lodge still holds its assemblies quarterly.

The acknowledged principal Masonic architect of the time was undoubtedly Sir Christopher Wren, who since the Great Fire of London in 1666 had been rebuilding the city - not only St Paul’s Cathedral, but almost another 200 churches and many other public buildings besides. The 4 lodges met because they “were feeling neglected by Sir Christopher”; however, he was 85 at the time, he had been rebuilding London for 51 consecutive years and, if he wanted to lighten his workload a little, then he has my sympathies.

Secondly, in all dynamic, living organisms there is going to be evolution and there is going to be change - but please manage them carefully. England had several Grand Lodges, but the main rival to the first one was the Antients’ Grand Lodge, founded in 1751, and for over 60 years the Antients and the Moderns - as the first Grand Lodge became known, vied neck and neck to warrant new lodges - around 1,000 in this period. And then in 1813 after lengthy discussions the two amalgamated to become United Grand Lodge.

It was good that our Masonry was back under one roof, but then came one of the saddest decisions in the history of English Freemasonry. It was decided, in the name of unity, that all lodges should work to a common format. Those aspects that both previous Grand Lodges had been operating were almost universally retained; those aspects that only one Grand Lodge had been operating but not the other were almost universally rejected, and overnight some of the oldest and most beautiful parts of the English ritual were virtually eliminated. I say virtually, because while the policing in and around London was very strict - it was close to headquarters - further afield some of the oldest lodges managed to retain at least some of their original workings.

My lodge, Brigantes, has as one of its aims to seek out and preserve these old parts of ritual that are being worked by fewer and fewer lodges, especially where they are still relevant to a 21st Century lodge. Last year while visiting a lodge in East Anglia celebrating its 125th birthday, the Provincial Grand Chaplain read out an old address that I had not heard before. He is still researching which lodges used it and in what era. It may have been one of those items that were discarded in 1813, but as it stands it is most appropriate for an installation meeting, as it serves to remind the lodge members - and also their families and friends - of the purpose and some aspects of a Masonic lodge, and I would like to share it with you tonight.

“Ancient Address (East Anglia - George Piper, PrGChaplain, Suffolk)

May our Lodge always be a stepping stone and not a stumbling block. May the door of our Lodge always be open to the qualified, from which light streams into the dark world beyond - a beacon for our visitors, a refuge for the distressed, always ready to be opened to those who knock and seek, and held in high estimation by our fellow citizens. Above all, may our Lodge be a haven for our members, a safe harbour amidst the world’s tempestuous hue and cry, for a Mason’s secret lies in this - Brotherly Love - “I was a stranger here, and you took me in.”

May the windows of our Lodge let in the light of God’s revealed truth, illuminating faith, hope and charity, making them clearly evident and visible. May the pillars of our Lodge support us in all our lawful undertakings; may its roof shield us from adversity; and may its walls be a protection from the cares and concerns of the world beyond. May we thus always be able to sit down together in warm fraternal concord and unanimity.

Remember that our Lodge, as with any building, stands or falls by the unity of its separate and conjoint significations. Each and every member is a vital part of the whole. No one part, be it beam or buttress, brick or tile, is greater or less than another, for while the chimney rises high above the rest of the structure, the foundation - though unseen - supports everything. It may be said that the highest is he who performs his part the best he can, and not necessarily he who holds the most exalted position.

Thus our Lodge should represent the wider world, as we would wish that world could be. To keep it so, we must carefully maintain it as our forefathers have transmitted it to us - by the practice of every moral and social virtue. The prosperity of our Lodge depends upon our regular attendance, and for each member to perform - to the best of his abilities - all that is required of him.

And may God grant us health and strength to support and sustain each other, and bring about an increase of every happy, prosperous and useful Lodge - (and let me add for tonight) - within the Grand Lodge of Utah and worldwide.”

© 2005 Dr Richard Johnson, PPrSGD, C&W, UGLE