From the desk of
M. Ex. Comp. Michael Jon Bowman
Grand First Principal

April 21, 2011

Excellent Companion & Most Worshipful Brother D. Garry Dowling, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Canada in the Province of Ontario, Right Excellent Companion Brian D. Van Sickle, Grand Second Principal, Right Excellent Companion Alan Donovan, Grand Third Principal, and Most Excellent the Past Grand First Principals, Distinguished East and Companions.

First I extend my thanks to Most Excellent Companion Richard J. Jackson for organizing and conducting the Ceremony of Installation and Investiture of the Grand Chapter Officers for this Masonic year.
Most Excellent Sir you have been there for most of my career in Grand Chapter, I consider you a good friend and Companion and I appreciate that you accepted this role; In addition, I thank the Past Grand First Principals for their attendance and participation in this our 154th Annual Convocation. We appreciate the hard work and expert leadership you continue to give to this Grand Chapter. Most Excellent Companion Roland P. Mandeville, as you now take your seat amongst those of past rank, rest assured that we appreciate your leadership; you have left some pretty big shoes to fill. I also extend my thanks to all those who had a role in the ceremony this morning, in particular the role of my father V. Excellent Companion Jon Bowman, this is a day I will long remember.

R. Ex. Comp. Brian Van Sickle, congratulations on being installed as Grand Second Principal. It is indeed a pleasure to have you at my right hand. We have worked well as a team over the past 2 years, have made some tough decisions and have accomplished a great deal, I look forward to our continued relationship both inside and outside our roles on this Grand Council.
I also congratulate R. Ex. Comp. Alan Donovan on being elected and installed as Grand Third Principal. I personally welcome you to the Grand East and know that you will be a great asset to this Grand Council. Your toughest job as the newest team member will be learning the job, but trust me we will bring you up to speed quickly.

This year we will be re emphasizing teamwork. No one individual can accomplish any great feat on his own. It takes everyone to be in pursuit of a common goal, to have the same vision and only then will great things become possible. This Teamwork extends to the Grand Council, for over the past couple of years Right Excellent Companion Van Sickle and myself have worked together as a team and continue to reaffirm the integration of a Professional business structure into the governing of Grand Chapter. As part of this integration we have adopted the 4 F's as the principals of this business model; Fair, Firm, Friendly and Final resolution. Fair in our decisions, Firm in our commitment, Friendly in our approach and lastly Final resolution when all avenues of recourse fail. Our job is not an easy one, the Grand Council will continue this team approach and we pledge to continue to work together in order to give you the guidance and the tools to do your job. We are here to support you as you under take the duties of your office and help you solve the problems along the way. I know that none of us are perfect including the Grand Council and we will all make mistakes......to err is only human. The challenge is to learn form and apply the lessons of each mistake. Not all of our decisions will make everyone happy. Will we feel bad about some of these tough decisions we must make? I would be lying if I said no. It is true that any or all of us may loose some sleep over some of our decisions, we have a tough job to do but we do it because we believe and cherish our Royal Craft. For me getting to this point is not a power trip but rather a labour of love. Why else would I agree to under take such a duty when I am neither wealthy nor retired.

Communication:
Grand Chapter continues to move into the electronic age, the office now has an official e-mail address albeit for official Grand Chapter correspondence only, it will ultimately help to streamline our communications within our constitutional guidelines and across our Grand Jurisdiction. This Grand Council will continue to be in constant communication as we discuss and deal with the operations of this Grand Chapter. Today with distance and cost of travel continuing to plague our ability to meet face to face on a regular basis, we will continue to embrace the convenience of electronic media and conference calls in order to stay in constant contact and like wise encourage committee chairmen to consider this idea as a cost effective alternative to travel.

