Grand Chapter of Maryland

 

 

ME Companion G. Andrew Martinez
Grand High Priest 2023-2024

First, thank you all for this opportunity to serve Royal Arch Freemasonry in Maryland. It is a true honor, one by which I am truly humbled. I follow in the footsteps of the Grand High Priests who came before me, and thus I see farther by standing on the shoulders of those giants.

I hope that in the months ahead I can inspire men who are not active in their Chapters to get involved in some capacity (and I necessarily do not mean ritual.) Much of the work in Freemasonry is falling on the shoulders of fewer and fewer men. We all should be constantly carrying up our work for inspection and that means pitching in and helping out when and where we can. If your Chapter is operating with only 1 or 2 men at the helm, I encourage you to step up and see what piece of the work, no matter how small, you can assist with to lessen their burden. You might just make a lifelong friend. Shared experiences are what the story of human interaction is all about – the story of our Masonic tribe so to speak.

In the upcoming year, I will be visiting every Chapter, most likely more than once, to assist when I can and to welcome new Brothers as Companions. I will be using the Grand Visitations to continue presenting Chapter Service Awards, so it will be helpful if Chapters can get awardees to those visitations so that we can all celebrate together.

Our Royal Arch Chapters are the front line of the York Rite. To that end, we must continue to improve our ritual. Assistance is available and your Grand Chapter is constantly looking at new ways to help in this department. No Chapter should feel alone. Our leaders should not feel like they are talking to a Wilson volleyball on a deserted island. It is critical that each Chapter proves its viability for its longevity and that means creating depth in the chairs and being able to open for business and conduct degree work proficiently. If your Chapter is not quite there, we will get you there. Again, we are all in this together.

To that point, currently, 10% of Masons in Maryland are Royal Arch Masons. I firmly believe every Mason should be a Royal Arch Mason. Only by improving our ritual and strengthening our Chapters can we grow our ranks to 15, 20, or 25% of the current number of Masons in Maryland. Again, our Royal Arch Chapters are the front line, and what each of us does shapes a Brother’s decision of whether or not to participate in the York Rite.

I will be also looking for YOUR feedback throughout the year as to how YOUR Grand Chapter can help YOU and what you feel we can collectively do to improve the Royal Arch experience. There will be programs offered throughout the upcoming Capitular year to help bring us together as one Maryland Royal Arch. Please subscribe to The Keystone newsletter to stay up to date on these events.

God bless and thank you all again for this opportunity to serve.

G. Andrew Martinez
Most Excellent Grand High Priest

Why Become a Royal Arch Mason Flyer – Print 2 sides, flip short edge

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