Our heartfelt thanks are extended to all who have contributed in making the task at hand one of much satisfaction and great joy. I surely did ‘Welcome the Challenge’ and am most ‘Grateful for the Opportunity.’

I believe that the promotion of a ‘Back to Basics’ theme, these past 21 months, has served to complement our Grand Lodge, Strategic Plan 2001 - 2006 and has dovetailed many of the initiatives that have evolved through our planning meetings. As we forge ‘full steam ahead’ in the planning stages to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of our Grand Lodge, I am reminded that our jurisdiction is most fortunate to have dynamic Masons who chair and serve your committees with great enthusiasm, zeal and attachment. This past January some thirty members gathered at Crieff Hills Conference Centre to measure the effects of the strategic plan to-date, then set to work in the development of a Strategic Plan 2003 - 2008. One issue that arose concerned the term ‘Improper Solicitation’ - and - if that exists, then arguably, so may the term ‘Proper Solicitation’. One might ask, what denotes ‘Solicitation’?

Booklet zero provides a satisfactory answer and I quote, in part, "We do not have a written policy that prohibits solicitation but we do have a system that discourages direct recruitment. This tradition has become an unwritten rule probably unique to our Order . . . Our tradition of non solicitation should not be interpreted as a prohibition to discussing Masonry with others. We should feel free to do so and particularly with someone who has expressed an interest in our Order. Neither should we hesitate in arousing the interest of someone considered to be a potential suitable applicant. A Mason need not remain silent if a non member expresses an interest in Masonry or enquires about the nature or objectives of the Order, its history, philosophy or its activities. He may explain the qualifications required, or the application procedure, should the situation warrant. The first step might be to provide the pamphlet ‘What is Freemasonry’ (also the videotape ‘Friend to Friend’ now available) . . . Neither does the rule of non solicitation prevent us from initiating a proper discussion on Masonry . . . There is no objection to determining his attitude or interest in such a manner that we do not solicit his membership . . . In each situation, circumstances and the relationship with the potential candidate can dictate what might be taken as persuasion. At all times, however, we must remember that the future prospects are much brighter for all concerned when the candidate can say with sincerity that he comes of his own free will."

With a decline in membership there is sometimes an attempt to find a quick fix resulting in a band-aid solution. Let us always stand ready to identify oneself as a Mason and proudly discuss the philosophy and objectives of our time-honoured fraternity with anyone, particularly a potential suitable applicant. We must, however, be vigilant in our basic belief that men should seek Masonry and NOT that Masonry should seek Men. Let us attract new members by example, by the day to day living of the principals and high moral standards that Masonry sets for us and by our good deeds in the community at which we reside. We often see the bumper sticker ‘ To be one - Ask one’, however, if our friends, workmates and neighbours don’t know that we Are One, how can they ask?

Let each of us seize every opportunity to tell others that we are Masons and proud to belong to the oldest and finest fraternity in the world today. As the planted seeds of Spring sprout, mature and bear fruit through the gardener’s tender care. Then we too might bear fruit and thrive by the seeds we sow as Masons.