Brethren all, One of the rites of passage when a brother becomes Grand Master of our jurisdiction is to engage in the act of writing one’s first article in the RI Freemason. The current occupant of this office is not exempt. As such, I share these words with an abundance of gratitude and no small degree of humility as together we embark on another Masonic Year. My first word of thanks goes to M∴W∴ Carl B. Willi. Were it not for this man’s character and example of what it truly means to be a Freemason, I would not be here today. His gentle persistence and firm commitment and dedication to the teachings of our Craft helped me to realize over the course of several years that this fraternity of ours is something really special. M∴W∴ Carl is a man of action and commitment and a stalwart example of what it means to be a brother. Like many of you, he has left an imprint in my heart and for this I am truly grateful. A special word of thanks is also owed to his lovely bride the Lady Cristine with whom I had the pleasure of working for over a decade. Her kind, charming and magnetic personality also helped me to see the spousal side of Freemasonry and she has been a steadfast and ongoing support to Lady Beth and myself. To the Willis we are greatly indebted. My mother lodge, St. John’s No. 1, also the mother lodge of our Grand Jurisdiction, who I am proud to have been raised at and be a member of, was known for years to hold one of the best clam bakes on Aquidneck Island. It was at this event in 2013 that the newly installed Junior Grand Warden of our jurisdiction, M∴W∴ Stephen T. McGuire tapped me on the shoulder and asked me to consider being his appointment to the Southern District when he became Grand Master. I must confess that at the time I did not fully comprehend what he was asking me to do. It wasn’t until a few minutes later when M∴W∴Willi explained it to me that the weight of the question hit home. I first met M∴W∴ McGuire at a Masonic dinner shortly after he was appointed the next District Deputy Grand Master of the East Bay District. When I introduced myself to him, he looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Save the Right Worshipful title for the lodge, just call me Steve.” That introduction had a significant impact upon me. As such, I am also truly grateful for the years of advice that “Steve” has offered to me and most especially for teaching me that no matter what title you hold in Masonry we are first and foremost a brother. This is a lesson I have never forgotten. Thank you for taking the time to install me as Grand Master. It was truly an honor. Beth and I are also so very grateful for the ebullient presence of Lady Maureen in our lives. She has taught us that no matter what life throws at you, you should always be grateful for what you have and to celebrate the people in your life. I could probably fill several pages with the names of all the brothers who have made an impact upon me throughout my Masonic journey. I want to take this opportunity to name a few. Although I am a member of St. John’s, No. 1, I first became a Freemason as a courtesy candidate at Washington Lodge No. 3 on a cold March morning in 2006. The brother who obligated me at the altar is none other than R∴W∴ Rick Baccus our Deputy Grand Master. Brother Baccus and I have progressed through our lodges, Commandery and the Grand Line together and he has been a great source of inspiration, advice and friendship. I am truly fortunate to have him at my side for the next 365 days – and Lady Beth is looking forward to the same with Lady Patty! I want to take this opportunity to mention by name others who have had a profound influence in my Masonic journey. R∴W∴Larry Dennis also known as the “Walking Cipher” confirmed in me a great love for our ritual. He never missed a word and always had all the answers. R∴W∴Charles E. Igo taught me a great deal about how our Masonic journey can be enriched by participation in our appendant bodies as long as we ground ourselves in our blue lodge. He is someone that I have always looked up to. I also fondly remember the deceased R∴W∴Alfred E. Cameron – everyone’s chaplain – who was always a source of kindness, warmth and affection. I truly miss his presence among us but believe he is looking down upon us with joy and love. I also want to thank M∴W∴Wyman P. Hallstrom, III for memorizing and sharing my curriculum vitae at the Annual Meeting. M∴W∴ “Chip” was the DDGM who installed me as the Worshipful Master of my lodge so he will always hold a special place in my journey. Also worth mentioning is the fact that his Grand Marshal and now current Grand Secretary, R ?W∴ Ronald P. Reed, was simultaneously the Master of St. Johns, No. 1P when I was Worshipful Master of St. John’s, No. 1. I have had the privilege of working with R∴W∴ Reed for the past several years and look forward to working closely with him over the next year. I could not let the occasion pass without also mentioning M∴W∴Wyman P. Hallstrom, Jr. who was the first Grand Master I ever met. His powerful presence always instilled in me a sense of awe and I have benefited greatly from his counsel throughout the years. There are also many Past Grand Masters who have influenced me and offered sound advice throughout the years. There are too many of you to mention by name but please know that I am grateful to each one of you for kindness and wisdom. I would be remiss if I did not send a shout out to all of the brothers of my mother Lodge, St. Johns’, No. 1. We have been in the trenches together, we have had our joys and our sorrows. There are too many of you to mention in this article but you have always been with me and always hold a very special place in my heart. Thank you for your ongoing support and for journeying with me this year. You are a very special group of guys. There is no place like home. My final thank you goes out to our most junior Past Grand Master, M∴W∴ Douglas J. Grant. Bro. Grant, Bro. Baccus and myself have journeyed together throughout the years. We have followed each other as Worshipful Masters of our respective lodges, literally following each other in Commandery and now succeeding each other as Grand Master of