New Year’s Message from the Grand Master 2018

Dear Brethren All

We are at the end of a year which has been very important for Freemasons: we have celebrated the 300th anniversary of modern, speculative Freemasonry.  Here in Switzerland, we have not celebrated the constitution of the premier Grand Lodge in England with spectacular or sumptuous festivities.  Rather, we have had many activities and events organised at the roots of Swiss Masonry: by our Lodges which are at the centre of life and modern society.  Here we would like to point out the excellent exhibition “Top Secret – the Freemasons” at the Berne Museum of History.  This exhibition attracted many visitors from all parts of Switzerland as well as from abroad. However, the “Golden Book” in the Museum bears witness that some members of the general public still hold discordant feelings with respect to Freemasonry.

We can only eradicate negative preconceptions and reservations towards our Fraternity if we do not limit ourselves to discussions of our ideals, such as the dignity of man, humanity or cosmopolitanism.  It is indeed important that each Brother expresses these ideals by acting morally and ethically.

Many Brethren may ask: what can I as an individual do?  Twenty years ago – another jubilee – the Interaction Council proposed to the United Nations and the World a code of conduct which, based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, would replace “rights” with “duties” imposed on all mankind.  It is clearly the duty of each human being to treat one another as such.  Shouldn’t that be a valid and practical rule for all Masons, to treat each other and all mankind as human beings?  I am convinced that there would be no more war if all men followed this rule.  Furthermore, our Brotherly relationships in the Lodge would be imprinted with harmony and real friendship.

This successful jubilee year of 2017 should encourage us to face our future with renewed Masonic energy.  Many Lodges are happy to see that an increasing number of men are interested in joining our Fraternity.  We have to open the doors of our Lodges to men of good report and noble aspirations.  This will ensure that our Brethren and our Lodges will continue to contribute to a society which recognises the importance and value of Freemasonry.

This shall be my last New Year’s message, as the Executive Committee (Directorium) of the Grand Lodge Alpina of Switzerland will hand over its responsibilities to a new team next June, as is our wanted custom.  Until then, we shall continue with vigour to pursue our objective and lead the Grand Lodge Alpina into a successful future.  We are continuing to preserve our good relations with sister Grand Lodges, to resolve differences and to actively contribute to the success of our Fraternity.  In this context, I would like to thank all Grand Masters and their officers of recognised foreign constitutions who support Alpina’s activities.

My deep gratitude also goes to all the Brethren of our Grand Lodge who support and cherish Freemasonry and further our goals in a demanding manner.

I wish all Brethren and their families a successful and happy New Year.

Maurice Zahnd, Grand Master