I am humbled and honoured to have been installed as the Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Newfoundland and Labrador for the upcoming year. Thank you for the faith you have placed in me.

“Our Raison D’Être” is what I have chosen as my theme. Raison d’être refers to our reason for being or our purpose. What keeps us coming back to Chapter and why we enjoy Chapter are questions we should ask ourselves. Our answers may help keep our involvement and interest alive. And, hopefully, in discussing our raison d’être with other Companions, our Chapters will grow and prosper. Our responses may also help us to encourage other Masons to join Chapter.

There are numerous reasons for our involvement. For some, the main reason for involvement is the personal growth and self-improvement achieved through the lessons taught. For others, it may be the camaraderie or friendships that are developed. Spirituality may be the driving force for others. For most of us, it is a combination of reasons that lead us to become involved and remain involved in Chapter.

As we travel together through the upcoming year, I look forward to visiting our six constituent Chapters, rekindling old friendships and forming new ones. In my visits, I will be asking Companions to always remind themselves about the positive things that keep them involved and interested in our craft. It is by reminding ourselves about the positives of belonging to our Chapters that our Chapters will grow and flourish.

I wish to extend thanks to those who have agreed to taking on Grand Chapter offices and positions on the Board of General Purposes for the upcoming year. I look forward to working cooperatively with Grand Chapter Officers and the Board of General Purposes as we all look to growing and improving our individual Chapters as well as Grand Chapter.

Holiness to the Lord.

M. Ex. Comp. Al Skanes, GHP

Grand Chapter of Newfoundland and Labrador