this Grand Jurisdiction. I have often said that I have had the great fortune of following M∴W∴ Grant through the districts and by having R∴W∴ Baccus follow me to clean up any messes I have made. M∴W∴ Grant has always been a source of inspiration for me. He is the consummate ritualist and one of the most upright men I have ever met. He has never shied away from whispering good and necessary counsel in a brother’s ear and has a tremendous amount of common sense. I take this opportunity to thank him for always encouraging me to look at every side of an issue. He always took my phone calls and answered every text and email and has always been someone who I can depend upon for solid and objective advice. I am not only proud to call him my brother, but also my friend. Lady Beth and I are also so very blessed with the presence of Lady Cathy in our lives. Her sense of humor and support of M∴W∴ Grant and this jurisdiction has been exemplary. As you can see, I have a lot to be grateful for. Now the work must begin. Several years ago, I selected a brother who loved Freemasonry more than I did and who has a great knowledge of the Craft, R∴W∴ Brandt D. Evans as my travelling partner. It has been a wonderful journey traveling with you throughout the districts and I look forward to the year ahead with you as Grand Marshal. Lady Beth and I have been truly blessed in our lives with the presence of Lady Mary as well as Otto and Della. I am also going to go on the record and emphatically state that I am the most fortunate of Grand Masters due to the fact that we have perhaps the most dynamic, intelligent and dare I say predominantly popular Grand Council of all time. I look forward to working with the aforementioned R∴W∴ Baccus and Reed as well as R∴W∴ Bros. Michael B. Barboza, Gilbert J. Fontes, Jr. and Eric Grist. My God, what a team!! In addition, our current DDGMs and their GMOCs are also second to none and clearly demonstrate the continuity and supreme competence of our Grand Line for the next decade and beyond. To all of you and all the appointed Grand Lodge officers, thank you for saying yes and for going on this journey with me. I also want to welcome to the Grand Line some new positions that have been created to serve the ever- changing dynamics of our Grand Lodge. We now not only have a Musical Director, but also a Grand Musician/DJ and multiple Grand Lodge Organists. Music is such a vital part of ritual and we hope to provide education and be a resource to any lodge requesting musical assistance in its ceremonies. I have also created the position of Special Aide to the Grand Master to highlight men in our fraternity who have never been Worshipful Masters of their lodges, but who possess special gifts and talents that can be of benefit to the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge. At the 2023 Northeast Grand Masters Conference, one of the hot topics of discussion was the issue of wellness in our lodges. Many jurisdictions have struggled with mental health issues in their lodges and grappled with how to support brothers who needed this type of assistance. Our sister jurisdictions have struggled with how to address this pervasive issue in their lodges. One of my goals this year is to explore and create a program wherein lodges and brothers can be provided resources and supports to assist them to help any brothers who may have such needs. Stay tuned in this regard. Finally, it is my primary goal to continue with the implementation of our Five Year Plan. As you may or may not be aware, a few years ago our jurisdiction published this plan that charted the future of the lodges in our jurisdiction and every one of you had an opportunity to contribute to it. Thank you to those who did. Fortunately, I can confidently say that the current Grand Line is 100% in support of the plan and is committed to its ongoing implementation and assessment as we move forward in our joint endeavors. As the plan is reviewed and updated, we will be sending you documentation in this regard so that everyone will be on the same page. A special word of thanks is owed to R∴W∴ Jack Anderson for keeping us on task and promoting our Grand Lodge within the wider community. A special word of thanks is also owed to him for serving as Grand Marshal for the Annual Installation in place of R∴W∴ Elliott R. Greene who has also been a good friend for many years. My brothers, as I have said on many occasions, I was first prepared to be a Freemason in my heart. Like many of you, I pursued that call to self-improvement in order to be the best man that I could possibly be. But the journey is not over. None of us have all the answers. This is why we travel together. We all put our hearts on the line when we extended our hands on that altar. We promised to be there for each other to the best of our ability. We vowed to not let anything come between us and never to forget the cement of brotherly love that affixes us one to another. Life is always changing – we are always growing – the work in the quarry never ceases – and we must not be afraid to let go of those things, those ideas, those illusory thoughts that we believe make up who we are as individuals that through discernment we recognize are no longer useful. Words and thoughts will never be able to encapsulate the totality of who we are. We are always in flux – it’s the way of creation – nothing remains static. Freemasonry is a living, growing entity that has grown and developed over time and continues to grow. We must be fearless in the practice of our tenets and recognize that how we live our lives impacts everyone in our circle. We don’t wait for the future to do this, we practice it now. As Grand Master I am at your service, a temporary steward of this office who humbly succeeds the many great men who had the privilege to occupy it. I do not feel like I am alone, because I carry each of you in my heart and am grateful for the eternal brotherhood that we will always share. So mote it be. Andre H. Faria, Jr. Grand Master

Picture shows Andre H. Faria, Jr., Most Worshipful Grand Master and, left, Brandt D. Evans, Right Worshipful Grand Marshal. Photo By: Richard Lynch, R∴W∴ Grand Curator/Librarian