Brethren: Greetings for November.

1. Utah Grand Jurisdiction Membership Petition: Sent to you under separate cover is a copy of the updated membership petition for this jurisdiction and a letter of explanation. Please replace all past versions of the petition with this new one. You can personalize it with your lodge logo etc. but please keep all questions and the order in which they are listed in tact.
2. The nut orders many of you placed have been processed and will be available for pick up the second week of November. If any of you are interested, we may have some extra for sale in the GL office after all orders have been sent in.
3. Rocky Mountain Lodge No. 11 took it upon themselves to do a public open house for their lodge on a Friday night. They did some advertising and got some good press in the local paper. The evening was a great success and I commend Worshipful Master Jerry Devenish, his wife Samantha and all the lodge officers who participated. Although there were only about 20 or so members of the public who came, at least 6 or 7 men expressed an interest in joining and showed our Tooele brethren that there is a great interest in Masonry in the smaller communities. I know Ashley Lodge in Vernal is planning an open house and I would ask all lodges consider doing so.
4. I remind you again that the deadline for the Masonic Hall of Fame award is December 20th 2005. Remember this award, sponsored by one of our Blue Lodges, is given by the Grand Lodge of Utah to someone, though not a member of the Masonic Fraternity, contributes to his community and society in such a way as exemplifies a true Masonic spirit. Please consider participating in this program as a lodge.
5. The Masonic Foundation Luncheon is on Wednesday, November 9th. If you wish to attend, please call the Grand Lodge office asap to make a reservation.
6. The Grand Lodge laid the cornerstone of St. George Lodge No. 33’s new lodge building on Saturday October 29th. We commend the members of St. George Lodge for their dedication and efforts. We also commend the lodge members for proving that a Masonic Lodge doesn’t necessarily refer to a building. The members of St. George Lodge have met in several different locations over the years and have proven it is the brotherhood and fellowship that make a lodge – not the physical building.

Brethren, I have mentioned in the past that I believe Masonry in Utah, and indeed in North America is experiencing a renewed interest and growth. People are searching for what we have to offer. I ask that our lodges pay particular attention to properly investigating possible candidates and to educating those candidates that are elected and who receive the degrees. The best way to ensure the success of our Fraternity is to provide as much education on Masonry as your members can absorb. We are the caretakers of a great institution and we should take pride in passing on our knowledge. And it’s OK to have fun while we practice and teach our craft.

Congratulations to all the newly elected and appointed (or soon to be elected and appointed) officers for the 2006 Masonic year.

Fraternally,

Ridgely H. Gilmour
Grand Master