Message from RW Bro Walter H. Scott

Address to Communication of District Grand Lodge of Jamaica and The Cayman Islands
on January 18, 2014

Brethren,

Please accept my heartiest welcome to this the Annual Investiture Communication of our District. I am delighted to see so many of you here. Thank you for your continued commitment to the Craft in this District.

As a District, we continue to be honoured and privileged to have as our special guests:

• R.W. Bro. Peter Cole, a Past District Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge of the Bahamas and Turks.
• R.W. Bro. Peter Stuart, the Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Jamaica and the Bahamas and his delegation.
• Bro. Keith Scott a Past Depute District Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge of Jamaica and his deputation inclusive of Bro. Trevor Christian, himself a Past Depute District Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge of Jamaica.

I also offer a very special welcome to R.W. Bro. Afeef Lazarus, our revered and beloved Past District Grand Master.

Brethren, I will not be long this evening as we have just had a moving and most poignant tribute to W. Bro. Dr. K. Orrin Barrow from W. Bro. The Hon. David Muirhead, O.J, P.C, Q.C.

I urge you all to use the example of the Masonic life of W. Bro. Dr. Barrow as a pattern for imitation for our own Masonic lives. Committed, dedicated and faithful to the Craft, its principles, tenets, values and way of life, his Masonic life was one truly worthy of emulation. If we who are left behind under the canopy of heaven are able to live such quality Masonic lives, then we too may be blessed to be summoned “to the Grand Lodge above, where the world’s great Architect lives and reigns for ever”.

Last year January at the Annual Investiture meeting, I advised that the policy of United Grand Lodge of England is that “its Provincial and District Grand Masters would not ordinarily hold office for longer than 10 years.”

One practical consequence of its policy is that the subordinate High Rulers will serve for shorter terms of office. Last year W. Bro. Dr. Basil Robinson, at his request, retired as Assistant District Grand Master. He was replaced by W. Bro. Russell Hammond, who has already done an admirable job as his successor.

The process of change continues.

This year W. Bro. Harding Overton Watler has retired. He was appointed Assistant District Grand Master in 2003. To say merely that he has served well in that office, is to grossly understate the value of his work, worth and contribution to this District. He has been a tireless worker for the cause of English Freemasonry in the Cayman Islands in particular and in this District in general.

He has been loyal, supportive, dedicated. He has encouraged, cajoled when necessary, and led the Brethren in the Cayman Islands to be amongst the finest group of Brethren and Lodges under the banner of the United Grand Lodge of England worldwide. No praise of him can or ever will be too generous.

Brethren, it has been my very special pleasure to have installed W. Bro. Ernest Bodden as Assistant Grand Master this evening. He will now lead in the Cayman Islands. He is most able and dedicated. His personality is different from that of Harding’s but his mettle is just as firm. May I urge you all to give him your unqualified support.

Finally, on this note of change R. W. Bro. David Kenneth Williamson has retired as Assistant Grand Master. He was installed as such in March 2001. He is succeeded by V.W. Bro. Sir David Wootton who will be installed as Assistant Grand Master on 12 March 2014.

During the course of this evening it has been my pleasure to have appointed or promoted a number of you. I am grateful for your willingness to serve. These appointments and promotions are as a result of very hard work by you in your Lodges. It provides an opportunity for you to be shining examples of diligence, hard work and dedication to the Craft in your Lodges. By so doing, not only will you prove yourselves worthy beneficiaries of the appointments and/or promotions, but you will increase the value and worth of your several Lodges. You now are amongst the senior leaders in your Lodges.

Brethren, I will close by thanking the District Grand Director of Ceremonies and his team for their very hard work in arranging and conducting our very efficient ceremonies today; the District Grand Secretary and his staff for organising such a wonderful meeting; and the District Grand Stewards Lodge for its continued tremendous hard work and support for the District.

Walter H. Scott, Q.C.
District Grand Master of Jamaica &
The Cayman Islands
18 January, 2014