MAGLRBurgess
RICHARD W. BURGESS
Deputy Grand Master, 2000
BIOGRAPHY
SPEECHES
FEAST OF ST. JOHN, DECEMBER 1999
From Proceedings, Page 1999-226:
Grand Master, distinguished head table, and Brethren all.
It's such a pleasure to be here tonight for many reasons. This is such a wonderful time of the year. Every time, about this time of year, I am reminded of the writings of Joseph Fort Newton, who was a Masonic scholar, and with whom, I am sure, many of you are familiar. He writes on when is a man truly a Mason. He states that when a man is truly a Mason, he can find good in every faith that helps any man lay hold of divine truth and find deeper meanings in life, whatever the name of the faith may be. And, as we know, many faiths have been celebrating this particular season.
But I also wanted to thank some of our Past Deputy Grand Masters who, in the last twenty-four hours have been so helpful with their advice and their comforting guidance. They were particularly helpful, and offered three words of advice, Keep it short! One of them even offered me his watch. He said put it there on the podium and watch the time and make sure you don't run over the allotted time. I looked at it and it was a sundial.
I come here tonight filled with gratitude and excitement about this year. I am humbled and filled with humility. Thank you Grand Master for the confidence you have placed in me. I hope that each of you here is filled with excitement for this new year, the year 2000, and will work with the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge to promote Freemasonry throughout the world. Thank you.
