Most of us in our Masonic careers have had the opportunity of becoming leaders. At that moment in time, we probably ask the question,” Am I a leader?” Or maybe, you ask yourself, why did they ask me to lead? You then looked around the room and saw what you consider many more qualified men than you.

In the scheme are of things, you have had some minor role on a committee or guided a successful programme, or had an office in one of the Masonic lines. In your mind, this certainly does not give you the qualifications to assume a major leadership role. It is at this point you regressed back to a time when you were first asked to join a lodge of Masons. When you finally made that decision, you had a vague idea of what the fraternity was all about. You had done some minimal research and decided whether or not this research gave you the impetus to ask to join.

Having been elected as your Most Excellent Grand High Priest, I too find myself in the same position as that new officer being appointed for the first time to a position of importance and responsibility.

I now have a truly universal question, what do I bring to the table to qualify me as your leader? This is a question, that is a pivotal point, upcoming leaders should ask themselves, (I certainly do) for it is here we will find, we will be calling upon not only our experiences in the past, but will realise that one cannot be a leader and lead by himself.

From an entered apprentice to that of becoming a grand officer, I have had the opportunity of leadership in many of our Masonic bodies. As I have progressed, I have the good fortune of having mentors guide me along the way. These mentors were brothers and friends who, in their own experience and wisdom, took the time to guide me.

I have reached my eightieth year and still seek out mentors to assure and teach me that I am attaining the proper goals and to reassure me of attaining my level of leadership required of my position.

As you read this, you will realise it is a continuation of my previous article on mentoring. We all must be cognisant of the fact we are never too old to learn or to ask advice. It is so important that we all take an aggressive role in recognizing our potential roles as mentors.

Having been elected and installed, I have proceeded to reach out to all of the officers of the grand line, the District Deputy Grand High Priests, as well as the companions as a whole to be my mentors. We are, or should become a team of Mentors to each other. This concept will help instruct, and guide our new members as well as our chapters, and assure a strong cadre of leaders at all levels.

My phone and my e-mail are always available to you for constructive criticism or ideas.

Together, let us have a great year!

Fraternally,

/s/

Chuck Horwitz

Click here to email Chuck.

Official Visits currently scheduled [click the chapter name for its address and meeting time]:

 

date                   13 September 14 September 16-17 Sep 25 September 25 September 26 September 28 September 2 October 7-9 October 14 October 6 November

event                                                                                                                                                           Official visit to Evanston Chapter No. 144 at Evanston Official visit to Wilmette Chapter No. 253 at somewhere other than Wilmette Kentucky Grand Sessions? Capitular festival at DeKalb Grand Chapter officers meeting at DeKalb at approximately 2:00 p.m. Reception for MEGHP Horwitz & REGC/MEPGHP Hileman at Medinah Shrine in Addison Official visit to La Fayette Chapter No. 2 at Chicago Glenview training committee meeting at the Horwitz Haus Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge, AF&AM, of Illinois at Springfield Official visit to Oracle Chapter No. 180 at Glenview Reception for Most Illustrious Grand Master Arlo R. Sloan at Davenport, Iowa