Respect & Membership:
Royal Arch Masonry is going through some difficult times, declining numbers, lack of new members, financial stress, power struggles, amalgamations and age are some of the contributing factors. As you have heard in the report on the Condition of Capitular Masonry, there are still areas where discord continues to exists, where words and actions continue to cause discontent. Internal piques and quarrels and poor ritual work, which includes the unwillingness to perform simple openings and closings from memory, are some of our major problems. The frustration comes from knowing that in most cases these types of words and actions would never be directed toward the Craft ritual, Constitution and Grand Lodge. In general Royal Arch Masonry is being tarnished by these pockets of disharmony, similar to a bushel of apples, it only takes a small number to spoil the lot. This council has had to act upon these issues in the past and shall continue to do so in the future in order to restore harmony to our order.
It is our job, as a team, to work together in order to right these wrongs and strengthen our family of Chapters.
As I have already said, this Council has been and will continue to run things like a business; we will be supporting those trying to make a positive difference and deal with those who continue to disrupt. The 4 F's will continue to be the rule of the day.
On the positive side, there is a number of Chapters and Districts working hard, promoting themselves and reaping the benefits. As reported yesterday by our Grand Master, we are enjoying a large number of new younger members joining Craft Masonry and we need to continue to tap into this resurgence and nurture the new Companions in a positive environment. You have only one chance to make a good impression. I don’t mean to sound like I am preaching but rather stating the obvious and I am asking you to do your part as leaders to work together to strengthen our Chapters and ultimately our order.
As you are aware with the end of my tenure as President of The Grand Executive Committee, so has your commitment to the various committees come to an end.
In addition to my thanks, let me express my appreciation for a job well done.
I also congratulate all of the newly elected and appointed Grand Chapter Officers, welcome to our team and all the best in you new positions.

Trustees:
As we continue to support some of our struggling chapters I will be re appointing the following Trusteeships:

Chapter Trustees:
R. Ex. Comp. Bill Goodfellow – Warkworth Chapter # 110
R. Ex Comp. David Lyon – Carleton Chapter # 16
Ex. Comp. Clive Stevenson – Temiskaming Chapter # 169
R. Ex. Comp. Dan Knox – Manitou Chapter #27

Amalgamation Trustees:
R. Ex. Comp. George Napper – Lebanon Chapter # 84 & Bernard Chapter # 146
R. Ex. Comp. Michael Millard – Northern Lights Chapter # 213 & Abitibi Chapter # 223
R. Ex. Comp. Douglas Bender – Palestine Chapter # 54 & Aylmer Chapter # 81

We wish these Chapters all the best and hope that their situations improve in the near future.

Special Thank Yous

I have already stated that I am not financially wealthy but I am however rich with support. I have the support of my lovely wife Charlene who listens to my rants when I need to get things off my chest and stands firmly behind me when I need support to do what needs to be done. I am extremely fortunate to have a true Masonic Lady at my side.

I would like to thank the members of Oxford-Harris Chapter #18 and the surrounding districts for all the support they have shown me and will continue to show over the next couple of years.

To my father, V. Ex Comp. Jon Bowman, who has been a big part of my Masonic career, something that has meant a lot to me. He signed my application for both the Craft and Royal Arch Masonry, was Master of St. John's Lodge #68 when I was Initiated and Raised into Masonry, First Principal of Harris Chapter #18 when I was Exalted to The Supreme Degree of the Holy Royal Arch of Jerusalem and has been here to invest me as Grand Third Principal, Grand Second Principal and now today as Grand First Principal. I am extremely proud that he has been able to….. and will continue…. to play such an important role in my Masonic career. Unlike other Grand First Principals I am not nor will I be retired during my term and I will again be calling on my Father, and business partner of over 25 years, to be a part of my team as he continues to support my Masonic endeavours by covering my workload when Masonic duties call. Thank you Dad for your faithful support & dedication.

I also have a dedicated friend in the Grand Scribe Ezra who performs his duties faithfully and with total competency even when they are not always pleasant. But most of all WE, The Grand Council have all of you, the biggest and most important part of this team. You are Royal Arch Masonry....... you have elected us to guide and govern...... but it is all of you that will shape the face of our order. You are the ones who will make the difference, your actions, your words and your dedication will shape and strengthen our Royal Craft. This is why we all need to put our best foot forward, do good ritual from memory and work together as a harmonious team in order to make Royal Arch Masonry strong again. LEAD BY EXAMPLE!

Thank you in advance for all your support and dedication and remember the longest journey begins with the smallest step......today we take that first step.

Yours Fraternally,
Most Excellent Companion Michael Jon Bowman
Grand First Principal,
Royal Arch Masons of Canada in the Province Of Ontario

Page updated on 08/15/2011